Big names were changing addresses on the NHL trade market and the deals were flying fast and furious. Bo Byram, William Eklund, Jordan Kyrou, and Simon Nemec, check. And the Pittsburgh Penguins biggest rival was part of the fray. The Penguins were finally sold Tuesday and they released their preseason schedule. Mike Babcock was unrepentant as he took over the Edmonton Oilers. And the NHL will reach 33 teams beginning in a few years. <\/p>\n
Wild afternoon. The NHL Board of Governors meeting was the starting gate, and they were off. Conspicuously absent were the Penguins. <\/p>\n
We\u2019re going to have a lively Live Chat today! No need for a story today. Let\u2019s go.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: First, hello Geoff Hoffmann, goodbye FSG. It is finally a done deal as the NHL approved the Penguins sale<\/a>.<\/p>\n FSG was not a bad owner, not at all. But they were absent from Pittsburgh, which is a mortal sin for Pittsburghers, who will welcome anyone who wants to be welcome but resent anyone who disregards them (us). <\/p>\n And the Penguins released their reduced preseason schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n I guess I like the four-game preseason, but now that the Penguins have young players, they would benefit from six. Oh well, one less drive to Columbus. <\/p>\n A little bit of a surprise here, as Pascal Dupuis is back in the NHL. It looks like he\u2019s going the management route now and is headed to the New York Islanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before all of the chaos and fun, the Tuesday column was a real look at the Penguins and the NHL trade block, specifically how the fallout of the Brady Tkachuk trade to Florida could or would affect the Penguins trade plans<\/a>.<\/p>\n NHL Trade Frenzy, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n New Jersey Hockey Now: BAM! Simon Nemec headed to Calgary for a haul of draft picks, and new New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta just put his finger prints on the team. Here\u2019s the trade, the fallout, and the analysis of the Devils trade<\/a>.<\/p>\n San Jose Hockey Now: Promising young forward with big offensive upside. The Ottawa Senators raced to replace Tkachuk and they did a pretty good job in the shocker of the day\u2013William Eklund to Ottawa for the ninth overall pick. Full San Jose Sharks trade<\/a> analysis.<\/p>\n Chicago Hockey Now: Remember when we wrote about the Penguins acquiring Bo Byram? Yeah, the price was much \u2026. MUCH higher than we anticipated. Or, Chicago is punch drunk from rebuilding. Either way, Byram went for the fourth overall pick and Jack Bushman has the full deal and the Chicago Blackhawks trade analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n Byram for the fourth overall?! Stunning. <\/p>\n RMNB: I think this is the biggest deal in the Penguins universe. D.C. diverted attention from the reflecting pool when the Washington Capitals cannonballed into the NHL trade waters by shipping Connor McMichael and a package of assets to the St. Louis Blues for winger Jordan Kyrou. It\u2019a a Capital blockbuster<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you tell me the Penguins could have matched or beaten the Capitals offer for Kyrou, I would agree with you. <\/p>\n Sportsnet: Just wow. Dude, read the room. Introduced as the new Edmonton Oilers coach, Mike Babcock had zero sorries or remorse for what went down in Columbus, or anywhere else (Those types of people never do), and instead blamed the situation for his decision to leave the CBJ (Those types of people always do). So, here\u2019s Babcock accepting the Oilers gig<\/a>.<\/p>\n Babcock is textbook. If you know to what I\u2019m referring, you\u2019ve probably been through it. And you just had some flashbacks. If you don\u2019t know what I\u2019m talking about, you\u2019ve been blessed. Keep it that way. Moving on. <\/p>\n Florida Hockey Now: Brady Tkachuk spoke to the media in Florida. He detailed his decision to seek a trade after denying he would, and everything else that went into the trade to the Florida Panthers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sportsnet: Bombshells. More bombshells! Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Zach Werenkski will sit down after the NHL Draft to discuss his future in Columbus<\/a>. <\/p>\n Another WOW.<\/p>\n NHL.com: And to cap off the the wildest day in NHL news that I can remember, in a couple of years, the NHL is going to expand in Texas. It\u2019s either Austin or Houston<\/a>. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: jordan kyrou<\/a> nhl expansion<\/a> nhl trade<\/a> Penguins sale<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> simon nemec<\/a> <\/p>\n