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Dan’s Daily: Penguins Changes at Practice? Rust, Hornqvist Make Top-10 Trade Bait List

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Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL trade, Bryan Rust

The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and, based on winning percentage, are out of the playoff seedings. Friday at practice, head coach Mike Sullivan may have sent a little message by shuffling the lines, not once but twice. Bryan Rust and former Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist made Frank Seravalli’s top-10 NHL trade bait list. The soap opera appears to be settling in Montreal as both the Bostonian owner and Executive Vice President addressed the Montreal media.

Canadiens owner Geoff Molson attempted to speak French, but that can’t sit well that two Boston boys are running the Canadiens. Then again, things are so bad that any hope is a liferaft to hug.

Montreal: Jeff Gorton said, “I’m not scared of anything.” He laid out his vision to rebuild the Montreal Canadiens. 

The NHL trade rumors will soon explode in Montreal. Our beat writer Jon Still (who, like me, comes from radio), is doing a bang-up job. Give him a follow here. 

Speaking of drama, the Pittsburgh Penguins practice wasn’t without a bit of intrigue.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Head coach Mike Sullivan continued his message sending to Kasperi Kapanen by dropping him to the third line to start practice. Maybe there’s a message. Maybe it’s just acknowledgment that the second line has stunk. 

Yeah, folks on social media and our comments wanted Kapanen moved up to Sidney Crosby’s line. Yeah, no. Evan Rodrigues is on fire and one of the lone bright spots.

Tristan Jarry has owned the NHL this season. His save percentage reached .938 before Connor McDavid had a handful of odd-man rushes on Thursday. But what a snub…Jarry is NOT on the Team Canada list?

NHL Trade Chatter

DFO: Frank Seravalli laid out the players he thinks will headline the coming NHL trade rumors. On his list–Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist. 

Not sure I agree, but Hextall also dumped Jared McCann to recoup an asset. I think we’ll learn what the Penguins are thinking soon.

Montreal Gazette: Stu Cowan wonders what the new Canadiens management will do with Jeff Petry. He’s 33-years-old. Let him stick around or immediately stir the NHL trade market?

Ben Chiarot is also on the block.

Toronto: Should the Maple Leads get more aggressive to move Justin Holl? 

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

***Washington: Our Sammi Silber went one-on-one with Evgeny Kuznetsov about his comedy of errors, struggles, and comeback. He’s playing out of his skates, and the Capitals and Kuznetsov told Silber, “I’ve seen some shit in my life…”

Seriously, check out the Kuzy story. One of the best pieces on the NHN network this season

Boston: Tuukka Rask is in the building–but youngster Jeremy Swayman made a bold statement with a shutout. Joe Haggerty says NOW is the time Swayman must claim the job. 

Detroit: Super rookie Lucas Raymond is already his own man. 

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights crushed the Arizona Coyotes 7-1 on Friday. Our former intern Owen Krepps covered the game and made a sad observation about Arizona–they have six NHL players, and they’re full of NHL trade chips. 

Calgary: Mark it down–this is the best team in the West. Blake Coleman was hot, and Mathew Tkachuk torched the Ducks.Â