Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins played two of the worst games I have ever watched this team play on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, against the San Jose Sharks, they inexplicably blew a 5-1 third-period lead en route to a 6-5 overtime loss. Twenty-four hours later, this same team blew a 3-0 third-period lead, leading to a 5-4 overtime loss. This team is pathetic and softer than baby poop. [Sunday Recap]
The Penguins over the weekend lifted the suspension of defensive prospect Emil Pieniniemi after Pieniniemi, 20, refused to report to the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, in October. Instead, the defenseman returned to his native Finland to train with his former team, Karpat. Cooler heads have prevailed, it seems, and Pieniniemi will now report to the Nailers. [Trib Live]
Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
“This might sound nuts, but … maybe make the call,” assistant general manager Mat Sells told Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin before Guerin pulled off the biggest trade in franchise history and acquired now-former Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. Guerin took the advice, and now the Wild have real aspirations of being perennial contenders. [NHL]
Now that the Hughes sweepstakes is over (for now), it has been revealed that many other teams also had interest in the All-Star blueliner, including the New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers, while the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres were interested “to some degree,” according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun. [TSN]
Team Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team will be revealed on New Year’s Eve, according to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. [Sportsnet]
The Chicago Blackhawks could be without Connor Bedard for the foreseeable future. [Sportsnet]