Dec 13, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) take a first period face-off at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images There remain more than a handful of restricted free agents who are unsigned, and it is getting about time to examine the latest reports and situations.
As Macklin Celebrini gets a big bump in his tax bracket, TSN started throwing around some heavy comparisons, including to Sidney Crosby. One of the acquitted 2018 Team Canada players had his new Swedish contract revoked after team personnel and fans reacted. The NHL trade chatter is still boiling in Montreal even as agents and GMs try to dismiss it.
And we wrapped our podcast season with the Penguins offseason grade. Agent Dan Milstein, who primarily represents Russian players, has been using X to slam a lot of the Montreal noise because it has centered on his client, Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko. Still, there is some secondary chatter that involves Columbus but not Marchenko.
I will post the story below with a note, but it does come from smaller media outlets that ran with the Marchenko rumors. I’ve been binging TV shows like a champ for a few weeks. Rolling through seasons at a time (some on the background while I work).
I rolled through Suits for a second time, and every time I watch it, those characters get further in the wrong, but I still like it as a guilty pleasure. I wish I’d found something to recommend in this space, but Hacks on HBO Max was the latest show I watched, and it so thoroughly wasted a truly extraordinary performance by Jean Smart as an off-shoot of Joan Rivers with ugly character development and obtuse condescension that I just can’t.
The first season (and last season) of Hacks was solid. Still, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is essentially the same source material and a better watch (except for the rushed final season) with brilliant performances by Alex Borstein and Rachel Brosnahan. After all of this TV, I need another road trip, and I’m going back to Dateline and Why Files binging for a bit to cleanse my palate.
Maybe in the fall, I’ll have a heckle fish for No Pucks Given. Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Our final chat of the season. The first 20 is the podcast version and the Penguins offseason grade.
There is a split decision. And then we got to a final call, ask Dan Anything. ).
Here you go–the Penguins chat. And the photo is drama-filtered, not AI. I mean–that’s me.
Some people just have to complain about everything, eh? Steelers Now: Day 2 of training camp takeaways. The reverberations from the change at the top are being felt on the field.
Alan Saunders has more on Mike McCarthy taking control of the Steelers. NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now NHLtraderumors.me: The original story comes from reporters in Montreal. Marco Normandin has hit on a few stories over the last few years, and he’s reporting the Canadiens are indeed talking trade with Columbus, though it’s not about Kirill Marchenko, but about Kent Johnson.
Normandin has gotten a few scoops over the last couple of years, so he deserves to be considered. He doesn’t seem to tweet often unless he has something. He’s not someone putting 100 rumors out there and hoping one hits.
Sportsnet: There remain some unsigned RFAs, including Cutter Gauthier and Alexander Nikishin. The latest news, rumors and speculation about the group. TSN: Cal Foote was acquitted on sexual assault charges stemming from the 2018 Team Canada celebration.
The judge certainly left no doubt regarding her verdict, but the trial was so very public and the acts so shocking. Earlier this week, Foote signed with a Swedish team, but yesterday the team revoked his contract based on public reaction. TSN Video: Celebrini and Sid.
Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year contract with an average annual value of $18.8 million, the highest in the league. Craig Button heaped praise on Celebrini and praised him as the next Sidney Crosby. New Jersey Hockey Now: How are ya now?
Waiting in the wings after Celebrini’s deal are plenty of centers who want a bump in pay, including Dawson Mercer. Philly Hockey Now: And how does Celebrini affect Matvei Michkov?