Dan’s Daily: Biggest Contract Ever; Unsigned RFAs; Best Penguins Rookies
There is a coming storm of contract extensions in the NHL, but one player promises to be the highest-paid ever, and it’s not Connor McDavid. A super payday to Kirill Kaprizov is coming, though McDavid spoke about his next contract as if it were a done deal, too. We had some fun, but I will admit to a horribly embarrassing mistake as we counted down the best Penguins rookie seasons in the Sidney Crosby era, and I opened the vault in the first 20 minutes of our Penguins Live Chat.
Elsewhere in the Daily, there remains a trio of high-profile profile unsigned restricted free agents with some conflicting reports about what comes next, and the possibility of an 11th-hour offer sheet, and Bob Stauffer in Edmonton let rip on the Toronto media.
Remember that guy from yesterday’s Daily? Since I left very early and abruptly Wednesday night, I went back to my little watering hole last night, and darn it, there he was again. This time, I put enough distance between us so that Cpt. Knowsall wouldn’t engulf me.
This time, that guy overtalked a sommelier and restaurant expert into submission on the topic of why those great little chef-run Pittsburgh restaurants quickly closed one by one before the pandemic (I miss them greatly). Our hero not only knew more about the Penguins than I did, but he also knew more about the restaurant industry than someone whose job it is to know that stuff. It’s quite impressive.
It was funny watching someone else get steamrolled, and the incredulous look on their face. Yeah, don’t be that guy.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: OK, I will cop to a mistake. I didn’t include Evgeni Malkin on the list of best rookies in the Sidney Crosby era. Since Malkin was a 2004 pick, I never thought to include him, but by my own rules, he should have topped the list. I issued a mea culpa, but the other five were pretty, pretty darn good rookies. See if you can guess the top five Penguins rookies.
Now, since it wasn’t in print, I could be a little more open about the story I’ve been chasing. At this point, I don’t think we’ll get there, but I laid out the facts and the dots I’ve been trying to connect or confirm. And we talked a good bit about this year’s team. So, here’s the Penguins Live Chat video.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Philly Hockey Now: OK, here we go. I’m leading off with this one because our Will James is swinging a big stick. The Philadelphia Flyers WILL make the playoffs?!
The Athletic ($): Kirill Kaprizov. The Minnesota Wild admit they are going to pay the man his money. Giving away all leverage, the owner of the Wild boasted that it would be the largest extension ever.
I love Kaprizov, but more than Draisaitl or McDavid? I don’t love him that much.
Sportsnet: Not even the boys in the room are chirping McDavid over his coming contract extension. He spoke on Thursday after a captain’s practice, and his tone changed to more confident about his next contract.
Also after the practice, Stuart Skinner said his goal is to make Team Canada … And Team USA players offered support.
TSN: How about this for an opening night line combo–Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel? The Vegas Golden Knights are already putting it on the sheet, and the Strip will go bonkers.
How do you change a lightbulb in Toronto? You hold still, and the rest of Canada revolves around it….
NHLTradeRumors.me: I like Bob Stauffer. He’s a lightning rod in Edmonton, but when he lets rip, he doesn’t mince words. He let the Toronto media have it over the McDavid contract rumors.
Spector’s Hockey: Mason McTavish is still unsigned. Same with Conor Zary and Luke Evangelisata. Are any actually available on the trade block?
New Jersey Hockey Now: So, uh, what about those Quinn Hughes to New Jersey Devils trade rumors?
Florida Hockey Now: Oh boy, the new CBA rules implemented immediately are going to pinch the champions. George Richards did a really good piece here–how the new LTIR rules are going to cramp the Florida Panthers.
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Pittsburgh Penguins
Oh no… the team that won the last 2 Stanley Cups by being non-compliant on the salary cap now has to actually follow the rules. The league should’ve passed this back in 2019 when the Lightning were one of the only teams to vote in favor of it. Then they absolutely abused it. Per usual, Gary Bettman is way behind on the times.