Dan’s Daily: Penguins Get Message; McDavid Money; Available Goalies

We’re doing the Daily, and then we’re off to Buffalo this morning for the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Buffalo Sabres. It will be an epic collision with extraordinary implications that could change our very hockey landscape forever! OK, it’s just a battle of lottery teams, but we’ll be there for all of the storylines and this unfolding drama and getting some rest at a luxurious I-90 motel and meth research technology center.

Evgeni Malkin was at practice Wednesday, but non-contact and coach Mike Sullivan delivered a little message to his team. We also learned a few things on the Penguins’ road trip. Elsewhere in the Daily, Edmonton is steeling itself for the wallet hit that Connor McDavid will command but promising to pay it. ESPN has coverage of prospects from the NCAA tournament. The NHL trade rumors will begin swirling around the goalies immediately after the season, and Rick Tocchet is “emptying the tank” to get his Canucks to the playoffs.

I spent the evening doing financial tabulations for our company (so my eyes are still sore today, and I didn’t even finish). Still, I’ll be writing the inside scoop on Tristan Jarry’s attempted comeback/reclamation/vindication this afternoon for reading tomorrow morning. I am genuinely appreciative that he agreed to the interview and shared a few details that we didn’t know before, including that his wife is pregnant (which made for some long drives back and forth on off days). He didn’t bite on a couple of my questions, but that spoke more to his mental focus (and not letting himself go there) than him shutting down the query. However, rest assured, I asked about everything.

I’ll release the full audio with the story in a No Pucks Given podcast. Also, check out the podcast page from the menu bar above.

Now, hopefully, he has a better night Thursday than he did in Tampa. Otherwise, it’s going to change the entire tone of my story from hopeful and genuine to … *gulp* and no one will read it. The interview cost us an extra $200 in travel changes, so if you’re inclined to join this party, PHN+ is a pretty, pretty good value, or you can drop a hot dog payment in the tip jar.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Practice. Sullivan kept the boys on the ice a little longer than usual, and they had to take a few more strides than they usually do at a practice between road games. Actually, it was a lot more skating than a typical practice between games. Sullivan had a few messages to deliver to his team, as well as an Evgeni Malkin update at Penguins practice.

I thought the Florida road trip was quite informative on a couple of issues. The winning streak sort of masked a couple of things I’d been pondering, but the Florida game, followed by the dirt nap in Tampa, brought them back to the fore. Here are three things we learned (or are learning) about the bigger picture. Now we’ll get some answers–check out the Penguins blog.

No, Aaron Rodgers hasn’t signed yet.

Mason Rudolph, baby!

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: It’s not entirely unrelated to the Tristan Jarry story. Sportsnet examined the thin goalie trade market.

I missed this on Saturday. It was the late game on Hockey Night in Canada and Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman was asked about McDavid’s next contract, which he can sign on July 1. Bowman didn’t really hesitate and Edmonton is going to sign McDavid, but the amount could be as high as $19.1 million per season?!

Edmonton Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman joined @ScottOake and @LouDeBrusk on After Hours last night to discuss all things Oilers, including touching on a potential Connor McDavid contract extension this summer. 👀 pic.twitter.com/9uiUbJ93vx

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 23, 2025

Connor, do you want a Cup or a max salary? You can’t, cannot, not, not, not, not now, not ever have both.

We always say this when a star player might get paid stupid money, but it’s true: Sidney Crosby sacrificed tens of millions for the Cup or the Penguins. Crosby won’t be in the bread line ever, but he could have made obscene money instead of $8.7 million.

ESPN+ ($): There are a handful of genuine prospects in the NCAA tourney, including the Hutson brothers (one of whom is Capitals-bound), but there are also some potential Penguins draft picks playing (like James Hagens). Here’s ESPN’s coverage.

To the ice…

NYI Hockey Now: There was some sulking after the game. The Vancouver Canucks took it to the Islanders in a crucial game. The Islanders had a chance to get into the thick of the playoff race and blew it. And they know they blew it. Russel Macias has the analysis, but also the cold, quiet New York Islanders locker room.

Sportsnet: Tocchet admitted that he is “emptying the tank” to help his team into the playoffs. It’s been a trying year for the coach, and he had to admit a few things.

Philly Hockey Now: This is going to be a popular opinion, but one many cities share. Will James is all over it. Indeed, if John Tortorella isn’t the right guy or doesn’t want to continue with the Philadelphia Flyers, then the next coach should be the increasingly sought-after Denver bench boss, David Carle.

Carle was Tristan Broz’s coach as Denver marched to a National Championship, and his legend is growing. Quite frankly, if Kyle Dubas has any inclination to move on from Sullivan, Carle is the guy. Will wrote a great story. Check it out.

Detroit Hockey Now: Oh boy. Our big guns came out swinging. For a third straight season, the Pizza Pizza franchise is going to miss the playoffs despite being in an excellent position at the start of March. Yikes yikes. And here are the five reasons why the Red Wings have failed again. Bob Duff teed up the Detroit Red Wings.

Florida Hockey Now: And we have a timeline for the long-awaited Florida Panthers debut of Brad Marchand.