Dan’s Daily: Historic, ‘Craziest’ SCF; NYR Trade Fallout; Penguins Ownership
I think today is the day that we begin to turn the page from the Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins ownership story. It came out of left field, it will linger, but until something concrete happens, it’s a lot of smoke, and there are two very different versions of the story. We’ll finish with a detailed analysis of the plausibility of Lemieux retaking control of the team. PHN also has more insight into the Penguins’ draft with some video scouting and analysis. Elsewhere, the Edmonton Oilers completed a historic comeback in Game 4, and the Stanley Cup Final has officially reached “crazy” status. The debate is raging over the Hart Trophy winner, the New York Rangers finally completed their big trade to rid themselves of Chris Kreider’s salary, and they promptly entered the NHL rumor mill chasing one of the Buffalo Sabres’ young players.
Would someone please, for the love of all that is holy, tell me why I am supposed to care if Taylor Swift goes to a sporting event?! Do the networks own stock in this girl?! I DO NOT CARE. One shot. That’s all you get. One cameo, and DONE. Larry David was at the Rangers-Penguins game at MSG this season. That was awesome, but one shot. That’s all they showed. Seriously, she’s a wonderfully average singer and songwriter. It would be bigger news if I went to a Taylor Swift concert.
Also, I’m very much looking forward to the NHL Draft. I enjoyed the kids at the Combine, and I hope the Penguins have first-rounders in the future to justify covering more. I do find one part of my job amusing, and I suspect you will disagree. I have a weird compunction to argue against bad points even if I agree with the conclusion. It was most visible in a lot of the Mike Sullivan debates when I was blue in the face correcting some of the dogma while pointing to other stuff I thought was wrong.
On a much smaller scale, the same thing is happening with the Penguins’ draft and prospect, Roger McQueen. In particular, he has become a negative attraction because fans emotionally invested in others while he was injured, and instead of re-examining the changing situation now that doctors solved his injury issue, nowadays (get off my lawn!) we tear down the other opinion/belief/idea/conclusion to keep the original.
Just keep that in mind. We don’t have to impugn one prospect because we want the other. I think there’s a real chance the Penguins get one of three centers at the draft, possibly McQueen, and I’d hate to see a negative reaction to a kid with a bright career in front of him. I’d rather see you give him the Daniel Sprong treatment, in which he can do no wrong, and let me worry about criticism. I think you and I work best that way, eh?
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: I regret the math error that appeared in the story for an hour, but we corrected it (I can’t believe I made that mistake, and three people who read it before publishing didn’t catch it either!). There is great excitement that Mario could return to the city to retake the Penguins, but there is one huge problem. OK, two huge problems. The recent explosion of reports just isn’t sitting well with me, and here’s why I think we should have serious doubts about a potential change in Penguins ownership.
Let’s get into some fun stuff. Matt Meagher is beginning to create a fanbase for his work. His latest NHL Draft prospects video is shorter than the others, but drew quick reactions and changed some minds. I think this kid is the Penguins’ X-factor at the draft–Check out the prospect highlights and analysis of Roger McQueen.
Steelers Now: What the absolute hell is this?! Police are charging former Steelers WR and problem child Antonio Brown with attempted murder.
Is it OK if we skip the rest of the Steelers and Pirates today?
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Forever Blueshirts: It’s my blue heaven for coach Mike Sullivan. The Rangers finally unloaded Chris Kreider and his salary after a year of shoving him out the door. Anaheim was the destination, and the trade is just the beginning for the New York Rangers.
Did you know that Goodfellas and My Blue Heaven, Steve Martin’s comedy with Rick Moranis, were both about the same guy, Henry Hill? My Blue Heaven is funny even 30 years later, especially when you go side by side with Goodfellas. But I digress.
Sporify, The Fan Hockey Show: Soon after the trade, Elliotte Friedman joined Mike Futa on Sportsnet 590 and talked about what comes next for the Rangers. Friedman says prepare for the Rangers to go after JJ Peterka in a big way.
