Dan’s Daily: Canadiens Trade Monahan; Crosby Ripped for Skipping Festivities

I imagine you’ll have some feelings, and I have some thoughts, but Daily Face-Off’s Frank Seravalli took Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to task for skipping Thursday’s All-Star Game draft. The NHL trade rumors were behind as the Montreal Canadiens dealt Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a healthy price. The NHL will host a small international tournament for players next year and let the boys go to the 2026 and 2030 Olympics.

I’m torn on the players going back to the Olympics. It’s awful to stop the NHL season for two weeks, and it’s terrible watching round-robin games at odd hours. Ultimately, I’m on board for one reason: the players really want to go. They should get a say, and if they’re willing to go through the compressed schedule and put themselves through the travel hell back and forth to Italy, then Godspeed. It will be nice to see Crosby win a gold medal.

However, the IIHF hasn’t yet solved the Russian problem. But every time I mention the invasion of Ukraine, zealots start putting really weird political stuff in our comments section. But I suppose we all knew that Taylor Swift is obviously a CIA agent whose career is propaganda of the deep state to obfuscate election interference.

Please, no comments. I’m part of the Illuminati, and we can’t have you exposing the truth in our comments.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Over the summer, we reported that the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had some conversations with Theo Epstein in the lead-up to their search for a new Penguins general manager and president. Friday, Epstein joined the Penguins ownership group.

It’s happening, but will Crosby and Evgeni Malkin get to go? NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the players are headed to the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics.

In addition to the gold medal chase, the NHL will host a smaller international tournament with four teams next year. The 4-Nations Face-Off.

Watch: Sid joked about getting busted for skating elsewhere on Thursday. He also addressed the Olympics, making Team Canada, and the serious issues surrounding the NHL. Here’s the full Sidney Crosby presser.

And former TSN reporter, now lead of Daily Face-Off, Frank Seravalli, had a bit of a rant on Crosby skipping the All-Star team selection Thursday.

Frank’s Rant ⬇️@frank_seravalli shares his opinion on Sidney Crosby’s actions on All-Star Weekend. @tyleryaremchuk

Presented by | @WendysCanada https://t.co/PJNta8o4lu pic.twitter.com/uvIsuukjiG

— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) February 2, 2024

NHL Trade, News & National Hockey Now

Montreal Hockey Now: Instant analysis. The Winnipeg Jets gave up a pretty sweet haul for Sean Monahan. Our Marc Dumont reports the trade and gives a real analysis regarding the Montreal Canadiens.

NYI Hockey Now: After Monahan was dealt, everyone started looking more closely at their top trade chips. If Brock Nelson were on the NHL trade block, Andrew Fantucchio wonders aloud just what kind of ransom Nelson could bring back for the New York Islanders.

Florida Hockey Now: He’s been a beast this season. It’s also a contract year for Sam Reinhart, who says his negotiations with the Florida Panthers aren’t distracting.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The NHL needed 12 months to conclude their investigation into the alleged 2018 Team Canada sexual assault. However, the London police moved forward with charges, and the NHL will not comment. Gary Bettman doesn’t think he needs to suspend the five players involved because they’re all free agents after this season. Here’s more from our New Jersey Devils reporter.

The Commissioner wisely used some fierce adjectives to describe the alleged behavior.

ESPN: The LA Kings had a brutal January. Absolutely awful. They’re still in a playoff spot, but LA GM Rob Blake fired coach Todd McClellan.

TSN: In case ya care about the NHL All-Star Game Skills Competition. Here are the highlights as Connor McDavid moped the floor with ’em and won $1 million.