• For a couple weeks and counting, I've seen the NHL's standings in way I hadn't for as long as I can recall: Nothing but the Metro Division.
These are current. Take a look:
NHL
OK, see that six-point gap between the Penguins in second and the Blue Jackets and Capitals, both tied for fourth place? And that the Penguins have games in hand on both?
That's it. That's the gap to watch.
In the Eastern Conference, as everyone knows, the top eight teams make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Only it's not that simple, because it's the top three in each division, then two wild cards. And both wild cards would currently go to Atlantic teams, the Bruins (68 points) and Sabres (67), accounting for that same six-point gap between them and the Blue Jackets and Capitals.
What that means: Even if the Atlantic keeps separating itself as the superior division, those teams could bypass the Penguins in points, and it still wouldn't impact their playoff pursuit. They really only need to achieve second or third place in their division.
Way bigger stuff. Could shove another Metro opponent down into that pack.
Sabres Thursday night in Buffalo?
Big like the one tonight.
They're all technically four-point games, but my goodness, almost everything in the Metro's magnified that much more. It's imperative to kick any and all available dirt onto the Islanders, Blue Jackets, Capitals, and even the Flyers and Devils.
Do that to the Rangers, too, but for amusement purposes only.
• I recall a good talk I had with Kyle Dubas one morning at training camp up in Cranberry, and we'd gone back and forth on a few key variables in what'd have to occur for things to go really right for the Penguins.
First name he'd bring up: Anthony Mantha.
And look at the big man now:
PENGUINS
Not to mention he's already at 19 goals for the season, putting him on a comfortable pace to plow through his previous career high of 25, set in 2018-19 with the Red Wings.
Dubas and the team's scouts and medical people did deep diligence not only on Mantha's surgically repaired knee but also on everything else about his tenure in Calgary and elsewhere, and they'd legitimately felt he'd be a significant contributor once he'd be confident in his health.
That's exceptional work by Dubas and staff.
• And don't even get me started on Ilya Solovyov. Not yet, anyway.
• It's become painful to watch Evgeni Malkin hunch over after every other shift because of that obvious left shoulder ailment. I mean, it's admirable -- and predictable -- that he doesn't want to let his team down, but I'm beginning to wonder if even the 20-day Olympic breather will be enough to make a difference with that thing.
• I don't know who'll be in goal for Ottawa tonight, but if it's Linus Ullmark, I can't recommend strongly enough catching up on his month-long absence for a mental-health leave, punctuated by a triumphant return over the weekend in Canada's capital.
Some of us have been there. It sucks. But it's both treatable and beatable. Good for him.
• The Pirates' pursuit of a difference-making power bat found its second strike last night when Eugenio Suarez agreed with the Reds on a one-year, $15 million contract.
Looks bad, I know. And it might be bad, too.
Yeah, I for-real believe the team source who told our José Negron that the Pirates had offered the same salary, as well as expressing an openness to add to both term and dollars. Turned out, per the source, Suarez chose a return to Cincinnati, where he began his big-league career, and Great American Ball Park's friendlier fences for a right-handed slugger.
Still, I've got three questions:
1. Why not offer more and tempt further?
2. Is anyone considering how much damage PNC Park's far-out left field and North Side Notch might be doing in scenarios like this?
3. No Kyle Schwarber and no Suarez means no massive infusion of home runs, which means those'll now come from ... where, exactly?
• If the next option down on the list is Marcell Ozuna, as José further reported, count me out. He's 35, he can't do anything other than DH, and he had a .750 OPS for the Braves in 2025, as compared to Andrew McCutchen's .700 here. Which isn't enough of a difference, in my eyes, to be dumping on a franchise treasure in advance of what's supposed to be the first feel-good summer around here in forever.
• Mike McCarthy's staff keeps solidifying, seemingly by the day, but there won't be a bigger hire in the Steelers' ongoing process than Patrick Grahamas defensive coordinator, for what I'd imagine would be an obvious reason: The offensive coordinator won't even be calling plays.
The more I've dug into Graham's history, especially the past three years with the Raiders, the more I'm impressed. One of the main internal criticisms of Teryl Austin was that he'd either take forever to adjust or not adjust at all. I don't necessarily mean in-game. I mean adjusting to the talent at hand, even in the broadest sense. And that's not going to be Graham, who's long since established a reputation as prioritizing the players over any perceived preference for a system.
• Mike Tomlin's public silence since his resignation couldn't mean less to me. This was always the time of year he'd vanish for two months and, if he didn't want to say anything then as an active head coach, I can't imagine why he'd feel compelled to do so now.
• Thanks for reading. I mean that. These weekday bullet-based Grinds have been fun, and I hope they can grow to become part of our subscribers' morning routine.
THE ASYLUM
Grind: In out of the cold?
Good Monday morning!
