Dan’s Daily: Tarasenko and Keith on Trade Block, Montreal Denied Fans

There was quite a Twitter stir on Wednesday night, and not just because the Montreal Canadiens lost Game 2. Despite an 82% vaccination rate (roughly 35% are have achieved fully vaccinated status), the Quebec province refused to increase attendance beyond 3500 at the Bell Centre for Game 3. Tampa Bay won Game 2, the Chicago Blackhawks are about to shake their core, and the NHL trade market with Duncan Keith and two possible Pittsburgh Penguins free agent targets may come off the board.

Next July 1 will again be a day of chaos and ridiculous contracts, but we wait 27 more days this year.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: A couple of weeks ago, we reported the Pittsburgh Penguins had an interest in an experienced backup goalie, and Frederick Andersen was a target. Now, it appears Andersen may not hit free agency as TSN reports there is mutual interest for him to re-sign in Toronto.

Zach Aston-Reese is an RFA again. What is the winger worth? The Penguins will have to work to re-sign him as the numbers are strong.

NHL Playoffs

ESPN: Carey Price was pretty good. Andrei Vasilevskiy was much better. Blake Coleman scored a diving goal. Tampa Bay was outplayed but won Game 2. Carey Price was human for two moments, which was one too many. Tampa Bay won Game 2, 2-1. 

Canadian authorities rejected the Montreal Canadiens request to increase attendance for Game 3 to 10,500 fans. 

NHL.com: Jonathan Toews will return next season. He missed last season with an unspecified illness, but he skated on Wednesday and revealed he suffered from Chronic Immune Response Syndrome. 

NHL Trade Rumors & National Hockey Now network

Sportsnet: An NHL trade is coming–It will be to western Canada or the Pacific northwest. The Chicago Blackhawks are working on a potential trade for stalwart defenseman Duncan Keith. 

Daily Faceoff: It sounds serious in St. Louis. Vladimir Tarasenko has reportedly informed the St. Louis Blues that he would entertain a trade to several teams.

Vegas: Marc-Andre Fleury is the subject of some lustful NHL trade chatter, but… Will winning the Vezina keep Fleury in Vegas?

Colorado: There’s a bit of a goalie situation in Colorado. What to make of Philip Grubauer and the Avs goalie situation.

Philly: It seems the Philadelphia Flyers were also keeping an eye on Adam Larsson in Edmonton. It looks like a lot of GMs are waiting for that resolution or to make an offer. 

Boston: Last week, the Boston Bruins signed former first-round pick and potential power forward Trent Frederic to a “show me” contract. Frederic says, “I’ve got a lot more to give.”

NYI: As the Pittsburgh Penguins found out, Ilya Sorokin took major steps in his first NHL season. 

San Jose: Has the anti-goalie bias in the first round of the NHL Draft gone too far?

Detroit: Get this–Detroit Red Wings name former Colorado Avalanche rival Alex Tanguay assistant coach. 

Those old Wings-Avs games were absolutely war. In fact, Adrian Dater wrote a best-selling (?) book on them! I can probably get you a signed copy.

Washington: Oh, this is interesting–should the Washington Capitals give Henrik Lundqvist another shot??