Pittsburg, PA
TJ Oshie was almost traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins before he was acquired by the Capitals
TJ Oshie is set to play in his 1,000th career NHL game on Saturday when the Washington Capitals take on the Vancouver Canucks.
In celebration of that milestone, Monumental Sports Network’s Tarik El-Bashir took a fun look back at the move that originally brought Oshie to DC from the St. Louis Blues on July 2, 2015.
In the piece, Oshie reveals that a week or so prior to arriving in Washington, he was told that he was close to being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins, appalling news for any Capitals fan.
“I was told there was a trade in the works with Pittsburgh at the draft, and that it was almost a done deal,” Oshie said. “I don’t know, it just didn’t happen.”
The proposed move would have seen Oshie join up with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the other side of a rivalry that extended into the NHL postseason three seasons in a row from 2016 through 2018. After being unable to come to terms on that deal, Pittsburgh turned to Toronto’s Phil Kessel in a blockbuster trade that saw three players and two draft picks head to the Maple Leafs.
A day later, the Blues approached the Capitals about Oshie and the rest is history. Troy Brouwer, Pheonix Copley, and a 2016 third-round draft pick landed in St. Louis and the Capitals had a stalwart right winger that would help shape their culture for the next decade.
Oshie would add an immediate, offensive jolt to the Capitals’ lineup, recording 51 points (26g, 25a) in 80 games during his first season with the club. His presence was felt even more in the playoffs as he would add 43 points (18g, 25a) in 49 playoff games over his first three years.
Nineteen of those playoff games came against Pittsburgh, with Oshie putting up 15 points (8g, 7a) in those appearances. His very first postseason matchup against the team he almost joined included a hat trick and the overtime game-winner in Game One of the 2015-16 second round.
The 2016 series between the two teams would end in Capitals heartbreak at the hands of the Penguins and so would the next year, allowing Pittsburgh to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Oshie helped exorcize those demons in 2018 en route to the Capitals’ first-ever Stanley Cup and in a pivotal series against the back-to-back Cup champs, the crafty forward had four points (2g, 2a) in six games. He also skated over 21 minutes in five of the six contests.
One of the biggest moments of that series came when Oshie clobbered Penguins defenseman Kris Letang in a fight at the end of Game Four. The Capitals would win both of the next two games to eliminate Pittsburgh in a playoff series for the first time since 1994.
Oshie would go on to add seven points (2g, 5a) in seven games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final and six points (1g, 5a) in five games against the Vegas Golden Knights. And the rest is history.
Pittsburg softball improved to 16-4 on the season by sweeping host Kansas City Piper 17-1 in five innings and 15-3 in six innings Saturday afternoon.
Breck Slaughter earned the win in both games. She allowed one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks over five innings during the opener. Then, she allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks over three innings.
AnnaLynn Hudson pitched the last three innings of the day for the Purple Dragons.
Offensively, Pittsburg scored 17 runs on 20 hits during the opener and all nine Dragons reached the hit column. Kenleigh Warford led with four hits, Breck Slaughter and Micah Gomez each had three and Brecken Campbell, Brette Pasteur, Laney Trisler and Emily Shriver each had two. Slaughter, Trisler and Gomez each doubled twice and Pasteur and Shriver also recorded two-baggers. Brilee Mantooth homered. Gomez led the Dragons with four RBI, Campbell had three and Trisler, Mantooth and Shriver drove in two each.
The Dragons closed out their sweep with 15 runs on just 11 hits. Pasteur had a monster performance at the plate with four runs scored, three hits in three at-bats, two home runs and five RBI; she also worked a pair of walks and proved to be an utter pain for Piper pitchers Reagan Asbury and Harper Cordill.
Campbell also homered and finished with three hits for the Dragons. Slaughter and Shriver both finished with two hits and both seniors doubled.
Pittsburg won four games during the week and outscored Labette County, Independence and Piper by a combined 59-11. The Dragons return to Southeast Kansas League play on the road Monday against Independence; the Dragons beat the Bulldogs 14-1 in five innings last Thursday in Pittsburg.
The Dragons are looking to wrap up at least a share of the SEK League title.
Pittsburg 612 44 — 17 20 0
KC Piper 000 01 — 1 2 5
Breck Slaughter and Peyton Morey; Stella Utter and Ginny Garcia. W: Slaughter. L: Utter. 2B—PHS: Slaughter 2, Brette Pasteur, Emily Shriver, Laney Trisler 2, Micah Gomez 2; KCP: Faith Flournoy. HR—PHS: Brilee Mantooth.
