It is the end of January and the Pittsburgh Penguins are still struggling with the same issues. On Jan. 20, they beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 and actually looked like a playoff team. Whether or not they make the postseason is still to be determined, however, Pittsburgh can definitely learn some things from their game against the Kings.
One of the Penguins’ biggest struggles this season has been with consistency. Their game against the Kings should be the blueprint moving forward for the team. Everyone on the team contributed for a full 60 minutes, which is something that has been lacking this season.
The Penguins dominated the first period with 12 shots on goal, although they possessed the puck for most of the period. They had 26 shot attempts in the first period compared to the Kings 12. Kevin Hayes scored the first goal of the game on a power play. This season, Hayes has played in 33 games and scored eight goals, with four coming on the power play, and has 12 points. He has been in and out of the lineup since the beginning of the season, but he is proving why he should stay at least for a while.
Although Hayes is not the best skater, he is a good playmaker with good offensive instincts. He is also good in the faceoff circle, winning eight of 13 faceoffs against Los Angeles. His game against the Kings was probably his best performance of the season. He was active in all three zones, and his offensive capability was extremely evident not only at 5-on-5 but also on the power play. He does play a very tough, physical game which could be a reason he is in and out of the lineup. If the Penguins do make the postseason, they will want him to be healthy.
Pittsburgh also showed a huge commitment to defense in the game against Los Angeles, which is another area where they have struggled this season. They forechecked aggressively and generated chances against a very good defense. They were also able to finish those chances. They stayed aggressive throughout the game and forced turnovers all night.
The Penguins were also able to get good goaltending against the Kings. Alex Nedeljkovic had more than a few key saves stopping 14 of the first 15 shots he faced. With Tristan Jarry down in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the time being, Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist are currently sharing the goalie responsibilities. Both are fighting for the opportunity to be the starter, however, it looks like Pittsburgh will continue rotating them back and forth for the time being.
There were also contributions from all four lines against the Kings, which was a huge difference-maker. Cody Glass scored a goal late in the second period and now has three points in his last five games. The Penguins have been waiting for him to find some consistency, and it looks like that may be starting to happen. Lately, his play has been solid in all three zones, especially in the defensive zone. Pittsburgh could use more defense-minded forwards, and Glass has been stepping up to the plate.
Anthony Beauvillier has also been contributing to the scoresheet lately. He registered a goal and an assist against the Kings, and he also scored a goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 17. He has 11 goals on the season and could be an interesting topic of discussion as the trade deadline approaches.
The Penguins are coming off back-to-back losses against the Anaheim Ducks and the Seattle Kraken, and their playoff hopes are growing dimmer and dimmer. They are now seven points out of a wild card spot and in need of a miracle. They definitely have the talent and the ability to get back on track, but do they have the discipline?
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The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to explore ways to upgrade the roster following Mitch Marner's departure in free agency. The Leafs front office has been trying to fill in the gaps along the roster, and they have been searching on the trade front. One name that has been heavily connected to the Maple Leafs in recent weeks is Calgary Flames star Nazem Kadri. Kadri could replace Marner very well in the lineup, but it seems that a deal could be complicated to complete. According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos of SportsNet, Toronto has tried to land Kadri multiple times this summer, only to be rebuffed each time. Kypreos believes that a deal involving Kadri returning to the Maple Leafs could be unlikely at this point in the summer. Last season, Kadri posted 35 goals and 32 assists for the Flames. His presence has been steady on the ice for years, and Calgary could probably get a lot on the trade market for him. The Maple Leafs will likely continue to explore ways to pry Kadri from the Flames. But Calgary likely won't trade him unless it receives an offer that it deems too good to be true. But Kadri is the leader of this team, and he was the best player for them last season. Toronto doesn't have a lot of tradable assets to work with, which could be what is holding things up between the two sides. The veteran could give Toronto a nice boost, but unless the Maple Leafs up the offer, he isn't returning to town.
