Dan’s Daily: Penguins Situation Gets Worse; Goalie Trade Market

Is Erik Karlsson ready to be the puck-dominating, lightning-fast player who won the 2023 Norris Trophy? There are signs that Karlsson is ready to go, and coach Mike Sullivan shed some light on the internal discussions with Karlsson. However, the Penguins’ playoff chase took a hit Monday when all three Metro Division teams in action won, including the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. Those Devils are filling the NHL trade rumors as they look for a goalie. So are the Carolina Hurricanes and LA Kings, and Sportsnet laid out the goalie market options and what those teams are asking.

You might think that after the hellacious travel weekend, getting from the Penguins game in Minnesota to Winnipeg and then being stuck on an airplane all day Sunday, I would want to sit at home. Oddly, nope. I hopped in the car Monday afternoon and went to one of the little motels from my summer motorcycle runs. I just needed to get away from everything for a night, and a $65 room with this view at 7 a.m. doesn’t hurt.

I really think the Karlsson piece that I wrote and the locker room story from Dave are important to read today if you want a true picture of what’s going on. Unfortunately, whenever I write the more serious, in-depth pieces about one player, only about 1 in five read it. But if I write about the Capitals getting ready to be sellers at the NHL trade deadline, everyone reads it. At least read the Karlsson piece. I think it presents a very interesting situation for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The injury updates — Kris Letang left practice because he’s dealing with something. Evgeni Malkin tested something and left. There’s more. Penguins practice was patchwork.

I really felt like the team was close to popping on Saturday. We’re talking Dr. Pimple Popper stuff. However, they’re too good for that. As Bryan Rust said, “We’re looking for points, not scapegoats.” Dave Molinari took the temperature (orally) of the Penguins locker room.

At some points on Friday, but definitely Saturday, I saw THE Erik Karlsson. The better than you, give me the puck and try to keep up, defenseman that can do things only a couple of other d-men on the planet can do. I asked Karlsson, and he shrugged, but Sullivan did not. It’s time for EK65 to let it rip. I thought there was some real meat in Sullivan’s response about Erik Karlsson.

PHN+: Dave had a lengthy conversation with former Penguins GM Craig Patrick about the great Jaromir Jagr. I’m not sure if Patrick has told some of the details before — From Jagr’s subterfuge to getting drafted by the Penguins to helping him adjust and become great — check it out. It wasn’t luck for Jaromir Jagr.

Use code Dave10 to get $10 off PHN+.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: The NHL trade rumor roundup is exclusively goalies, the teams that neeeeeeed them, and the associated price tags. The Devils are front and center, but they’re not the only ones (cue Slash’s guitar riff). Can the goalie-hungry teams afford the prices?

Nashville Hockey Now: The music city mashers have a surplus in net. Good starter. Good backup. Top prospect. With the trade market calling, what should the Nashville Predators do?

New Jersey Hockey Now: Bad news for the Penguins. New Jersey won. Again. They slayed the Kraken and pulled further ahead. The Devils takeaways.

Philly Hockey Now: Twisting the knife now. The Penguins news got a bit worse as the Arizona Coyotes couldn’t keep up with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The difference between the Penguins and Flyers rests above the shoulders. Or perhaps in the chest.

Chicago Hockey Now: After suffering a broken jaw, Connor Bedard had to watch for a few weeks. The rookie phenom is set to come back, and it can’t happen too soon for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Calgary Hockey Now: The Noah Hanifin contract saga, and possibly his tenure with the Calgary Flames, is coming to an end.