After a summer of chatter and NHL trade rumors, the epicenter of the talk is the Metro Division. The Carolina Hurricanes and the Columbus Blue Jackets hold valuable pieces, but they still haven’t found what they’re looking for. Dylan Larkin has expanded his acceptable trade list, while the Boston Bruins might have some pending free-agent/trade drama on their hands, too. And the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final roster is close to being set after the team shed seven players and created a B group at camp, but many of you wandered streets with no names after seeing the groups.

Also, a couple of this writer’s stray thoughts came together to form one large analysis piece that calls into question the Penguins’ rebuilding philosophies.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now is not yet in Buffalo, and we should probably skip today’s game for lack of storylines, but the plan is to be there just in case. As per tradition, which usually happens during the Prospects Challenge, I’m taking my final motorcycle ride of the season to Buffalo via Coudersport, and staying at my endearing little motel with an attached steakhouse. I got a late jump out of Pittsburgh yesterday, so I didn’t get here before the sun went down and absolutely froze my butt off for the last hour as the temps up here dropped into the 50s.

The steakhouse has seen better days, but they brought back a local couple who ran it for years, and the food is back to being great, even if the fluorescent lighting makes it feel like you’re in a basement man cave. An 8-ounce center sirloin with potato, corn on the cob, and a semi-local bottle of Straub was $30. Be forewarned: in the PA mountains, they like to put mushrooms and onions on steak. Hell no, but the 1980s hot plates are a nice touch.

So, let me tell you about this little place and why I like coming up here. There was a church group that comes in every Friday to play some sort of gin rummy game, sitting at the main table. Some fellow motorcyclists from the Philly area and I struck up a conversation at the bar, and they told me they love the area so much that they bought a small property they use as a motorcycle retreat every few weeks during the summer. And then some of the church members overheard why I was passing through and came over to tell me sentimental stories about going to Islanders and minor-league games before they retired up here. I mean, that’s a full dinner experience, and I loved every minute of it.

Unfortunately, the full moon limited stargazing last night, and I still haven’t seen the Milky Way. Future goals, I guess. I’m off to Buffalo later this morning, when it warms up, but first I’m planning to have breakfast at the newly reopened chrome diner.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins have made their decisions, and coach Dan Muse didn’t argue that point. Injuries have opened a couple of spots, and the Penguins are trying Nick Robertson in a penalty-killing role. However, some players being relegated to a B group while the team promoted Ville Koivunen to a regular role raised some eyebrows. Here’s everything, from the lines and special teams to the reactions from Penguins practice.

The team did cut the fat from the roster, sending seven players to Wilkes-Barre, including Avery Hayes, and the Rucks back to Medicine Hat. Hayes was pretty good against Columbus.

Now then—the column. If nothing else, check out the next-level comments section on this one. The path not taken for the Penguins rebuild began in 2023. Remember when the San Jose Sharks traded away Erik Karlsson to embark on a rebuild? Yep, three years later, they’re poised to contend, while the Penguins chose to reinvigorate but are still in no-man’s land. We used that as a basis, combined with recent comments in the dressing room, for a critical look at what GM Kyle Dubas is doing, where it’s going, and the great Penguins Catch-22.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Detroit Hockey Now: The Washington Capitals are now a possible landing spot for Dylan Larkin. Tampa Bay might also be on the list. Now, everything may change for the Detroit Red Wings.

NHLtraderumors.me: Pavel Zacha raised eyebrows in camp when he addressed his future with the team as, “Don knows where we stand. Now, it’s out of my control.” Is the 29-year-old center and pending free agent the next big name in the NHL trade rumors? He’s already linked to four other teams.

Sportsnet: The latest from Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts. Kirill Marchenko. Alexander Nikushkin. Metro Division foes who are waiting for the trade call. Here’s the latest.

Carolina Hockey Now: Oh, a little more intrigue in the Nikishin story. He made a behind-the-scenes change and hired a new agent.

The Calgary Flames need some help up front, and they’re taking a low-risk gamble, signing former Penguins winger Alex Nylander to a two-way deal.

Alex has the talent, but like so many other players, the extreme effort necessary to apply it too often defaults to a more comfortable game.

TSN video: This is relevant in the bigger playoff picture context. Last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs went splat. The analysts up north think this new team is much different.

San Jose Hockey Now: The youngest captain in the league is now 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini. In the big Bay Area news Friday, the team named him the San Jose Sharks captain.

NHL.com: The goalie carousel Friday had a couple of stops. The Ottawa Senators traded for Jonas Johansson, who was the odd man out in Tampa Bay, then waived Leevi Meriläinen, but the Vancouver Canucks claimed Meriläinen off waivers.

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