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Dan’s Daily: Analyst Rips Penguins Price for Rakell; Jarry Steals Another
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their third straight game Thursday, and it was undeniably the second straight game that goalie Tristan Jarry stole. We’ve got full coverage and video from PPG. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas joined a Canadian podcast (why not No Pucks Given?!) and further explained when and how he might recall the crop of Penguins prospects in the AHL. Shelly Anderson did our latest “one question” locker room feature and asked players the uncomfortable question about the desire for them to tank.
Elsewhere in the Daily, Daily Face-off reporter Frank Seravalli has not been a fan of Dubas’s work with the Penguins. He not only confirmed the Penguins’ ask at the NHL trade deadline for Rickard Rakell but also smoked the Penguins for it. TSN is reporting that the NHL’s attempt to award the Stanley Cup before late June has been scrapped, and the NHL has some other ideas that will make you question your sanity.
I’d like to use this extra space to start a discussion on the type of coverage you’d like from Pittsburgh Hockey Now and me for the rest of the season. First, I’ll tell you I really (really) wanted to cover all 82 Penguins games this season as a show of my commitment to you. However, I’m considering bagging several of the upcoming road games in favor of a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton road trip, whether in later March or in April, in preparation for their AHL playoff run.
Or, I can just wait for the WBS playoff run. There’s only so much WBS coverage. Feel free to use the comments to weigh in, or drop me a line.
Also, some news we didn’t get to squeeze into our pregame coverage, 22-year-old Avery Hayes signed a two-year entry-level deal. He was on an AHL deal in WBS this season. Many of you have asked me about him this season–At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds without remarkable speed, I really don’t know if he’s got an NHL future, but I know he’s fought for the chance and the puck loves him. The puck follows the kid around the ice like a lost puppy and he’s got hands, to boot.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Kyle Dubas has some experience with a crop of prospects at the AHL level forming a winning collective. Once upon a time, he GM’d the Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup. So, he laid out a pretty good philosophy, either now or next season, to recall the Penguins prospects.
Let’s play a game called “One Question.” I think the players give pretty honest answers when you just hit them with one. Shelly rolled through the room with a quick question–what do players think of fans’ desire for them to tank? I loved the question. Here are the answers in the Penguins room.
OK, to the game last night. The Penguins escaped, thieved, swiped, and absconded with a 5-3 win over St. Louis largely because of Tristan Jarry. Here is Dave Molinari’s Penguins recap.
The analysis includes a good chunk of the Xs and Os, or more specifically what the Penguins have not been able to do and how teams have taken away their game, in the last couple of contests. And I delivered a few high grades to go with a few very bad grades in the Penguins report card.
Steelers Now: The Steelers sign a quarterback! The Steelers sign a quarterback! And I’ll wager he becomes the starter before the season is over. Read all about it, the Steelers QB signing.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Daily Face-Off podcast: OK, Seravalli hasn’t exactly been Dubas’s biggest supporter. His column a couple of months ago shredded Dubas’s work with the Penguins. Seravalli reported Dubas set the price on Rakell at a top prospect and two first-round picks. Then ripped Dubas for the ask.
My expected “price tag” on Rakell was some combination of a first-rounder, a good prospect and an NHL player. Seravalli reported Edmonton was interested, but balked at the sticker price. If the Penguins could have snagged Matthew Savoie and a first that would have been enough. I really, really liked Savoie at the 2024 Memorial Cup and I felt he inflated Brayden Yager’s offensive totals at Moose Jaw. Savoie is a 25 goal, creative offense force and defensive headache in waiting.
TSN: Oh great, another condensed schedule with brutal road trips. Yay! The NHL doesn’t want to cancel next year’s All-Star Game, which will precede the Olympics. And they might soon add more regular season games. Dear lord, they just can’t build on success.
Florida Hockey Now: The marquee matchup Thursday was the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. Guess who won? Guess who keeps winning that battle? Yep, while the Canadian media rings out the Maple Leafs for losing, here’s the Florida Panthers win.
