Jan 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) fights for control of the puck with Pittsburgh Penguins center Noel Acciari (55) during the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images A day ago, we had a rundown of the best offseasons, and now it’s time to look at the worst offseasons across the league.
Elsewhere in the Daily, the Dallas Stars and Jason Robertson are going to take a breath but then talk long-term contract. The New York Rangers are hiring (trigger warning) Derick Brassard. Sportsnet rattled off the latest on the top unrestricted free agents available, and in the wake of Robertson’s new contract, we levied an offseason grade on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
I hate to write this, but we’re coming up to cottage season, which is when general managers put down the phones and breathe for a minute. And that coming break is why PHN moved forward with an offseason report card. Of course, if something happens, we’ll revisit the grade.
But I do have a story idea. Should I visit Sault St. Marie–talk to some locals about the Soo and Kyle Dubas? If it were a fun ride, I would do it in a heartbeat, but the roads for most of the trip are painfully straight.
Dull. Flat. And straight.
Otherwise, I’m still deciding where else to go to get out of town. I’ll get to Marietta at some point, but the downtown hotel is a little pricey for the accommodations, and I’m not eager for another Super 8 until the season starts. Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It’s not quite a parent-teacher conference, but we delivered an offseason grade.
It’s not entirely kind, but it does offer Dubas some leeway. Check out the Penguins report card. And we did a Penguins chat/No Pucks Given.
Yep, Shane Wright came up, as did the cost of trades, and some pretty good questions. Like, share, and subscribe. Please and thanks.
The download will be available later today. NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now TSN Video: The five worst performances this offseason. Some teams aren’t just treading water but got worse.
Sportsnet: What about
Patrick Kane? Eeli Tolvanen, and the apple of some Penguins fans’ eyes, Logan Stanley? The latest on their search for new teams and contracts.
KDAF: Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars stayed together. The player wants the headlines to be over for now, but the team is already talking long-term extension. It doesn’t sound like Dallas will let Robertson get away.
Forever Blueshirts: Sorry to bring up a blast from the past. The Rangers have filled some spots on their player development staff by hiring Jonathan Quick to work with goalies in the organization, and they hired Brassard as a player development assistant. What will Brassard say when a kid tells him he doesn’t want to be a third-line center?
Detroit Hockey Now: Without Yzerman in the big chair, the criticisms are mounting. Why aren’t there more prospects in the lineup? Kevin Allen’s protoge Max Smith tees up the fundamental reason why and hits hard at the Detroit Red Wings.
Philly Hockey Now: The next big swing for Daniel Briere? Is Robert Thomas still available? What about going after Shane Wright?
It’s all inside Will Smith’s latest Philadelphia Flyers Q&A. New Jersey Hockey Now: The swamp monsters have done their best this offseason, but didn’t get the blockbuster trade. Looking ahead, some breaks will need to go their way for the New Jersey Devils to make the playoffs.