Confessions of a Highway Robbery
In the wake of the blockbuster acquisition of Erik Karlsson, Penguins President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Kyle Dubas spoke to the media yesterday about the machinations of making the deal work and how he was able to get it done.
It’s been said many times over at this point, but simply by parting with Mikael Granlund and Jeff Petry and their associated cap hits, this is an enormous coup for the Penguins.
If nothing else, Dubas made the Penguins as fast and efficient at moving the puck as they’ve been in several years.
“One of the things that I felt and talking with Sully about is we need to continually improve our ability to move the puck from our own zone,” Dubas said. “Erik, I think is one of the big players in that regard in the NHL. Even though he’s in his early 30s, he continues to be one of the top skaters in the NHL and obviously his production and offense is quite prolific.”
With the roster now more-or-less set ahead of training camp opening next month, attention will turn to how Karlsson will be deployed on the power play, how the minutes on the blue line will be divvied up, and just how high fans’ expectations are now.
Back Up and Running
After getting Monday off to recover from a physical weekend, Steelers training camp will get back in the swing of things this afternoon and tomorrow ahead of Friday’s preseason opener in Tampa.
Some things to watch for in those two practices:
Does the Pickens vs.
Porter battle continue to be the epitome of Mike Tomlin’s “iron sharpens iron” cliché?
Can the offense assert itself in the Seven Shots drill that isn’t -at least at this early point- showing much promise of red zone improvement over last season?
Is this Kendrick Green-at-H Back thing really a thing? Or just some camp fun?
Is Nick Herbig healthy enough to continue to push for time as the primary backup edge rusher to T.J.
Watt & Alex Highsmith?
Will Kenny Robinson continue to take advantage of the opportunities being presented at safety by the absences of Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal?
And, pushing in to Friday night: How much of an opportunity will first round pick Broderick Jones get with the first team offensive line?
Sparked By Spencer
In what was possibly the worst start of Spencer Strider’s career, the Young Bucs chased the National League Cy Young favorite with two outs in the third inning of a 7-6 victory last night at PNC Park.
Liover Peguero became the first Pirates rookie since Barry Bonds nearly 40 years ago to record two hits in the same inning in the midst of a two-out, six-run rally that contained three walks, three singles, and only two extra base hits.
The rally was also keyed by a ridiculous swim move by Endy Rodriguez to avoid being picked off of first base, allowing the final three runs of the inning to score on the next two base hits, the first of which chased Strider form the game.
Carmen Mlodzinski’s perfect 1 1/3 innings of relief scored him the W after an hour and 18 minute rain delay, dropping his ERA below 2.00 in the process
The Braves, now 10-11 since the All Star Break, will try to avoid losing back-to-back series for just the second time all year when Mitch Keller takes his 9.97 post-All Star Beak ERA to the mound for the Buccos tonight.
Got His Money’s Worth
Aaron Boone, if nothing else, gets his money’s worth when he goes after home plate umpires, and he did again last night as his last-place Yankees fell on the South Side of Chicago to the lowly White Sox.
First KO’d Now a Ghost
All poor Jose Ramirez wants to do is apologize to Tim Anderson for embarrassing him.