Dan’s Daily: Giroux Wants Avalanche Trade, Canadiens Begin Dealing

And away we go. With five weeks until the NHL trade deadline, GMs began exchanging valentines cards and candy hearts on Monday. The Montreal Canadiens and Tyler Toffoli got a heart that said Be Mine from the Calgary Flames. Claude Giroux sent his valentines to the Colorado Avalanche but kept his NHL trade options open for two other teams. Jack Eichel will make his debut this week, and Pittsburgh Penguins winger Kasperi Kapanen apparently took his home electronics lesson from Clark Griswald.

Craziness, Kasperi.

kasperi kapanen i am begging you to fix this cord situation pic.twitter.com/TBNphPOWuo

— abby (@coldbrewabby) February 15, 2022

Anyway…

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We did take a look at the Kapanen situation. Things are going sideways this season for the winger, and the Penguins have three options for Kasperi Kapanen.

The Penguins finally played a solid, gritty game and won with Evgeni Malkin in the lineup. Not everything was fine and dandy. The team is rebuilding its game from square one. It was a step in the right direction for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Philly: The take from Philly is surprisingly kind. Sidney Crosby could/should score his 500th career goal Tuesday night at home, and it would be fitting because it would be against…the Philadelphia Flyers.

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now:

There are AMAZING STORIES from NHN today. I put the big newsbreakers and must-read stories in bold.

Colorado: The breaking news from our colleagues in Denver is behind the paywall, so here’s the deal–if you subscribe to CHN+, I’ll give you a free PHN+ subscription to go with it (just to DM me or email me). In a couple of months, you’ll have access to ALL of our sites for one subscription.

Adrian Dater spoke with multiple sources over the weekend and on Monday. He confirmed that Giroux told Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher that he wants the Colorado Avalanche.

Or two other teams… Dater also got the price tag too.

Montreal: Free for everyone — Tyler Toffoli is going to Calgary. Here’s the return and the view from the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens.

Calgary: Maybe you read that Toffoli is on his way to Calgary? The folks in the Canadian Rockies are rather excited. The Calgary Flames got better.

Kind of weird when we have two stories from two different National Hockey Now sites, eh?

**Vegas: Viva, VIVA Las Vegas! How’s your back Mark Stone? You’re going on LTIR. On Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights will debut Jack Eichel.

**San Jose: I don’t encourage our writers to antagonize players. That’s not professional. But when a writer produces good stories, sources reports with on-the-record info, and pretty much nails the story–we go for it. Sheng Peng has been all over this story, and Monday, Evander Kane let Sheng know he’s been reading.

Seriously, if you’re making that much news, do you expect a reporter to not write about it? Our job and the public interest are why many guys never have to work again. I let it go…I said to myself, this is the business we’ve chosen…

Florida: More NHL Trade chatter in the Sunshine state. Owen Tippet is contributing but can be had from the Florida Panthers.

Washington: While the Pittsburgh Penguins are winning, their rivals are not. Defenseman John Carlson didn’t dodge the question or blow smoke. “No one is oblivious” to the struggles of the Washington Capitals. 

NYI: I thought he retired–but on Monday, goalie Corey Schneider was recalled by the New York Islanders.