Dan’s Daily: More Dubas Plans; Capitals-Hurricanes Brawl; Torts Replacements

ST. LOUIS — The Capitals and Hurricanes let it all go towards the end of their game because, of course, they had to send a message to a potential playoff opponent, and Alex Ovechkin lit the lamp for No. 892. Dave Molinari dug into where exactly rookie Ville Koivunen fits into the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup. At the same time, Kyle Dubas dropped by an old friend’s podcast and mostly delivered the same answers you and I have heard, but he did break new ground on his offseason plans and the goaltending situation. Elsewhere, there’s a Calder Trophy debate, more rumors on Rick Tocchet’s future, and four candidates to replace John Tortorella in Philadelphia.

Tonight, I’ll close the loop on one sportswriter milestone. I’ll cover a game in my 35th different arena- all current NHL barns plus Arizona, the original Joe Louis Arena, and, of course, the Civic Arena. You have no reason to care about such stuff, but it is an opportunity for me to say thank you.

When I started this, we met with gale force headwinds and some subterfuge. It was never supposed to be as big as it, but you all kept coming back. And then more of you came. And before you knew it, we were drawing hundreds of thousands of unique readers per month (multiple times greater than anyone else’s published stats), who are reading several articles on average. Our staff grew. And…here we are.

I’m also attempting a rare feat this season: covering all 82 games. It used to be a lot easier when sportswriters could take the same plane, and there wasn’t a compressed schedule. And it’s surely easier when you’re spending the company’s money, but I’ve come this far. However, severe weather in Dallas is threatening that. A smart person would heed the airline’s warning and reschedule the flight or cancel it. I could just go to Chicago and wait for them, but … NAH! All 82. Let’s do this.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The practice update, from the lines to the “injured ice” crew. If you haven’t picked up on coach Mike Sullivan’s new terminology, he refers to injured players as “skating on the injured ice.” Yes, we’ve teased him about the grammar of that, but there are updates on Evgeni Malkin and the rejuvenated Penguins’ practice.

Molinari asked around and went straight to the sources: The Penguins’ future plans and how Ville Koivunen fits in.

I’ve got some bad news if you’re demanding Tristan Jarry be an offseason casualty, but some good news if you want to see Sergei Murashov get a chance at the NHL. General manager Kyle Dubas also circled the two spots he wants to address in the offseason, but next fall, it’s going to be a Penguins goaltending battle royal.

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

NY Post: I’m not sure why the NY Post covered this game, but they had the best story that I found. It was an ugly night as Carolina blew out the Capitals. Ovechkin scored, but Capitals goalie Logan Thompson suffered an injury. There were several suspendable plays, ugly hits, fights, and lots more message sending.

**Montreal Hockey Now: The Calder Trophy race is red-hot. Our Philly beat writer thinks it should be Matvei Michkov. Now Marc Dumont weighs in—no, it should be defenseman Lane Hutson.

**NYI Hockey Now: I love this story from Russ Macias. He evaluated Patrick Roy, who SHREDDED his team, especially Anthony Duclair, Tuesday night. So, Russ turned the tables. How is Roy performing in his first season behind the New York Islanders bench?

DFO: Jeff Marek rolled through several candidates for the now-vacant Philly Flyers coaching position. He had a few first-timers and the Hershey Bears’ coach on there, too. I must say, if this is the list that’s out there, it’s a bit underwhelming.

The Flyers need to load up a duffle bag with cash and get David Carle out of Denver.

32 Thoughts Podcast: The topic is David Carle and his demands before he’ll accept an NHL coaching gig. He’s not going to come cheap, and he has strings attached, too.

Sportsnet: The Canucks are publicly saying they will exorcise the option on Rick Tocchet’s contract, but Frank Seravalli says there’s a few more twists and turns coming, so don’t bet on it, yet. What will determine if Tocchet returns to coach the Canucks?

TSN: Talks are underway, but they are not expected to be contentious. The NHL and NHLPA have begun talks on the new collective bargaining agreement.

I think the biggest worry for fans and the league will be a coming battle (not this time, but in a few years) over free agency and places with tax advantages. I’ve looked at it seven ways from Sunday, and the way several money-hungry states have set their tax laws- no matter where you work, if you live in New York, you pay. If you work in New York, you pay. Aside from something extreme like registering free agents as residents of Florida and giving them an in-person signing bonus of one year’s salary each year, there’s no way around the tax imbalance. Of course, why some states demand so much money (yet always seem to be failing) is entirely a political discussion that I’d love to have- but not here.

Then again, a Disney or Las Vegas retreat every year at which you pay the players for an NIL. You’re welcome, Mr. Bettman.