Dan’s Daily: Sam Lafferty Draws Trade Interest, Penguins Ownership & Mistakes

There will be a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins fans who point a finger and say, “I told  you!” Western PA native Sam Lafferty didn’t make a difference with the Penguins but has become a high-energy cog with the Chicago Blackhawks and is drawing a lot of interest before the NHL trade deadline. Big-time injuries are dominating headlines in several cities. A Canadian outlet followed suit with our goalie trade market analysis. The Vegas Golden Knights are linked to Tyler Bertuzzi, and more details about the Penguins’ ownership structure and Mario Lemieux’s lack of involvement.

Oh, and NHL ratings are way down. Again.

For PHN+ subscribers, it was a pretty interesting read. As part of Dave Molinari’s extensive chat with Brian Burke, the topics of ownership involvement and Mario Lemieux became featured topics. There were two very distinct reactions, and Dave and I had polar opposite reactions to Burke’s words.

Molinari was worried about content this week and if we had enough. Ha. We’re putting out slightly fewer stories, but they’ve been far more impactful and very (VERY) well-read. Thanks!

By the way — The Sports Now Group is all over the country this month. PHN covers ALL Penguins events, and we’re actually the only outlet to have one of our reporters at every skate, practice, and game this season. SteelersNow is currently in Alabama at the Senior Bowl. John Perrotto will spend a couple of expensive weeks in Bradenton for Spring Training. 

We will spend over $10,000 on travel over the next two months alone. Please help us out and get exclusive content for these events, like the Senior Bowl workouts, Spring Training, and the Penguins coverage from everywhere. Join PHN+ and get it all — HERE.

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates:

PHN+: On Tuesday, Brian Burke and Dave Molinari chatted about everything from the NHL trade deadline to Mike Sullivan’s grasp on the bench job. Another issue arose in their chat: Where is Mario Lemieux amid the Pittsburgh Penguins season?

More exclusive content — Unlike Sheryl Crow, who had a favorite mistake, there is one bad mistake, THE crucial mistake by Ron Hextall, which is dogging the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Steelers Now (From the Senior Bowl):

SN+: Day 2 analysis from the Senior Bowl. Which cornerbacks sizzled, and which LBs surprised? Senior Bowl coverage.

Steelers Draft day could see another Florida product become an anchor of the offensive line. Who and why for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

So, what is the plan for Ryan Vilade? Pittsburgh Pirates look ahead.

And there is Ji-Man Choi, the start of it all. Pirates prospects.

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now:

Vegas Hockey Now: Tyler Bertuzzi in a Vegas Golden Knights sweater? Oh, that could rock the NHL trade deadline and revamp the Golden Knights.

Let’s roll through the injuries:

Vegas Hockey Now: Back surgery out indefinitely for Mark Stone.

Columbus Dispatch: Shoulder surgery and out for the season, Gustav Nyquist.

WIBV: Re-aggravated upper-body injury Wednesday night? Tage Thompson

Philly Hockey Now: I missed this one — during fight night between the Minnesota Wild and Philadelphia Flyers last week, Marcus Foligno broke Zach MacEwen’s jaw.

And back to the NHL trade chatter

Sportsnet: Rory Boylen went down the same rabbit hole I did, though he included starting goalies, too. He came to the same conclusion that I hinted at — this is a THIN market.

Though raising the possibility of Vancouver moving Thatcher Demko has my wheels turning.

32 Thoughts: Elliotte Friedman also raised Demko, and the teams looking for a goalie. What happens after the Horvat trade, the LA Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, and the most popular Blackhawk on the trade market isn’t Patrick Kane but Sam Lafferty.

TSN also has a story about trading Demko. Just a little peek behind the curtain — when two outlets have a similar speculative story, it’s either too obvious to miss, or someone is talking.

For the Win: NHL TV ratings are down, and FTW let fans explain why (they got it way wrong, but here you go).

Maybe the NHL and media reporters should ask some experts who exist on daily fan activity and study it fastidiously (*ahem). Yes, I know my readers trends. And trust me, staggered start times won’t budge TV ratings. Not even .1%. I should probably stop here and do a blog about it with internal data. You’d be amazed at how easy the two solutions are.

Boston Hockey Now: Boston beat up Toronto in the marquee game Wednesday 5-2. But as to why Brad Marchand is one of my favorite players — dude went to town, trolling the media and Mitch Marner. Check it out in the Boston Bruins coverage.

And finally:

Washington Hockey Now: PHN doesn’t get too deep into the All-Star Game. We’ll have a reporter there. However, it seems Sidney Crosby will team with Alex Ovechkin in the breakaway competition.