First Call: Steelers will reportedly offer Sam Darnold a contract; Marc-Andre Fleury's postgame meeting with ex-teammates

Monday’s “First Call” has news of a Pittsburgh Steelers contract offer to a free-agent quarterback. The team’s former long-time quarterback loves the club’s new trade acquisition.

We have behind-the-scenes footage of Marc-Andre Fleury’s meet-and-greet with his former teammates in Minnesota.

Alex Ovechkin scored again, as did some former Penguins that have switched teams.

Viking call

The Steelers are expected to make a contractual offer to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. That’s according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

She adds that Seattle is the perceived frontrunner to land the free agent Pro Bowler. However, the Steelers just traded for one of the Seahawks’ top wide receivers in DK Metcalf.

The Steelers are expected to make an offer to pending free agent Sam Darnold, per source.

Many around the league believe Darnold will wind up in Seattle, but Pittsburgh is doing its due diligence on any potential options ahead of the new league year.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 9, 2025

The NFL’s legal tampering period begins at noon Monday. Darnold is set to hit the open market on Wednesday after his best season as a pro.

The former No. 3 overall draft pick (2018) went 14-3 as a starter for the Vikings this season. He posted 4,319 yards (fifth in the NFL), 35 touchdowns (fifth) and a passer rating of 102.5 (sixth).

Both of the Steelers quarterbacks from last year — Justin Fields and Russell Wilson — are also hitting free agency.

Big Ben likes the big trade

Ben Roethlisberger appears to be a fan of the Steelers’ acquisition of Metcalf.

The former Steelers quarterback posted a video on his “Footbahlin’” Instagram directed at Mike Tomlin. In it, he joked that he’d like to come out of retirement to throw to Metcalf, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth.

“Coach T., are you kidding me?” Roethlisberger said. “DK Metcalf on one side, GP on the other. Muth working the middle. I might need to throw my hat in the ring. If you’re looking for a guy, I might still have a couple throws in me.”

Ben Roethlisberger jokes "I might still have a couple throws in me" after hearing about DK Metcalf trade.

Via footbahlinwithben on IG#Steelers pic.twitter.com/CQZnCEi6wC

— Ross McCorkle (@Ross_McCorkle) March 10, 2025

Well, if Darnold goes to Seattle, and Fields and Wilson go elsewhere too, Tomlin may take up Roethlisberger on his offer.

Wild reunion

The Penguins beat the Minnesota Wild, 3-1, on Sunday. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both scored on former teammate Marc-Andre Fleury.

“The Flower” is expected to retire at the end of the year. So this is likely the last time those three and defenseman Kris Letang will all be on the same ice together.

After the contest, the Penguins posted a video of Fleury meeting up with Malkin and Crosby.

"My frienda, sorry" ???????? pic.twitter.com/2PwvxEVvb6

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 10, 2025

Crosby’s second goal of the night came on an empty netter. He is now up to 21 goals. That’s 17 years featuring 20 goals or more for Crosby.

Fleury’s start was the 1,015th of his career. That breaks a tie with Roberto Luongo for second-most in league history. Martin Brodeur has the record at 1,251.

Meanwhile, with the win, Pens coach Mike Sullivan is the 14th head coach in NHL history (and the first American-born head coach) to win 400 games with one organization. He also had 70 victories with the Boston Bruins.

More sports

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• 'A standard to uphold': Jared Triolo brings Gold Glove defense to Pirates in super utility role

‘Great 8’ is 8 away

Alex Ovechkin scored yet another goal for the Washington Capitals on Sunday. That gives him 886 for his career. He now only needs nine more goals to pass Wayne Gretzky’s total of 894 to set a new NHL record, and eight more to tie him.

The backhand goal came on an empty-netter from just inside center ice to close out a Caps 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.

ALEX OVECHKIN IS WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS OF BREAKING WAYNE GRETZKY'S ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING RECORD ????

The Capitals captain recorded his 1,600 NHL point as well on this goal ???? pic.twitter.com/4Y1pfbw1PI

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 9, 2025

With 92 points, the Capitals have more than any other team in the Eastern Conference.

That was also Ovechkin’s 1,600th point. He is 11th all-time in that category. He needs 42 more points to pass Hall of Famer Joe Sakic to climb into the top 10.

The Caps have 18 games left for Ovi to get his nine goals. Their last game of the regular season is in Pittsburgh on April 17.

Hot start

Former Penguin Cody Glass already has a goal for his new team, the New Jersey Devils.

Glass got the first goal of the game in a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. It was his fifth of the year.

Agent Cody Glass breaking the ice in his Devils debut. pic.twitter.com/Ok8wipTP76

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 9, 2025

Glass was traded to the New Jersey Devils shortly before Friday’s trade deadline, along with Jonathan Gruden, in exchange for Chase Stillman, Max Graham and a 2027 third-round draft pick.

That loss marked Philadelphia’s fourth in a row. New Jersey had lost three in a row. The Devils currently hold the final automatic qualifying spot in the playoffs out of the Metropolitan Division.

Another ex-Penguin, Mikael Granlund, scored his first goal as a member of the Dallas Stars. It helped propel the Stars to a 4-1 win over Vancouver.

MIKAEL GRANLUND FIRST AS A STAR????️#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/66Ovn2cEXF

— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) March 10, 2025

Granlund failed to score in his first 12 games with Dallas after putting up 14 goals in San Jose in advance of a trade to Texas back in February.

With 86 points, the Stars have the second-highest point total in the Western Conference, six behind the Winnipeg Jets.