Dan’s Daily: NHL Gets Tough on Unvax’d Players, Penguins Add UFA

The NHL released its COVID protocols for the coming 2021-22 NHL season. In a twist, the league has the lowest vaccination rate among the four major North American sports (85%) but will suspend unvaccinated players who test positive. The Pittsburgh Penguins added a veteran goalie, we looked at the remaining free agents who could help the Penguins.

UPDATE: Pittsburgh Hockey Now was fooled by an old social media post that showed Evgeni Malkin on rollerblades. The photo was not recent but taken back in April 2020. We regret the error. Really, really regret it.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins added a veteran goalie to the mix as their No. 3 behind Casey DeSmith and Tristan Jarry. Louis Domingue signed a two-way, one-year deal.

Domingue has appeared on a couple of our UFA lists. It’s nice to hit on a few this offseason.

Looking at more UFA bargains and needs which could help the Penguins, including the biggest, meanest cat in the jungle. 

NHL News & National Hockey Now network

Sportsnet: The NHL laid down the law with unvaccinated players. Despite only 85% of NHL’ers getting the jab, the NHL rules for the coming season will suspend unvaccinated players without pay who test positive. The rules on the road for unvaccinated players are pretty strict, too. 

Do we ask the question of players and report answers, “Are you vaccinated?” PHN will probably skip that one. I hope my firm stance on taking care of yourself, your home, and your community is well known, as is my disdain for the “alternate” science, and we’ll leave it at that.

Boston: “When you get COVID, and your wife hates you for the first time.” How’s this for bad luck–Connor Clifton, in a deleted social media post, announced he contracted COVID on his honeymoon. 

San Jose: Last week, I put Tomas Hertl on the NHL trade watchlist for the Pittsburgh Penguins or any team who may want to refresh their middle. Yesterday, Hertl confirmed the San Jose Sharks have not yet reached out to begin contract talks. Hertl is unsure if the Sharks want him to stay or if he wants to stay…

*Cue the ominous organ music. Saw this melodrama coming a mile away.

Arizona Sports: The Arizona Coyotes have applied to build a new arena in Tempe, AZ, for seasons following this one. Good luck?

Philly: The Philadelphia Flyers splashed the cash on former first-round pick Joel Farabee for the next six years. 

Detroit: Pittsburgh Penguins fans remember the name. The Detroit Red Wings signed Carter Rowney on Thursday. 

Florida: One year ago, the Florida Panthers handed the reigns to Bill Zito. One year later, the Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup contenders.  

Colorado: The Avs prospects are coming. The team announced their prospect camp roster, and it’s loaded. 

Lastly, certainly not leastly from our NHN links, our resident big man in Vancouver, Rob Simpson, looked at the Pacific Centers to see where Elias Pettersson fits into the mix. 

Canadian Press: The OHL has thrown the book at Logan Mailloux, the Montreal Canadiens first-round pick, who shared a photo of him and a woman engaged in a sex act with his teammates last season. The OHL suspended Mailloux indefinitely, and he cannot apply for reinstatement until January.

Beyond the morality of the incident, this is a fascinating case study of crime and punishment in the social media age and the inability of our laws to keep up. Boys have forever bragged about such things (see the musical Grease), but never has the technology existed to so easily take or share pictures without consent.

WGR550: The Buffalo Sabres inked Casey Mittelstadt to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million

The Sabres then handed the same deal to defenseman Henri Jokiharju.