Latest Pens Buzz: Av’s starting to identify asking prices for Duchene, Landeskog

Latest Penguins Buzz The Pittsburgh Penguins have had more than just exploratory talks with the Colorado Avalanche in recent weeks, NHL sources tell TIOPS. Talks have been serious enough where the Avalanche have begun identifying key pieces in talks they would seek to move Matt Duchene who the Penguins have significant interest in and Gabriel Landeskog who the Penguins have also discussed. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has looked into both players in an attempt to land a long-term impact forward. Pittsburgh has not ruled out runs at either player, but Duchene interests the Penguins more. The Penguins believe Duchene could easily play on Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin’s wing and boost the top-6 for this season and also give the

NHL Source: Lots of smoke surrounding Penguins-Stars last month

Latest Penguins Buzz The Penguins entered the bye break believing that Matt Murray’s injury was very short-term. However, the million dollar question with the Penguins goaltending situation now is whether this little strong run from Marc Andre Fleury of late, named player of the week for 12/26 – 1/1, and another minor injury from Matt Murray has Penguins’ GM Jim Rutherford eventually going back to his initial plan A (before the season started) of keeping both goaltenders this season and let it settle out in the summer. It’s been no secret the Penguins in early December began signaling to teams they were open for business on Fleury but have been met with a limited market for now. Has things really

Source: Penguins suddenly in more of a “listening mode” on Fleury than at any point before

LATEST PENS BUZZ Source: Goaltending situation becoming an annoyance for coaching staff [hide] As the Penguins have received more trade feelers on Marc Andre Fleury in the past 14 days than they have at any point since it’s became clear with Matt Murray’s emergence that Fleury’s future in Pittsburgh is in doubt, has the Penguins stance of keeping Fleury all season changed? NHL sources tell Inside Pittsburgh Sports that Penguins Jim Rutherford is suddenly much more in a listening mode than he previously has been and it might be more about Rutherford’s read of the situation that it’s not a great situation for all parties involved inside the room than a couple teams kicking tires. While rival executives had indicated

Monday’s TIOPS Inside Buzz Report

TIOPS Inside Buzz *Rumblings, Musings, Opinions* 1. More Leadership needed from Wideouts? Antonio Brown’s work ethic outside of game days to fine his craft is rarely matched by others. It’s what has made him into one of the NFL’s best receivers and saw him become the fastest receiver in NFL history to 600 receptions, doing it Sunday in his 96th career game. But is Brown doing a good enough job in leading by example for an inexperienced wide receiver group? Emerging is more and more talk in Steelers circles that Brown has been a bad apple at times and a bad influence on Sammie Coates, Eli Rodgers in critical areas such as attention to details and these inexperienced receivers learning

Latest Chatter: Pirates eyeing prospect-type return for McCutchen?

McCutchen on the move, It Appears Sources close to the situation say the mood throughout the Pirates organization from coaches to front office members on Andrew McCutchen is this: He’s going to be traded. Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned, Pirates GM Neal Huntington is motivated to move McCutchen this winter and has made it clear to interested clubs, [hide] Pittsburgh is seeking a multi-player packaged centered more around high-end prospects than a return featuring mainly Major league players. They want a return with players they can control for five to six years than a Neil Walker type trade they did last Winter in trading a need for another need. With two years left on McCutchen’s current contract, Pirate officials are

Latest Pens Buzz: The Condon End Game, Back Room deal in place for eventual Fleury trade?

Latest Penguins Buzz The Penguins were telling interested teams last week they had no plans to put Mike Condon on waivers once Matt Murray returned. A team or two might have been calling the Penguins bluff but that stance has now been backed up with Matt Murray healthy. Despite the Penguins coaching staff having no interest in starting Mike Condon when the opportunity was there last week, this management team see’s Condon as a potential trade chip or even an asset to the club beyond next season. “The Pittsburgh Penguins are not averse to trading Condon, but they’re not going to put him on waivers,” Bob McKenzie reported Wednesday night on NBCSN. “They’re going to try to hold onto him

TIOPS Daily Five: Chances slim the Pirates view Andrew McCutchen as a $14 million a year player for 17

TIOPS Daily Five *Rumblings, Musings, Opinions* 1. The Gretzky bias. Sidney Crosby on Thursday night became the third player in hockey history to have a Hart Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and World Cup/Canada Cup MVP on his resume. The other two are Wayne Gretzky (1987) and Bobby Orr (1976). The other two should be Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr. Lemieux’s dominance during the 1987 Canada Cup in what was really the passing of the torch in Lemieux emerging as the worlds greatest player, saw him dominate the tournament with 11 goals, 18 points in nine games. Yet it was Gretzky and his 3 goals, 21 points who took home the MVP honors. 2. Andrew McCutchen in 2016: 24 home runs,

Steelers Prioritizing new deal for David DeCastro & more buzz

Latest Steelers Buzz The Pittsburgh Steelers report to training camp a week from today and will guard David DeCastro have a new deal in place before camp opens? Things are moving into that direction where a deal is said to be likely struck in the next couple weeks. The Steelers have prioritized a new deal for DeCastro over anyone else, and, though a gap remains, headway between the two sides has been made in the last week, a league source says. [hide] Pittsburgh’s highest paid offensive lineman is Maurkice Pouncey who inked a $5 year, $44,136,626 contract in 2014. DeCastro is scheduled to make $8,070,000 this season as his 5th year option was picked up last year. His new deal

TIOPS Rumor Mill: McCutchen’s Future; Rangers interested in Liriano?

TIOPS Rumor Mill Andrew McCutchen’s steep decline in 2016 has been the talk of baseball. Five Thirty Eight did a stunning piece a few weeks ago on just how bad of a season he is having for a superstar player in his prime and how the numbers say a major turnaround is not likely in the years ahead. The pressing issue for the Pirates’ brass internally is coaches want to get McCutchen the hell out of centerfield (despite what Clint Hurdle might be saying through the media). It’s always been a touchy subject. As long as McCutchen continued to be a great hitter, the Pirates intended to live with him not being the best centerfielder on the roster. At least

Penguins Rumors: Matt Cullen waiting on Wild before making final decision

TIOPS Rumor Mill The Matt Cullen situation is not expected to drag on much longer (decision could come Tuesday) and the holdup on where to sign hasn’t been about Cullen waiting for the Penguins to clear cap space, (something they’ve decided against) Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned. The Penguins on Friday believed Cullen was headed [hide] to Minnesota and so did Cullen, per a source close to the situation, but the Wild informed the Cullen camp late Friday they needed a few days to mull over their cap situation over before moving forward on a possible deal. Cullen’s first choice is to return to Minnesota and end his career in his home state something that’s been made clear to the