Dan’s Daily: Hot Rumors; Big Emotions; Penguins Go Down Swinging

DENVER — The NHL trade rumor mill is too scattered to pick just one headline today. Buckle up. We’ve got the Calgary Flames taking a run at multiple unique targets, the New Jersey Devils’ big-game hunting, the complicated three-way deal getting Trent Frederic to Edmonton, potential spots for Brad Marchand, and some actual Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. The trade deadline is almost here.

The Penguins are off to Las Vegas. They have an off day on Wednesday. I’m curious if a few of the boys will find some mischief or if everyone will use the day to chill. Who am I kidding? I’m sure the Vegas fanbase will be out in force detecting carriers of the “Vegas flu.”

I have not planned on too much pre-deadline speculation because so much is on the table that the answer to everything is…yes, it’s possible. Well, almost everything. The Colorado sports radio hosts were having a field day with Sidney Crosby’s “recruitment” efforts Tuesday. One host wanted fans to plaster the glass with Denver real estate listings. Another wanted a chant, “We want Crosby!” And then, the memes started.

You’ll have to know WWE for this one, but even I, who doesn’t follow it anymore, saw the huge heel turn Sunday.

Sidney Crosby to his Penguins teammates after the Avalanche beat them tonight: pic.twitter.com/9VtIcxV0do

— Mark Springer: Radio Machine (@MarkAMark) March 4, 2025

They can hope, right?

Also, I’ve got an exclusive little Ryan Shea story coming today (or tomorrow), in addition to trade deadline predictions, and I’ve just got a gut feeling about something that I’ll include in that story. I hope you realize I much I value you–I’ll be busting my butt all day instead of chasing Las Vegas.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The visiting team played a pretty darned good game, getting the better of the Colorado Avalanche in most phases. And yet, the Penguins lost 4-1. Here’s how it all went down–the Penguins recap.

The report card was easy to write. This one didn’t require any great chalkboard insights, though I did include one. And we broke down the two crucial mistakes that led to the pair of Colorado goals. We got brutally honest about the Penguins’ biggest problem with the player grades, the analysis, and some pretty good quotes from the room, too. The Penguins report card.

Colorado Hockey Now: The flip side of the Penguins game, with some good quotes from the opposing coach. Aarif Deen has the good and bad of the Colorado Avalanche win.

PHN+: Here’s a buffet of big issues. There should be some worry in the organization about goalie Joel Blomqvist. How Philip Tomasino is progressing with coach Mike Sullivan’s checklist to create a complete game, why the Penguins didn’t play Vladislav Kolyachonok for almost a month–the Penguins insider.

Lastly, make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel for locker room, postgame, and live chat videos. Here’s last night’s postgame done at 2 a.m. your time:

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

NYI Hockey Now: Brock Nelson was gangbusters in what was likely his Long Island goodbye. He was the No. 1 star and then got emotional in the postgame on-ice interview. Several long-time Islanders probably played their last game there, and the emotions flowed in the Islanders locker room, too.

Sportsnet: Four potential trade destinations for the little ball of hate, the mouth of Halifax, the master of disaster, and one of the best penalty killers in the NHL, Brad Marchand. I don’t think he’ll be traded, but in case he is.

Boston Hockey Now: A very complicated three-team deal. Edmonton, New Jersey, and Boston hooked up to swap players, picks, money, and everything but bodily fluids. Boston held 50% on Trent Frederic, and then New Jersey held 50% of the remaining 50% on Trent Frederic to get him to Edmonton. That’s the easy part. Here’s the rest of the swap of picks, prospects, and players with the Boston Bruins.

Toronto Star: Kevin McGrann took the opposite tack and listed the Maple Leafs’ trade chips. The reason I listed this story today is because Toronto has available everything the Penguins want. However, the Penguins really don’t have what Toronto needs. The chips include young players, Nick Robertson, and more.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas can be creative. I do see several paths in which Dubas could spend his extra first-round pick on a center, then spin that center to Toronto in exchange for Easton Cowan or Fraser Minton. I also realize it’s MUCH easier to type that than do it.

TSN: We’ll go with TSN’s trade bait board today. Also, the TSN Insider’s video is on top–what’s up with the Devils? There are only two Penguins on the TSN trade bait list, and neither is Erik Karlsson.

Philly Hockey Now: A smart piece by Will James. The Flyers are holding a blue-chip center on the market, and to their good fortune, several competing trade chips are off the board. So, that price for Scott Laughton just went up for the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Athletic ($): The Calgary Flames are chasing the young players in Buffalo, including Dylan Cozens. Calgary is the wild card because the trade rumors have included their veterans on the move, but the Flames are also trying to be buyers.