Dan’s Daily: The Penguins Future, Canucks Fans Sing to Boudreau

The Pittsburgh Penguins sale will probably be official this week as the NHL owners will meet in Florida. PHN contends the Penguins on-ice future will have a flashpoint, and it involves Bryan Rust. The Montreal Canadiens could dominate the NHL trade rumors soon. If you haven’t seen the police K-9 visit the Flyers logo at center ice, you’ll have to check that out. NHL players are beginning to question their participation in the Beijing Olympics, and more may drop out.

And we have the video of the funniest NHL chant in years as Vancouver Canucks fans sang to new head coach Bruce Boudreau.

Vancouver Hockey Now: Bruce, there it is! The Canucks busted their losing streak, looked like a good team, and new head coach Bruce Boudreau was smiling. Then Canucks fans decided to make up their own words to “Whoomp, There It Is.” Here’s the Canucks fans and their great twist. 

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: If that little slice of a viral video isn’t enough, and you really hate the Philadelphia Flyers, watch what one of the police K-9s did to the Flyers logo at center ice. Yep, Rover trotted to center ice, and poo’d right on the logo…

Yep, PHN has officially gone to the dogs.

To hockey…

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Rebuild, attempted retool, or charge forward? If you’re as curious as I am about what the Pittsburgh Penguins future looks like, there will be one tell in the great poker game. What the Penguins and GM Ron Hextall do with Bryan Rust will tell us where the Penguins are headed. 

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now

San Jose: It sure seems like Evander Kane’s ex-wife is, to be kind, not well. Kane filed a restraining order against his ex-wife Anna and provided proof the gun video was part of a photoshoot. That’s some good news for Kane.

TSN Insiders: Could Jack Eichel play in the Olympics? Could more players follow Robin Lehner and opt-out? Reportedly, between a handful and a couple of dozen players may bail on the games. 

Vegas: Which Golden Knights will be asked to make the trip? Owen Krepps lays out the Golden Knights potential Olympians.

TVA Sports: Which Montreal Canadiens will be on the NHL trade block? What would it cost the Canadiens to part with Carey Price as other veterans like Brendan Gallagher and Ben Chiarot will presumably have new addresses? The Canadiens will dominate the NHL trade rumors when the sale begins…

CP: Bad news for the Penguins–the New York Islanders snapped their 11-game winless streak. They earned two points and beat the Ottawa Senators.

Thanks, Ottawa.

Boston: The Boston Bruins are having a tough time getting healthy. The Pittsburgh Penguins chief competition for the wild-card spot is having trouble finding their legs. Now, a non-COVID illness is ripping through the team before their big west coast road trip. 

Washington: Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin already hit the 40-point mark, and the Capitals rallied past the Anaheim Ducks. 

There’s a lot of good energy and momentum in Washington this season. Kuznetsov is hot. Wilson is playing hockey (and he’s really good at it). And Ovechkin’s chase has energized everyone. I think Washington is my bet for the East–they have “it.”

Detroit: The Penguins closes wild-card pursuer, the Detroit Red Wings, took a beating on Tuesday night, and super rookie Moritz Seider was knocked out of the game, too. 

Toronto: Oh my! Nick Ritchie, who has been playing on the Maple Leafs top line, but scoreless, finally…scored a goal!