——
Pittsburg 225 105 — 15 7 2
KC Piper 100 101 — 3 6 6
Breck Slaughter, AnnaLynn Hudson (4) and Peyton Morey; Reagan Asbury, Harper Cordill (5) and Faith Flournoy. W: Slaughter. L: Asbury. 2B—PHS: Slaughter. HR—PHs: Brecken Campbell, Brette Pasteur 2; KCP: Ginny Garcia.
This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/
Pittsburg, PA
Steelers insider just poured gasoline on the Aaron Rodgers fire following latest report of what he was doing in Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers was supposed to be in Pittsburgh over the weekend, with the thought that a deal would get done. One Steelers insider backs the report, but adds details that only compound a messy situation.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
At this point, the events of the past two seasons between Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers could probably be a book or movie. Everything from walks on the beach, to him throwing with DK Metcalf before signing, to someone capturing him driving a rental car into Pittsburgh has made waves.
This offseason was supposed to be different, and a decision from Rodgers was supposed to come much earlier. However, the Steelers remain in a holding pattern, and one that many believed would end over the weekend, after it was reported that Rodgers would be in town to sign a contract. Well, that seems to be true, but like much of this saga over the past two years, there seems to be a holdup.
Aaron Rodgers 2025 stats
- 3.4 TD to INT ratio.
- 3,322 passing yards.
- 65.7% completion percentage.
Aaron Rodgers visited Pittsburgh, but not the Steelers over the weekend
“Aaron Rodgers has been in town for a couple days, but the Steelers have not met with him yet and instead have been talking with his agent. Rodgers has stayed away from the team’s South Side facility while the three-day rookie minicamp has been going on.” – Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The news from Dulac comes on the heels of the report from 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that Rodgers would be visiting the Steelers over the weekend, with the intention to sign his deal.
That report was backed up nationally by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, but some in Steelers media (Mark Kaboly) said that if Rodgers was going to be in town, that was news to the team.
Omar Khan said as much during a radio hit after the reports surfaced, saying that he didn’t know where Rodgers was, but that talks remained fluid. Of course, general managers, including Omar Khan, have been known to bend the truth, which seems to lie somewhere in the middle here.
The bottom line with Aaron Rodgers
It’s obvious to me that the Steelers and Rodgers are held up over money. I know that it was said to not be the case, but you don’t intentionally avoid meeting with a team and have your agent talk to them, just days after they use a tender that determines your 2026 salary, if you’re just going to sign.
I would be surprised if Rodgers doesn’t sign at this point, but it doesn’t change the monetary situation that needs to be worked out here.
Kennywood honored two longtime employees Saturday who together have worked at the park for a combined 100 years.
Larry Russ and Bobby Trygar started working at Kennywood in 1976.
Russ began his Kennywood career as a games employee, working at the Big Apple dart game. In 1980, Russ applied to the security team and has held positions there ever since, including roles as a corporal, lieutenant, chief, and captain, according to a press release provided by the park.
Trygar began his time at Kennywood by working in the Parkside Café. Since he joined Kennywood, he has helped to maintain some of the park’s most iconic attractions, including the Racer, Log Jammer, and Merry Go Round.
“This is something you dream about. It’s so amazing,” Trygar said. “One of the best things when I worked out here was when I met my wife on the Racer. I was the mechanic. It’s just a great feeling to come here every day, see smiles on people’s faces, it’s tremendous. It gives you that extra boost and happiness.”
“I was planning on going into the mill, like everyone else was during my era,” Russ said. “Of course, the mill shut down. My father told me, ‘You don’t want to [work at the mill]. This place isn’t going to be here that much longer,’ and he was right, so I stuck it out here. I got a full-time position in 1980, and the rest is history.”
The park also dedicated two benches in their honor.
-
Detroit, MI11 minutes agoMetro Detroit braces for Frost Advisory, Freeze Warning overnight before rain arrives
-
San Francisco, CA23 minutes ago50 Beagles Rescued From Wisconsin Lab Arrive in Bay Area, SF Activist Faces Felony Charges
-
Dallas, TX29 minutes ago
Former Cowboys QB Craig Morton passes away at age 83
-
Miami, FL35 minutes agoBrickell Avenue Bridge openings spark rush hour gridlock concerns in downtown Miami
-
Boston, MA41 minutes agoWhat we know about accused Memorial Drive gunman Tyler Brown
-
Denver, CO47 minutes agoBroncos Ring of Famer Craig Morton, who led Denver to first Super Bowl, dies at 83
-
Seattle, WA53 minutes agoVictim identified in deadly Seattle beer garden shooting on Lake City Way; suspect sought
-
San Diego, CA59 minutes agoSan Diego health officials monitor hantavirus situation as cruise ship passengers return to U.S.