WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Perhaps you noticed two very different future paths for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Perhaps you also noticed a lack of a contract for Malkin. We dug into the difference between the two, as well as the effect of ownership transfer, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ playoff run.

Elsewhere in the Daily, there’s a new NHL trade board, the Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly open for business on almost everyone, and the Colorado Avalanche are facing a deep hole without Cale Makar and are on the precipice of being upset by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

Greetings from Wilkes-Barre. It’s the series deciding Game 5 tonight between the Springfield Thunderbirds and the WBS Penguins. I’m here in part because I think you want to know how the kids play under pressure. Unfortunately, Springfield is one of those teams that plays a defensive scheme, which makes their job easier in a deciding game–when they feel pressure, they just fall back.

Sergei Murashov is going to be under the bright lights tonight. So, too, will Tristan Broz, Rutger McGroarty, and even Bill Zonnon. Who will have their best game?

After watching these playoffs, I worry that’s becoming a thing in hockey again. All of the Eastern Conference series were decided by teams that got into their defensive game, not their offensive game. Hockey is going to have to keep a close eye on this trend–we just cannot go back to the dark ages of the 1990s and 2000s. We are not even close to that yet, but it happens quickly, and when lesser talented teams begin winning with frequency, there’s a problem.

Gee, perhaps more expansion teams to dilute the talent will help.

Also, if you’re traveling east this weekend, watch your speedometer. I don’t think I have ever seen as many cops as I did on this trip. I lost count, but it was 12 before I hit Williamsport. If you’re traveling west, don’t worry about it because you’ll be stuck behind Ohio drivers in the left lane.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Kyle Dubas uncorked an entirely overlooked quote in March to which no one really paid much attention, but in light of the Penguins ownership situation, it bears examination. Also, the difference between Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin contract talks in the latest 3 Penguins Thoughts.

Steelers Now: The Steelers drafted linemen and then moved to different positions in OTAs. Uh, what?! The latest from football in shorts, but also the offensive line explained in the Steelers takeaways.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Colorado Hockey Now: The Vegas Golden Knights scored twice in just over two minutes midway through the third period, and a small Colorado lead became a 3-1 Vegas Golden Knights win, and 2-0 series lead. Aarif Deen has been faithfully covering the playoff run, but things have gone south quickly, and Colorado lost both games at home without Cale Makar. After working the room, Deen’s impressions are that one team has the right attitude, and it’s not the Avalanche.

Hockey24/7: From Morgan Reilly finding a new address to Jordan Kyrou chatter, the latest NHL trade board has zero Penguins. Is that a good thing or bad? The veterans most likely to move and some fading players that Frank Seravalli believes will be the first to pack their bags highlight his latest board.

I think Frank is starting something new with that website. Good luck to him.

**New Jersey Hockey Now: Brenden Dillon didn’t name names or get into deep detail, but what he said was still a mouthful. Dillon flatly told the reasons why the New Jersey Devils season went south, and it had to do with internal problems in the Devils’ dressing room.

If you read just one of these stories today, that’s the one.

Boston Hockey Now: The NHL trade rumors haven’t really landed in Boston yet this offseason, but Jack Studley circled a player to trade that I circled for the Penguins to watch. Here’s the local perspective — Could Boston serve up Mason Lohrei as a trade chip?

Philly Hockey Now: Should he stay or should he go? Young Mr. Will James (who did a fantastic job this season, and especially hit his stride in the playoffs) writes–Can the Philadelphia Flyers get anything out of now-backup goalie Sam Errson?

NHN has some real talent–Will James in Philly and James Nichols in New Jersey are names that are becoming mainstream.

NHLtraderumors.me: Chris Johnston delivered some big news on his latest pod on the Steve Dangle pod network. The Toronto Maple Leafs are shopping, listening, dangling, or trying to dangle EVERYONE, except Auston Matthews.

Tags: Golden knights nhl trade Pittsburgh Penguins

Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors