Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The day after the Pittsburgh Penguins’ messy loss to the Montreal Canadiens will probably bring a stern coach Dan Muse at practice, potentially some lineup changes, and questions about what comes next. We’ve got full coverage from Montreal, including locker room reaction and a postgame analysis that doubled as a column. It’s time to steer into a rebuild because there’s no point to whatever this is.
Elsewhere in the Daily, all eyes are on Nikita Kucherov and Tampa Bay’s hopes that he calms down and changes his mind. Dylan Larkin could add more teams to his current 10-team wish list in the next 24 hours. Also, the Carolina Hurricanes toyed with an offer sheet to Simon Edvinsson, but they were going to sign and trade him. Tristan Jarry has posted two straight shutouts, and there are more NHL trade rumors.
Yes yes, very nice, very evil. The postgame report card was a broadside slam on the roster construction and advocacy of moving fully in the direction of youth. However, as I got my famous Montreal hot dogs, it appears someone already took a bite of my warm toasted bun before taking the picture, so I will have to go back again. It’s a conspiracy! But these are the famous dogs that even Sidney Crosby gobbles pregame. It’s a hard life, but someone has to do it.
I’m more of an eat ’em plain guy. If food isn’t good by itself, I’m not bothering to dress it up.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The scoreboard showed a close game. Even Sidney Crosby seemed to dismiss that, somewhat. Here’s the game recap, but also the stinging goals breakdown of another Penguins game.
And the sharp elbows postgame report card. It’s not about the 60 minutes Saturday but about the months leading up to this mess and the changes that need to occur. This Penguins team is a mess.
Oh, by the way, Erik Karlsson became the ninth-highest-scoring defenseman ever. Sidney Crosby tied Marcel Dionne for sixth all-time points and became the all-time leader in assists for a single franchise. Ho hum, but neither guy was very happy postgame.
The Q&A is coming this morning, too. I’ll do another this week for PHN+ subscribers. I haven’t received any complaints recently, but I also don’t see the same thing as subscribers anymore (I work from a different platform now). I’ll make a post on the website for questions about that one.
I suspect we’re going to have a busy week.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet Video: Elliotte Friedman admitted the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nikita Kucherov have gone into a cone of silence after his trade demand, but people who know Kucherov said it’s unlikely he changes his mind. Oh, and by the way, Dylan Larkin will be amending his trade list in the next day or so. Big news in the Headlines Segment.
Daily Faceoff: The Minnesota Wild really want Larkin but have only futures to give. Detroit doesn’t want futures. Anthony Di Marco reports that the Philadelphia Flyers are interested in being that third team in the mix to make it happen.
TSN: Connor McDavid has assists in 14 straight games, and Tristan Jarry has back-to-back shutouts. Didn’t see that last part coming, eh? The Edmonton Oilers beat the NY Islanders, and Edmonton is a wagon.
Detroit Hockey Now: In the wake of the Larkin fiasco, the Detroit Red Wings games continue, and they absolutely cratered in the third period Saturday, embracing yet another Red Wings loss.
Nicklas Lidstrom isn’t happy about the international court forcing the IIHF to re-admit Russia to hockey activities. Lidstrom went as far as to call on the hockey world to boycott.
I wasn’t alive for the Vietnam era (obviously), but I wonder if that era felt as chaotic, ridiculous, and contentious in everyday life.
NHLtraderumors.me: Friedman dropped another little bombshell when he told The Fan Hockey Show that the Carolina Hurricanes were interested in signing Simon Edvinsson to an offer sheet, but it came with a twist. A trade?! They were going to flip him to a third team.
Colorado Hockey Now: Remember these days when the stars showed up and dominated. Cale Makar had four assists, and the Colorado Avalanche rolled over Calgary.