Dan’s Daily: NHL Trades are Spinning, Could Penguins Get ‘It’ Factor?

NASHVILLE, Tenn — The NHL trade market is alive and well. The Calgary Flames got an underwhelming return for Tyler Toffoli, at least according to some. The New Jersey Devils bolstered their lineup with Toffoli. At the same time, the LA Kings ended the long-running rumors of Pierre-Luc Dubois going to Montreal by acquiring the center for a healthy package, including Gabe Vilardi. The Montreal Canadiens joined the circus getting Alex Newhook from Colorado. The Pittsburgh Penguins schedule landed, and it has a few highlights, such as opening against Connor Bedard, and could the Penguins get the “it” factor tonight in the NHL Draft?

Day 2 in Nashville was not as bad as Day 1. Small victories. However, trying to pick up someone at the airport last night was absolute chaos. Apparently, several planes landed late, and only one gate was open, so it was a cluster to de-plane and get luggage, and the line of cars to get to Arrival was a 10-minute traffic jam that I had to loop three times.

Chicago Hockey Now’s Nate Brown has been enjoying my Mr. Bean tribulations, dubbing it “Dan vs. Nashville.”

I did have some fun with Bedard at his press conference Tuesday. While the usual softballs were being lobbed, I asked him about all of the advice he was getting, with a twist, “What’s the worst advice you’ve been given lately?”

Poor kid had a chuckle and then flexed his media training. He tried to think of an answer but conceded, “Good question. I can’t really think of any … If I think of some, I’ll have to get back to you.”

The worst advice would be to try a Chicago-style pizza. Avoid them, kid! Not even with a hockey player’s metabolism are those things digestible. If you’re into the prospects, you can watch the entire Bedard presser on National Hockey Now’s YouTube channel.

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins’ schedule is out. There are some oddities, including only one trip to Madison Square Garden (?!), but the Penguins begin the season against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. Get the full Penguins schedule and recap.

After talking to several potential Penguins draftees Tuesday, it sure seems Zach Benson has the “it” factor.

I’ve got one, maybe two more, potential draftee profiles. We didn’t get to everyone, but hopefully, our list includes the eventual Penguins pick.

We’ll get straight to the trades today…

NHL Trade Activity, News & National Hockey Now:

*denotes the trade story. The following story is the analysis.

*LA Hockey Now: The deal finally got done. Pierre Luc Dubois is not headed home to Montreal. Instead, he gets an eight-year deal and is traded to the LA Kings.

Austin Stanovich lays out how the blockbuster affects the LA Kings roster.

*Philly Hockey Now: Torey Krug didn’t go to Philly, but Kevin Hayes is headed to St. Louis. What was to be a blockbuster ended with a whimper. Here are the Flyers’ trade details.

Our Chuck Bausman believes the Flyers are trying to trade up tonight to get Matvei Michkov.

*Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens paid a premium on the NHL trade market but liked what they got. Alex Newhook is headed to the Montreal Canadiens.

Marc Dumont’s analysis was the Canadiens did right by avoiding the price tag for Dubois and getting Alex Newhook.

Evan Rawal in Colorado believes the Newhook tried is, or must be, the start of something bigger with the Colorado Avalanche.

*New Jersey Hockey Now: Tyler Toffoli is headed to the New Jersey Devils.

Calgary Hockey Now: Folks in Calgary were very nonplussed about the return for Toffoli, including Yegor Sharangovich. The Calgary Flames analysis.

*San Jose Hockey Now: New Jersey also traded goalie MacKenzie Blackwood to the San Jose Sharks.

The drama begins at pick No.3 tonight. Who will the Sharks draft at No. 4?

Chicago Hockey Now: Analyzing the Blackhawks’ salary cap situation after they acquired Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. Hall figures to be a Connor Bedard linemate.