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is likely to miss the entire 2025 season as he continues his recovery from last year’s brutal knee injury, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Dell dislocated his knee and tore his ACL, MCL and LCL in a Week 16 loss to the Chiefs in December. With such a severe injury, Houston’s focus is on Dell’s health and long-term career outlook. The team wants him to get healthy rather than rushing back to play this year. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said (via Wilson) that Dell is “crushing the rehab,” but declined to offer a specific timeline. His comments hinted that the team is not counting on Dell to return this season. Injuries were always the biggest concern surrounding Dell. His 5-foot-7, 165-pound frame was already undersized by college standards; in the NFL, it’s minuscule. Sitting out this season will set up a major contract year in 2026. Dell will need to prove that he is back at full health and can remain there for an entire season while maintaining his production. Dell was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, along with teammates Trent Brown and Jimmie Ward.
The Green Bay Packers started training camp Wednesday, and on at least one rep, the kickoff went to an unexpected returner: tight end Tucker Kraft. Whether or not they plan to seriously evaluate him as an option, it’s a development that caught the eye of reporter Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Green Bay Packers shake it up to kick off camp with Kraft, Melton updates Earlier this afternoon, Scheidman shared his observation to the bewilderment of fans on social media. Until further notice, it seems safest to assume that the guys are just having fun. Kraft lacks a kick returner’s build and sprint speed, but at 6-foot-5 and 259 pounds, he’s been dubbed a “human monster truck” for his ability to absorb contact and break tackles after the catch. Most likely, that’s not a skilll that would translate from Kraft’s capacity as a passcatcher to a receiver of kicks. There’s a reason teams rarely plug tight ends in that role. One notable exception is New Orleans’ do-everything weapon Taysom Hill, who also plays quarterback and frequently runs the ball. He’s also returned 20 kickoffs in his career, but only six since his rookie year in 2018. Last season, the Packers relied on cornerback Keisean Nixon for most kickoff opportunities. Wide receiver Jayden Reed was the main man on punts, returning 14 times for 110 yards. Nixon amassed 576 yards between both return types. Schneidman’s Kraft news comes alongside Bo Melton’s more surprising, now-official position switch from receiver to cornerback. Fans aren’t sure what to think. Most aren’t taking Kraft’s rumble too seriously. At South Dakota State, Kraft returned two kickoffs for 34 yards. He has not run back an NFL kick. The former third-round pick enjoyed a highly successful second season: 50 catches, 707 yards, and seven touchdowns. Seeing Kraft tuck it and truck should be a common sight in 2025, just not, most likely, as a returner.
HENDERSON, Nev.—Standing high above his perch overlooking the field, Owner Mark Davis watched Pete Carroll’s first practice of his first Las Vegas Raiders Training Camp. As your Las Vegas Raiders Beat Writer On SI, I was here, and this is what stood out to me. Please note that I will be commenting on any specific information that could harm the Raiders strategically, should their opponents process it. For that reason, I will, in some cases, speak very generally. The Offense: The teams are not wearing pads, but even without them, it was clear that rookie Ashton Jeanty is different. · What stands out to me is that he is a physical player, and even without pads, it shows. Usually, the physical players don’t look as good early, but that is not the case with him. · His football movement and lateral leverage was nothing short of amazing, and his ability to catch the football was surprising. · He is trying to send the message early that he is a complete back, and he doesn’t need to come off the field on any down. · His teammates are excited to watch him in pads, and so am I. · I watched nearly every rep that he had over the last two years at Boise State, and I had no clue he could adjust his body to the ball and catch like that. · I will not be shocked to see him becoming a significant part of Chip Kelly’s passing game. · What contract issue 1.0? Kolton Miller appeared to be in the best shape I have ever seen him in, over the past six years. This monster of a man looked strong, but he was in super condition, and it was great to see him healthy. · You would have had no idea that he was entangled with the Silver and Black over a new deal, because he acted like the Kolton Miller his teammates and fans love. · He was helping the young guys and encouraging the veterans while maintaining his high standards of effort and play. LTs in the NFL are worth their weight in gold; those as good as Miller, and as impressive of a human as he is off the field, are unicorns. · A terrific player, an even better person. · What contract issue 2.0?? Unfathomably, the Raiders have another veteran player with plenty of wear