Dan’s Daily: Penguins Lose, Eichel Rumors, & Blackhawks Scandal Fallout

It was a sad day in hockey. The independent investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks coverup of sexual assault turned “alleged” into confirmed, and Chicago had a clean sweep of personnel, including GM Stan Bowman. The Chicago boss resigned both his position as Blackhawks GM and Team USA GM. The Pittsburgh Penguins finally looked like a team missing its stars, and another report of the Jack Eichel saga nearing its conclusion via the NHL trade market.

I don’t think much comment is necessary on the nuclear fallout in Chicago. If the Penn State situation didn’t teach a lesson, and the Michigan State / USA Gymnastics didn’t teach a lesson, then hopefully the Chicago Blackhawks scandal does. It is OK to come forward, and it’s not OK to look the other way. Sometimes life is that simple.

Sportsnet: The fallout and the whole story of the Chicago Blackhawks scandal. 

According to the independent investigation, accounts of that fateful meeting between the 2010 Western Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final vary wildly, most notably Bowman’s account and Joel Quenneville’s account. Quenneville, Kevin Cheveldayoff (now the Winnipeg Jets GM), and others employed elsewhere in hockey will have personal meetings with commissioner Gary Bettman.

Toronto Hockey Now: I think Scott Cullen did a solid wrap-up of the events, including comments from some of the reporters who were most dogged on the Blackhawks story.

Brad Aldrich, the sexual predator who assaulted two players and later a high school player, remains on the 2010 Stanley Cup. Do you remove it to forget the scandal, or do you keep it as a permanent reminder?

To Hockey…

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins lost 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and, for the first time, looked like a team missing its star players.

Interestingly, the Penguins scored a goal late in the first period, but officials waved it off. Refs seemed to defuse Mike Sullivan–they admitted they made a mistake. 

PHN+: The report card–who played well, who was burnt toast, and what of the Pittsburgh Penguins penalty kill?

The PHN+ report card is a game-by-game in-depth analysis. The little things you may not notice, tactical analysis and player grades. For report cards and exclusive content such as the Off the Record columns and Penguins reactions, join PHN+ plus. 

NHL Trade Chatter, NHL & National Hockey Now:

Daily Faceoff: Frank Seravalli believes the NHL trade winds could push Jack Eichel out of Buffalo very soon. 

Unfortunately, the Hockey Now network believed the same about 10 days ago, direct from people around Jack Eichel. Optimism rises and falls as Buffalo is playing hardball with everyone. We’ll see if this is the time it gets across the finish line.

Montreal Hockey Now: Jonathan Drouin spilled the beans. Shea Weber is retired, and Drouin thinks he’s headed into scouting. 

Also–the Montreal Canadiens laid an egg in Seattle, just one game after finally getting a win. 

NYI: It looks more and more like Ilya Sorokin is taking the net for himself and won’t share it when Semyon Varlamov returns. 

Calgary: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ next opponent–the Calgary Flames–is steamrolling through the Metro Division. They won their fourth straight by dispatching the New Jersey Devils in Newark. 

San Jose: I don’t know about you, but one of the teams I’m starting to follow is the San Jose Sharks. A young, energetic crew with lots of roster issues, too. That’s a cocktail for fun. Sheng Peng looks at the three issues that could make or break the San Jose Sharks season. 

Vegas: The Golden Knights badly needed a win, and Evgenii Dadonov badly needed to play well. The Golden Knights got both vs. their arch-nemesis Colorado Avalanche. 

Colorado: The flip side. There’s genuine worry in Colorado. Terry Frei writes–you know when it doesn’t feel right, and this Avalanche team doesn’t feel right. 

And finally…we’ll leave you with a fun story. We certainly need it…

Detroit: One of the Detroit Red Wings super rookies, Moritz Seider, wears No. 53. Wanna know why? Just think of an old love bug with a personality–Herbie!