Dan’s Daily: Hawerchuk Mourned, Nashville Changes Coming

It was a sad day in hockey on Tuesday as legendary center Dale Hawerchuk passed away from cancer at 57-years-old. Hawerhcuk was one of the handful of dynamic centers of the 1980s who forever made the decade the pinnacle of exciting, offensive hockey. Tributes poured in from around the world. Also, in the daily compilation of links, changes are coming to the Nashville Predators, which could make a couple of RWs available. There were NHL trade rumors that Ottawa would chase the No. 1 pick and PHN examined what Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jared McCann’s next contract could be worth.

Pittsburgh Penguins fans and many across the NHL scoffed when Evgeni Malkin was left off of the Top 100 All-Time list. An equally egregious error was Dale Hawerchuk. He was overshadowed because he played in the Smythe Division with the small-market Winnipeg Jets and against the dynastic Edmonton Oilers with Wayne Gretzky, and the equally fierce Calgary Flames. They also won two Stanley Cups in the ’80s.

Hawerchuk was there with Mario Lemieux and Gretzky on Team Canada, which won the 1987 Canada Cup and was often the third member of the line with Lemieux and Gretzky.

Winnipeg and the league, including Gary Bettman, paid tribute (NHL.com)

Here’s a fun, personal remembrance. Former Penguins defenseman Jim Kyte was drafted by Winnipeg a year behind Hawerchuk. The kids lived together in their early days, and Kyte spoke with our sister site San Jose Hockey Now to pay tribute (San Jose Hockey Now)

And, just a side note to the many new readers to PHN (and a couple of out-of-left-field complaints), the Daily is our compilation of newsworthy links. In the Daily, we link directly to the original story. That practice supports original and independent journalism. The links in parenthesis are direct to the original story. Click on them!

Now, to hockey…

NHL trade rumors: Could the Ottawa Senators chase the No. 1 overall pick? The owner had a firm NO for Bruce Garrioch (Ottawa Sun)

The Pittsburgh Penguins owe RFA Jared McCann a new contract. But, what is the 24-year-old forward worth? We answer with specificity based on comparables, precedents and the Penguins own situation (PHN+)

Vegas had to sweat but eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks in five. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The New York Islanders blew a 2-0 lead in the first period, and the Washington Capitals avoided the sweep (NYI Hockey Now)

Our man inside the NHL Hub in Toronto, Rob Simpson, reports the Bubble Life is getting best out of some, but maybe getting the best of others (NYI Hockey Now)

Lance Hornby reports Bruce Boudreau could be on Toronto’s radar as an assistant coach (Toronto Sun)

The Nashville Predators aren’t so happy with their arc. Changes are coming, and that could mean a couple of free agents on the market, such as Craig Smith and Mikael Granlund (The Tennessean)

The Colorado Avalanche off-day breather. Reading lists, playing football in an empty stadium, and what it’s like bumping into other teams (Colorado Hockey Now)

The good news in Boston. David Pastrnak could play in Game 5. Amazing that Boston has rolled-on without him (Boston Hockey Now)