Dan’s Daily: Rutherford Ready to Work Again, Kessel Keeps Scoring

Someday, someone will slip and tell the real story of former Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford and the 24 hours leading up to his resignation. For now, it remains an elusive mystery worthy of the History Channel blaming aliens.

Rutherford wants to get back into the game. We also have a bevy of Penguins stories on the off-day, including a well-read and much-discussed column about the Penguins’ toughness and what comes next. Oh, and Phil Kessel is filling the net this season.

That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds, and snakes, and aeroplanes…

The Athletic: Jim Rutherford wants to get back into the game. He’s had about one month off.

Do you think this makes the Penguins or Rutherford look bad? Pop by in the comments section below.

PHN: Yep, Tom Wilson exposed the Penguins have a need for a tough answer. 

**PHN+: P.O. Joseph has been down the last few games and played a season-low 12:51 on Thursday. So, here’s Joseph’s situation and what Mike Sullivan thinks.

And, if you want to be a bit irritated, the Philadelphia Flyers are making plans to have fans in the arena as early as next week, while the Commonwealth is slow-walking Pittsburgh Penguins fans into April. 

Now, a little treat for you hot dog missing Phil Kessel fans…

Yahoo: Kessel has eight goals this season and markers in two straight. Here’s Phil Kessel on Friday.

It is good to see Kessel getting after it after an abysmal year in 2019-20.

Sportsnet: The Calgary Flames are teetering. Their fragile roster may need a shakeup.

Sorry, that’s as close to NHL trade rumors as we’ll get this morning.

National Hockey Now

Boston Hockey Now: Things are getting sketchy in Boston. The New York Rangers humbled the Boston Bruins on Friday.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers were dealt a bad hand; they had to play a few games with six players on the COVID list. Now they are getting healthy and players are returning from that COVID list.

NYI Hockey Now: A lot of teams wanted J-G Pageau when Ottawa made him available. The Islanders ponied up a fair price, and Pageau has been worth every penny. 

Florida Hockey Now: Remember Olli Jokinen? The Panthers’ captain tortured the Penguins and now Jokinen is coaching his own team in Finland (which means the Penguins will probably be watching).

SJ Hockey Now: Tomas Hertl is recovering well, and Erik Karlsson is a full participant at practice.

Colorado Hockey Now: Colorado hung on–barely–Avs beat the surging Coyotes.