In the latest “First Call,” the Steelers are considering drafting a center. Some former Steelers performed well in their UFL debuts. Marc-Andre Fleury has reconsidered retiring. The Penguins face a tough challenge in April.
The Pirates aim to continue their strong hitting in their second series of the 2024 season.
Zach attack
The Steelers have a need for a center as the NFL Draft nears. Zach Frazier from West Virginia is a potential candidate. He is generally ranked as the second- or third-best center in most NFL draft boards. on most NFL draft boards.
Via SteelersDepot.com, Steelers assistant offensive line coach Issac Williams attended Frazier’s workout for the Big 12 pro day over the weekend. He can be seen in a video posted by the WVU Football account on Instagram.
Frazier participated in the event after being limited in his participation at the NFL Combine. He was recovering from a broken leg suffered during WVU’s regular-season finale against Baylor.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler shared Frazier’s numbers.
#WestVirginia OC Zach Frazier at today's Big 12 Combine:
6024, 315
40/10: 5.24/1.81
VJ: 28 1/2"
BJ: 8'4"
SS: 4.69
3C: 7.85— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 31, 2024
Though not particularly impressive, it was remarkable to see Frazier being measured just four months after the injury.
Is Fleury not done?
For much of this year, it was believed that Marc-Andre Fleury would retire after this season in the NHL. However, he's now uncertain.
In a conversation with NHL.com’s Jean-François Chaumont, the former Penguins goalie expressed feeling reenergized recently and may want to continue playing after the 2024-25 season ends in Minnesota.
“Today, the possibility of returning is more likely than it was in September or October,” Fleury informed Chaumont on Friday. “I initially felt this would be my final season. When we spoke last summer, I thought I was preparing for one last year. However, my mindset has shifted. Training camp was challenging, my hips were painful, and the team struggled at the season's start. I wasn't performing as desired initially. I eventually improved and rediscovered the joy of playing hockey. It wasn't fun for the first few months due to hip problems and the team's struggles.”
Fleury’s performance this year for the Wild has not been outstanding, with a 16-12-5 record, a 2.86 goals against average, and a .899 save percentage. However, he has won eight of his last 11 decisions since Feb. 9, with a 2.49 goals against average during that time.
The three-time Stanley Cup winner expects to sign a one-year contract if offered by Minnesota. He is likely to either play for the Wild or retire as he does not want to relocate his family again after playing in Pittsburgh, Vegas, and Chicago before joining Minnesota in 2022-23.
Fine start
Two former Steelers had promising starts in the new UFL, a spring league merging last year’s XFL and the USFL.
Former Steelers running back Anthony McFarland scored the first touchdown of the season for the San Antonio Brahmas with a 28-yard reception on a swing pass.
BRAHMAS STRIKE FIRST
MCFARLAND TO THE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/EwwQ5o38Fz
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 31, 2024
In the same game, San Antonio punter Brad Wing, who used to play for the Steelers, made a sneaky touchdown pass to Alex Mollette, who usually plays center. The touchdown was for 40 yards.
TRICK PLAY FOR THE TOUCHDOWN
THE CENTER WITH THE BIG-TIME CATCH pic.twitter.com/1Ee2I6Z39e
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 31, 2024
After the play, Wing mentioned that the play had never been successful during practice.
"We saved it for the right time."
Brad Wing discusses the amazing trick play that resulted in a Brahmas TD! #UFL2024 pic.twitter.com/tvqjFWjfgn
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 31, 2024
The Brahmas ended up winning against the D.C. Defenders 27-12.
Sadness in March
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, March started calmly and ended in a similar manner.
The Pens had a rough start to the month, losing six out of their first seven games. Then they finished the month with a 4-3 loss in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, blowing a two-goal lead in the process.
Now the Pens start April with three consecutive away games against Metropolitan Division opponents. They play at Madison Square Garden on Monday against the New York Rangers, then visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, and travel to Washington on Thursday. All three games start at 7 p.m.
The Rangers have won five games in a row, secured a playoff spot, and currently have the most points in the NHL at 104. Despite losing two games in a row, Washington is tied for third place with the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metro with 82 points. The Devils have 76 points, one more than the Penguins.
According to tiebreakers, the Flyers currently hold the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Caps have the third spot in the Metro. So the Devils and Pens are respectively six and seven points behind that pace.
Pittsburgh only has 12 wins when playing away. The Blue Jackets are the only team in the East with fewer road wins at 10.
Learning about the Nats
After starting the season 4-0 with a sweep of the Miami Marlins, the Pirates are heading to Washington. They are visiting the Nationals for their second series of the year.
Game 1 of the three-game set is on Monday. The Nats come in having lost two of three in Cincinnati to start 2024.
Washington’s pitching staff had a rough start, giving up 20 runs over the three games. The staff’s 7.01 ERA ranks 27th after the first weekend of the MLB schedule.
Meanwhile, with 31 runs in their first four games, the Buccos are fourth in the league. The team’s on-base percentage of .382 is also fourth.
Marco Gonzales will pitch the series-opener for the Pirates. He’ll face Washington’s MacKenzie Gore. The first pitch is at 4:05 p.m.
Listen: Tim Benz and Seth Rorabaugh talk about the struggling Penguins and their upcoming road trip for the start of April.