• For a couple weeks and counting, I've seen the NHL's standings in way I hadn't for as long as I can recall: Nothing but the Metro Division.
These are current. Take a look:
NHL
OK, see that six-point gap between the Penguins in second and the Blue Jackets and Capitals, both tied for fourth place? And that the Penguins have games in hand on both?
That's it. That's the gap to watch.
In the Eastern Conference, as everyone knows, the top eight teams make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Only it's not that simple, because it's the top three in each division, then two wild cards. And both wild cards would currently go to Atlantic teams, the Bruins (68 points) and Sabres (67), accounting for that same six-point gap between them and the Blue Jackets and Capitals.
What that means: Even if the Atlantic keeps separating itself as the superior division, those teams could bypass the Penguins in points, and it still wouldn't impact their playoff pursuit. They really only need to achieve second or third place in their division.
So, Senators tonight at PPG Paints Arena?
Big stuff.
Islanders tomorrow night in Elmont, N.Y.
Way bigger stuff. Could shove another Metro opponent down into that pack.
Sabres Thursday night in Buffalo?
Big like the one tonight.
They're all technically four-point games, but my goodness, almost everything in the Metro's magnified that much more. It's imperative to kick any and all available dirt onto the Islanders, Blue Jackets, Capitals, and even the Flyers and Devils.
Do that to the Rangers, too, but for amusement purposes only.
• I recall a good talk I had with Kyle Dubas one morning at training camp up in Cranberry, and we'd gone back and forth on a few key variables in what'd have to occur for things to go really right for the Penguins.
First name he'd bring up: Anthony Mantha.
And look at the big man now:
PENGUINS
Not to mention he's already at 19 goals for the season, putting him on a comfortable pace to plow through his previous career high of 25, set in 2018-19 with the Red Wings.
Dubas and the team's scouts and medical people did deep diligence not only on Mantha's surgically repaired knee but also on everything else about his tenure in Calgary and elsewhere, and they'd legitimately felt he'd be a significant contributor once he'd be confident in his health.
That's exceptional work by Dubas and staff.
• And don't even get me started on Ilya Solovyov. Not yet, anyway.
• It's become painful to watch Evgeni Malkin hunch over after every other shift because of that obvious left shoulder ailment. I mean, it's admirable -- and predictable -- that he doesn't want to let his team down, but I'm beginning to wonder if even the 20-day Olympic breather will be enough to make a difference with that thing.
• I don't know who'll be in goal for Ottawa tonight, but if it's Linus Ullmark, I can't recommend strongly enough catching up on his month-long absence for a mental-health leave, punctuated by a triumphant return over the weekend in Canada's capital.
Some of us have been there. It sucks. But it's both treatable and beatable. Good for him.
• The Pirates' pursuit of a difference-making power bat found its second strike last night when Eugenio Suarez agreed with the Reds on a one-year, $15 million contract.
Looks bad, I know. And it might be bad, too.
Yeah, I for-real believe the team source who told our José Negron that the Pirates had offered the same salary, as well as expressing an openness to add to both term and dollars. Turned out, per the source, Suarez chose a return to Cincinnati, where he began his big-league career, and Great American Ball Park's friendlier fences for a right-handed slugger.
Still, I've got three questions:
1. Why not offer more and tempt further?
2. Is anyone considering how much damage PNC Park's far-out left field and North Side Notch might be doing in scenarios like this?
3. No Kyle Schwarber and no Suarez means no massive infusion of home runs, which means those'll now come from ... where, exactly?
• If the next option down on the list is Marcell Ozuna, as José further reported, count me out. He's 35, he can't do anything other than DH, and he had a .750 OPS for the Braves in 2025, as compared to Andrew McCutchen's .700 here. Which isn't enough of a difference, in my eyes, to be dumping on a franchise treasure in advance of what's supposed to be the first feel-good summer around here in forever.
• Mike McCarthy's staff keeps solidifying, seemingly by the day, but there won't be a bigger hire in the Steelers' ongoing process than Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator, for what I'd imagine would be an obvious reason: The offensive coordinator won't even be calling plays.
The more I've dug into Graham's history, especially the past three years with the Raiders, the more I'm impressed. One of the main internal criticisms of Teryl Austin was that he'd either take forever to adjust or not adjust at all. I don't necessarily mean in-game. I mean adjusting to the talent at hand, even in the broadest sense. And that's not going to be Graham, who's long since established a reputation as prioritizing the players over any perceived preference for a system.
• Mike Tomlin's public silence since his resignation couldn't mean less to me. This was always the time of year he'd vanish for two months and, if he didn't want to say anything then as an active head coach, I can't imagine why he'd feel compelled to do so now.
• Thanks for reading. I mean that. These weekday bullet-based Grinds have been fun, and I hope they can grow to become part of our subscribers' morning routine.
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