Florida Hockey Now: To the Stanley Cup Final. A comeback like that hasn’t happened since 1919. No, it wasn’t the famous Helsinki incident, but not since the Montreal Canadiens rallied to beat the Seattle Metropolitans have we seen a road team make a comeback like the Edmonton Oilers did in their 5-4 OT win. It was a thrilling game that the Panthers blew, then tied the game with 19 seconds remaining, then blew it again. George Richards writes, what happened to the Florida Panthers?!
Sportsnet: The Oilers were jubilant following the game. Jake Walman called it the “craziest hockey” he’s ever played.
The time limit on the trial of the five 2018 Team Canada players accused of sexual assault is up today. The Crown and defense attorneys agreed to wrap it all up today. However, the judge seemed to fluster the prosecution during closing arguments on Thursday by asking pointed questions about the evidence.
Philly Hockey Now: The trade rumors surrounding Jason Robertson are still there, but Will James writes that there’s another Dallas Stars forward who could be on the block, and that player fits very nicely with the Philadelphia Flyers.
TSN: Yep, I was one of those inscrutable cretins who voted for Connor Hellebuyck for the Hart Trophy. He won a close race with Leon Draisaitl. I was also the only one to deliver a vote (fifth place) for Sidney Crosby. I thought Crosby would get a few votes. Hellebuyck had a good night, winning the Hart and Vezina Trophies.
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Penguins
TNT did women a disserve by making their lone female do groupie coverage of Swift/Kelsie.
Dan, your advice as to how we readers should (Sprong) and should not (McQueen) react to a particular draft choice while leaving the criticism to you reminds me that it is your obligation as our guru on PHN to continually cast your pearls before swine. For example, you’re probably right that we would all get along better if we readers accept your advice and don’t criticize the selection of Mr. McQueen and leave the criticism to you. However, just in case your advice is not accepted, I as a USDA certified prime swine, hope you will nevertheless continue to cast… Read more »
Haha–no no, i guess the message was that fans should get behind their players. Enjoy your team. I’ll do the dirty work.
What a game! The refs were pretty bad on both sides (yet again) through 2 periods, but overall had a much better handle on the 3rd/OT. Major props to both teams for fighting tooth and nail to the very end. Once the Cats made it 3-0, I thought for sure the series was over.
Also McDavid hasn’t scored and Edmonton has this series tied… if he gets it going, it’s completely over for Florida.
3-0 at the end of the first period and I was ready to call the game and series. Florida OWNED Edmonton and I didn’t think Edmonton had a chance. Obviously, the Panthers thought the same thing and took some dumb penalties instead of continuing to play their game.
Dan, agree 100% with your opinion of Taylor Swift. I guess the NHL is paying her to show up at games to they can put her on TV to try getting young girls to watch in the hope they’ll boost the ratings so the next deal will be worth more money.
Maybe I missed it, any one reference 1992 Stanley Cup Finals Game 1, Pens were down 0-3 and 1-4 to the Blackhawks, Pens won 5-4
That was a home game.
Who thinks the Ducks were fleeced by that trade especially when the Rangers are trying to dump salary? Unless the Ducks see Terrance as a total bust when he’s only 20, why pickup a 34 year old on the back nine of their career? If they’re willing to take old players to help right now by giving up a prospect, maybe they should think about Karlsson.
$6.5mil per season isn’t too crazy against the cap. Kreider will help in areas where the Ducks struggled mightily in the PP/PK. The Ducks definitely lost the trade, even worse if Terrance does well at all, but I don’t think they were fleeced.
Just like last year where SJS took Goodman or whatever his name was off their hands. This was a one sided trade, salary dump and NY made out.
Terrance is screwed. His coach will see to it.
Personally, this actually really resonates with me. It’s REAL analysis.
TT,
poor Dan. He’s stretched thin from those like you who enjoy “real analysis” to my end of the spectrum where superficial silliness is favored. I’m not alone.
For example, there are even those who believe GMKD has assets in his inventory that will enable him to trade for difference makers for the 2025-26 season.
If he does, he is a genuine alchemist converting what we saw for 82 games during the 2024/25 season into a competitive team.
Fortunately for both of us Dan has an a la carte menu on PHN.
I am so sick of the Swift Kelsie crap! Don’t NFL our NHL please!