The Connor McDavid talk can chill as the Edmonton Oilers general manager sounded the right notes that the lack of contract is currently a non-story. A Pittsburgh Penguins prospect scored again in the World Juniors Showcase, and we delved into some bolder predictions for the remainder of the Penguins’ off-season. Elsewhere in the Daily, there are a handful of Oilers trade chips to discuss, the buzz is growing around Easton Cowan in Toronto, but Nick Robertson has become the last unsigned RFA in the league. And Bo Horvat had a joking but serious message for his former teammate, who became the Islanders’ assistant GM.

We’ll get to the hockey in a moment, but hopefully you’ll permit me a sidetrack–My two-day run through the hills of PA concluded yesterday. I don’t know how I pulled it off, but I stayed in the shade for most of the ride home, and it was glorious. I wish I had more recommendations from this trip, but I will be brutally honest, things are not looking good up north, and it broke my heart.

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My little Coudersport motel was empty. So, too, was the steakhouse. This was my second visit this year; the last was on a June Saturday, but it was no different. The big downtown coffee shop and cafe was already out of business after a year. The stargazing was extraordinary, but today I’m angry because most of the small Pennsylvania towns that I ride through have taken a sharp turn for the worse over the last three years.

The state spends tens of millions on tourism promotion (and $15 million on tourism grants), yet the traditional small towns that are tourism hot spots are dying before my eyes. Restaurants are gone, and people are not coming back because there is nothing for them. It’s a vicious cycle. And I’ve seen about ZERO promotion and very little tourism investment for these small towns. There should be ads all over my internet browsers for Cherry Springs State Park and the annual Perseids meteor shower in two weeks (It’s a must at least once in your life). The Bigfoot Festival in Marienville and amazingly fun or silly little oddball events that I’ve accidentally stumbled upon over the years go by without so much as a mention to anyone who doesn’t already know.

If anyone up there is reading, with full sincerity, my marketing brains and services are yours, for free.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: OK, let’s get back to hockey. We’re almost to August, but the off-season is already stagnating. Where are the trades and the transitional moves? What happens for the rest of the off-season and into training camp? Four bold Penguins predictions.

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Steelers Now: Big Troy Fataunu shined, but the rookies got humbled when the pads popped. Here are the latest Steelers training camp takeaways.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Today is baseball’s trade deadline, and the Pirates made a decent move, trading away Ke’Bryan Hayes. They got little more than a sack of baseballs in return, but it was a much bigger trade than on paper. Here is the full Pirates trade analysis.

So, who else will be traded away today? Our Pirates reporters have the latest Pirates rumors.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN: Oilers GM Stan Bowman sought to allay talk that Connor McDavid could become a free agent. It’s on the way, but the Oilers are respecting McDavid’s timeline and his decompression from a second consecutive heartbreaking season.

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Nick Robertson. He’s the last RFA still without a contract. Robertson requested a trade last season, but the Toronto Maple Leafs refused. His arbitration is scheduled, and we’re all wondering how this plays out.

NHL Trade Rumors.me: “Don’t trade me!” After the Islanders dealt Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens, that was the text from Bo Horvat to former teammate Matt Martin this summer as Martin retired and was hired as the New York Islanders’ assistant GM.

The Athletic ($): We’re not done with the Oil just yet. There’s been a lot of talk about acquiring players in the Great White North, but what about trading away players? Here are five Oilers trade chips who could be headed the other way.

USA Hockey: It wasn’t a good day for the U.S., but check out the goal highlights. You’ll see Penguins prospect Will Horcoff being a “big” factor in both, including scoring one. That’s Horcoff in front of the net:

Vegas Hockey Now: The goalie carousel. Spinning wheel, got to go round. While GMs try to catch a painted pony on that spinning wheel round, the Vegas Golden Knights need a backup goalie. Are the New Jersey Devils the answer for a Golden Knights trade target?

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Florida Hockey Now: OK, no one got caught cheating this time, but the Coldplay video board did show the defending Stanley Cup champs and the Stanley Cup. Cmon, no one hid from the camera?! Here’s the Florida Panthers’ night out.

Forever Blueshirts: He played his last game during the COVID bubble, so Henrik Lundqvist never got the closure of a goodbye. Here’s the story of a quick phone call from Rangers GM Chris Drury that changed everything, and Lundqvist got his closure from the New York Rangers.

The post Dan’s Daily: McDavid Comfy; Penguins Prospect Scores; Pens Predictions appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.