Dan’s Daily Links: Here Comes Seattle, Metro & Trade Rumors

Here come the Seattle something somethings. The Philadelphia Flyers could soon make some league altering splashes in the trade market. And, the Pittsburgh Penguins managed to not lose too much ground in the Metro Division this weekend which is perhaps the only good news to emanate from the Pittsburgh sports weekend.

I remain steadfastly behind the Seattle Krakens. Surely it’s better during a losing streak for grown men to repeat a quixotic refrain, “We have to get back to Krackens hockey,” than it is if they’re named something wimpy and politically sensitive to some but simultaneously culturally inappropriate to others, like The Totems (welcome to 2019 where things can divide even the fervent PC crowd against itself).

Do the likely choices, “Totems hockey” or “Walleye hockey” sound like a top-tier professional sports team (or in this case, an NHL team)? Here is the update on Seattle’s status (The Associated Press).

Stick tap to our mortal enemies and competitors and friends over at Pensburgh for keeping tabs on the Metro Division (Pensburgh).

The Penguins are still within striking distance, though we’re close to the point in that movie where Bruce Willis makes a left turn on Mt. Washington and lands on Boulevard of the Allies.

The Philadelphia Flyers are GM shopping. They haven’t yet hired former Penguins assistant GM and Minnesota boss Chuck Fletcher. Fletcher is thought to be the front-runner by people in the know. After they tab a new GM, they could go grocery shopping, too. The Flyers are in desperate need for goaltending.

Flyers Overhaul is Just Beginning and could include a run at Columbus offerings. (Boston Globe).

Salary cap implications of the Toronto Maple Leafs-William Nylander contract (The Athletic).

Simon Despres is back in professional hockey. He’s on a PTO in the AHL (TSN).

The Kings Illya Kovalchuk found a way to avoid fourth-line duty. Get hurt. (NHL.com)

And the Kings snagged formerly-thought-to-be-talented Montreal forward Nikita Scherbak off waivers (Sportsnet). Scherbak was the 26th overall pick in 2014 and it’s a move which ominously foreshadows a certain Penguins forward.

And Arizona Coyote Michael Grabner is out indefinitely after gruesome eye injury (Sportsnet