Dan’s Daily Links: Two Big Names About to Hit the Trade Market

The boys at Sportsnet were dealing Saturday night. Most major headlines around hockey today will be generated by their segments last night, from the IIHF changing the ice surface to the Carolina Hurricanes making Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland available. Pittsburgh Penguins RHD Justin Schultz is back on the ice. Reports indicate Boston and St. Louis are in deep talks, the NHL and NHLPA will meet soon and Finland broke American hearts with a late goal to win the WJC…

Justin Schultz is on track for a February return. The Penguins defenseman skated yesterday. Here is the exclusive video (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Stick taps to WPXI and WTAE for using the video with credit on their newscasts.

What in tarnation is Carolina doing? The Hurricanes made the big trade splash this summer to acquire defenseman Dougie Hamilton who was falling out of favor in Calgary. OK. One of the players they gave up was Elias Lindholm who has 48 points (20g, 28a) in 43 games for the Calgary Flames — Oh by the way, Carolina has been searching for offense all season. Now, Hamilton could be had as could forward Michael Ferland, who is actually scoring (Sportsnet)

Boston and St. Louis are engaged in talks, according to Boston reporter Jimmy Murphy (Murphy’s Hockey Law)

The really big fish who would appear headed towards the trade market is Matt Duchene. Contract talks have cooled (Sportsnet)

Chris Johnston’s report stands in somewhat opposition to Bruce Garrioch’s National Post Story which took a more curious tone about the Senators trade routes with three unrestricted free agents–Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel (National Post)

Still, what in the world is Carolina doing?!

What were the USA defenders doing by not engaging net front bodies with 90 seconds to go? Finland won WJC gold and are underdogs no more (The Hockey News)

The NHL and NHLPA will meet next week in Las Vegas for CBA negotiations. For gosh sakes Gary Bettman, you’ve won. Don’t make us sit through another lockout so the owners squeeze every last drop from the game. Oh and Nick Kypreos also says the IIHF could go to smaller ice for the Olympics to make the play more exciting (Sportsnet)

Seriously, what is Carolina doing?