Non-Penguins News Update

A couple of non-Penguins updates.

Patrick Kane is expected to sign with the Red Wings (if he hasn’t already). A little baffling to me, given the fact that the Wings have decent scoring depth up front. Apparently Kane’s hoping to play with his old Hawks linemate and sidekick, Alex DeBrincat.

FYI: I’d panned the high-scoring forward and three-time Cup champion as an option for our Pens a couple of weeks back.

Speaking of the Hawks, they’ve cut ties with veteran forward Corey Perry (pictured), placing the long-time Ducks stalwart on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. There’s a tasteless (and unsubstantiated) rumor circulating the web, but no official word on the particulars other than a statement from the Hawks that Perry engaged in unacceptable conduct.

I know we’re already loaded with 30-somethings and Perry’s 38 and not known for his speed. But he’s big (6’3” 208) and tough and has carved out a career banging (and scoring) around the opposing net. In short, a net-front presence. Even at his advanced age, he tallied four goals and nine points in 16 games for the Hawks while riding shotgun for Connor Bedard. Over the course of 19 NHL seasons, he’s amassed 421 goals and 892 points in 1273 games.

Of course, much depends on the nature of his transgression.

In other league news, former Baby Pens, Devils and Predators skipper John Hynes has replaced Dean Evason as the Wild’s coach.

Okay, Some Penguins News, Too

The Pens have placed defenseman Will Butcher on waivers. If he clears, we’ll be able to assign the puck-moving blueliner and one-time hot commodity to the Baby Pens. Butcher’s been sidelined since the summer with an undisclosed injury.

In other team-related news, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has terminated defenseman Mark Pysyk’s PTO. The veteran defender skated in eight games for the Baby Pens, with no points and four penalty minutes. He was attempting to resume his career after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury that required surgery.