Dan’s Daily: Fight Night in Montreal, Penguins Giving Away Points

The folks at Sportsnet are playing armchair GM ahead of the NHL trade deadline by making proposals for Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews. Minnesota Wild d-man Matt Dumba became the latest in a trend of coaches willing to scratch big-name players. Add the Colorado Avalanche to the list of teams that are kicking tires on Bo Horvat. One Canadian outlet put the Pittsburgh Penguins on the potential Horvat suitor list (that seemed silly), and Dave Molinari dove into the Pittsburgh Penguins OT struggles and rough-and-tumble Jake Guentzel.

And I wrote a piece criticizing Penguins GM Ron Hextall’s inaction. It contrasts the praise I offered back in November when things seemed to turn around and the lineup stabilized. I was wrong then, or I am wrong now. I suppose you will decide?

Hextall and the Penguins are behind the 8-ball with the salary cap hell and lack of expendable assets, but things won’t get better next season — and young teams are becoming good teams that are catching up.

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Jake Guentzel the enforcer? The OT struggles and the consequences for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now (opinion): I have praised Ron Hextall for being nearly undefeated — that term didn’t sit well with some of you, but when things change, they change. Bad performances are becoming too common. The NHL trade deadline is March 3, and it has been more than seven months since a Penguins trade. Where is Ron Hextall?

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

The Province: Our Jimmy Murphy confirmed Boston’s interest in Bo Horvat this week. Ben Kuzma added another team, the defending Stanley Cup champions, to the Horvant mix.

Also from the Province — I include this because it puts the Penguins on the Horvat board, but to be precise — it’s pure speculation. What might a Horvat trade look like?

TSN: Matt Dumba became the latest big-name to get a plate of press box nachos. And how soon will Rick Tocchet become the coach of the Vancouver Canucks?

Florida Hockey Now: Paul Maurice ripped the officials. The NHL lightened his wallet. The full story on the Florida Panthers coach.

Montreal Hockey Now: It was fight night in Montreal. The Panthers scored five goals in the second period for an easy win, but everybody was Kung Fu fighting. Those cats were fast as lightning. Mike Matheson started fight night, and it went from there. The Montreal Canadiens story (with fight videos).

And Sportsnet played GM for the Chicago Blackhawks. Four trade proposals, just in case center Jonathan Toews hits the NHL trade block.

Metro Division:

Philly Hockey Now: John Tortorella was called to explain or defend the Ivan Provorov Pride Night situation, “Why would I bench him?” Philadelphia Flyers coverage.

NYI Hockey Now: The good news–the Islanders lost. The bad news–they got a point. The worse news–the Buffalo Sabres won. New York Islanders story.

Washington Hockey Now: It was a one-sided game. The Arizona Coyotes didn’t offer much resistance. Get the full story — Tom Wilson is rounding into form, and the Washington Capitals won.

Sportsnet: Max Pacioretty has had a rough go in Carolina. He suffered an ugly leg injury on Thursday night.