Dan’s Daily: Eichel Down to Vegas or Calgary, Full Penguins Breakdown

In the last 36 hours, the NHL trade rumors centered on Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel. First, Elliotte Friedman posited that the Vegas Golden Knights were in serious talks. Sources told Vegas Hockey Now the Calgary Flames were also on board, and Kevin Weekes confirmed that diagnosis via a fresh report on Saturday night. And the Pittsburgh Penguins got Sidney Crosby back, but winning didn’t follow.

I’m incredibly proud of the National Hockey Now family. We’ve been hours or a day ahead of the Jack Eichel trade talk for most of the last six months. This week was no different, though Elliotte jumped ahead on Thursday until we added Calgary and Colorado. Then removed Colorado…

We’ll start with the Penguins before the NHL trade chatter.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins were “not good enough” in their 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Watch the PHN Penguins post-game–a succinct five-minute breakdown at ice level from PPG Paints Arena.

PHN+: The full report card–what Mike Sullivan meant by their lack of “details” and player grades. The Penguins earned two good grades. 

Video: Some good news–Sidney Crosby got a pretty good pop during introductions. 

You can watch the Sidney Crosby post-game presser on the National Hockey Now YouTube channel. Make sure to like/subscribe so you get notified of future Live Chats and see the player interviews and analysis HERE. 

NHL Trade Rumors, News & National Hockey Now:

Calgary Hockey Now: Vegas is the front runner, and our Steve Macfarlane is all over the NHL trade chatter from the Calgary side. It’s a STEEP cost for a team that just finished a historic road trip. Here’s what Calgary can afford to give

While the situation remains fluid and complex with potential trade of @BuffaloSabres Star Eichel , I’m told both @NHLFlames and @GoldenKnights are among the potential final destinations. @espn @NHLNetwork @NHL #HockeyTwitter

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) October 30, 2021

While I am being given credit for the report in Vegas, the person behind the curtain getting sources is Jimmy Murphy in Boston. He’s been doing a phenomenal job. Eichel is from the Boston area, and many people want to see Jack do well and be well. This NHL trade saga has gone on long enough. It’s not that he won’t play for Buffalo, it’s that he can’t. 

Surely there was a better way than a medical stalemate. Could you imagine the Pittsburgh Penguins not allowing Sidney Crosby to additional specialists for what doctors thought to be a long-term concussion in 2012? Crosby’s “concussion” was a soft-tissue neck injury, instead.

Tidbit: It’s not the stuff of NHL trade rumors, but the Penguins also played Juuso Riikola on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the team no longer lists scouts on the press box seating chart, and the scouts sit well away from the media, so I can’t tell you who was there–but it sure seemed like a showcase moment, eh?

Sportsnet: The NHLPA will have a reckoning with itself and head Donald Fehr on Monday. At issue is Fehr’s management of the Kyle Beach / Chicago Blackhawks scandal and if Fehr’s inaction was negligence. 

Florida Hockey Now: Kyle Beach is affecting great change. He’s giving our Colby Guy, a new member of Florida Hockey Now, the courage to speak out. Colby was also assaulted on the job. And those people remain in power. Disgusting. 

Everything Else…

Detroit: Rookie Joe Veleno was pretty good on Saturday. And…he’s carpooling with the boss, Steve Yzerman. OK!

San Jose: One of the strangest days in Sharks history, seven players and two coaches entered COVID protocol. 

Vancouver: The Canucks lost again. They’re 3-5, and the stakes are getting higher…

Washington: I know you don’t like the Washington Capitals. But our Sammi Silber did a pretty spectacular piece with rookie Hendrix Lapierre. The kid made the team at 19-years-old, and you can’t wipe the smile off his face.