Pittsburgh Penguins captain and Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby will lead 92 players, including the Women’s team and the Para team, to the Team Canada orientation camp. We also compared the 2025 Top 5 Penguins prospects to the 2024 list, while also looking at the players the Penguins could have selected in the first round in 2019 through 2023, with some surprising results. Elsewhere in the Daily, the LA Kings locked down RFA Alex Laferriere, Jimmy Vesey might run to Russia, the NHL’s website ranked the top fantasy players after the offseason shuffles, and the Penguins’ prospects aren’t making headlines at the World Juniors Showcase, but Sweden is rolling.

The Showcase coverage has been a little frustrating. I’d love to tell you how certain prospects are performing, but it appears very few people are analyzing the performances. I think next year, we’ll be in attendance.

I got some fair criticism yesterday, albeit the reader had to make four comments on one story. Yes, I include personal details and some travel in this space. Not everyone appreciates it. But the answer to the odd, probably misplaced anger is that I like to connect with the audience, sometimes entertain, and keep the hockey content flowing. And I think the personal details are part of letting you into our coverage and how the sausage is made. Let’s be brutally honest, in an industry savaged by made-up stories at legacy outlets, clickbait, and narratives over truth, being transparent to the point of bragging about a $6 lunch in the middle of nowhere in many ways knocks down the wall between you and me.

You’ll always know where I’m coming from, and I hope that builds a little trust, even if some despise reading that I got eight hours of sleep and absolutely hated it.

And, today, I think some of those tight twisties in West Virginia are calling my name. I know nothing about West Virginia, so any recommendations beyond the little town of Thomas are quite welcome (before 10:30 a.m.).

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Did the Penguins make any mistakes at the draft over the last six years? We looked at the players the Penguins may or may not have passed over, as well as thank God the Penguins aren’t like the Pirates. Here’s the Penguins one-timers.

Steelers Now: More training camp takeaways. It would seem that after a few years of trying, the defense has an attack plan in the secondary. Get the latest from Steelers training camp.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: OK, I was shocked when I read the headline this morning. I was watching the first few innings of the Pirates game. I saw Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run jack for a 9-0 lead. Then, this morning, I read that despite a pair of nine-run leads, the Pirates lost. THEY LOST?! To a terrible team. It is a new, pathetic low for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN: Led by Sidney Crosby, Canada is inviting the entire crew, all of the hopefuls for the Men’s, Women’s, and Sled teams to Team Canada orientation camp.

Mayor’s Manor: One down, Adrian Kempe to go. Last night, the LA Kings signed restricted free agent Alex Lafferiere to a new contract.

RG.org: I think it’s fair to trust this site for it’s reporting on Russian matters. And the latest is that former New York Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey is asking a lot of questions because he has some offers to play in the KHL.

Before the world became what it is now, and before PHN, I very much wanted to work for the KHL for a year. I thought it would have been a life-changing experience, though others warned me that the living accommodations could be, at best, less than I’m used to, and it can get miserable. I never did follow through on the opportunity, and then the Russian dictator showed how far he would go…and that was that. But I think I’d ride a bus in the AHL before hopping across the Bering Sea. Anyway…

The Hockey Writers: A recap of Day 5 at the World Juniors showcase as Ben Kindel registered an assist, but Team Sweden is steamrolling everyone.

Penguins prospect Mac Swanson earned an assist for Team USA on Day 6 of the camp, but USA lost to Finland.

NHL.com: After all of the off-season free agent signings, or in Mitch Marner’s case, it was a sign-and-trade, the league’s website ranked the top 200 fantasy players based on new situations and expectations.

Boston Hockey Now: The downside of choosing the NCAA over junior hockey is that it’s set in stone. You can’t go to training camp to compete for a roster spot. No. 7 overall pick James Hagens made his decision to stay in the Boston area, but won’t be playing for the Boston Bruins. He’ll be pursuing a Beanpot and the National Championship with Boston College.

Vegas Hockey Now: Hannah Kirkell is getting settled in Sin City, and she doesn’t miss a chance to remind me that she’s there and I’m not. She’s also writing hockey. It’s the good, the bad, and the very unpredictable of the 2025-26 Vegas Golden Knights.