New Jersey Hockey Now (+): New Jersey needs some good news and an air freshener (I kid, I kid). One of their top prospects, a slick Russian, is weighing his NHL future. Sources gave the scoop to our James Nichols on the potential big-time Devils prospect.
NYI Hockey Now: Lou loves him some Kyle Palmieri. Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello traded Brock Nelson, but didn’t deal Palmieri. Here’s the latest on the attempts to keep him with the New York Islanders.
Detroit Hockey Now: Playoff odds are shrinking again. Fan discontent. But a four-star prospect may make the trip to Motown very soon. Sandin Pellika is “next” for the Detroit Red Wings.
Bag some of the NHL games and scout WBS. I’m going to Wheeling tonight. Was hoping to see Murashov but hopefully you can see him in the AHL.
I personally would like the WBS coverage. It would be nice to get info on the youngsters from a reliable source.
There’s a lot of fun players to watch down there. I go to games regularly and my son works for the team. Murashov is the Goalie to watch. The 2 second round picks for Guentzal are nice prospects. The team is exciting but young and immature. They probably should have 5 more wins then they do because of self inflicted implosions but when they play hard, they can load up goals on any team.
There are several media types that seem to have an axe to grind with Dubas and Seravelli behaves like he had his wife stolen or something.
Strangely over the top criticism that isnt warranted. Calling the Bunting trade that turned into honestly a good deal for us the dumbest trade of the last 25 years makes it hard to take him seriously about anything
Dan, I will read everything you write but would prefer more WBS coverage the next couple of weeks. Thank you for all you do.
Right now I would be more interested in extra WBS coverage. Thanks for asking
I’d rather you spend time with WBS again until the end of their season. What is happening with the Baby Pens is far more important to the team’s future right now than what is happening in Pittsburgh.
I’d say skip the western road games, but late March is a nice time to be in FLA. Given the market – the RAK ask wasn’t grotesque, but would have settled for two 4A top quality prospects and taken an expiring UFA contract back. Hope Jarry keeps his play up – he’s been the defining factor for the last 3 wins. In the summer they do need to trade one of Jarry or Ned, leaning towards Ned; Then whoever earns the 1B goalie spot of Blomqvist/Larsson/Murashov in camp. Also in the summer, would be a good time to move Graves… Read more »
I agree with everything you said! By the time they’re back in the west, the season might be completely over and WBS will only be heating up for the stretch run. I never wanted to part with Rakell and didn’t think the asking price was that asinine. Let Sid have an actual goal scorer so the 1st line remains powerful. Unless someone buys high on Jarry, it has to be Ned who is gone. With the cap going up, if Jarry can maintain his play (a massive if), his contract isn’t too bad
My personal opinion is that you have given great insight into WBS already with a few regular season scouting trips. Only piece you haven’t covered in any detail there is Murashov (because he wasn’t in the AHL when you went, I don’t think). So, my feeling is wait on them for the playoffs. I listened to Spezza during last night’s game and felt that everything he said was stuff I already knew from reading your columns on the prospects. I know the Pens are out of the playoffs, but I feel there are still major stories here. Which of the… Read more »
I hope the Jarry resurrection story is real. At times he plays like a franchise goalie and other times it’s like he couldn’t stop a beach ball. Always pulled for him, hoping he can keep it up. The veterans who “don’t fit the program” going forward and need to be gone for sure next year are: Ned (goalies in the system), Bemstrom (AHL/RFA), Graves (experiment has run its course – maybe 7th dman), POJ (replaceable/RFA), Nieto (replaceable/UFA), Grzelyck (UFA), Acciari (replaceable), Hayes (replaceable), and Heinen (replaceable). Outside of that, could also look into trading Karlsson, Rakell, Rust, or Jarry depending… Read more »
The replaceable guys are replaceable, I suppose, but looking ahead the team will need a blood and guts guy or two. Even if they aren’t regulars in the lineup, they can help mentor the WBS wave. Ideally, they’d get a guy like Cullen. Sid’s an amazing leader, but I don’t think he’s that type of leader. Maybe he is or can be. I am not inside the room. Maybe Rust assumes that role? What type of locker room guy is Acciari? The one thing that struck me yesterday was Armstrong talking about Kostopoulis and what he meant to his development.… Read more »
While I would like some WB/S coverage, are you not a bad luck charm for them? I would like to see them keep winning. 🤣 Maybe see if Shelly would like to go there?
