In Monday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers eye up a potential NFL Draft choice at center. Some former Steelers shine in their UFL debuts. Marc-Andre Fleury is singing a different tune about retirement. The Penguins open April with a stiff challenge.

And the Pirates look to keep the bats hot in their second series of the 2024 season.

Zach attack

Center is definitely an area of need for the Steelers as the NFL Draft approaches later this month. One candidate at that spot is Zach Frazier of West Virginia. The former Mountaineer is generally rated as the second- or third-best center on most NFL draft boards.

Via SteelersDepot.com, Steelers assistant offensive line coach Issac Williams was at 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.

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Frazier worked out at the event after being limited in his participation at the NFL Combine. He was recovering from a broken leg incurred during WVU’s regular-season finale against Baylor.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler posted Frazier’s numbers.

#WestVirginia OC Zach Frazier at today's Big 12 Combine:

6024, 31540/10: 5.24/1.81VJ: 28 1/2"BJ: 8'4"SS: 4.693C: 7.85

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 31, 2024

While they may not look like what could have been expected with more recovery time, it was impressive to see Frazier pushing himself to be measured so soon after the injury.

Fleury not finished?

For much of this year, there has been a belief that Marc-Andre Fleury was playing his final season in the NHL. Now, though, he’s not so sure.

Speaking with NHL.com’s Jean-François Chaumont, the former Penguins goalie said that he has felt rejuvenated of late and may want to play another season in Minnesota after 2023-24 ends.

“The door is more open today for a return than it was in September or October,” Fleury told Chaumont on Friday. “I also thought it was going to be my last season. When we spoke this past summer, I was telling myself that I was preparing for one last year. But the mood has changed. (Training) camp wasn’t easy. My hips were hurting. We were losing games at the start of the season. I wasn’t playing the way I wanted. I ended up feeling better, and I started playing better. I rediscovered the joy of playing hockey. For the first few months, I wasn’t finding it very fun. I had hip problems, and the team was struggling.”

Fleury’s numbers this year for the Wild haven’t been great. He’s carrying a 16-12-5 record with a 2.86 goals against average and a save percentage of .899. But “The Flower” has won eight of his last 11 decisions dating back to Feb. 9, and his goals against average has been at 2.49 in that time.

The three-time Stanley Cup winner says that he’ll likely just sign a one-year contract if offered one by Minnesota, and he’ll probably just play for the Wild or retire because he doesn’t want to move his family again after having played in Pittsburgh, Vegas and Chicago before joining Minnesota in 2022-23.

Fine start

A pair of former Steelers got off to good starts in the new UFL. That’s the spring league that features a merger between last year’s XFL and the USFL.

Ex-Steelers running back Anthony McFarland scored the first touchdown of the season for the San Antonio Brahmas. It was a 28-yard reception on a swing pass.

BRAHMAS STRIKE FIRST

MCFARLAND TO THE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/EwwQ5o38Fz

— UFL (@XFL2023) March 31, 2024

Also in that game, San Antonio punter Brad Wing, another former Steeler, threw a trick-play touchdown to Alex Mollette, who normally plays center. The touchdown covered 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 says that play had never worked in 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 went on to win over the D.C. Defenders, 27-12.

March sadness

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, March came in like a lamb and went out like … well, it went out like a lamb too.

The Pens began the month losing six of their first seven games. Then they ended the month by losing 4-3 in Columbus against the hideous Blue Jackets, blowing a two-goal lead in the process.

Now the Pens open April with three straight road games against Metropolitan Division foes. They are at Madison Square Garden on Monday against the New York Rangers. Tuesday they visit the New Jersey Devils. Then they travel to Washington on Thursday. All three games start at 7 p.m.

Winners of five in a row, the Rangers have already clinched a playoff berth and currently have the most points in the NHL with 104. Despite dropping two in a row, Washington is tied for third with the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metro with 82 points. And the Devils are sitting at 76 points, one better than the Penguins.

Technically, via tiebreakers, the Flyers are sitting with 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 six and seven points off that pace, respectively.

Pittsburgh only has 12 road wins. The Blue Jackets are the only team in the East with fewer road victories at 10.

Getting to know 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 Monday. The Nats come in having dropped two of three in Cincinnati to open 2024.

Washington’s pitching staff didn’t exactly get off to a great 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 over their first four games, the Buccos are fourth in the league in that category. The team’s on-base percentage of .382 is fourth as well.

Marco Gonzales will pitch the series-opener for the Pirates. He’ll be opposed by Washington’s MacKenzie Gore. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m.

Listen: Tim Benz and Seth Rorabaugh discuss the struggling Penguins and their upcoming road trip to start April.

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