Dan’s Daily: Worst Attended NHL Game Ever; Hot Penguins Debate
The NHL is taking a couple of weeks off, but we are not. The Daily may have to scrounge up some content from time to time, but some of the NHL and Pittsburgh Penguins content we’ve found is fun, at least when others aren’t copying it verbatim. We’ll start with the Penguins’ weekend stories, including the five most overrated Penguins and political negotiations to which expelling top Russian hockey players was an option. The NHL trade winds are blowing gently through Edmonton and are expected to increase in the next couple of weeks. And I found a video you may enjoy of the least attended game in NHL history.
I think I’ve spent too many nights in hotels over the last few years. I was hoping to get away one more time before the end of August. Edmonton was on my list, but then I realized — I might have done the Calgary and Edmonton vacation last summer, but I can’t remember if I did?! Maybe I’ll just keep it close. I wish I could hang out in Ohiopyle, but there’s no cell service. I got lucky, er, fortunate in New York that nothing happened while I was away from my keyboard a few times, but that was at night.
It’s hard to believe that the Penguins’ rookie tournament in Buffalo is in a month, and the Montreal preseason game is in about five weeks. Get ready!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The report in the Wall Street Journal was detailed and full of intrigue. Essentially, our dear Vlad Putin’s dictatorship was imprisoning Americans to use as bargaining chips amidst the backdrop of the invasion of Ukraine to get Russian prisoners released, including “The Merchant of Death” and a Russian assassin being held in Berlin. Buried in the report was a little line — as negotiations dragged on, the Biden Administration considered–wait for it–expelling the top Russian hockey players, including Alex Ovechkin and possibly Evgeni Malkin?
Malkin would have been a tougher player to expel because he has dual citizenship, but as we know, the government can revoke such things if it really wants. We also linked to the full story from the WSJ, which was primarily about another Putin opponent who died while in prison after living a full life to the age of 47.
And we had some fun on Saturday that seemed not to be fun to a few people who got pretty hot under the collar when their favorite players appeared on the list. The social media reaction was funny, but also a bit angry. Check it out–the five most Overrated Penguins in the Crosby Era.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
This little video popped up on my Facebook feed, and I thought you might enjoy it. I didn’t remember the game, but I do remember getting a week off from school and playing in the snow until my cheeks hurt. This is back when sports were about the game, and we all figured stuff out without lawyers or social media outrage. And maybe bent some rules, too:
NHL Trade Rumors. Oilers radio analyst and perhaps the most notable personality on the beat, Bob Stauffer, joined our buddy David Staples’ podcast. This website did a write-up of the podcast, and Stauffer thinks the Oilers will make a few moves before the start of the season.
Philly Hockey Now: Not every prospect is a blue-chipper, but sometimes the kids can fight up the ranks and force their way into the conversation. This is the type of story we’ll have a lot of in Pittsburgh for the next few years, too. So, here’s a look at the cross-state situation. Alex Bump is forcing his way into the NHL, but what can the Philadelphia Flyers expect?
Florida Hockey Now: Back to school. To prove to Dad that I’m not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, and I hope I don’t get in a fight … Actually, there may be a few fights, but as the Stanley Cup parties wind down, the Florida Panthers are back to work.
Detroit Hockey Now: And following the Russian story and the Stanley Cup story, it’s only fitting we finish on this one today. Viacheslav Fetisov is mad that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman won’t allow Russian players to take the Stanley Cup home to Russia for their Cup parties. The Red Wings legend wants a word.
Sure, the Cup can go to Russia if they promise not to imprison it, attack it, or poison it.
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins
We will know by the end of this week about any significant trades from the Penguins. In the last 10 years, there have been zero significant trades from 8/15 to 9/30 in the NHL.
🤞🏻 this is going to be one really overcrowded training camp roster if Dubas doesn’t at least move 1 or 2 players. At this point, I am convinced that this will be the roster going into camp, with many very tough decisions to make before opening night.
I live in Chicago and sat through that 10-1 whooping after our last cup.
They have free WiFi downtown in Ohiopyle now. I can also give you tips on the few spots where there is cell service within a two mile radius. 😉
Omg and exactly what does that mean “ but as we know, the government can revoke such things if it really wants”. Are you talking about getting illegal immigrants out of our country as a comparison to Geno a generational talent that has lived here for decades. I thought politics was off limits. Well I now know who you voted for DAN. This will be the end of PHN for me
Good lord. You don’t know, and you way overreacted. The government can indeed revoke dual citizenship. I believe that type of reaction is called being a snowflake.
Hey Dan… you started your column with the worst attended game! Well, what game was it?
The video is right there.