Dan’s Daily: More Fleury Trade Speculation; Penguins Blue Line Returns

In a perfect world, Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley would have honored his word, and Marc-Andre Fleury would be a Vegas Golden Knight. Instead, Fleury is in a rough situation with the Chicago Blackhawks, who are now teetering on a rebuild, and NHL trade rumors are increasingly linking Fleury to another move. Anaheim GM Bob Murray resigned amid an investigation and entered an alcohol abuse program. And the Pittsburgh Penguins COVID outbreak is easing as two defensemen returned, plus Tristan Jarry talked about the shootout struggles.

If you’re hungry, Alex Ovechkin was dishing pizza, though it doesn’t look like he offered a slice to our Sammi Silber. She got the video, “when you hungry, you hungry,” he said.

Fleury on the NHL trade block just doesn’t seem right. It’s not like he just won the Vezina Trophy…oh, wait.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel returned from protocol. It looks like both will play. The Penguins lines also changed a bit with Danton Heinen getting a bump up and Zach Aston-Reese going back to fourth-line duty. 

PHN+: Tristan Jarry faced the media on Wednesday, and he had to know shootouts would be a topic. I thought he was surprisingly honest. “I’ll be the happiest…” Jarry said of figuring it out. 

For new PHN+ subscribers and those on a monthly plan, you can get a full year for just $19.99

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now

Yardbarker: First Elliotte Friedman, then Chris Johnston of the Toronto Star stirred the NHL trade rumors and connected Marc-Andre Fleury to the Edmonton Oilers.

If Chicago doesn’t turn around right quick, there will be a million rumors. Waiting on the first Penguins-Fleury trade story (and no, I won’t do it until I believe it’s plausible).

Washington Hockey Now: Pizza time in DC. “When you hungry, you hungry,” Ovechkin said while delivering Papa John’s pizza in full uni and skates. 

ESPN: The Mouseketeers rated all 32 teams and the most underrated player on each team. 

Sportsnet: GM Bob Murray–a frequent Penguins trade partner–resigned from his post and entered an alcohol abuse program. He was under internal investigation. 

NYI: The Islanders’ brand new arena opens next week, but they’re already facing an official complaint. They failed to plan for handicap parking. Instead, their layout forces those who need access to ride a shuttle. Oops, I bet that will change.

Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon is out for three weeks with an LBI. A tough start to the season just got a little tougher for the Avalanche…

San Jose: I don’t yet know what to make of the San Jose Sharks. They’re certainly not the laughing stock they were last season. They’re young, and old, cheap, and overpaid. They controlled one of the best teams in the NHL–the Calgary Flames on Wednesday

Montreal: The Canadiens called up two kids not named Cole Caufield. Ryan Poehling will get to play his first NHL game in 646 days.