The NHL is not just angling for 33 teams. The breaking news of the weekend is that we will get the announcement for Team 33 before the end of the year, and then we\u2019ll get No. 34 not long after. The identity of the second expansion is not yet known\u2026 and it might be, gulp, Phoenix. The New York Islanders unveiled the results of their new alternate sweater, and it\u2019s brutal. NHL referee Garret Rank is apparently quite the golfer. The NHL Network is already diving into rumors about Connor McDavid leaving Edmonton, and we looked at a few potential PTOs for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as the team\u2019s negative history with them. <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s get to the hockey.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: There are three potential professional tryout candidates who could fit the Penguins\u2019 strategy and needs for the Penguins to look at, but we also compiled the list of PTOs signed in the salary cap era, and there\u2019s a lot of bad news. So, here are a few potential Penguins PTOs<\/a>. <\/p>\n Steelers Now: For everyone who thinks Acrisure Stadium is a sterile, lifeless dump devoid of personality or at least just not as nice as the rest of the cookie-cutter open-air grass stadiums, a new poll actually shows fans \u2026 like the Steelers stadium<\/a>?!<\/p>\n In fairness to the Steelers\u2019 home, at least people in the upper deck can see the entire field. <\/p>\n NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n Bleeding Oil Blue: EJ Hradek wasn\u2019t shy. Though I very much disagree with his conclusions, for what teams could\/would Connor McDavid leave Edmonton? As McDavid begins the first of his two-year extension, let the NHL rumor mill begin.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 NHL Network analyst E.J. Hradek names three possible destinations for Connor McDavid if he ever leaves the Edmonton Oilers : Philadelphia, Detroit, and the New York Rangers.<\/p>\n Speaking with the Bleed Oil Blue Podcast, Hradek says winning would be the deciding factor.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/rbjNkI9DsD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bleed Oil Blue (@BleedOilBlue) August 17, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n AZ Hockey Insider: After NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that Houston would likely be the 33rd team and we could have that finalized by the end of the year, Craig Morgan prodded him on the 34th team. Believe it or not, it might not be Atlanta, but the NHL could run back to Arizona<\/a>.<\/p>\n Philly Hockey Now: The EA Sports NHL 27 release is sparking discussion, especially over the player ratings. Did they get the Philadelphia Flyers right<\/a>?<\/p>\n Should I look into the Penguins\u2019 EA ratings? Those games just aren\u2019t part of my life or purview anymore. <\/p>\n Detroit Hockey Now: I thought this was a prospect the Penguins would look to draft last June before they chose Liam Ruck. Our Detroit colleagues are looking at the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool and ranking No. 10, going one spot after Ruck, is J.P. Hurlbert<\/a>.<\/p>\n Boston Hockey Now: The final shift with Z. It was a goodbye game for Zdeno Chara, and plenty of NHLers past and present made the trip over. Ray Bourque even put the skates on for the game. Jack Studley didn\u2019t go to Slovakia for the game, but he\u2019s got full coverage and videos from the amazing event to bid farewell to the hockey career of the former Boston Bruin<\/a>.<\/p>\n TSN: And here you go. The Islanders let fans submit jerseys and choose the jersey they\u2019ll wear as an alternate for the 2027-28 season. No offense, Long Island, woof. Here\u2019s the Islanders\u2019 selected sweater<\/a>.<\/p>\n A lighthouse. So\u2026.In honor of the Islanders\u2019 new sweater, here\u2019s one of my favorite urban legend jokes. It has its own Wikipedia page:<\/p>\n This is a recently released transcript of a radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of\u00a0Newfoundland\u00a0in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the\u00a0Chief of Naval Operations.<\/p>\n Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.<\/p>\n Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.<\/p>\n Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, DIVERT YOUR COURSE.<\/p>\n Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.<\/p>\n Americans: This is the aircraft carrier\u00a0USS\u00a0Lincoln the second largest ship in the United States\u2019\u00a0Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that\u2019s one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.<\/p>\n Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags:nhl expansion<\/a> nhl rumors<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a><\/p>\n Categorized:NHL Trade Rumors<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t