It might be time to realize we have crossed over into a new medium, filling hockey journalism as podcasts have begun to dominate the breaking news. The hot topic Friday surrounded Mason McTavish and the chance that a team steps forward with an offer sheet, or if McTavish is available on the NHL trade market. The Canadian media is zeroing in on Erik Karlsson, and we had a spirited debate on TSN about whether Karlsson should land on one of the Canadian teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs. And we made some headlines around the interwebs with a new pair of Penguins trade targets, along with some Sidney Crosby straight talk.

You would have gotten a good laugh at me Friday. The wasp stings continued swelling through the day until my noon meeting, in which I looked like Brando hiding the orange peels in Godfather with freshly botoxed lips. I had planned to continue publishing the Top 25 Penguins’ Prospects list Friday, but I took a Benadryl antihistamine after the meeting … nearly four hours later, I woke up. So, the prospects list will continue this morning.

Hopefully, you’ll forgive the delay.

No wonder the Benadryl box says Do Not Take “To make children sleep.” I missed three phone calls and a half dozen texts. I never heard my phone. I’d better be careful, that stuff could become my drug of choice!

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Including Yegor Chinakhov, there are a couple of new potential Penguins trade targets on the market now and soon. We also went straight into the recent Sidney Crosby trade chatter and the realities of the situation. Let’s talk possible Penguins trade.

Steelers Now: What of the Stillers deal with T.J. Watt? Alan Saunders weighs in–was it too much guaranteed money? Should they have traded him? I won’t spoil the conclusion. You will have to read Saunders’s column on who won the T.J. Watt contract.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Anyone want to guess how the second half of the MLB season began for the Buccos? A few bad bounces and a few bad plays turned into a really bad loss. Here are the details for your Pittsburgh Pirates.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN Video: Confirm or Deny, Toronto and the Edmonton Oilers should be interested in Erik Karlsson? The good Canadian folks are steering the trade talk toward Karlsson and the teams that could use a play-driving defenseman to support dominating forwards crews.

Karlsson would be in the model of Paul Coffey in Edmonton, eh? I don’t know how that could happen, but it would be interesting seeing Karlsson and Connor McDavid on the same ice.

The Athletic ($): Mason McTavish. Is he available? Jeff Marek on The Sheet and a recent podcast opined that McTavish is available as he ever has been. Shayna Goldman reopened the potential offer sheet talk as McTavish remains an unsigned RFA. Would someone buck-up big money that makes Anaheim take the picks?

News note: The Winnipeg Jets signed Gabe Vilardi to a six-year, $45 million extension. And Anaheim signed RFA goalie Lukas Dostal to a five-year, $32.5 million contract.

Florida Hockey Now: What would you do on your day with the Stanley Cup? The boys in Florida are giving it quite the culinary experience, but also some good old-fashioned bar food. How about some rib rolls and wings at the famous Flanigans in South Florida? Take a look at the Florida Panthers party.

Boston Hockey Now: The goalie really, really wanted 300 wins but didn’t get there before calling it a day. This seems more like a forced retirement than voluntary, but former Boston Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak said tootles.

Forever Blueshirts: K’Andre Miller matriculated in the Rangers’ system before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, who signed him to a whopping eight-year, $60 million deal. Now, he has posted a heartfelt thank you to Rangers fans.

The Sheet: It’s an hour-long podcast, but Marek brought up a great idea that I’m surprised we haven’t seen the Bruins or another team move on the possibility. Goaltender Michael DiPietro has become dominant in the AHL, posting a .928 save percentage last season. It’s about time someone made a move, and Marek can easily see the Edmonton Oilers waiting until training camp to pounce on him as Boston must slip him through waivers.