Elliotte Friedman lit the fuse Tuesday with an unscheduled 32 Thoughts podcast, and the NHL rumor mill wasted no time catching fire. The biggest jolt came on Quinn Hughes: Friedman said Minnesota and Hughes are not really talking, and a contract is not close yet. He also waded into the Cale Makar discussion and offered an anonymous prediction that the Toronto Maple Leafs would trade for Erik Karlsson.
The Karlsson piece is worth keeping in perspective. Friedman was passing along a prediction from someone on the inside, not reporting trade talks, interest, or even previous talks. Still, it was enough to send the internet spinning.
There was more news on the Vancouver front, too. TSN’s Travis Yost wrote that Brock Boeser should be on the trade block because he won’t be around for the turnaround, and that led to the conclusion that Boeser will also hit the market.
The Penguins had their own item in the news cycle as well. Kevin Hayes is leaving his Cranberry home to play in Russia, and after 12 seasons in the NHL, he’s heading to the KHL. Good luck to him, because that’s not going to be easy with a family.
Washington also joined the goalie PTO conversation, giving Cal Peterson a professional tryout.
For Pittsburgh, the day also brought a look back at some of the best escapes the organization has pulled off over the years. The list of top five Penguins escapes included several hockey-ninja moves by general managers who turned bad situations into wins, and Stan Bowman came up as someone who has unwittingly helped the Penguins a couple of times.
The team also unveiled this season’s giveaway schedule, and it’s a mix of classic and weird in the best way. Fans can expect a talking Evgeni Malkin bobblehead, a Mike Lange alarm clock, and, somehow, a loaf pan. There are 16 giveaway nights in all.
The kitchen theme apparently has a fan base. The gravy boat went over well, so now the Penguins are leaning further into household goods.
Around the hockey world, Darryl Sutter drew attention for a podcast appearance with Cam & Strick, where he said he felt bad for Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary. The words have been twisted in Canadian media, but the core of his point was an honest read on why they left Calgary.
And in draft talk, Philly Hockey Now took another look at the 2025 NHL Draft and kept circling back to Jack Nesbitt at No. 12.
That pick belonged to the Penguins before they traded down and selected Bill Zonnon at No. 22 and later Will Horcoff at No. 24.
The question hanging over it remains simple: did Pittsburgh make the right move, or should it have stayed put for Nesbitt?
In Other News...
Penguins Camp Battle Could Force A Surprise Roster Decision
The Penguins are heading into training camp with a few more open questions than they would like, and that has given some of their younger players a real chance to push their way onto the NHL roster. Pittsburgh has shuffled its group enough this offseason that the preseason will matter, especially on the left side of the defense and in the forward depth chart, where the club is still sorting out who fits best and where.
Rutger McGroarty, Owen Pickering and Bill Zonnon are among the prospects to watch as camp unfolds, with each in position to make a case if he can handle the pace and consistency the coaching staff wants to see. For the Penguins, the interesting part is not just which young player stands out, but whether performance forces a surprise roster decision in an area where the organization could use help sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Just Gave Longtime Fans A Nostalgia Hit All Season
The Penguins 2025-26 promotional calendar is built to tug at the memories of the fan base, mixing the usual arena giveaways with a few items that lean hard into the franchises history. The schedule includes a talking Evgeni Malkin bobblehead, a Mike Lange alarm clock and even kitchen aprons, with several of the items set for specific game dates and some limited to the first group of fans through the doors.
It is also a season of milestones in Pittsburgh, with the club planning to salute its 60th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the 2017 Stanley Cup championship. For a team that has spent years leaning on its modern era of stars and titles, the giveaway slate suggests a full-season celebration of both the old favorites and the moments that still define the franchises identity, even as a few of the marquee items are bound to draw the biggest rush. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Slow Start Could Put Erik Karlsson At Center Of Selloff
The first real hint that the Penguins season could tilt into deadline-seller territory came up on Elliotte Friedmans 32 Thoughts Podcast, where Erik Karlssons name surfaced in a possible trade scenario with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It is the kind of speculation that only gains traction if Pittsburghs early results go sideways, but it also fits the broader picture around a veteran team with major roster decisions looming and a star defenseman nearing free agency.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious if the opportunity ever gets serious, but the cap math would not make any move simple. For Pittsburgh, a sluggish start could force a harder conversation about whether to keep pushing with the current core or use Karlsson as the centerpiece of a larger selloff before the deadline, with other key players potentially in play as well. [Read more 🡒]