News break!!! Phil Kessel eats hot dogs out of Stanley Cup

The big name in the news now is Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher. The defenseman can sign with a team midnight Wednesday as his draft rights expire with the Colorado Avalanche. As you might remember, his agents said the Penguins could be a consideration for the talented 22-year old, but they’ve really no reason not to say nice things and leave the door open, so we’ll see what happens on that front.

But one thing that does look like it will happen is that the Pittsburgh organization will watch 2 draft picks skate away as free agents.

Blaine Byron had a successful senior season and said as early as March that he would not be signing with the Pens and instead choose his own team. Interestingly that news broke shortly after Pittsburgh signed college FA Zach Aston-Reese, so make of that what you will.

It’s Byron’s right to choose his own team now, but certainly curious that Pittsburgh hasn’t had an issue attracting some college FA’s, along with Aston-Reese they signed Thomas DiPauli last summer, and Jimmy Vesey admitted the Pens were a finalist for him too. But Byron’s going on his own way that he thinks will work better, so farewell.

Troy Josephs was on an amateur tryout this spring in Wikes-Barre, playing 11 AHL games (1 goal, 1 assist). With a loaded minor league depth chart of forwards, seems reasonable for one or either side to move along.

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Phil Kessel is a legend and the legend continues to grow!

Also, as seen on Reddit, looks like the good-natured rivalry with Evgeni Malkin continued with Geno tagging Phil in a recent picture.

Yep, there’s really not too much going on right now.