First Call: Steelers projected to get 3rd-round compensatory pick for Bud Dupree; Rangers rip NHL over Tom Wilson decision
The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a sense of their 2022 draft compensation for losing Bud Dupree in free agency. And the franchise is finally getting some national praise for their 2021 draft class from a national outlet.
In the NHL, the New York Rangers are irate over the lack of discipline against Tom Wilson, and they have a league official with Pittsburgh-area ties in their crosshairs.
Also, updates on Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie after an eventful day for the Washington Capitals.
All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”
On the nose
On Saturday, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said that he was anticipating the addition of at least a fourth-round compensatory draft choice in 2022. He said that was part of the reason they were willing to trade up in the fifth round to get Wisconsin defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk.
It looks like Colbert will be right. In fact, he may be pleasantly surprised.
According to early projections from OverTheCap.com, the Steelers and Detroit Lions will both probably get compensatory third-round picks for the losses of Bud Dupree and Kenny Golladay, respectively.
Seven teams should get fourth-round compensation. The Baltimore Ravens appear to be in line for two in the fourth round after losing Yannick Ngakoue and Matt Judon.
A little love
Quite a few national analysts didn’t like the Steelers draft class. But NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein isn’t in that group. He gave the Steelers an A-minus draft grade, largely because he stayed out of the “don’t draft a running back in the first round” camp so many others joined.
But Zierlein also loved the selection of Illinois center Kendrick Green in the third round.
Zierlein listed his three favorite picks from each round. And Green was one of his nominations from Round 3.
“The former Illini lineman is tremendously quick off the snap, and his move blocking should allow the Steelers to widen out their rushing attack and get defenders off their spots. I would be surprised if he’s not an early starter,” Zierlein said.
He had Penn State’s Micah Parsons as one of his first-round choices, too. The Nittany Lions linebacker went to the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 12.
Speaking out
The New York Rangers are unhappy with the National Hockey League.
The franchise is mad that the NHL failed to suspend Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for his on-ice throwdowns and punches against New York players Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich Monday night.
Not to mention his penalty box celebration over the fracas.
Specifically, the organization called NHL head of player discipline George Parros “unfit to continue in his current role.”
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 4, 2021
Parros was born in Washington County, Pa. His office merely fined Wilson $5,000 for the 10-minute misconduct.
Wilson has been suspended five times and lost at least $1.37 million in fines.
But what about No. 8?
While Wilson will keep playing, Alexander Ovechkin is probably going back to the press box. Washington head coach Peter Laviolette told reporters that Ovechkin is unlikely to play on Wednesday in Madison Square Garden.
The Capitals star scorer tried to play at the start of that game Monday night. But he left after just one shift. Ovechkin had been trying to come back from a bothersome lower-body injury that cost him the four previous Capitals games.
“Where it goes through the end of the year, the most important thing is the playoffs and they’re a ways away,” Laviolette said via NHL.com. “I still feel we’re in good shape for that. But our level of concern is high to make sure that he’s healthy.”
The Caps beat the New York Islanders twice without Ovechkin, then lost two in a row to the Penguins. They won their game Monday against the New York Rangers 6-3.
Forward T.J. Oshie (death in family) and former Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz (lower body) missed that game in New York. Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov and goalie Ilya Samsonov were scratched for team disciplinary reasons.
Oshie’s availability for Wednesday is unknown as is that of Samsonov, and Schultz is day to day. Kuznetsov was placed in NHL covid-19 protocol Tuesday. He was also on the list in January.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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