Things didn't end well for Elmer Soderblom in Detroit. He was a healthy scratch in the last three games prior to the trade deadline, scoreless in his last 16 games with only a goal and two assists in his 39 games this season.

It was hard, Soderblom told me Thursday here at T-Mobile Arena, because he found himself worrying too much about making mistakes.

"I played for not getting out of lineup, you know?" he said. "So it was kind of hard to trust yourself and trust your skills when you're in that situation. But at the same time, you learn stuff from it. I think the best way to play hockey is just to not think. Just play your game that you've always been playing."

In coming to the Penguins and playing for Dan Muse, he feels the freedom to do just that.

"He's really good," Soderblom said. "He has a really good way of coaching, and it feels like he gets the group together to work as a team. I think that's really important in hockey. He is really good at talking to the players, just talking to them so everybody's on the same page, you know? Since my first game, he's just been telling me to play my game and don't think too much. Don't think too much about mistakes and system-wise and stuff like that, that will come along the way. So I'm just trying to play my game and learn some stuff every day."

Soderblom's first impressions aren't unlike those of other young players to come along under Muse. It's not that there's no accountability, but Muse understands that young players making mistakes is part of the learning process. That mindset could help the Penguins in trying to find success with young players who fell out of favor in other organizations, like Egor Chinakhov did with Columbus. 

Soderblom could be the next gem the Penguins help develop by getting trust from Muse.

"It's nice to get a little bit of a new start here and show that side of myself," Soderblom said. "I'm excited to keep going."

MORE PENGUINS

• The Penguins have a replica of the blue and yellow "BELIEVE" sign from "Ted Lasso" hanging at PPG Paints Arena above where the players walk out of the locker room to get on the ice. I know it's been there for at least two seasons ... and I also know Sidney Crosby is a huge fan of the show. I tried figuring out where it came from this week.

"To be honest, I don't know," Bryan Rust said. "I don't know how it got there. Who put it up there? I would assume Sid had a reason or hand in it, because I know he was a big fan of the show. I am too! But I couldn't tell you. It's been there since what, last year, maybe longer? I've got no idea where it came from, and I'm not sure there are too many people in this room who know where that sign came from."

Kris Letang guessed that Crosby "probably" had something to do with it, but also speculated that it could have been equipment manager Jon Taglianetti. I asked around a bit more, and nobody had an answer. Crosby isn't available to speak to the media until he's ready to return, so it remains a mystery for now. -- Taylor Haase

• Both Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak knew when they were acquired that being flipped ahead of the trade deadline was a possibility, just given where the Penguins are heading with trying to get younger, and their expiring contracts. Still, they planned as if they were staying, with Skinner's family settling in in Sewickley, and Kulak's in Cranberry. Skinner was a little anxious on deadline day, but is happy he's still here. -- Taylor Haase

• People have asked me about potential offer sheets of RFAs this summer. If anyone is going to get an offer sheet, it's not going to be a big-name player like Jason Robertson. The sliding scale of draft pick compensation just makes zero sense at that point. Robertson, for example, would cost four first-round picks if offer sheeted. For guys at that level, a trade is more likely. The Penguins aren't opposed to offer sheets, it would just be for a player with a much smaller contract. -- Taylor Haase

• A rare bad night for the fourth line here in Vegas on Thursday. Saw Dan Muse having a long, quiet talk with Connor Dewar afterward. It seemed more of an encouraging tone from Muse if anything. He's not one to bury guys for mistakes, obviously. -- Taylor Haase

STEELERS

• While the future of the quarterback position remains a topic of discussion, especially if Aaron Rodgers does come back for an encore, the future of the franchise could also see some significant change in the coming years.

There's a growing sentiment within the organization that Art Rooney II is getting much closer to handing the role of team president over to his son, Dan Rooney, who currently holds the title of vice president of business development and strategy. Sources indicate that Art Rooney could be making that transition in two years, or at least before the turn of the decade.

Dan Rooney has become much more visible over the past several months, more than ever before. He was front and center for the Steelers' trip to Dublin, even holding his own press conferences. He's been an active part of bringing the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh this April. And, perhaps the most telling sign that a transition is approaching sooner or later, Dan Rooney sat in on the interview process with the candidates for the head coaching vacancy.

