Badly bungled. There is a still a Round One Game 7 to be played in the glorious series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the NHL gave the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes less than 48 hours notice they would play Game 1 of their series Saturday, and as of two hours before puck drop had not scheduled Game 2. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl doubled down on ripping the Edmonton Oilers, while the NHL trade rumors percolating around Brady Tkachuk won’t die despite his and Ottawa’s attempt to silence them, and the Pittsburgh Penguins want Evgeni Malkin back, or at least the players do.
Lastly, in the Daily, we wrapped up the year with some locker room tales you didn’t see or hear this year. Let me tell you, Erik Karlsson is a peach.
I actually feel for the Flyers writers who travel. You’re headed to Raleigh. You get one day’s notice with no schedule after that. How do you book hotels, flights, and manage expenses? I would have gone berserk.
And, I think I’m as rested up as I’m going to be to hammer away at offseason content, so we’ll begin that this morning, too. Perhaps the weather will cooperate soon, and I can get up north for some stars and diners.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Shelly Anderson finished the season strong. For captain Sidney Crosby, he thinks this season was the start of something good for the Penguins.
“I love that guy.” Teammates gave unabashed support, though a couple spoke in past tense. The players want Evgeni Malkin back.
As the players cleaned out their stalls, Pittsburgh Hockey Now cleaned out a season of little nuggets and conversations from inside the room. From Erik Karlsson little smirk to what some of the players are like behind the curtain. Tidbits from the end … of the Penguins season.
It was indeed a wild ride this season.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: I know one of my colleagues has banged the Jason Robertson trade gong a few times. Elliotte Friedman reports that the Dallas Stars and Robertson are now in decision mode. Player performed and wants to be paid. What will the team do? Here’s Friedman’s take on Robertson and one player whom the team could sacrifice (and who would fit well with the Penguins), if Robertson re-signs.
Oilers Nation: First, McDavid doubled down on calling the Oilers average.
TSN Video: General manager Stan Bowman, whose moves have largely tanked (see also: Trent Frederic, Tristan Jarry), bluntly said, “We need some new players.” The GM is under fire as he assessed his job and what comes next.
Bowman absolutely should feel the heat. Oh, and they’re going to re-evaluate their goaltending. And no, the Penguins do not have nearly the horses to trade for McDavid. Nope. Not even remotely possible. But the Penguins have a piece or three that Edmonton could use.
Philly Hockey Now: Game 1 was a beatdown. The Carolina Hurricanes took it to the Flyers and didn’t let up. Will James has you from the Philly Flyers side.
Carolina Hockey Now (Sportsnaut): Nic Deslauriers was a long-time Flyer. Now, he’s wearing the storm surge colors and ready for Round 2 to face his former mates with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Athletic ($): Brady Tkachuk was pretty intense when he tried to shoot down trade rumors last week. Apparently, no dice. The NHL trade chatter will continue until he signs an extension, and the New York contingent is banging the drum that Tkachuk could land with the Rangers.
This might be another boring offseason for Penguins fans. All the players that we’ll be talking about are beyond the Penguins’ reach. A corollary which I’ll remind you until I’m blue in the face and getting sarcastic: The moves this offseason will not be about 2026-27, but about getting back to being a perennial contender.
Montreal Hockey Now: It’s Game 7. Tampa Bay vs. Montreal. It’s going to be a war tonight (and I have to do TV at 8 p.m.?! Perhaps WPXI will at least air the show before 1 a.m. this week). So, here’s the one big thing that must happen for the Montreal Canadiens to win.
Categorized:Pittsburgh Penguins