The Pittsburgh Penguins put pen to paper with first-round pick Ben Kindel Tuesday, securing his entry-level contract but also guaranteeing his path will not include college. The other prospects departed town, but not before indirectly revealing a problem or risk with expected Bryan Rust trade talks. Elsewhere, the NHL trade chatter finally came to fruition as the Edmonton Oilers snagged Isaac Howard from Tampa Bay. There are a handful of teams still on the prowl, and there are reports that the New York Islanders have talked blockbuster deal involving Ilya Sorokin.
Nope, I’m still in Pittsburgh and still working away! At this point, I’m pretty sure the good Lord doesn’t want me to take a vacation or even days off. The person who was supposed to give me a day off had to call off sick. She had never gotten COVID until … now. It’s quite mild, so there’s no worries, but that means more of me.
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Also, I had more new ownership meetings to finish. Execs at our new company are realizing the depth of our company goes far beyond the spreadsheets. I kept telling them how nuanced and pointed our attack on the marketplace was–now their consultants are telling them just how far ahead of the game Hockey Now was, and I’m spending a lot of time helping to build the new company so that we can scale it with other sports and other sites.
In fact, last week I met with execs of two very large media outlets that you know or use every day. One was clueless and was merely asking rhetorical questions (and I bluntly told him so), but the other proudly talked about a new strategy. It was the same strategy and speech that I’d given our writers across the network a dozen times. Looking back over the past six years, I wish I had known a lot more about the venture capital world–we’d be billionaires. We nailed the strategy and correctly called what it is you’re looking for: in-depth credibility. Our reward was instead survival when most others have failed or are failing, and I suppose there is great solace in keeping a few rubies where Chester Copperpot failed.
That’s a Goonies reference. Here we go…
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Before departing for the summer, the Penguins got an entry-level contract with top draft pick Ben Kindel’s autograph.
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Here’s the big story of the day that had people talking and debating. Unfortunately, some of the people talking the loudest either admittedly didn’t comprehend what was written (which is always a joy) or simply chose to ignore it. The Penguins very well may trade Bryan Rust, but there is a good reason not to. It was exemplified this week. And there was a good nugget about the Penguins’ being ahead of the curve in their efforts to develop new players. It’s all in the Penguins blog.
There’s a Live Chat today at 1:05 p.m.! I have no idea where I’ll be when I do it, but I will indeed do it! It appears the recent sound issues were software and internet related, so with any luck, those will be behind us. When the sound is rough, I throw an internal temper tantrum (the joy of being a 20-year radio guy), and no one feels worse. I thank you for hanging in there last week. Here’s the Chat page.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Edmonton Journal: Oilers fans went wild. However, it was a costly trade as the Edmonton Oilers snagged disgruntled prospect Isaac Howard from Tampa Bay for one of their own top prospects. Here are many of the reactions and analyses.
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The trade was nearly identical to the Rutger McGroarty-Brayden Yager deal last summer. In other words, it would have cost the Penguins the 31st overall pick before they traded up to No. 24 for Will Horcoff. Or it would have cost them Horcoff.
Daily Face-Off: Frank Seravalli was on the Kevin Karius show (a show that I never decline when he wants to talk–one of the best in the NHL), and he had a bombshell. The New York Islanders have talked about an Ilya Sorokin trade.
Sportsnet: Five teams are, or at least should be, on the prowl for more via the trade market or free agency.
Detroit Hockey Now (+): PHN subscribers can just log in to read this — Umm, where have all of the Russian Red Wings gone?
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Vegas Hockey Now: It’s already been a summer for the VGK. Mitch Marner was just the start, and there could be more coming (and going), too. Hannah Kirkell lays out the reasons to like the Vegas Golden Knights’ new lineup.
Colorado Hockey Now: An ESPY is not what it used to be but I guess they are still a thing (the best ESPY moment ever remains Norm MacDonald roasting OJ Simpson by poking at then-Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodso. Geez, that was almost 30 years ago). Anyway, this year’s nominees deservedly include Mr. Gabriel Landeskog.
The post Dan’s Daily: Oilers Get Howard; Isles Talk Blockbuster; Penguins’ Trade Problem appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.