Should this transition happen in the next few years, Dan Rooney, just 36 years old, will be much younger than his father was when he became team president at the age of 50 in May 2003. However, Art Rooney is 73 years old now. While this is more conjecture on my part, the reason for the potential transition in the coming years might simply just be because of age. Either way, I expect Dan Rooney to continue to be more involved and more visible in what the Steelers do. -- Chris Halicke in Downtown

• The circles around Mike Tomlin have remained quiet, keeping as much of his personal life under wraps as possible. His future in coaching has remained part of the speculation that's making the rounds. In recent conversations that I've had with those that have spoken to Tomlin since he stepped down in January, the initial feeling confirms what many have already suspected: He may be done coaching altogether. One thing I was told unequivocally is he is not motivated to coach again anytime soon. However, also based on the this conversation, never say never. -- Chris Halicke

• I reported in last week's Friday Insider that secondary was going to be a focus for the team in free agency, and that's exactly what's played out. The team brought back Asante Samuel Jr. when they found out they weren't likely going to lure back James Pierre, then made a couple of splashes in signing cornerback Jamel Dean and safety Jaquan Brisker. As for what's next, left guard is a top priority. That doesn't mean that's the next position to signed, but whether it be through free agency or the draft, adding to the left side of the line remains atop the list of plans. -- Chris Halicke

• Another players that could see a contract extension this offseason: Keeanu Benton. I've been told Benton is on the list of players the team wants to extend, though not as much of a priority as Joey Porter Jr. or Nick Herbig. The team saw Benton flash his true potential last season and believe they can tap into more. -- Chris Halicke

• The dynamic between Mike McCarthy and new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio is going to be interesting to cover. As far as Angelichio's responsibilities, especially since McCarthy will be the play caller, it's been explained to be that Angelichio will be focusing more heavily on the run game portion. That doesn't mean he won't be involved at all in pass game details, game planning, etc., but he will be spearheading just about everything with the run game. -- Chris Halicke

PIRATES

• It didn’t take long for Hunter Barco to see just how invested Bill Murphy is in his new role as pitching coach. 

Barco had never met Murphy prior to him being hired in late October after a number of years in the Astros organization. Shortly after he joined the fold, Murphy met both Barco and Paul Skenes at a facility in Jupiter, Fla. 

“It was really cool to pick his brain and kind of figure out what his style is,” Barco told me. “I didn’t have to get to know him at all when I got here (for spring training). It was a ‘good to see you, let’s continue to go to work.’ It probably helped him, too. He had met Paul, myself, I believe Bubba (Chandler), I think Carmen (Mlodzinski) came and thew a bullpen down there and so did (Kyle) Nicolas before he left. It was good for Murph to get to meet all the other guys, too. It definitely showed how much he cared, wanting to come down there and work with us.” -- José Negron in Bradenton, Fla.

• It turns out Murphy was the one who suggested that Barco add a changeup and sinker to his arsenal over the offseason. He’s traditionally been a three-pitch guy, but he’s implemented three more pitches, including a sweeper, to help him 

“It’ll help out a lot, just being able to throw six different pitches in the zone and keep guys on their toes,” Barco said. “I’ve always been really good against righties, not as effective against lefties, so those will definitely help add to my other weapons.” -- José Negron

• While Ben Cherington has said the Pirates have to be “out there every day looking for ways to improve the roster,” time is dwindling this spring. Cherington has expressed belief in the group that is currently assembled and it’s looking more and more likely that they’ll stand pat and roll with the guys currently in camp here in the final weeks. -- José Negron

• Mitch Keller hasn’t pitched in a spring game in a week, but he’s not dealing with anything injury-wise that has kept him out of game action. I was told that he threw 70 pitches in a minor-league game on Wednesday, as he continues to build volume in the weeks leading up to opening day. -- José Negron

• The World Baseball Classic isn’t just a big deal to the guys competing in it. Players in the Pirates clubhouse have been locked in on the games and a group of about 60 players at Pirate City were watching when Oneil Cruz hit his first homer of the WBC against Nicaragua. Cherington described the noise in the room as an “eruption.” Imagine how the young Dominican players feel seeing a player in their own organization shining like that on a national stage while representing their country. Pure joy on display. -- José Negron