MINNEAPOLIS — Greetings from the lovely city of Minneapolis, which is as close as I could get to Pittsburgh on Monday. In the Daily, we’ve got the latest on Bryan Rust’s hearing and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ choices approaching the NHL trade deadline. The New York teams pulled off a swap while the Rangers beat Boston in overtime. Evander Kane is officially shopping himself for a trade, the Montreal Canadiens are waiting to activate Patrik Laine, and Craig Button has a Hart Trophy take, but I don’t agree, even a little bit.

So, no blame to the airline that dropped me off in Minneapolis. I get it. It’s just one more night in a hotel. After a walk around the Mall of America (which is really just a big mall that lacks a train as good as The Greengate Mall choo choo), I plowed through an old favorite from my days in the minors, Outback Steakhouse. Cmon, an entirely red sirloin with a loaded baked potato and spicy ranch dressing at a spot near the hotel is an easy, quick hit on the road.

Though my favorite moment that just brightened the roadie was at a coffee shop in Vancouver. Some sort of foofy coffee on the sign grabbed my attention, so I had to try it. Only moments later, I realized how ridiculous I looked. The barista noticed the same. And we just both started laughing. No words needed. Yep, I drank this in front of everyone, big pink marshmallow included.

Especially the big pink marshmallow.

Not bad for a Reddit described “motorcycle Frasier,” eh?

I am currently scheduled to arrive back in Pittsburgh this morning, and it seems all systems are go. I did crack up my Uber drive this morning as I arrived at the airport a bit early so I could eat at the Delta Club…

“Traveling sucks, so I take the free food.”

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Uh oh. The NHL Department of Player Safety and subjective penalties called. For that elbow on Brock Boeser, Bryan Rust has a hearing.

Now then, we also dug into the paths forward. Will general manager Kyle Dubas pull a Robert Frost and take the road less traveled? Will he hold, sell, or what? We looked at the Penguins’ trade options.

Steelers Now: Mike McCarthy has a healthy coaching tree (unlike…oh, never mind). It’s time to start mining that tree for the potential Steelers coordinators.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & NHN

Sportsnet: With a bit of a smile and some frustration, the injured William Nylander gave the camera a one-fingered salute as the camera panned to the press box, where he was watching in street clothes. Oops. Even though the NHL has ignored other such incidents, the league kindly requested $5000 from Nylander. And Luke Fox writes that’s just more immaturity from a struggling Leafs team.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m immature. Everyone get over it. It was actually amusing. Life. Emotions. Personality. Shouldn’t come at an expense, especially if you’re in the entertainment biz.

Forever Blueshirts: Trade. Carson Soucy leaves Manhattan for Long Island as the Rangers begin their “Don’t call it a rebuild” rebuild. What’s next for the New York Rangers?

TSN Video: Craig Button says the Hart Trophy is a race between Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. Here’s his take.

I don’t know…Don’t overlook what Macklin Celebrini has done this season. It’s EXTRAORDINARY on a bad team.

Philly Hockey Now: Will James has a shrewd look at this mini-trade deadline before the Olympic freeze. Uh, what about those Philadelphia Flyers trade needs?

SN Montreal: Activate Patrik Laine? Well … let’s wait. Here’s why.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Couldn’t be happening to a better human. Cody Glass is on fire and helping to right the ship, at least a little bit, and rearranging the New Jersey Devils’ trade priorities.

That’s all we’ve got time for today. It’s been a morning, and this barely legal jet is about to take off. I don’t expect the wifi to be more than dial-up speeds.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost
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