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Dan’s Daily: Buyers at Trade Deadline; Malkin Update; Penguins Make or Break

The weirdest week in Pittsburgh Penguins memory got a little weirder later Thursday evening with an update from Allegheny County police on the Evgeni Malkin burglary. Dave Molinari put it bluntly as the Penguins embark on their longest road trip in 30 years. It will be make-or-break time for the Penguins. We also closed the loop on Tristan Jarry’s future with scenarios and the buyout costs. Elsewhere in the Daily, the stronger teams are gearing up to be buyers at the NHL trade deadline, while the Boston Bruins baited the NHL trade market with a pair of possible paths.
Today begins my hell weekend. I will make the drive to and from Buffalo today for the Penguins game tonight. With the possible Bills game this weekend, hotels were sold out weeks ago or stupidly expensive. I must be back in Pittsburgh by 4:30 a.m. Saturday to catch the Amtrak to Washington for the game on Saturday. I’ll arrive in D.C. presumably sometime before 2 p.m., but the Inauguration also inflated hotel prices, so I’m staying out by Dulles Airport, which is a 40-minute train ride to downtown. I’ll have about two hours in the hotel before I have to make my way back to D.C. for the game, then get a few hours of sleep before I catch a flight early Sunday morning to Los Angeles.
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Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: No team claimed Jarry, but that was expected. General manager Kyle Dubas’s comments were subtly pointed and revealed the likeliest scenarios for Jarry’s future with the organization. We lay out the inferences from Dubas’s comments, the likely future, including buyout costs for Tristan Jarry.
After punting their chance with a five-game homestand, the Penguins are closer to the basement than a playoff spot. Call it their last stand. It’s make-or-break time on the Penguins’ road trip.
You’ll never guess where Evgeni Malkin’s stolen Stanley Cup rings were found. The likely crime just got weird as the rings were recovered, and the Allegheny County police department released a later evening statement indicating that the investigation into the Malkin burglary remains active.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Seriously?! Danny Demilio exposes another damning fact about the sad Bob Nutting ownership. Get this–during this offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates payroll has dropped.
I remain convinced that there is a loophole in the SEA agreement and lease that would allow the city to pressure the revenue vampire who has destroyed the franchise.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Boston Hockey Now: Bruins president Cam Neely made headlines when he hedged his bets on his team’s immediate future. The Boston Bruins might buy or sell, and they are planning for both. Neely created more questions than he answered regarding the Bruins’ trade deadline plans.
The Athletic ($): Pierre LeBrun tied the Dallas Stars to Brock Nelson (wow, that fits perfectly) and other big teams and big names on the NHL trade block as the top teams get ready for the deadline arms race.
Sportsnet: It’s down to 21 goals. Alex Ovechkin’s frantic chase to pass Wayne Gretzky’s goal record this season is on pace for a late-season ceremony. He put the Capitals over the Senators with an overtime winner.
Chicago Hockey Now: Here’s a check-in that might interest Penguins fans. There were hopes that Chicago would take a step forward this season. Yeah, that’s not happening. Our brand new beat writer, Greg Boysen, defines what will define the second half of the season, and that is real progress from the Blackhawks prospects.
Colorado Hockey Now: The Colorado Avalanche lost a multi-goal lead to the Edmonton Oilers. But the other great player from Cole Harbour scored a beaut. Check out this goal by Nathan MacKinnon.
Montreal Hockey Now: The kids are all right. Montreal is ahead of the Penguins, and the kids are feeling it. Sizing up the recent surge and the Montreal Canadiens playoff odds.