Dan’s Daily: Rangers Implosion Gets Worse; Penguins Fans Upset with Move

The Pittsburgh Penguins might do a little roster shuffle today as they put big winger Jesse Puljujarvi on waivers, and we await word on Kris Letang’s status. We also put a few pucks on the tape in the PHN blog and let rip, including the three things we learned about the organization during our three-games-in-three-day travel whirlwind. Elsewhere in the Daily, you’ll have to contain your giggles as the New York Rangers implosion is getting worse. Contract talks for Mikko Rantanen in Colorado are getting ugly. There’s panic over Team Canada. And Jonathan Toews is using alternative medicine to get healthy in hopes of an NHL comeback.

Everyone be safe tonight and my condolences to my fellow working peeps.

Shall we set the odds of Puljujarvi being claimed today at 2-1? I think he will be claimed, and if I’m being honest, I’m hoping he does get a shot. For me, it’s been difficult professionally dealing with the overload of fans clamoring for his lineup inclusion. And the clamoring hasn’t been polite.

Yet the Penguins are on a 10-4-1 run, the penalty kill is top 10, and the fourth line is becoming a shutdown line, but the reasons Puljujarvi remained a scratch don’t stop there. It does put me in a difficult position–I have no desire to bash the player so that I can explain to many “enthusiastic” supporters why it’s the right decision. I began an article a little while ago on Puljujarvi–really breaking down his skating, his shifts, and his game, but I realized very quickly it was a rough story.

Puljujarvi has value–we championed him in the preseason–but there’s extreme overvaluing and vitriol. And, if you know me at all, you know I don’t budge when I’ve done the work.

Now, let’s get to the hockey, and I’m off to Detroit…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Here’s the Puljujarvi news story and the possible reason why the Penguins waived Jesse Puljujarvi.

There was a bubbly quality in the room Sunday after the Penguins hung on to beat the Islanders, and Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux’s franchise assist record. Crosby reminisced about the early days and the enormity of the record. We take you inside the Penguins locker room.

Let’s tee up what we’ve learned in our travels through Wilkes-Barre, on Long Island, and back to Pittsburgh. We got a good look at all levels of the organization. So, here’s what we’ve learned, and some one-timers, too, in the Penguins blog.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

NY Post: The New York Rangers’ free fall has gone from bewildering to ugly with no end in sight. After reporting that coach Peter Laviolette was safe, now Larry Brooks is projecting just how bad this is going to get–soon, coach Peter Laviolette will pay the price.

Florida Hockey Now: Revel in the misery. Happy New Year–the Rangers lost (again) to the Florida Panthers.

Real Kyper & Bourne Podcast: Frank Seravalli had some inside info on Mikko Rantanen’s contentious contract negotiations. The sides are far apart, and it’s about to get ugly.

TSN: Jonathan Toews isn’t close to returning, but he’s not done with the NHL. It’s an interesting path–He’s in India trying to get healthy enough for a return.

We’re cutting it there today so I can get on the road. The Dallas Stars were fined $100,000 for their Dec. 26 practice. The Vancouver Canucks are fighting through their struggles, but more injuries are mounting. And there’s growing suspicion that Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews is more injured than anyone is letting on, and he could be out long-term.