Links, News and Notes: Pinto trade chatter

The start of training camp is just around the corner, so we've got jampacked edition of Links, News, and Notes to get your week started:

• With Pinto still unsigned, Flames Nation wonders if a couple of picks and Connor Zary could get a Pinto trade done. Zary is a former first-round pick who is also a year younger than Pinto, but he's yet to crack the NHL so....I don't see the fit.
• The long await piece from Ian Mendes from his time hanging out with Tim Stützle in Germany has finally been released - and it is well worth the subscription to The Athletic.
• Broad Street Buzz also explores a Pinto trade. The metaphorical sharks are circling.
• Meanwhile, Pierre Dorion remains optimistic that Pinto will be in the lineup by training camp. For what it's worth, I think this is a typical low-leverage RFA situation. I have a hard time seeing the Sens trading him unless someone blows their socks off.
• Dorion also doesn't want to say the Sens will be in the playoffs for sure, but he's hopeful
• What are the expectations of Coach DJ Smith coming into this season? Very high. Considering only 6 NHL coaches have had their jobs longer than him (4 of whom have won a Stanley Cup in their tenure), this makes sense.
• Garrioch tells us the sale is getting done this week, for sure, absolutely, no question. Don't worry though, it's just that $900M sales have a lot of paperwork.
• Some quick notes on the rookie tournament. The Sens prospects beat the Devils 5–2 but then lost to the Penguins 8–3. Undrafted 22-year-old Tarun Fizer has been a huge standout, while Tyler Kleven and Ridly Greig were sat after the first game, presumably because they looked good enough to go straight into training camp.
• Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson, and Thomas Chabot are talking playoffs already. These young Sens are tired of losing. You love to see it.
• The first PWHL draft starts at 1 pm (ET) today! In case you missed it, Beata's preview has you covered. Sportsnet also has a quick rundown. And, iff you missed it, the Ottawa team hired Carla MacLeod.
• The Ice Garden did a full mock PWHL draft (paywall)
• I don't want to rehash it much, but the Mike Babcock saga in Columbus has ended with him resigning. Seems very likely that Babcock will never coach in the NHL again at this point.
• Sens legend Mike McKenna released his tandem ratings for the entire NHL. He has the Islanders first, and the Sens 14th, which feels about right for Ottawa.
• Remember when Christian Dvorak was the replacement for Jesperi Kotkaniemi? Anyway, the Habs are probably trying to dump him
• The hockey world is excited that Connor Bedard scored a hat trick in the rookie showcase. So did Tarun Fizer though, so why is no one calling him the next McDavid?
• Jaromir Jagr, at 51 years of age, is going to play his 35th professional season
• Scouting the Refs breaks down all the rule changes you need to know, including that players who joined the league in 2019 or later must wear helmets in warmups. Phew, Brady Tkachuk is just barely exempt.
• Phil Kessel appears to be skating in Vegas again; could he be playing another season?
• In the doldrums of offseason signings, Jujhar Khaira has signed a two-way deal with the Wild
• Adam Proteau does his pre-season awards picks; I'm particularly interested by his pick of Heiskanen for Norris