Dan’s Daily: Penguins Happy, Florida Prowling Trade Market

The NHL trade market has taken a turn with the season-ending leg injury to top Florida Panthers defenseman, Aaron Ekblad. Our man in Florida, George Richards, is all over the story. The trade market has lurched back to a stalemate as more sellers find themselves in the playoff race, and believe it or not, the Pittsburgh Penguins are a happy bunch.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It’s not often a team gets a good vibe going and rides it. The Penguins are in the midst of that wave. Even Mike Sullivan called it a “neat feeling” to coach these Penguins. 

Now, let’s get to the goodies on the NHL trade chatter.

PHN+: We did a full off-day accounting of the Penguins and the important issues, such as John Marino’s play and how the recent winning wave could affect the Penguins trade needs. (No rumors or trade chatter, just straight-shooting analysis).

FHN+: The Florida Panthers lost Ekblad for the year, which is a terrible blow to the surging Panthers. Our George Richards, who is THE reporter on all things Panthers, reports the Panthers GM is personally scouting defensemen. 

Philly Hockey Now: The Philadelphia Flyers waived Shayne Gostisbehere. The Florida Panthers are believed to be considering snagging “Ghost” on the waiver wire and a goalie.

Noontime will be interesting today. Will anyone take on the $4.5 million salary? Will someone jump ahead of the Panthers in line–then try to trade him to FLA?

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman isn’t specifically reporting the NHL trade market is stalled, but his 31 Thoughts lead to that inescapable conclusion. 

We’re big fans of Friedman’s work. We wish everyone gave credit as he does. In compiling the morning links today, we were disappointed to see others are “reporting” what the National Hockey Now network has reported but not giving credit. If you read Sunday’s “Off the Record” by Jimmy Murphy, you’re a week ahead of the Taylor Hall drama and what other NHL team execs are saying, and Richard’s Florida report is generating significant chatter.

It should also tell you just how good our people are! Proud to be with this group.

National Hockey Now:

Vegas: Time to silence the doubters and win some big games. 

Boston: Boston FINALLY beat New Jersey, which has bedeviled Boston all season. 

San Jose: There are only a handful of top lines in the NHL that have played together as much as Guentzel-Crosby-Rust. One of those is in San Jose, but head coach Bob Boughner is really thinking of breaking up the band to get Sharks offensive balance. 

NYI: Why do the Islanders keep giving up the first goal? 

And last but not least —

Colorado: Fans are returning to Colorado Avalanche games. Nathan MacKinnon asked, “What took so long?”