Dan’s Daily: Wings-Sabres Trade Chatter; Penguins Next Wave

The Dan’s Daily will be shorter as I shove off for Pittsburgh from Eastern PA. It was a wild day here. A section of I-80 collapsed, closing the highway; the rain and sleet haven’t stopped since I arrived, and the Pittsburgh Penguins played to their worst impulses in a sloppy, dreary game that mirrored the weather. We also did some pretty good scouting work on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, including updated analysis and insights on who’s getting closer to being ready. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Dallas Stars might be in expensive hot water for a Christmas break practice while the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres continue to scout each other, leading to more NHL trade chatter.

I believe, at this point, you come to expect calamity to follow when I travel. What idiocy, nonsense, or crazy story will Kingerski attract this time? How about a section of I-80 collapsing on my way to UBS Arena? Yep. A 90-minute drive became a three-and-a-half hour slog through sleet and stacked traffic as an abandoned mine shaft under the Eastbound section 80 in New Jersey caved in. Just another Dan travel story…

There are now just two media outlets on the road covering the Pittsburgh Penguins (full-time), and Pittsburgh Hockey Now is one of the last two standing. Hey, it’s getting stupidly expensive. Even a gas station sandwich, a little bag of chips, and a pop is now $11, and a one-star hotel–like the one I’m currently in–is $90 per night. But I think you deserve the coverage. I think you want the coverage. So, if you could do me a favor, subscribe to PHN+. You get the exclusive content and an ad-free experience every day. We’ll even spot you $10 off in the first year. Use code Dan10. Click here.

You want me on this wall. You need me on this wall. Sorry, got carried away…Please and thanks.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It wasn’t a fun game to cover. The Penguins were in quicksand. They had some life but never much else, and the New York Islanders beat them 6-3. If you really, really want, here is the Penguins game recap.

NYI Hockey Now: Russel Macias will race me back to Pittsburgh for part two of this Pens-Islanders saga, but if you want some fun or some hate reading–here’s the flip side: The Islanders’ postgame recap.

Here’s the more fun part. Let’s get to the analysis. Coach Mike Sullivan began his postgame presser with a thorough analysis. He answered all questions in about four sentences, and he was right. Erik Karlsson also matter-of-factly slammed the team’s performance. Here’s the in-depth analysis and locker room reaction in the Penguins report card.

PHN+: Friday night, I got chirped (good-natured) by a rookie (Tristan Broz), but I also got to do some pretty good scouting of the Penguins’ top prospects in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a heated game with their arch-rival. Coach Kirk MacDonald also gave us some pretty good insights on Rutger McGroarty’s growth and a bit on Filip Kral. THIS is why you subscribe to PHN+: Scouting McGroarty & WBS Penguins; Guys Starting to ‘Take it to Next Level’ (+).

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada: Oh such a little tidbit at the end of the Headlines segment, but it’s going to set tongues wagging today. The Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres have been scouting each other, and surely, each needs a shakeup trade. Also, the Dallas Stars held an optional practice over the break?! Uh oh.

NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders are under .500, even after last night’s win. Macias puts it plainly: the next 20 games will determine their fate. So, here’s what the New York Islanders could do at the NHL trade deadline.

DHN+: Yes, PHN+ readers have full access to the subscription content across the network! Todd McLellan is now the coach in Detroit. The changes in the Motor City can begin–and our venerable Detroit colleagues Kevin Allen and Bob Duff line up three major changes the new coach should strongly consider for the Detroit Red Wings.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Finally, more divisional games. Some sketchy calls and a major penalty gave the Carolina Hurricanes a win and the New Jersey Devils a raw deal.

TSN: Poor Latvia. One night, after one of the biggest wins in the country’s hockey history, when they beat Canada, they had to face Team USA, which was not nearly as kind of Canada.

Side note: Brayden Yager is going to start getting some side eye as Team Canada collapsed in the medal round last year, and they lost under his captainship to Latvia.

Colorado Hockey Now: Again? The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators have each other on speed dial. The teams hooked up on another trade and Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland continue to remake the team’s underbelly with more Avalanche trades.