left on the tires heading into training camp. · WR Jakobi Meyers, like Miller, was out there today helping the young WRs, playing tough and setting a standard of expectation. · Jakobi didn’t drop a ball last year and is a reliable weapon with sure hands. He, like Miller, looked like he picked up at training camp, having never missed a beat from 2024. · Rookie Caleb Rogers, I thought, was okay during OTAs and Minicamp, today, he looked comfortable. He looked good to me, but today he looked the part. He showed some nasty (even without pads), and that edge is what got him to the NFL; it seems like he's found it. · I loved him in college, and have liked him since he arrived in Las Vegas. Today, he looked like what I saw in school. That is fantastic news for the Raiders. · Laki Tasi is new to American Football, and while he still has to get his body in American Football shape, he looks the part. He isn’t ready for the 53-man roster, but I will be stunned if he doesn’t make the practice squad and he has a future in this league. He looked far more comfortable today than he has all year, and I have been impressed. · Qadir Ismail shined in the OTA and minicamp portions of the offseason. · I have written and discussed Ismail extensively, and he has earned praise. · I have reported that I expected him and Ian Thomas to battle for the third TE spot, but some in the organization think if the play of both men continues at the level it has been, the Raiders could very possibly carry four tight ends. · Both Thomas and Ismaill showed up today in big ways. · Thomas ran a perfect route, showing some impressive speed and route running that culminated in a 55-yard strike for a touchdown from Aidan O’Connell. · Ismail, who is a monster at 6’5” and 245#, lined up, and I had not previously seen his vision like I did on this play. · As he surveyed the field, I took note that he looked like a QB reading coverage. He flipped his hips on a moving defender and made a block that won’t show up on highlights of fans, but will stand out when coaches are reviewing film. · All four of the Raiders' TE look impressive, but camp is long, and guys have to maintain this when the pads come out. · Aidan O’Connell was NEVER out of shape, but he looked like he was in fantastic shape. His body was toned, and he flew through drills with ease. He showed some today that I had not seen, and while there is ZERO QB controversy at QB1, there is ZERO QB controversy at QB2. · Geno Smith looked as cool as the opposite side of the pillow on a hot summer night today. He is a solid veteran who knows how to lead and when to lead. · I watched a veteran who made a mistake, and Geno said nothing, and when a rookie made one, he walked over and his countenance changed. · You can’t fake leadership, and one thing that I respect about Geno is that there is nothing fake about him. · He spoke today about Jackson Powers-Johnson coming to Miami to join him after he signed with the Raiders. · Geno joked about JPJ and Maxx Crosby being joined at the hip, but this team has that camaraderie that special teams do. · Make no mistake I don’t think this is a Super Bowl team, by any imagination, but they are building something special, and that is evident. · Geno Smith is so comfortable already in this offense, and the ball floats effortlessly off his hands. It is impressive. The Defense · Jamal Adams may be one of the newest Raiders, but I watched him closely today. To be honest, I didn’t see a lot, which I didn’t expect since he just signed yesterday. But towards the end, I was standing with my buddy Q Meyers from ESPN, and he made a play in which his speed was very evident. If he is healthy and his speed is there, he can be another Swiss Army Knife for Patrick Graham. · Maxx Crosby looked like Maxx Crosby. He reminds me of one of those guys you hide in a case and only let come out on game day. Even without pads, he was everywhere, doing everything. · I have sung the praises of S Jeremy Chinn since he signed, but I feel like I haven’t said enough. He looked like a coach on the field today. He is impressive. · Isaiah Pola-Mao has grown before our eyes from a kid to a man. He may not be the most vocal player on this team, but he doesn’t have to be. What he is, is a respected person, and it started with his play and has been maintained by his character. · One player that stood out was Malcolm Koonce. · Koonce bet on himself this offseason by coming back to the Raiders, and today he maintained the emotion he showed all offseason, and looked like he couldn’t wait to get pads on. · Koonce and Crosby are going to have a significant 2025. The Intangibles · I enjoyed being in California last year. With that said, the weather was perfect today, and it was great to have the Raiders fans back. · There were a fair number last year, but the complaints of NFL (California) teams limited the fans who could attend. Not today. · It was nice for the Raider Nation to have the team home, and I can tell you the fans made their presence felt. · The players felt their presence and their energy took the practice up, in the words of the great Cajun Chef Emeril Lagasse, “Another notch.” We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp.