Dan’s Daily: US-Canada Awaits; Big Money on Trade Block; Malkin Speaks

We dedicate today’s hockey coverage to Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Lange. The voice of the Penguins passed away last evening, and we’ll offer more tributes today, including those from his friend Dave Molinari. Lange was a legend.

In the Penguins locker room Wednesday, Evgeni Malkin let loose on his fears when injured, missing the Four Nations Face-Off, and his best friend shutting down talk of records. Dave also took a fresh look at the implausible playoff race. Elsewhere in the Daily, some big-money players are available on the NHL trade block, there’s some blame brewing in Boston over how Team USA treated Charlie McAvoy, Quinn Hughes will NOT play for Team USA tonight, and New Orleans is interested in an NHL team.

I will save my Mike Lange tribute for our posts this morning, but that news hit hard for all of us. It is time for the Penguins to really honor Lange—a banner like Buffalo and LA did for their cornerstone broadcasters is appropriate.

I am also not looking forward to the USA vs. Canada tonight. The U.S. is so badly banged up that I don’t know how they win unless Connor Hellebuyck absolutely steals one. The U.S. is built on the Tkachucks’ grit, and if they’re not able to deliver, Canada is going to steamroll Team USA.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We’ll begin with the breaking news. PHN was one of the outlets that directly reported the great loss to the Pittsburgh hockey community, the broadcasting world, and hockey in general. Dave Molinari and Mike had a few stories from the road. Today, we all feel the loss as Mike Lange dies at 76.

To hockey, ‘Geno’ spoke. One of my takeaways was that even he was scared when he injured his knee. He also had dinner with Alex Ovechkin, who shut down talk of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. In the locker room, it was Evgeni Malkin day.

Dave takes a look at the playoff scenarios, probabilities, and improbability. The numbers aren’t kind, but get caught up before we go back to live action Saturday. So, you’re saying there’s a chance of the Penguins in the playoffs?

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Chicago Sun-Times: Not only might $10 million defenseman Erik Karlsson come available, but Seth Jones, who carries a $9.5 million salary, would prefer to be traded away from the Chicago Blackhawks. Jones wants to go to a winner.

My two cents–Jones should look at the nucleus they are building in Chicago. They already have the cornerstone in place. If he doesn’t think they’re going to win within three years, that’s a steep indictment on management and a bit on himself. He was supposed to be another building block.

Sportsnet: The chirp war between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel is still going on. It’s pretty good, and it’s not lighthearted. It’s just one of the baselines of tonight’s patriotic war on ice.

ESPN: Ryan Clark digs into how Team USA wins this thing.

Pierre LeBrun reported that Quinn Hughes was not medically cleared to play tonight, so he didn’t travel to Boston to join Team USA. Instead, the U.S. summoned defenseman Brett Pesce and forward Tage Thompson as insurance policies against additional injury and illness.

Sportsnet: The flip side is Adam Vingan and three ways the Canadians win the tournament.

The Athletic ($): Jeremy Rutherford offered his perspectives and insider insight into the recent trade chatter that’s popped up around Brayden Schenn. It’s not nothing, but a trade won’t be easy, either.

OK, Weeksy brings a clear and definitive tweet:

👀 In speaking to Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and other sources involved,I can confirm that there was a recent meeting in NYC with a group expressing their interest in bringing an @NHL expansion team to New Orleans. #HockeyX #NewOrleans pic.twitter.com/fAhYY5cbDH

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) February 19, 2025

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers seemed to get some good news Wednesday as several injured players took the ice. Of course, John Tortorella and goalie Sam Ersson were not there, but everyone else was accounted for. Our Will James also tried to figure out the new Flyers’ lines.

NYI Hockey Now: Russ Macias grabbed Casey Czikas for a one-on-one. For years, part of the best fourth-line in hockey, Czikas has heard the trade rumors and admitted it’s tough on a close-knit group. Here’s more from the hard-nosed New York Islanders stalwart.

Boston Hockey Now: The news spread quickly. Boston was not happy with the Team USA medical staff–which is also the medical staff from the Minnesota Wild. The situation involving Charlie McAvoy just got very serious for the league and the Boston Bruins.