Dan’s Daily: Another Penguins D Injured, Torts Benches Laine

It doesn’t matter how much money you make or your role; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella can and will bench you if you’re mailing it in. Despite a trade request, the Calgary Flames are trying in the top-six, there are more reports of Jake Virtanen on the NHL trade market, and another Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman was injured on Monday.

Seriously, another defenseman injured?

Penguins LHD Mike Matheson had a whopping one game back in the lineup. He collided with a teammate at practice, was down, and left the practice. Shelly Anderson has more (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

I examined the Pittsburgh Penguins GM situation. There are reasons why it is a great job. But…reasons why it’ not (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

And Paul Zeise of 93-7 the Fan had me on last night to discuss the situation, as well as Tristan Jarry, Kris Letang, and more (PHN Podcast)

Now, to the rest of the league…

John Tortorella has asserted “Torts Law” in Columbus. Pierre-Luc Dubois didn’t want to play hard and was benched. Patrik Laine was the latest star player to phone-in his effort and ride pine (Sportsnet)

Cam Atkinson defended Tortorella in the postgame chat. THAT’s when you know your team is buying in.

Sam Bennett requested a trade out of Calgary. The NHL trade rumors have had a few murmurs, but Calgary has shut those down. Now, Bennett is getting a shot in a top-six role (Calgary Sun)

If you feel cut off from the rest of hockey, I do, too. Auston Matthews is on a tear in Toronto. His goal streak is now up to eight (Yahoo Sports Canada)

NHL trade talk: Jimmy Murphy for the National Hockey Now network had the story on Sunday. Now, there is more smoke out of Vancouver that they would like to move Jake Virtanen (Sportsnet)

National Hockey Now

After a false start, we’re set to launch a new market today! Follow me on Twitter for the big reveal. Let’s just say, readers to the new site don’t like the Penguins.

Peyton Krebs tore it up for Team Canada. Now, he’s tearing up the AHL while he awaits the call from Vegas (Vegas Hockey Now)

David Pastrnak returned to the Boston Bruins lineup and promptly shredded opposing goalies and defensemen. He is the NHL’s first star of the week (Boston Hockey Now)

Uh oh. The New York Islanders are starting to roll. They beat the New York Rangers on Monday night, and Semyon Varlamov was the turning point — he stuffed Artemi Panarin’s breakaway, and the Isles roared (NYI Hockey Now)

Carter Verhaeghe is part of the Florida surge this season. He’s giving them a real bang for their buck (Florida Hockey Now)

And, if you’d like to know our latest credentialed National Hockey Now site — here you (Surprise!)