I guess whether ir not you go there depends on how superstitious you are. I would enjoy baby pens coverage.
I think Dubas put a high price on Rakell knowing that other teams wouldn’t meet it. That way he covers himself by saying he tried to, all the while why wanting to keep him for Sid.
Maybe I am naive, but if they are shifting from asset collection to using those assets to retool, then I think it makes sense. You only trade a very affordable 30 goal guy if you get exactly what you want. With the cap space and assets to trade, maybe they can make a run at a top flight free agent this offseason to revitalize the top six outside of Sid’s line. Then you have the WBS wave coming to sprinkle across the bottom 6. I am not normally such an optimist, but I can see the potential for a big… Read more »
I attend as many WBS games as I can so WBS coverage would be beneficial for others. What I want is coverage on what UDFA the Pens are focusing on. It’s that time of year, teams losing in conference tournaments and the regionals coming up end of this month. Thanks
I’m afraid the UDFA is outside my scope. There’s just too many and most teams are interested in the few who show enough promise.
Seravelli is a hack. Why do you guys even give the clown any credibility? He wrote shit about Crosby earlier in the season and dissed him in the past as well.
The reported trade offer for Rakell was strategic—Dubas never truly intended to move him, knowing full well no team, regardless of cap space, would pay that price for a solid player averaging 25 goals a season who just happens to be having a career year. Analytics guys can see through the numbers—when someone is shooting 6% above their career average and being valued like Rantanen, smart teams aren’t biting. Unless the Pens find a move this summer, they may have overplayed their hand.There is no guarentee of equal performance next season, which is why allot of folks are saying sell… Read more »
Definitely the Pens, not WBS, which you have gone above and beyond to cover in the past. I’m more interested in the Jarry turnaround narrative, and if/how the new players on the roster fit going forward (Timmins, Dewar, Tomasino, even Imama). As an aside, I could care less about winning Calder Cups. I’d call up the 2 prospects who most deserve it and learn in these remaining 14 games if they have the chops and let them learn what they need to do this off season to adapt to the faster and more physical play they’ll face if they have… Read more »
The asking price is just like the MSRP on a car and can be negotiated. Dubas putting such a high ask is the right thing to do for a 25/30 goal scorer with a $5M cap hit. Would he have taken less? Probably, but it wouldn’t be a lowball offer. Teams who were looking at Rakell have aspirations at the cup now and not 4 years when the picks might be in the NHL.
I’d like the coverage for the remainder of the year to be WBS and possibly going to see Brunicke.
Seravalli is an angry little man from Philadelphia. Anything the Pens do is trash in his mind.
Any thought on going to the Frozen Four and see any undrafted players the Pens might be interested in?
See Dan’s comment above reply to a similar question I had for him.
Turning down a decent offer for Rakell is the epitome of foolishness,
We meet again. The Steve multiverse remains strong. I am afraid I still can’t grow a good goatee. 😉
Did Kyle Dubas steal Seravalli’s girlfriend in High School or something? Good Lord can that man hold a grudge.
Hey Dan, my preference is for more WBS coverage. If you have time & budget, would also be interested in prospects currently in the CHL & NCAA.
It should be PHN not WBSHN
WBS for me, as well
seravalli just crying sour grapes for pens not greasing wheels for mcdavid to try to win a Cup. no thanks. Rakell is a solid winger producing on a reasonable contract. im ok with the strategy
Frank Seravalli, who ever you are, you don’t know how little I care whether you approve of Kyle Dubas and his excellence in stocking draft pics and adding youth to the organization.