Dan’s Daily: Penguins Clean Out, Cup Final Begins, Winnipeg to Deal?

And it begins. Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas purged a few holdovers from the previous regime. The Stanley Cup Final begins today in Las Vegas. The Winnipeg Jets are facing a tumultuous summer, and they could flood the NHL trade market with big-name players, including Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele. Salt Lake City seems to be pushing for an NHL team, but by expansion, not just scooping up the Arizona Coyotes.

The Florida Panthers are ready for the Cup Final. There is a different buzz around the Florida team than the Vegas team. I’m unsure what it means, but I’m taking Vegas in 6. Maybe 5 if Bob goes cold again.

Let’s do that hockey…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Mike Sullivan wants to re-tool with speed. Sullivan had a few comments Saturday. I thought it became clear that Mike Sullivan does have a seat at the table again (I didn’t feel that way with Ron Hextall’s tenure). Sullivan outlined the Penguins’ changes.

Dubas dismissed a few of Hextall’s people on Friday afternoon. All were recent hires, but the interesting one was Teena Murray, who was in charge of strength and conditioning, sports science, and medical staff. She lasted one year on the job. Penguins news.

Murray is interesting because that’s a position generally safe from regime changes. Several players couldn’t seem to get healthy this season, but Jason Zucker was also kept healthy. There are probably a few more dismissals coming.

So what comes next for the Penguins on the ice and president/GM Kyle Dubas? I did my best to answer your questions –Trades, signings, goodbyes, and philosophy shifts. The Penguins Q&A.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Florida Hockey Now: Where’s the beef? The mystery of the postgame dog bone has been solved. Florida Panthers locker room.

TNT is ready for the Stanley Cup Final. They also want more Matthew Tkachuk.

Vegas Hockey Now: Galvanizing moments? When did the Golden Knights know they were good enough to win it all? Vegas Golden Knights locker room.

The VGK has three “big” advantages over Florida. Golden Knights analysis.

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman spent a lot of words on the efforts of Salt Lake City to get an NHL team. It seems obvious to most of us that the best play would be putting Arizona in Salt Lake, but it seems SLC is talking expansion. 32 Thoughts.

Montreal Hockey Now: If you’re into prospects and the league, the Canadiens are a hot-button team. From drafting Logan Mailloux and Lane Hutson to contract talks for Cole Caufield. It’s all in the Montreal Canadiens mailbag.

Bobby Clarke has his Cale Makar issue with Hextall. The Penguins will have their Hutson issue.

Winnipeg Sun: All things Winnipeg Jets and the NHL trade market. They’re not churning the NHL trade rumors yet, but this may skip past the scuttlebutt and go from obvious to happening in 5.4 seconds. The Jets need an overhaul, and they have big names who are pending free agents in one year. Do the math — who stays and who goes.

Boston Hockey Now: The Boston Bruins are “exploring” ways to keep Tyler Bertuzzi.

Chicago Hockey Now: Patrick Kane had hip resurfacing surgery. He’s out for four-to-six months.

Buffalo Hockey Now: Wow. I saw the video, and it was surreal. The Czech Hockey Hall of Fame is closing. Dominik Hasek had to collect all of his memorabilia in a shopping cart. It was a moment for the Buffalo Sabres legend.

Colorado Hockey Now: Here is today’s story that no one wants to read, and everyone will. Remember the woman found in Valeri Nichushkin’s room during their playoff series against Seattle? A local TV station released the body cam footage, and there are more questions than answers for the Colorado Avalanche.

Nashville Hockey Now: Why new GM Barry Trotz pulled the trigger and fired coach Jon Hynes. Nashville Predators news.