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Dan’s Daily: NHL Investigating Oilers LTIR; Stars Cap Hell; Penguins Advice

The Dallas Stars took the center stage for a moment Thursday as they re-signed Matt Duchene, but found themselves in Dante’s eighth circle of salary cap hell, leading to one shockingly bad trade, and the NHL trade rumors launched into overdrive as more Dallas trades are necessarily coming. Sam Bennett may have been a little bit lubricated, but colorfully announced to the bar crowd that he’s not leaving Florida. The NHL is investigating the Edmonton Oilers and Evander Kane for their use of LTIR. The Boston Bruins are chumming the trade waters with their No. 7 pick, and Dave Molinari has some sage advice, which I may disagree with, for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Wait, a weekend without rain?! Of course, it will be unbearably hot and humid, but no rain. Small victories, I suppose.
We’ve eased into this June. There have been a few false starts, such as the Jason Robertson trade rumors, but then things have gone quiet. No one has yet pulled that Jenga piece that sends the NHL into a frenzy of moves. Here’s hoping, right?
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Some trite advice (his words, not mine), but sage advice from Dave on the coming Penguins draft.
I got the writing bug after a morning full of meetings on Thursday, and readers seemed to enjoy the different angle. History does not judge the depth players, and the purifying light of hindsight does not shine upon the fourth-line centers or even the goalie. We compared the growth and changes of Connor McDavid to Sidney Crosby, but also how history might have been very different, very very different, had the Penguins not won the 2009 Stanley Cup Final. It’s a very different Crosby vs. McDavid story.
I would link to the Pirates game, but they again blew a lead for Paul Skenes. That guy has about a bat rack full of tantrum credits coming.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Daily Face Off: Stashing players on long-term injured reserve isn’t as easy as fans think. The NHL is keeping a closer eye on things and is investigating the Oilers for keeping Kane on LTIR.
NHL.com: Dallas signed Duchene to a four-year extension with a pleasant $4.5 million salary cap hit, but had only 450k remaining for their six remaining free agents. The first shoe dropped hours later when they took pennies on the dollar to trade away physical winger with 27 goals, Mason Marchment. Yep, the Dallas is in cap hell.
TSN: Could the Bruins trade the seventh overall pick? GM Don Sweeney indicated everything is on the table as the organization has stockpiled draft picks and gotten younger quickly. So, what comes next?
For everyone salivating over the Penguins leaping into the top five, Boston is a much more realistic target to trade up. Of course, it might behoove the Penguins to do so before the draft because there could be a surprise drop by a player or two, which would make the seventh pick more valuable. Or, the Penguins could stay at 11 and get a solid player–that’s a pretty good option.
Sportsnet: McDavid is taking a beat to decompress before getting into his future with the Edmonton Oilers, but he did lay out what he needs. The Oilers must stay Cup competitive. Still, the question wasn’t entirely answered.
Edmonton is a unique city. Blue collar food and affordable high-end eats, and Banff is a short drive away. There are amazing national parks and the Northern Lights a short drive away, too. Edmonton needs to up its sales pitch for players to surround McDavid. Hey, I’m available. Will work for a donair pizza and Bistro Praha ghoulash.
We’re double-dipping on Sportsnet because no one else in Minnesota wrote up the story–Guerin refuted any rift with Marco Rossi and said he likes him very much, but at a certain number. The two sides are still talking, though it doesn’t sound good.
Since we’re all armchair GM’ing now, I don’t think the Penguins could target both Rossi and Mavrik Bourque. If either is available to the Penguins, they have to pick one. Too many smaller players would be bad.
NYI Hockey Now: No trade rumors, at least credible ones, and not yet. Russ Macias has the latest as contract talks are starting between Noah Dobson and the New York Islanders.
And, Sam Bennett didn’t do his best Wolf of Wall Street, but he got the point across:
SAM BENNETT AIN’T FUCKING LEAVING! pic.twitter.com/lH9NPFcjxL
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 20, 2025
