Dan’s Daily Links: Hall Trade, Seattle Rumors & Penguins Sick

Let the Seattle Somethings rumors begin. Hours after the anticipated Taylor Hall deal to the Arizona Coyotes with former Pittsburgh Penguins Cup winners coach Rick Tocchet and winger Phil Kessel, the analysis flowed. We have our first Seattle rumor floating around a potential coach, and as one Penguins cog returns, another is out sick.

At least the hockey gods stopped cutting Penguins tendons and poking hernias.

First, the Pittsburgh Penguins news. Evgeni Malkin is back at practice, but Bryan Rust isn’t. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Sidney Crosby is back on skates, but a timetable is unclear (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

And for PHN+ subscribers, Matt Murray is taking the time to work on his game (PHN+)

By the way, a coffee costs more than a month of PHN+. Stick tap to Shelly Anderson to writing her fingers to the bone yesterday.

The New Jersey Devils finally traded Taylor Hall, and the Arizona Coyotes ponied up prospects and picks. Analysis flowed like hate to the Dark Side (The Score)

The Hall trade makes this a make-or-break moment for hockey in Arizona, too. Houston, prepare? (Sportsnet)

I think Arizona paid too much for Hall. They’re already competing for first place and just burned their tradeable assets on a player whom they are unlikely to re-sign. But if it works, hand me the fork to eat my words.

The Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford will remain suspended until Jan. 2, after Sean Avery’s admission that Crawford kicked him when the two were with the LA Kings (NY Post)

That suspension is interesting as Avery didn’t make allegations or claim to be hurt by the actions. In fact, Avery laughed off the decade-old incident and praised Crawford. The NHL is serious about reigning in physically aggressive coaches, even when it happened a long time ago.

Lastly, Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice is being mentioned as a favorite for the Seattle No-Names’ head coach job. Maurice is, of course, employed by Winnipeg, but there is history with Seattle Something-or-Others GM Ron Francis (Sportsnet)