The NHL encouraging color on color jersey battles is awesome but I don’t want to see another stupid reverse retro jersey for as long as I’m alive.

I stopped to check in on a handful of players from the 2025 draft class and how the college experience has been treating them this season. www.eliteprospects.com/news/ncaa/tr...

ICYMI

NEW: Penguins’ 5th round pick in 2025, Ryan Miller, is on a 19 game point streak. He’s got 26 points in those games, and 17 of those points are primary. I cut a 15 minute mix of his best work. This is a pro-style player who is bought into all three zones. open.substack.com/pub/faceofff...

15 minute mixtape on Ryan Miller’s 19 game scoring streak exporting now

Ryan Miller’s point streak is now up to 18 games. When I watch him, I see so many similarities to Tanner Howe. Only difference is Miller doesn’t have the extra-curricular annoyance that Howe brings. But, both North/South forwards who bully opposing defensemen. Simply tenacious.

Another two goals from Will Horcoff last night. Now has 16 in 16. The juice is in his on-ice awareness. Making beautiful runs to scoring areas and his shot is absolutely lethal. Doubt he’ll shoot at this percentage all season, but the habits underneath are those of a good finisher.

Last night I finished the last few games of Ryan Miller’s 17 game point streak for Portland. Cutting a 10+ minute mixtape on his best moments during the point streak. Very impressive stuff.

When Rutger McGroarty comes up, I staple him directly to Sidney Crosby. Assuming he needs another 7-10 days of work before we get to that point, but I am maxing out on the skating improvements he’s made and putting him right up top.

Hands down the best natural playmaker in the draft

Jett Luchanko to Brantford is not good news for Pens prospect Quinn Beauchesne. Let’s hope he gets traded next!

Pitt Basketball, man. It’s dead dead. No end in sight. Just feels like a rudderless ship in the ocean among the flotsam and jetsam.

Really excited for Tristan Broz. I can’t shake the Andrew Copp comparison for him. Feels super valid based on their play styles. This is not a complaint.

Mike Tomlin living in his fears with that punt.

Somehow, Rutger McGroarty looks faster than he did last year. Small sample, but still.

Penguins look bad. Which I expected. They travelled halfway across the world. No easy endeavor. Might get a few stinkers.

This is a joke. This is an official in his feelings. NHL officiating is a step away from the WWE.

My little one caught the daycare gunk and it’s particularly brutal this time.

Mario Lemieux, shorthanded, leaning on Dmitri Mironov like he’s an inanimate light post for his 100th point of the season. Using the same tactic he used against Ray Bourque, put the puck in his feet and cuffs him. Defender can’t get the puck when he’s standing on it.

This is the second day I’ve spent hanging out here more than the other place and I gotta say, this is pretty great imo

Only the first half of this is bad. But it’s like, really bad. 50% of this is 100% bad.

All I can think about is Arc Raiders

Celebrini is immensely skilled and that’s great, but his IQ is what drives the success. Having immense skill but being ignorant of how to apply if appropriately is a huge hurdle for young forwards. Celebrini is doing things to opponents in terms of stripping the pick that is giving them nightmares.

Tomasino just did not seem to fit anywhere. Some skill, sure. But he didn’t find any identity for it anywhere in the lineup.

Tomasino (PIT) & Guenette (PHI) on waivers

Two mixtapes coming for Penguins fans. Just finished up every game for Kale Dach this year. Finishing up Ryan Miller next. A few more games to go.

That’s how annoying bamboo is; it takes the lead over your fiancees affair with a presidential candidate

For the first time in NCAA D1 hockey history, a pair of brothers sit atop the scoring race while playing on the same team. A look at Plante brothers takeover of college hockey for @eliteprospects.com www.eliteprospects.com/news/ncaa/ex...

I would usually agree with this but seeing as how it’s a noon game I’m giving permission to go pedal to the medal

Crazy fact: The Plante/Plante/Shaugabay line has accounted for 51% of every goal Minnesota-Duluth has scored this season

companion gardening? ie putting two healthy, symbiotic plante's next to each other

NEW: Behind Zam Plante’s 2025 scoring run. A look at the high-IQ behaviors he’s exhibiting that are driving his overall success. These scoring rates are 👀 open.substack.com/pub/faceofff...

I wrote about four prospects for the 2026 NHL draft that are showing distinct scoring habits and making a name of themselves as a result. Pierce Mbuyi, Nikita Klepov + more! @eliteprospects.com www.eliteprospects.com/news/2026-nh...

Seeing Crosby and Ovechkin move into this state of mutual respect is awesome l. So many intense battles over the years with the highest stakes. I miss that intensity, as it was the greatest NHL rivalry of all time, but also seeing them acknowledge each others work now is cool.

NEW: Mikhail Ilyin Sept & Oct mixtape. After no goals in his first 8 games, Ilyin is on fire. Deep looks at his playmaking, skating, and best scoring chances through the first few months. Read & Subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/faceofff...

That Ned sequence from last night is just unreal. Both of them.

This banger of an article on #LetsGoPens rookies Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel from your boy @jmarshpgh.bsky.social is unlocked over at @eliteprospects.com right now. Do yourself a favor a read it ASAP.

SIS will never die!

NEW: Jordan Charron leads the OHL in scoring through six games. While his torrid pace of goals might not continue, the habits he's building are positioning him to continue to grow as goal-scorer. 7:00 video of pick 154 in 2025. faceofffactor.substack.com/p/jordan-cha...

Announcement: I am equal parts excited and humbled to announce that I am joining the team at @eliteprospects.com to bring you U15 coverage from the Pittsburgh scene as well as analysis on drafted and undrafted NHL prospects from all over. The draft is my happy place, and EP is the best of the best.

My daughter kid my keys. And man, she did a really good job.

Good morning

My neighbor is from Connecticut and went home for the fourth. He found this at a relatives house. A Gordie Howe signed wine bottle from the 1986 NHL all-star game.

Jay is the man for this

If the Penguins finish last in the next two seasons they’d have a 25% chance at McKenna and DuPont which is basically 50% do not argue with me I teach statistics to ants

Mama’s Family

I need to spend more time here. I’m sorry for neglecting you, BlueSky.

I wrote a lot of words and put together 10+ minutes of video on Quinn Beauchesne, probably my favorite player Dubas selected outside of the first round. Stop by, check it out, and subscribe. Peyton Kettles is next. open.substack.com/pub/faceofff...