Dan’s Daily Links: Kessel Trade, Kapanen Signs, More Coming

Have you taken a breath, yet? Pittsburgh Penguins social media had a little fit last night after the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Phil Kessel to Arizona. With some bookend-type irony, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Kasperi Kapanen, thus avoiding the potential for a slick team to tender an offer sheet. Matt Duchene or something–Nashville is going big. And Toronto is working on a trade with Ottawa.

A lot of fun in the links, today.

Here’s on the breakdown of the trade from the Arizona side (AZ Republic)

Here’s the breakdown of the trade from the Pittsburgh side (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

And we won’t be printing a lot of the social media reaction so that families may read this story.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators have a trade cooking (Sportsnet)

Toronto also re-signed Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson (TSN)

If Kapanen settled for $3.2 million after a couple of days of talks. That puts him and Bryan Rust in the same range, which seems about right, though Kapanen’s offensive game may leap ahead.

There is growing talk on the underground the New York Islanders could have a wild day Monday. First, there is talk they will seek a little revenge on Toronto and offer sheet Mitch Marner. Second, there is growing speculation they could land Artemi Panarin. Third, they may lose Anders Lee. (Newsday)

If the Islanders keep Lee and land Panarin…oh boy the Metro will be a tough place to play.

Ryan Spooner is on waivers for the purpose of a buyout in Vancouver. So is Valeri Nicushkin in Dallas (ESPN)

No, I don’t expect the Penguins to pursue either but the initial thought did cross my mind.

That’s just about all of the news fit to link. My apologies for not tweeting more last night–it was a scheduled unplug night. I won’t make that mistake again! Fortunately, one of the friends in tow is a TV producer who quickly handed me his phone when mine died. We were sitting at a large table with another party who just sat down. They were depressed…because Phil Kessel was traded.

I couldn’t help but rib them a little.

Seriously, it will be OK. Someday I’ll understand the near-slavish devotion to a player who hurt your team over the past two seasons and really began to frustrate coaches with lackadaisical play in the 2017 playoffs. For the record, for all who accused us of making up the Phil Kessel strife over the past two summers, we don’t expect an apology but if you sit down next to us at a large community table, we will share a round with you.