Happy Independence Day. The Daily will be a short and sweet version, as we must get to the rink for the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect camp. Penguins fans may want to pay closer attention to the Detroit Red Wings, as general manager Steve Yzerman is hunting for a top-four right-side defenseman. Hopefully, I don’t have to spell out the connection to the Penguins any further. Sportsnet laid out the top remaining unrestricted free agents, and we graded the first phase of the Penguins’ offseason.
Today is my favorite holiday. It seems every year I have to work or am otherwise engaged with professional activities, so I cannot enjoy what comes along with the holiday. But the reason for it is everything. Farmers and industrialists and ordinary people took up arms against the largest standing army in the world to assert our right to exist. No, you cannot tax us and take our money. No, you cannot take our homes to house your soldiers. And hell no, we don’t believe in birthright rulers. We are Americans.
Those ordinary people braved a terrible winter to fight on, many even without shoes or boots, for an important victory across the Delaware River. We eventually cornered a smug general against the sea in Yorktown. George Washington was not an emotional man or one given to highs or lows, but when he learned that Cornwallis had made such an arrogant mistake, the legend is that he sprang from his seat and yipped.
There is still something special about this country. It’s OK to know it. And only when you know it can you protect it. July 4th means we’re independent and we’re going to live our lives as we see fit, not as told. Now, let’s get rowdy and blow up some stuff in ways only Americans can do.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The last big free agent, Nikolaj Ehlers, is off the board. That means Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is up next. Before the trades begin, we graded the first phase of free agents and trades of the Penguins’ off-season.
We also had a chance to chat with new prospect and 2025 first-round pick Bill Zonnon. When he used the word “Swagger,” I chuckled a bit because that word has bounced off the walls of the Penguins’ locker rooms for quite a while. He’s actually quite humble and gave a surprisingly honest answer when I asked how close he felt to being ready for the NHL. Get to know Bill Zonnon.
It was Day 1 of the development camp. There were no competitive drills and not much going on that we could report on, so you’ll have to wait until we can really see what’s up. I can tell you, Gabriel Dagle is BIG, and he seems to move quite well. I stand behind our initial draft grade that he was a steal.
Gabriel Daigle, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Detroit Hockey Now: Steve Yzerman finally got a goalie when he acquired John Gibson, but the other big names and top players were off the board or not interested. However, Yzerman is now fishing in the NHL trade pond for a top-six forward and top-four defenseman. Those are the Red Wings’ trade needs.
Sportsnet: The latest on the top available unrestricted free agents.
TSN: Ehlers took an extra couple of days to decide, and he chose the Carolina Hurricanes for an average annual value of $8.5 million. Ehlers got paid, and Carolina finally got a top player from the outside who wants to be there.
Teams really have to make sure they can trade a player before his final year on a contract. GMs can’t lose these players for nothing.
Boston Hockey Now: I think the Bruins got the steal of the first round when James Hagens fell to them at No. 7. It’s not often a consensus top pick one year before the draft falls that far without serious injury or slump. However, Hagens has arrived, and everyone is talking about him at the Boston Bruins development camp.