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.