Dan’s Daily: Monahan is NY Trade Target; Penguins’ Dramatic Pushback
Facing disaster, the Pittsburgh Penguins pushed back in the third period and avoided what could have been a mortally wounding loss. Sidney Crosby came to the rescue. The New York Rangers are on the NHL trade market for a center, perhaps Montreal Canadiens’ pivot Sean Monahan. The Metro Division teams lost, but the wild card leaders won, keeping the Penguins at arm’s length. And the Edmonton Oilers are on the heels of the 1992-93 record-setting Penguins.
So, I took a lot of flak for writing that Penguins fans have flipped. Fans recently only wanted the positive. Now it seems many have changed to want the bad and are pained by the good. I wondered if I might be wrong, but then Twitter exploded Saturday with angst, further demands to rebuild, and some genuine vitriol after the Penguins WON.
I think you and I should have a talk this week about the Penguins’ future and the real context of the situation. For everyone who demands a nuclear rebuild they should be forced to buy season tickets for three years hence. Shockingly, despite the vocal calls for a teardown, attendance and interest go to hell during rebuilds.
In the playoff race, the Penguins are six points back with three games in hand on Detroit for a wild card and five back with four games in hand on Philadelphia for third place.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It didn’t look good. A bad start and a sloppy second period, but a big finish and a 3-2 OT win over the Montreal Canadiens. Get the Penguins recap.
On the flip side– Montreal wasn’t terribly unhappy with their performance. They had a few shining performances as the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens.
Before Sullivan juggled the power play units with some success and some failure, there was one idea not tried but might be the easiest to fix the Penguins’ power play.
The report card had the tactical wrinkles, the enormity of the situation, and some rough player grades, including a breakdown of Ryan Graves and Erik Karlsson. The Penguins grades.
PHN video: A little more blunt on the bad performances. And we hit the necessity of the result. Watch the Penguins postgame.
NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now
HNIC Headlines: There’s not much news on the 2018 Team Canada investigation, but Elliotte Friedman did have some NHL trade chatter from the Rangers and Senators.
NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders lost their final game before the break, but Oliver Wahlstrom is getting another chance under new coach Patrick Roy. A new chance and maybe the last chance with the New York Islanders.
Philly Hockey Now: Oh no. Can you imagine the horror as the third-place team lost? The Bruins walloped the Philadelphia Flyers.
Detroit Hockey Now: A solid payoff spot and plenty of wins this season. Are these the read Detroit Red Wings?
New Jersey Hockey Now: Tampa Bay Beat NJD 6-3. It’s been a bit of a skid for New Jersey, who have not asserted themselves. Nico Hishcier isn’t happy, either, “We need to be pissed off.” The New Jersey Devils latest.
Sportsnet: The Edmonton Oilers have won 16 in a row. It’s been 40 days since the team lost, and they’re ready to tie the 1992-93 Penguins team.
The Athletic: Oh those Vancouver Canucks. If it’s not Jake Guentzel, then who or what type of player might Jim Rutherford and Patrick Allvin pursue?
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Penguins
Twenty-five years ago, Lemieux saved the Penguins from relocation. Is the Pittsburgh market strong enough to support a team in rebuild and without a superstar?
I would say no. I went to a lot of games during the last rebuild, but i was one of very few. I went to the games then only because the tickets were cheap and i am a true pens fan and fan of hockey in general. Every game was just hoping the pens would maybe get a goal or 2 and maybe look competitive. Not rooting for wins. This is what all the rebuild geniuses are rooting for.
Will the franchise get lucky again and draft a lemieux, jagr, fleury, malkin, crosby, etc? What are those odds, i wonder?
I lived in GA and went to Pens games when they visited the Thrashers during the pre-Crosby rebuild. I remember cheering a goal and the Thrashers fans laughing at me because it was like getting a participation trophy.
Correct! So people think the team is a laughing stock now? Just wait…
And what can get worse than two of your vaunted core players scoring an own goal on a delayed penalty? Take off your rose colored glasses.
Cool, cool, cool. I will look for you in the crowd next game wearing your Kelly Buchberger jersey.
Lol
No, Owen Pickering.
Mistakes happen. Even superstars screw up sometimes. Name one player that hasn’t ever made a mistake. I will wait.
I don’t wear any glasses and can see just fine. You need to wake up sir. Quit being spoiled and enjoy these hall of fame players while we are lucky to have them. It won’t be long until we have echl and ahl players occupying the roster. Aging hall of famers are way better to watch than what is in the future. The time will come and you will be sad.
I will agree to disagree. I started following the team in the late 70s. Back then with less talented players it WAS fun to go to games and sometimes knock off a better team. Getting to see Wayne Gretzky play was worth the price of admission. Games were attended by true fans. If the city won’t support the team in a rebuild, then it doesn’t deserve a team. Watching aging HOF players decline into mediocrity is just sad. (No, not including Sid). The players may still be good, excellent even, but the team is mediocre.
To each their own
It doesn’t seem like a risk FSG would be willing to take.
The Pens actually in a decent spot, where they can rebuild and keep the fan base happy with Crosby for a bit. Is Karlsson really helping that much? Malkin looks toast half the games he plays. I think the fan base is getting tired of getting stomped in the playoffs. And they’re not making it this year anyway.
Imagine that. Two Steves with different opinions. One of us will need to grow a goatee.
I imagined one Steve who disagreed with himself. Glad it wasn’t that 🤣
Which one is the darkest timeline?
If I say the other Steve, doesn’t that immediately cast suspicion on myself? And really, should you ever trust any Steve?
So, clearly, it’s the other Steve.
Are you suggesting that the team should rebuild and keep Crosby? I think that if they want to rebuild, they will have to trade him. They could retool, but Dubas already tried that last offseason when he changed more than half the roster. Finding the right mix of players is very difficult and honestly involves a lot of luck. Rutherford was able to do it here and also in Vancouver. I wonder if Dubas has it in him?
Really happy for Eller and was so glad Peterson took the shot and didn’t pass it to Rakell who probably would’ve just drifted behind the net with it.
I guess it’s official Graves has to go and I don’t mean to the third line. I also can’t believe how terrible Karlson is on D. I knew he was bad but his offensive IQ made up for it but, holy crap…..I just appreciate Letang so much more now.
Noticed the pens put Geno at wing during the 3rd period yesterday. What about Monahan for the Pens. We’ve been dealing with Montreal quite a but lately, and he seems to fit
Great for Eller.
Sid is amazing.
Nice snipe by the Dragon.
Lets Go Pens!