Dan’s Daily: Penguins Cap Space, Fights & Hat Tricks in Alberta

The Florida Panthers are getting steamrolled. The New York Rangers survived but still don’t look very good at even strength. Evander Kane scored a natural hatty in six minutes flat, and fists were flying after Calgary Flames Milan Lucic ran goalie Mike Smith. There’s some good NHL trade talk in Vancouver. Bryan Rust got a call from the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they had him at hello. After signing Bryan Rust, we also took a good look at the Penguins’ salary cap space.

Yes, it’s possible to sign Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin.

But it won’t be easy. Both stories on Sunday were free for everyone.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Things moved quickly for Bryan Rust. He liked where the Penguins started negotiations this week, and he was ready to compromise with them. A first birthday party became a contract celebration, too. The Bryan Rust story.

So, what does the Penguins’ salary cap structure look like after signing Rust? How much money do they have for Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin? What about E-Rod, Kappy, and Heinen? (Thank God the Penguins didn’t call him Heiny all season). Here you go–here’s the complete look and soft predictions of the Pittsburgh Penguins salary cap.

In the unpublished draft, I expected the Penguins to re-sign Heinen, but when I got to the end, I realized the Penguins PK also needed to be addressed. And that changed a good bit of my calculus on several things. I think I did a pretty fair job. Check it ‘aht.

NHL Trade Speculation, News & National Hockey Now

The Province: Trade J.T. Miller or sign him long-term? What about OEL? There’s a lot of NHL trade chatter wherever Jim Rutherford lands, and Vancouver is the epicenter.

Calgary Hockey Now: Edmonton basically skated Calgary out of the building. I’m sure Darryl Sutter will have a few things to say in today’s video sessions. Edmonton outclassed Calgary in Game 3, but Milan Lucic barreled into goalie Mike Smith–boarded him, really. And then all hell broke loose. Lucic was tossed, and the Calgary Flames rumbled.

Sportsnet: McDavid is on a Mario or Gretzky type tear in these playoffs, over two points per game, almost three. It’s jaw-dropping.

Philly: I shaved my legs for this? Florida is about to get swept out, and Sam Carchidi has been following former Flyers captain Claude Giroux.

Florida: President’s Trophy. Brilliant regular season. Swept in Round Two by a hated rival? It’s come down to Game 4 tonight for the Florida Panthers.

NHL.com: The New York Rangers (I’ve not seen a team get ragdolled at 5v5 like them yet survive) did it again. They beat Carolina in Game 3, and it’s a series again.

And it’s not hockey, but The Boys, season 3, launches next week. There have been a bunch of superhero send-ups over the last few years, but The Boys was the first and best. So, I’ll shill for it.