Dan’s Daily: Latest Trade Chatter; Penguins Show Strength

Welcome to the late edition of Dan’s Daily for Friday. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers put on a show Thursday night that was WWE pay-per-view worthy. Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid brought their best, and the Penguins took advantage of Edmonton’s bad first period to claim a significant win. Crosby’s big night pushed him higher on several all-time records. We’ve got full analysis and some locker room video of Crosby’s reaction.

Elsewhere in the Daily, the Philadelphia Flyers are chumming the NHL trade waters for a goalie and to move a defenseman. Fans booed the Ottawa Senators off the ice at home, and the TSN Insiders have the latest trade chatter from around the league.

Dave and Shelly have practice today. Later this morning, I’ll be writing about a couple of under-the-radar points that could greatly improve the team.

I don’t know how to properly express my sympathy for the residents of LA and the Palisades. It’s just unbelievable. I am very much considering canceling my trip to LA for the Penguins game on the 20th because I suspect my hotel room will be needed by local residents who have lost everything. I’ll wait a few more days before I make that decision. I think you’ll understand if we don’t do all 82 because we defer to the tragedy unfolding.

Pittsburgh Penguins

One wonders if Crosby thinks about a few of the people he’s passing on the all-time lists and chuckles on the drive home. Thursday night, he tied Bobby Hull at 604 goals but surpassed Joe Sakic on another list. It’s a nightly story for Sidney Crosby.

The league announced the Penguins’ quarter-century team. A couple of decisions surprised me a little bit. Our Dave Molinari was involved in the selection process. Check out the Penguins team.

Now to the game…

Let’s be honest. We all kind of expected an Oilers win. The Penguins have not been playing well, and the Oilers have owned them. Instead, the Penguins got a few standout performances in a 5-3 win. Here’s the Penguins recap.

I didn’t need to belabor the Xs and Os of the win. The Penguins did a lot right on Thursday, and we detailed those things, as well as the rock-ribbed performances by Crosby, a few unheralded players, and the goalie. Get the analysis in the Penguins report card.

And visit our YouTube page for the 5-Minute Penguins postgame breakdown.

I learned that if I post the video here, I don’t make any money on it!! So, we’re working to resolve that, but it will take a while.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN Insiders: The latest trade chatter around the league is still centering on Edmonton’s possible hunt for a defenseman, and the Boston Bruins have entered the chat, too.

The Athletic ($): I wonder if you’ll have the same thought as I did. The Flyers are hunting for a goalie on the trade market, and Kevin Kurz listed some desperate options, such as James Reimer and Elvis Merzlikins. The Flyers would also like to move right-handed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Isn’t that interesting?

Sportsnet: The team I believed to be the Penguins chief competition for the wild-card spot has lost four in a row and was booed off home ice. The Ottawa Senators are in a rough patch right now.

ESPN: As Alex Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the pair shared just one teammate. Can you guess who? (No, you won’t unless you’re really, really good). Greg Wyshinki found the teammate and has a pretty good story.