Dan’s Daily: Penguins Trade Speculation, First All-Black Line in 70 Years

The Monday Daily is usually a bit thin since Canada likes to take a breath on Sunday, but the Hockey Now network dropped a pretty juicy story about the coming NHL trade deadline and one big name that MIGHT make sense for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Ontario Reign of the AHL did something that I think merits your attention and more attention in the hockey world. And the Pittsburgh Penguins, unfortunately, looked like a team missing too many key components.

We’ll start with the continuing coverage of the NHL trade deadline.

PHN+: Each week, NHL team execs, scouts, and even a few players go “Off the Record” with the Hockey Now network. A pretty good source circled one team that he believed could get Ryan Getzlaf out of Anaheim. Yep, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Our “Off the Record” column has been a weekly must-read. It’s worth a PHN+ subscription.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: On the ice, the Penguins and New Jersey Devils went to OT in their rubber match before New Jersey won 2-1. 

I make no apologies. New Jersey has talent and more on the way, but I needed a double Red Bull for the games in that series. I’m glad it’s over.

NHL Trade Talk & More:

NYI Hockey Now: Without Anders Lee, the Islanders are also swimming in the NHL trade waters. Who can they get to replace him? Christian Arnold looks at the three available top-six wingers who best fit. 

Boston Hockey Now: I’m telling you now–There IS something to this. Should Boston trade for P.K. Subban?

Sportsnet: Here’s an important story — Quintin Byfield will be a star, and Akil Thomas is pretty good, too. The Ontario Reign united the first all-black line in hockey since the 1940s.

This excites me. Hockey will not really have a breakthrough in the U.S. until it stops being a white, northern sport. We have to make better inroads in many communities. Now, about the college tuition-like costs just to play midget and mite hockey…

Also from Sportsnet: Goalie controversy in Toronto! Jack Campbell vs. Frederick Andersen.

And here’s a player the Pittsburgh Penguins should consider, in my humblest of opinions. Roster space forced Toronto to waive Travis Boyd on Sunday.

Boyd has eight points in 20 games, which would be as many as the Penguins fourth line with Mark Jankowski combined.

National Hockey Now:

Colorado: The Avalanche pulled a sneaky good move on the NHL trade market this weekend when they snagged Buffalo goalie Jonas Johansson. The big backup netminder has nowhere to go but up.

Vegas: LA got one over on the Vegas Golden Knights, who didn’t show up until the end in a 3-1 loss. 

San Jose: Patrick Marleau stayed in the lineup, but that doesn’t mean fans are happy about it. Sheng Peng examines why Marleau did and if he should stay there. 

Was there a more disappointing Penguins trade for a veteran presence since Jarome Iginla?

Florida: For the first time in a LONG Time, it matters when Florida plays Tampa Bay. 

Philly: Bad news for the Flyers. Sean Couturier is being evaluated for a lower-body injury.