Expect the NHL trade chatter to get hot after the general managers were gathered at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo for most of last week. Pittsburgh Hockey Now snagged a co-exclusive with Kyle Dubas in which he openly spoke not of improving his team via free agency but described the type of trades he’s looking for and which new teams are calling about the Penguins’ veteran players. The Stanley Cup Final is showing off trade acquisitions that actually worked, and the Buffalo Sabres are increasingly active on the trade front, trying to appease their core players who are tired of losing.
I didn’t publish any content on Sunday. I don’t know how it happened, but I got back from Buffalo Saturday night, had a social engagement, then slept in Sunday, and the motor just never cranked. I wrote all day, but by the time I was done uploading videos, parsing what I heard at the Combine, and talking to others, it was late evening.
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Also, I crushed an entire Pizza Hut pizza for dinner because I had a craving for some old-school, heart-stopping, artery-clogging, smells-like-childhood greasy pizza. However, I didn’t have a Book-It certificate, so I had to pay full price. Also, there was no Mrs. Pac-Man machine to drain my wallet like a kid needing braces, but damn was the pizza good.
Later this morning, I will drop that story I wrote about the potential run on centers at the draft, and I will make some of the Combine content free to all–just for the day–as part of a PHN+ free preview. The Kyle Dubas story was exceptionally informative. We snagged him in the hotel lobby, and he was really good. Our subscription numbers are exploding–you can join the party for an ad-free experience (no pop-ups) and exclusive content here.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dave Molinari stepped into the fray and delivered the qualities the Penguins will need in their new assistant coaches.
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If you missed the 3 Penguins Thoughts column from Saturday morning, I named one name to watch as part of Muse’s staff, dug into what could be a failed trade, and Rickard Rakell’s trade value.
Steelers Now: With all of the hoopla surrounding Aaron Rodgers finally signing with the Steelers, what about the other guy? Mason Rudolph sounded off about the signing and what it means for the now backup Steelers QB.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates are bringing up some prospects and it’s paying some dividends. Another day at PNC, another first MLB win for a Pirates pitcher.
Wow, there were TONS of Philly fans in town for the weekend. I mean thousands. The downtown bars were full Saturday night with Phillies jerseys.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & NHN
X: I’m not usually into the hotel bar scene, but it was quite busy in Buffalo last week. Arthur Staple from the Athletic stirred the rumors when he dropped this little bombshell on the former Blue Bird of misery app:
I don’t see an actual article in the Athletic, so I posted the Tweet.
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32 Thoughts Podcast: Elliotte Friedman told the story of Rasmus Dahlin’s hour-long meeting with Sabres GM Kevyn Adams before the trade deadline. Dahlin didn’t demand a trade out of Buffalo, but on behalf of the core players, he demanded trades with better players coming TO Buffalo. The Sabres players are unhappy and want trades. They want to win, NOW.
More from Friedman–Get this: Gavin McKenna, the phenom who is expected to be the 2026 first-overall pick, could play next season at … (We Are) Penn State. I may have to go watch some hockey in State College.
Florida Hockey Now: The most impactful trade deadline addition in recent memory, the Little Ball of Hate has been lifting up the Florida Panthers. Worry about free agency and the future later, right now it’s all about the Cup for Brad Marchand.
NYI Hockey Now: It’s a big decision facing the New York Islanders. All of the Draftniks say Matthew Schaefer is the best available, but there’s a good case to be made that grabbing a local boy (James Hagens) or the best center (Michael Misa?) is the best route. So, here’s the wrap from the New York Islanders Combine week.
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Montreal Hockey Now: There’s a bit of drama in Montreal as the KHL wants Ivan Demidov back in Russia. The rookie set hearts aflutter and hockey tongues wagging when he arrived and lit up the scoreboard. Is there a real chance he leaves the Montreal Canadiens?
Vegas Hockey Now: The Golden Knights might need defenseman help next season. It seems Alex Pietrangelo’s long-term health is suddenly in question. That’s bad news for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Detroit Hockey Now: There’s been a scoring change–45 years later. No joke, scorers have changed the assists on Gordie Howe’s final Red Wings goal.
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