Dan’s Daily: Dubas Talks Changes, Colorado Credits Crosby

Published

4 weeks ago

March 28, 2024

Pittsburgh Penguins, Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby. Penguins News on Rust's injury

Why don’t the Pittsburgh Penguins tear it down and rebuild? Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas succinctly answered that question on Mark Madden’s radio show, responded to Jake Guentzel’s slightly salty assessment of the Penguins trade, and said the players were too intelligent to think things don’t need to change. Dave Molinari and I worked the Penguins practice. He talked to Michael Bunting and Mike Sullivan about Bunting’s huge minus numbers, while I talked with Jack St. Ivany and teammates about St. Ivany for PHN+ subscribers. Elsewhere in the Daily, Colorado Avalanche color analyst John Mitchell heaped credit on Sidney Crosby for part of Nathan MacKinnon’s and the Avalanche’s success.

Elsewhere in the Daily, the Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling the heat from their coach, who ripped them for “immature” play, including the captain. The NHL rumor mill has the Boston Bruins are quietly poised to be the big dog in free agency on July 1.

The Daily’s have been a little bit late over the last week or so. I always want them up by 8 a.m., if not 7, but I confess, this March schedule is absolutely brutal. Dan is worn to the nub. We’ll recoup, but perhaps I’ll sip some suds in Columbus, which is the most underrated city on the NHL route. I’ll see you out there.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Michael Bunting was tied for the worst minus rating on the Carolina Hurricanes, and he’s quickly run up a big red number with the Penguins, too. So, what gives? Dave Molinari went right to the source and coach Mike Sullivan on how much or how little to make of Michael Bunting’s contributions.

Dubas answered the bell on Madden’s show. I thought Madden did a really good job of massaging the tough questions to get an answer. Dubas answered Guentzel’s emotional response to the trade, rebuilding, and even Sidney Crosby’s future. It was good insight into the Penguins’ direction.

I’m starting to think I’ve got a handle on Dubas’s thought process. He answered the rebuilding question exactly how I’ve answered it with you for the past year, though he used a phrase I may steal going forward. Conversely, Dubas’s predecessor would speak logically and then act irrationally, so I would think I had a bead on it but then be surprised.

PHN+: The Penguins’ kids are here. The one many of you didn’t see coming (until our scouting report in January?) was Jack St. Ivany. He’s just trying to settle in, but teammates and the coach have bigger praise for how the Penguins prospect defenseman is contributing.

Use code Dan10 to get $10 off a full year at PHN+ and join this hockey media rebellion.

NHL Rumors, News & National Hockey Now

TSN: Nathan MacKinnon has a point in every home game this season. He’s been on a mission since training camp and color analyst (and former teammate) John Mitchell gave a lot of credit for MacKinnon’s maturation and performance to Sidney Crosby.

Boston Hockey Now: Noah Hanifin? Elias Lindholm? Yep, the Boston Bruins were very interested but didn’t hook either fish on the NHL trade block. Now it seems that GM Don Sweeney has set the table so that he gets one (or both?) when NHL free agency begins July 1.

Philly Hockey Now: A little more intrigue between Russia and the Flyers. A prospect goalie whom the Flyers have been waiting for is bolting his KHL team and heading to North America. It’s more good news for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Florida Hockey Now: It could be a first-round matchup. The Bruins. The Panthers. The Panthers spoiled the Bruins’ Presidents’ Trophy season in Round One last year, shoving Patrice Bergeron into retirement. Now, the rivalry is getting hot for the Florida Panthers.

Detroit Hockey Now: Much was made from the Washington side when the Capitals beat the Red Wings this week in a battle of teams directly fighting for the final wild card. From the Detroit side, there was a lot to discuss and learn about the Detroit Red Wings.

Sportsnet: And in a recent spate of coaches lambasting their team, publicly or privately, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe publicly called out his captain, John Tavares, who felt the heat.

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