Dan’s Daily: Bryan Rust Could Play, GMs Push Back on Tkachuk Trade Rumor

The Pittsburgh Penguins might get a little burst of good news on Saturday as Bryan Rust elevated to a game-time decision. The GMs involved disputed reports that Mathew Tkachuk was involved in the great NHL trade drama that was the Jack Eichel deal. And Connor McDavid unleashed the fury against the New York Rangers and possibly scored the goal of the year.

I hesitate to put McDavid in the headline. I know how protective Penguins fans are of Crosby and the legacy of having the best player in the world play in Pittsburgh, but McDavid is pretty spectacular.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Bryan Rust was a full-go at practice. The training staff will evaluate him, and Rust could play Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. 

If you think Mike Sullivan is at home just trying to get better and not trying to coach, you would be mistaken. Todd Reirden detailed how Sullivan is staying in touch, even during games. 

Rust may or may not play, but his friendly war of words over the mustache with Jason Zucker is recruiting an army. 

NHL Trade Chatter, NHL News & National Hockey Now

TSN: Kevyn Adams denied that Mathew Tkachuk was part of the Calgary Flames package.

There’s a lot at play here–if Tkachuk was on the NHL trade table, the deal didn’t go down. Calgary GM Brad Treveling also said Tkachuk wasn’t part of it, but Calgary has to sign Tkachuk to a new contract next summer or risk losing him. Now isn’t the time to make him feel unloved. As the National Hockey Now Editor-in-Chief, I’m privy to everyone’s sources. Kevin Weekes of ESPN got that scoop, but a good source confirmed it to us, too. So, people were talking. Calgary Hockey Now advanced the story to include Sean Monahan in the talks. We’re pretty comfortable with the reports–The Flames also have a salary cap and had to send significant salary to the Buffalo Sabres, so…somebody important was involved.

We had a couple of scoops set to run on the network Thursday. People were concerned for Jack Eichel–it was a hard mental process. He talked about many of those things with Sportsnet on Thursday.

Washington: Anthony Mantha is out indefinitely after shoulder surgery. The Pittsburgh Penguins won’t offer any pity, but Washington has 13 healthy forwards, including a handful of Capitals prospects.

Florida: The Florida Panthers have found a keeper. And Anthony Duclair has found a home. 

Detroit: The Detroit Red Wings are trying to come out of the cacoon and become the butterfly Steve Yzerman is building. Bob Duff has a solution–more Yzerman, Less Ken Holland. 

San Jose: The San Jose Sharks are going to send prized prospect William Eklund back to Sweden. He has four assists in nine games. The Sharks could have sent him to the AHL, too, but opted for a clean break until next season. And the Sharks top prospect is not happy at all. 

And lastly–Connor McDavid vs. four New York Rangers. The Rangers never had a chance. Watch this dandy, and Sportsnet compiled the Twitter meltdown, too. McDavid is next-level special.