Bold opening statement: Olympic hockey delivered drama, upends expectations, and put the focus squarely on the surprising moments in Pittsburgh and beyond.
The Olympic tournament opened with performances that lived up to the hype—heroic efforts in an upset and a standout Italian goalie who nearly engineered the most dramatic single-game upset since 1980 in the other match. Back home, trade chatter in the Metro is heating up again, centered on Philadelphia and Columbus, with Columbus perhaps more inclined to sign players than to trade. We also broke down the Penguins’ most surprising moments this season.
Apology and resubmission note: My plan was to run the PHN+ Q&A on Wednesday, but the questions were stuck between our old site and the new one. I did retrieve a few older questions, but the first 11 were previews. So, we’re trying again. I found several good questions—feel free to resubmit here: https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/phn-pittsburgh-penguins-qa-submissions-again-re-do/ .
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Surprises. There have been several, and we ranked them. We’ve opened the book on this season’s Penguins and highlight the top surprises for 2025–26. https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/top-5-pittsburgh-penguins-surprises-for-2025-26-season-erik-karlsson-evgeni-malkin/
Steelers Now: Alan and the crew are getting a head start on next season. Here’s what the 2026 Steelers depth chart looks like. https://steelersnow.com/pittsburgh-steelers-2025-depth-chart/
There’s also a new back-and-forth among former Steelers players. Joey Porter publicly criticized Ben Roethlisberger, labeling him negatively in personal and professional terms. Former teammates weighed in on the Steelers’ past drama. While I don’t know what’s true, Pittsburgh is a small town, and rumors spread quickly.
https://steelersnow.com/ex-steelers-teammates-react-to-joey-porter-sr-ripping-big-ben/
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: This is a neat tidbit. Jacob Stallings has joined the Pirates front office. https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/pittsburgh-pirates-jacob-stallings-joins-front-office/
With baseball season approaching (though hockey takes priority for me right now), here are five key storylines to watch during Pirates spring training. https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/pittsburgh-pirates-spring-training-storylines-konnor-griffin-paul-skenes/
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: The coaching change in Columbus has shifted the Eastern Conference playoff race and probably the trade deadline dynamics. Columbus has several tradeable pending free agents, plus signings to consider. Aaron Portzline provides a critical view of what comes next. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7024944/2026/02/06/blue-jackets-bowness-streak-break/
Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers also have trade chips, including a name I’m curious about for the Penguins’ interest. See which Flyers player I highlight as a potential target. https://phillyhockeynow.com/2026/02/07/flyers-trade-rumors-deadline-ristolainen-tippett-konecny-plan-change-after-losing-streaks/
The Olympics!
Slovakia produced a stunning upset against Finland, with Juroslav Slafkovsky delivering a commanding performance. Italy nearly pulled off the upset, as a goalkeeper carried the team to a remarkable showing. https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/article/slafkovsky-scores-twice-as-slovakia-upsets-finland-to-open-mens-hockey-at-olympics/
Sportsnet emphasizes the pressure on Canada to win while also encouraging the team to enjoy the experience. https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympic-men-hockey/article/the-canadian-way-why-team-canada-must-win-but-savour-the-ride/
Boston Hockey Now notes the Bruins as a surprising East contender, aided by a new coach and a strong rebound season. https://bostonhockeynow.com/2026/02/12/what-has-gone-right-for-bruins-olympic-break/
Jack Studley is growing quickly and deserves a follow for his daily coverage. https://x.com/jackstudley13?lang=en
New Jersey Hockey Now previews retro jerseys for next season, including a polarizing Devils sweater. https://sportsnaut.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/devils-news-hometown-remix-alternate-uniform-2026-27
Tags and categories for context:
- nhl news
- nhl trade talk
- Olympics
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- category: links
- NHL Trade Rumors
If you’d like, I can tailor this rewrite to a specific audience (e.g., casual fans, hardcore Penguins followers, or sports business readers) or adjust the tone to be more opinionated or strictly informative. Would you prefer a version that leans more analytical, or one that emphasizes narrative storytelling around the teams and players? Also, should I add a short “thought-provoking question” at the end to spur comments, such as: “Do you think Columbus should lean into youth or sign proven veterans at the trade deadline?”
