Dan’s Daily: Kane to Rangers Trade Close, Penguins Dead Meat

The Pittsburgh Penguins are out of a playoff spot, and the situation worsens after a bad loss and rival’s wins. Penguins fans made news by chanting “Fire Hextall” as the Edmonton Oilers rolled to a blowout win. The New York Rangers are close to finalizing the trade for Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane. The NHL trade buzz exploded last evening just as most teams, including the Rangers, were set to faceoff. The Washington Capitals decided to sell. On the 17th anniversary of former Penguins coach Michel Therrien’s epic rant, another coach let loose on his team for not caring.

I’m never quick with my phone, but I believe we have the only video of the first “Fire Hextall” chant. I’ve been around some ugliness. Hey, I covered Generation Next, X, or Generation Can’t Afford It. I covered a team with a meager payroll, and Mario Lemieux just trying to keep the ship afloat long enough to get an arena and survive.

Thursday night may well have been the ugliest, most jarring Penguins’ loss I have ever witnessed. I think some words are being twisted out of context today, and I’ll get to that. I think I’ve been appropriately pushing the button for a few weeks. Escalating headlines — Penguins rattled. All Hell Breaking Loose — but Thursday was rock bottom.

On a night when the Rangers made the headlines, Penguins fans let it rip. No one should be safe. NO ONE (Well, except that Crosby fella).

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Video included. Penguins fans let GM Ron Hextall have it. “Fire Hextall.”

If you want to read about the 7-2 disaster on 5th Ave., here is Dave Molinari’s Penguins recap.

I suppose this is my hot take. It’s not so much analysis as it is a directive. If Ron Hextall has small plans for the NHL trade deadline, don’t bother. Just pack it in and sell. Get assets because this group doesn’t have it. Pittsburgh Penguins trade deadline.

Hextall missed his window for minor surgery. I do believe that if added a few weeks ago, a third-line addition could have worked miracles. Now, it’s broken.

It’s not inspiring, but here’s the Penguins’ trade deadline update.

Steelers Now:

Does signing Taylor Lewan make sense?

Hint hint: The LA Rams released All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

PBN+: John Perrotto’s overarching thought after spending two weeks in Bradenton with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

NHL Trade Deadline, News & National Hockey Now:

NYI Hockey Now: A week after reporting that Patrick Kane had no interest in the Islanders, our Stefen Rosner was on the front lines of the breaking story — the New York Rangers are hammering out the last details to acquire Patrick Kane.

Washington Hockey Now: Selling? It caught the locker room off-guard. The big jolt to the NHL trade market came when the Washington Capitals traded away pending free agents for picks.

Boston Hockey Now: That Capitals trade was with the Bruins. Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to Boston for a bevy of picks. Complete trade analysis–the Boston Bruins get physicality.

Sportsnet: Craig Berube let his players have it. “They don’t care about the team,” he said of his Blues.

Detroit Hockey Now: With the stumbling Capitals and Penguins, Detroit is in a playoff spot. The Detroit Red Wings are learning how to win.

San Jose Hockey Now: Will Patrick Marleau get back into hockey? He’s in talks with the San Jose Sharks.

Philly Hockey Now: Sean Couturier is still working to come back, if not this season, then next. Couturier is making progress for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Buffalo News: The Sabres keep winning. Tage Thompson hat trick. Sabres beat Tampa Bay and are essentially tied with the Penguins on the edge of the wild card race.

The Eastern Conference wild-card race is jumbled. Detroit has the best winning percentage (.561) and the second spot. The Islanders have the first spot but a winning percentage of .549. They have played the most games (61), so they’re still not solidly in.

The Penguins trail Detroit by one point, 64-63. They’ve each played the same 57 games. The Penguins are tied with Buffalo Sabres, who have one game in hand. Florida is one point ahead of the Penguins and Buffalo but has played three more games.

So, if the winning percentage is used for projections, Buffalo and Detroit would have playoff spots, and the Penguins would be one point out.