Dan’s Daily: Seth Jones Trade to Philly Dead? Vegas Exemption Creates Trade Opp

Money is moving away from the Pittsburgh Penguins on the sports betting market, while Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek is hitting the NHL trade market. The Seth Jones to Flyers trade talks may be dead, Marc-Bergevin may be burned out and not long for the Montreal Canadiens job, and the Vegas Golden Knights have a massive opportunity on the aforementioned NHL trade market because of the Seattle Kraken.

Putting the puzzle pieces of the Vegas opportunity together was fun.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: If you believe that Ron Hextall’s methodical approach could yield a Stanley Cup next season, the oddsmakers are certainly giving you a good bet. The Penguins have fallen to 25-1 on several boards. 

**San Jose: Here’s a really smart piece for the draftniks and a great piece on the NHL Draft (il)logic. Erik Fowle uses Jake Guentzel as the prototype against Draftboard bias. 

Post-Gazette: I’m usually loathed to link to our competition (and they never link to us, either. Often even giving credit for a scoop alludes them, too). Mike DeFabo turned in a pretty darned good piece on Ron Hextall’s thinking but wrapped it in Hextall’s love of goalie masks. It was a good read, and Mike is a good dude — it also fits perfectly with our report this week. Hextall’s immediate plans, or lack thereof. 

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now network…

**Vegas: Get this–the Vegas Golden Knights are exempt from the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. You probably knew that, but that exemption could also create a huge opportunity for Vegas trades, including one unhappy star center…read on. 

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman’s 31 Thoughts explained where the NHL players and the Olympic possibility stands. Marc Bergevin may be burned out, and Jakub Voracek is firmly on the NHL trade block.

Friedman also hinted that Toronto would take a run at Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi–but if TO can’t afford Zach Hyman, how in the world…?

Philly: Seth Jones is still a Columbus Blue Jacket and still on the NHL trade block. Jones’s contract and unwillingness to sign a long-term deal in Philadelphia are 86’ing the Flyers trade. 

Habs Eyes on the Prize: One of my favorite blogs in the league. Making sense of the Montreal Canadiens incredible playoff run. Maybe it’s OK if the story didn’t have a firm conclusion.

Colorado: The Seattle Kraken will snag a pretty good player from the Colorado Avalanche. Will it be defenseman Ryan Graves (who I really liked against Vegas) or Tyson Jost?

Boston: Charlie Coyle had a bit of a down year. It looks like he had a problem with the wheels. Since the end of the season, he has undergone a pair of knee surgeries. 

Washington: Former Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals (among others), and Detroit Red Wings player Bugsy Watson passed away at 78. He retired in 1979 as the all-time NHL leader in PIMs. His pizza place in Washington D.C. was called “The Penalty Box.” Later, his upstairs sports bar was just called “Bugsy’s.” He became part of the Capitals atmosphere, and they paid tribute. 

And Detroit Hockey Now beat writer Bob Duff, himself an NHL historian and author, also paid tribute with a career retrospective on the former Penguin and Red Wing who earned the “super pest” moniker.