This might come as an absolute shock and be completely unexpected, but several Pittsburgh Penguins are the subject of NHL trade chatter. No, really. Sarcasm aside, the latest trade boards are Penguin-heavy as everyone is trying to figure out what general manager Kyle Dubas will do and who is interested. We also did an op-ed on the recent wave of “Tank for McKenna” sentiment, which drew some praise and some ire (that’s when you know you’ve hit the target dead center). Elsewhere, it appears the new CBA will erase the beloved emergency backup goalies, a few of the top draft picks signed their entry-level deals, the San Jose Sharks hired Joe Thornton, and Rangers fans are quite optimistic about their new coach.

I want to thank a couple of readers who caught the unique math error in the column yesterday. Silly me looked at the NHL’s numbers–a team with the worst record in the NHL has an 18.5% of winning the lottery. Well, without hesitation, that must mean there’s an 81.5% chance of losing the lottery, right? Wrong.

A team with the worst record in the NHL has a 75% chance of losing the top pick because of the teams outside the top 11, which could win but not get the No. 1 pick. I appreciated the few people who kindly pointed that out, and we made an edit in the story. I surely don’t think that little difference in any way impugned the main idea. Of course, some puffering pedantic and posturing paragons of opinion proselytizing feigned indignation. Welcome to my world.

Also–today at 1 p.m., the NHL schedule will be released, and at 1:15 p.m., we’ll start our weekly Live Chat on the YouTube page. Shelly Anderson will have the schedule story, but I bumped the chat back a few minutes in case she needs help with graphics and such.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We didn’t have any smaller news stories Tuesday, so we got straight to it. Dubas has a narrow path, actually a tightrope to walk. Why the Penguins can’t tank for McKenna, but also can’t try to win, either. You can chew on the Penguins opinion story.

Steelers Now: Not everyone is down on the Steelers and their seemingly meandering muddled mediocrity under coach Mike. One Hall of Fame wide receiver expects big things from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: As one might hope from an elite pitcher, Paul Skenes was perfect in the All-Star Game.

PBN+: The subscriber-only Q&A is a whole lotta trade talk. From Mitch Keller and onward, fans want to know who is going and what the Pirates’ trade haul can get?

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Trade boards are everywhere, so we only pay attention to a handful, but the latest from Nick Kypreos is dominated by possible Penguins trades. From Erik Karlsson to Bryan Rust, and there are others in the NHL trade talk, but here’s who Kypper is watching and why.

NHL.com: Penn State coach Guy Gadowski didn’t specifically compare Gavin McKenna to Wayne Gretzky, but he sure lined up the two side by side in one area. Penn State hockey is geeked by its biggest addition ever.

From a human standpoint, I would strongly encourage my son or hockey players who are eligible to go the college route, if only for one season. You just don’t get that kind of experience at any other time in life.

Of course, for everyone else, academics have ruined most universities by inflating the costs beyond any reasonable amount and watering down the education to fit a failing American education system and their personal desires, but that’s a topic for another website, eh?

TSN: Goodbye EBUGs? The new CBA has some really good things, and a really terrible thing with 84 games, but one of the new wrinkles has people wondering if we’ve seen the last of the Emergency Backup Goalies.

Chicago Hockey Now: Radim Mrtka signed with the Buffalo Sabres, and the other big signing of the evening was Anton Frondell inking his first contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Forever Blueshirts: I thought you might want to read this. FB did a poll of Rangers fans on which was the most impactful move of the offseason. And it seems the NYR faithful believe it was not the Kreider trade, or the K. Miller trade, but hiring Mr. Mike Sullivan.

Montreal Hockey Now: For several years running, the Penguins were the oldest team in the NHL, even as younger players swapped in. Penguins fans addicted to the idea of turnover can look at the Bleu Blanc et Rouge. The youngest team in the NHL is the Montreal Canadiens.

Detroit Hockey Now; Say what?! A snub of snubs. As the NHL Network began its Top 10 lists, they rolled through the top forwards under 25 years old, but they forgot or omitted Detroit Red Wings winger Lucas Raymond.

Florida Hockey Now: I won’t even describe this story. You just have to read it if you want. From Linguini to Labubu, go inside the Stanley Cup’s day with Roberto Luongo.

And yes, I phrased that properly. Have a good one.