Dan’s Daily: Penguins GM Update, NHL COVID Changes

The candidates who have interviewed, will interview, or don’t want the Pittsburgh Penguins GM job are being revealed. The list is both unique and substantial. The NHL is making changes to its game setup and regulations due to the swath of COVID positives this week, and the NHL trade block appears to have Sam Bennett at center stage.

The Penguins GM search is looking at a couple of unconventional candidates; an agent and an NHL analyst (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Penguins have also interviewed former Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall (TSN)

If it makes you feel any better, Hextall’s father, Bryan Hextall Jr., played most of his career for the Penguins (1969-1974).

Chris Drury declined an interview this week. Friday, he was named “Associate General Manager” of the New York Rangers. And, Seattle declined the Penguins’ request to chat with Jason Botterill.

I’m surprised a team would decline an AGM interviewing for a GM job.

John Marino returned to practice two days after being placed on the NHL COVID list. Obviously, it appears that was a tracing thing or a false positive (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Penguins really couldn’t afford to lose Marino, even if Letang plays on Saturday night.

Friday at practice, the Penguins worked on the power play. And, worked on the power play. And…the “whole enchilada” (PHN+)

The NHL is making significant changes to its rules and regs to combat the spike in players added to the COVID protocol. Not all of the changes are sitting well (NBC Sports)

NHL trade talk

Cue the NHL trade chatter. Sam Bennett was a healthy scratch (Sportsnet)

Derek Stepan is not happy in Ottawa, and his name will soon be in the NHL trade rumors (Ottawa Sun)

The Tony DeAngelo situation has reporting all over the place by the Big 3. Dreger, Friedman, and McKenzie each have different reports. A trade is imminent, New York will retain salary, and none of the above (Forever Blueshirts)

National Hockey Now

Donnybrook, buddy! Connor Clifton wasn’t happy with Nicolas Aube-Kubel and served him a plate full of right hands (Boston Hockey Now)

By the way, Boston beat Philadelphia 2-1. And the next time the Penguins play Philadelphia, someone needs to stand up for Mike Matheson and do the same.

The Colorado Avalanche had their games this week postponed. Now, Gabriel Landeskog is on the COVID list, AGAIN (Colorado Hockey Now)

Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello like veterans. They like responsible, grinding vets. But, it’s time for NYI to let their talented kids play (NYI Hockey Now)

San Jose Sharks coach Bob Boughner wasn’t happy with his team on Friday night. First, he let them have it in the locker room. Then he benched star players (San Jose Hockey Now)

Vegas spanked the LA Kings 5-2, and “the Haguer bomb” had three points, and Marc-Andre Fleury improved to 4-0-0 (Vegas Hockey Now)