Connect with us

Links

Dan’s Daily: Silly Season Tension; Rangers Lose; Penguins Different

Published

on

PIttsburgh Penguins game analysis, Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby

The NHL trade rumors and silly season rumors are getting chaotic following the blockbuster deals this week and pending free agents who are next up on the block. Without the J.T. Miller drama, the Vancouver Canucks have a second potential problem. For the Pittsburgh Penguins’ draft sake, perhaps we should start a daily feature charting the progress of the New York Rangers, who–wait for it–lost Saturday despite a pair of goals from the newly acquired Miller. There are plenty of incredible headlines in the Eastern Conference, including the Penguins sending a message with tough guys en route to a win.



As a matter of NHL news that we don’t need to link, Alexander Ovechkin scored No. 877, Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman was tossed for intent to injure against Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle, and Seattle’s Yanni Gourde is out five to seven weeks after surgery.

I get in trouble for honesty or impatience (the term a few of my NHN writers and others have used that makes me cringe is that I don’t suffer fools). I think I need to write a column on many of the preexisting narratives in Penguins land about coach Mike Sullivan and the examples that puncture those tropes. The reality is so much more complex, and the narratives are sometimes behind, if not wrong.

There are plenty of valid criticisms of Sullivan, some significant. But burying young players or preferring Smurfs on the roster are exaggerated to the point of creating a caricature that prevents real discussion.

Last night’s report card was so much fun to write. I really got my hands dirty and dug into the big-picture philosophies intersecting with the game analysis. I enjoyed that game immensely. It was a surprise to see Sullivan lean on his tough guys as he did, and even though he camouflaged the wording, his approving nods when talking about starting his fourth line were fun to observe, too. With Michael McCarron on the other side, Sullivan sent a message.

The NHL news today is also a barrel of monkeys (where did that expression come from?!)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dave Molinari noted the change in tone and tenor of the Penguins’ 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators. The hockey bard crafted the Penguins recap.

I suppose if Dave is the poet, I’m the one-man band. The Penguins report card details the tactical parries and strategical thrusts Sullivan deployed, as well as the handful of top-tier performances in the win. The Penguins used tough guys. Who knew? Check out the Penguins report card.

Here is the full Penguisn postgame video from the ice level following the Penguins’ win, but I hate that thumbnail screen!

More Penguins content:

I asked Sullivan Saturday morning if he’d like to say anything about Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor, the players who departed in the big trade late Friday night. I thought Sullivan’s comments were genuine, and he couldn’t help but give O’Connor another nudge. With video, go inside the Penguins’ locker room.

PHN+: Exclusive. The million-dollar question now swings to winger Bryan Rust. He has no trade protection through this season. What is his status, and what are his thoughts about being moved? Shelly Anderson got the scoop directly from Rust, and he answered with conviction. More on the potential Penguins future.

Why do people who have no connection to the Penguins (or the other teams involved in the rumor) keep reporting Penguins trade rumors? Buckle up, here come the Evgeni Malkin rumors. And no, I won’t link to a single one unless it comes from a trusted reporter.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Boston Hockey Now: J.T. Miller had a game. He scored twice, and the Rangers got after it, but so did the Boston Bruins and winger David Pastrnak, who saw Miller’s two and upped the ante with a hat trick. Good news for the Penguins (kind of), as the New York Rangers lost. But the bad news is the Bruins won.

San Jose Hockey Now: Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci. Remember them? The San Jose Sharks traded them to the Dallas Stars for a first-round and conditional third-rounder. However, despite almost everyone being wowed by the high price Dallas paid, our buddy Sheng Peng writes that it wasn’t a great move. Here’s his Sharks trade news and analysis.

The Province: Finally, the Miller issue is over. Vancouver can sleep easy for a minute, right? Nope. Now comes the lingering question of a new contract or a trade for Brock Boeser. The 27-year-old winger has salary demands the Canucks haven’t met. Should he stay, or should he go? If he goes, there will be trouble. But if he stays, it could be double.

*insert guitar chords D, G, and back to D.

New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols writes that if Boeser is available now or in July, come on down! The New Jersey Devils need him.

NYI Hockey Now: More bad news for the Penguins playoff chase. Their fish stick tormentors can’t lose. The Tampa Bay Lightning couldn’t get it done as the New York Islanders won their seventh straight, and of course, newly signed Tony DeAngelo scored the OT winner. Here’s the game and what’s happening–Islanders analysis.

The Athletic ($): The Toronto Maple Leafs might take center stage now. They should have money for the people who want to re-sign there, but what about Mitch Marner? It’s about to be a hot-button topic. Will the rising cap make it easier or more difficult to get his name on a contract?

Detroit Hockey Now: Another team charging toward that wild card spot like they really want it–with five straight wins, including an Alberta sweep, is the Detroit Red Wings.

Philly Hockey Now: OK, explain the Flyers trade to me. A rebuilding team is giving up a pair of players in their early to mid-20s who don’t make a lot of money but are still tapping into their potential. Yet, that’s just what GM Daniel Briere did, and he explained or defended the moves and the coming Flyers trade outlook.

The Penguins are at least six points out of a playoff spot. They’re six behind Tampa Bay, which still has three games in hand, and seven behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have two in hand.

I wouldn’t be upset in the least to see Columbus make the playoffs.