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Dan’s Daily: More Rantanen Saga; Marchand Gracious in War; Crosby on Fire
Sidney Crosby is a force of nature, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have an emerging comeback story. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights, and we’ve got the full coverage plus some inside analysis. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Mikko Rantanen saga is the gift that keeps on giving. After the Carolina Hurricanes traded him to Dallas, coach Rod Brind’Amour described an unhappy player. However, Rantanen’s agent fired back on Tuesday and had a subtle jab at Brind’Amour. And Brad Marchand had some introspective words and praise for the Boston Bruins, including their reasons to trade him.
Also, there is no story to link to, but Alex Ovechkin had three assists last night, including passing up an empty netter to give Alaiksei Protas the hat trick. Ovechkin remains nine goals away, but that was a captain’s move.
You can’t help but wonder where Crosby’s stats would be if not for the lost two seasons at his ultimate peak in 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Winter Classic hit by David Steckel and the subsequent struggle to diagnose his neck injury probably cost him about 70 goals and another 150 points, which would put him over 1800 and chasing Gordie Howe’s 1850.
Crosby will probably pass Howe, but the injury surely cost him a chance to pass Jaromir Jagr for second all-time.
Who woulda thunk it? When the hoopla was starting 20 years ago, who knew we would witness a pair of players chasing down the greatest?
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: First, a trio of injury updates, from newly acquired Tommy Novak, who is out days, to Ryan Shea and P.O Joseph, who are out longer. Here are the Penguins injury updates.
For once, it was the Penguins who were badly outshot and outplayed but who won, anyway. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime, in large part because of … wait for it … Tristan Jarry. Here is the venerable Dave Molinari’s world-famous, or at least hockey-popular, Penguins recap.
Vegas Hockey Now: Hannah Kirkell has the Golden Knights report card. The good, the bad, and the ugly. They really should have won that game, but here’s the breakdown from the Vegas Golden Knights side.
I dug my teeth into the nuts and bolts of the win and the player performances. There were a couple of tactical reasons the Penguins had nothing going for 30 minutes, but I also dished several F grades. The grades were too indicative of the Penguins’ struggles this season and reasons for regret. Check out the Penguins report card.
And the postgame video on the YouTube channel (subscribe, will ya?)
NHL Trade Fallout, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: After Brind’Amour had some sour reactions after Rantanen was traded to Dallas at the deadline, Rantanen’s agent went on Sportsnet radio and gave a little back to Brind’Amour. The Rantanen saga keeps going.
The Carolina fanboys came for me on X when I was very honest last Friday. Look, Brind’Amour is a great coach for a team of quick skating plugs, but he’s not the best coach for talent. He pushes too hard too often, and his scheme is too demanding for players to reach their offensive potential. Don’t take my word for it, top players are voting with their feet.
Brad Marchand had some interesting comments about his trade. He basically praised Boston for not paying him more and for having the courage to choose the team over him. Yep. Here you go.
TSN: Oh boy. Some bonehead who was not vaccinated against Measles, in fact, had Measles and attended the Canadiens game on March 3. Basically, anyone sitting or working anywhere where this goober went in the arena is now in danger of contracting it–and it can be severe for adults.
The idiocy in this world right now.
The Athletic ($): Jonathan Toews has something left in the tank. He’s skating and working toward a return to play next season, though it won’t be with the Chicago Blackhawks. Our buddy Mark Lazerus went to Arizona to talk to Toews about a comeback, and why?!
New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils coach praised his players after a big win over the Blue Jackets, including the hockey IQ of the newly acquired (and sneakerhead) Cody Glass.
Boston Hockey Now: On Tuesday, Florida and Boston waged an emotional war. The sides have tangled in the playoffs, and now Marchand has flipped sides. The gloves were dropped late in the game, and Nikita Zadorov fed a few to Sam Bennett. Watch the Bruins fight here.
Those injuries certainly cost him serious points in the early 2010’s but he’s about 255 away from catching Jagr. At his point/over point per game pace, it’s possible in roughly 3 seasons, pending he signs a 2027-28+ extension, which isn’t out of the realm of possibilty. I see him hanging up the skates when he’s ready, but would make poetic sense to end his career on point 1,987.
Also where would he be if not saddled with Dominic Simon for much of 2 seasons!!!
I know I dont write about hockey for money so I know nothing and need to shut up and take your word for it. But as a guy who has watched the NHL since 1989 and played his entire life and at a pretty decent level – I saw a team that was hard to play against last night even if they were clearly the inferior team. They were grittier, they had more energy, they had more speed, they had more hunger to play the game. Its a START. But I see something different already. Helps when Jarry plays like… Read more »
I love hockey, but I’m just ready for this season to be over. Three years of this circus has me over it. There’s no real prospect or young player moving the needle in the current line-up, so my focus is shifting to the WB playoff run, the draft, the offseason, and next year. Sure, it’s nice that they’ve shown some life, but let’s be real—it’s March, there are 15 games left, and the grim reaper is standing outside the season’s door. I was excited when Dubas took over, and I liked most of his moves, but he didn’t fully finish… Read more »
Teams that empty themselves of all good players to rebuild end up rebuilding for a decade or more.
To get the amount of assets that weve gotten so far without trading Rust or Rakell is impressive. Karlsson will get traded in the off season when people have plenty of cap space. And Rakell still has 3 years and can still be moved and is a 30 goal scorer for $5m.
Being a fan only when its good….there is a name for that.
Pittsburgh finished last in the league the year before they drafted Malkin at 2nd. They very easily could have had the first pick and selected Ovi. Imagine where Sid and Ovi would be now if they spent their entire careers playing together on the same line and PP.
could you imagine their PP with those 2? Wow.
I hate today’s modern record chasing BS. These statistics the play-by-play guys come up with are stupid too. The only thing that should matter is championships we don’t need guys playing until they’re 45 to chase a record where it was different to acquire of a time and era. Just like Tomlin‘s never had a losing season. Crosby’s Great, real fans will remember the games, not have to open the books.
Brind ‘Amour is a much better coach than Sully.
Yaaaaay Jarry wins 2 games in garbage time. Sign him for 10 more years!