Dan’s Daily: Avalanche Touch the Campbell, Another Coach Fired

It should not be a dramatic moment, but perhaps that makes it fun. The Colorado Avalanche grabbed the Clarence Campbell trophy. They would not take no for an answer in Game 4, and try as they might, the Edmonton Oilers could not get a lead big enough. Not even later in the third period. Nazem Kadri had thumb surgery, but how long should he be out? Bruce Cassidy is out as the Boston Bruins coach. And did the Pittsburgh Penguins’ task of signing Rickard Rakell get just a little bit tougher?

Thrilling game. If there is hockey in heaven, it will look like Game 4…unless you’re from Edmonton. It didn’t take long in the third period for the folks I watched it with to be hollering and oohing and awwing.

To the WCF wrap-up, we go!

Colorado Hockey Now: Finally–Western Conference Champs. After a few years of bitter disappointment stemming from losses in Round Two, it was time. Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Final bound.

Perhaps, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon had a chat. Colorado touched the trophy, as you can see in the picture.

After the suspension-worthy hit by Evander Kane, Nazem Kadri was pronounced out for the rest of the WCF. Kadri had thumb surgery. Adrian Dater chatted with a hockey doctor about the Kadri surgery and recovery time–here’s the Doc’s prognosis. Nazem Kadri surgery.

Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL News & National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dave Molinari had an interesting thought. Rickard Rakell changed agents for his next contract. Will that make it tougher for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Later this morning, I have a story I think you’ll be discussing. Our second wave lands at 10:30 a.m.

Montreal Hockey Now: Montreal is getting greedy. Former Habs forward and now TVA analyst Maxim Lapierre urged the Canadiens to go for it, big-time. Lapierre suggested going all-in to get the second-overall pick, too. Montreal Canadiens trade talk.

Boston: So, goodbye, Bruce Cassidy. In a bit of a surprise–though our Boston boys have been hinting that changes could be afoot–Cassidy was fired. Boston Bruins news.

Boston: I think our boys were ready. They already have three under-the-radar candidates for the next Boston Bruins head coach.

Sportsnet: The weekend NHL combine set up an unpredictable 2022 NHL Draft.

NHL.com: It’s a new series for the Lightning and Rangers. Braden Point is out, but Ryan Strome is likely in for Game 4.

Vegas: After the tumult of trading Marc-Andre Fleury, all of the eggs were in Robin Lehner’s basket, but he struggled mightily in his first full season as the starter for the Vegas Golden Knights.

San Jose: Now this will make some news–Last summer, Brett Peterson (former Johnstown Chief) made news as the first black assistant GM. Could we get our first black GM? Sheng Peng writes it could be Mike Grier to the San Jose Sharks.