Pens Points: Amanda Kessel back in Pittsburgh in December

The NWHL will hold a regular season game on Sunday December 2 at UPMC Lemieux, featuring the Connecticut Whale vs. the Metropolitan Riveters. The Riveters, of course, are led by none other than Amanda Kessel. The Penguins will be in town that weekend too, so surely one member of the team will be in attendance... [Penguins.com]

Reviewing the Penguins offseason, which has been most curious indeed. [Post-Gazette - Mackey]

Mario Lemieux is listing his Quebec “castle” at just a shade under $22 million dollars. I remember when he built that place; the suggestion, or anticipation, was that it was going to be his full-time residence as his kids grew up and emptied the Pittsburgh nest (especially when they had the Penguins in the “not selling, but kind of on the market” phase). It looked as if Mario might phase himself away from Pittsburgh as well. After the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cups, the organization is no longer looking to sell the team, and selling this mansion looks a solid sign to Lemieux’s commitment to Pittsburgh for the future — which is awesome. Also, someone loan me $22 million bucks so I can buy the place. [Trib Live]

Brock Nelson signs a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Islanders. Nelson, Jordan Eberle and Anders Lee are all impending UFA’s next season if you’re already thinking about potential rentals... [Lighthouse Hockey]

In news I really had not followed perhaps as close as I should have, Henrik Zetterberg’s back is not good, and it seems that there’s a decent chance we may have seen the Swede’s final NHL game already. A tip of the cap and best wishes to a very worthy championship adversary. [Winging it in Motown]

The Blackhawks’ president says making the playoffs is the priority this year. Looking at the roster, I can’t say it looks like a sure thing just yet. [Second City Hockey]

The Capitals have re-signed soon-to-be 38-year-old Brooks Orpik for one year and $1 million. As Charlie O’Connor noted, anytime you can bring back an aging player coming off a 44.32% Corsi, 41.50% xG, and stood watch as his team get outscored in front of him 52-38 at 5v5 last season, ya gotta do it. [Japers Rink]

The Blue Jackets are doing a very Blue Jackets thing by bringing back their “cannon jersey” to be their new alternate jersey, and even their fans seem not to like it. [Jackets Cannon]

Finally, this Sidney Crosby pass was making the rounds again on twitter recently, and my goodness. The guy makes so many amazing plays on the ice it just never ends. (Also, unrelated, maybe it won’t be all that tough to replace all the goals Conor Sheary scored...)