Dan’s Daily: Islanders Trade ‘Inevitable’; Wings Fire HC; Penguins Improvements

The day after Christmas is usually a quiet day of sleeping in and getting back to work at half speed, but hockey didn’t get the message. NHL trade rumors are about to swirl with gusting ferocity around the New York Islanders, whether stoic general manager Lou Lamoriello likes it or not. Donald Trump not so jokingly pushing Wayne Gretzky to run for Prime Minister, the Detroit Red Wings finally made the coaching change and wasted no time getting a big-name replacement. And PHN dropped an exclusive on how the Pittsburgh Penguins are making improvements to get their prospects to the show faster.

In fact, I’m on my way to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton today. Dave and Shelly have practice coverage from Cranberry while I make the trek east to scout the prospects’ improvements and hopefully chat with a couple of the guys again. I didn’t talk with Rutger McGroarty last time, but I hope to do so tonight.

Then I’ll traverse the worst road trip in the NHL: Long Island. Flights were stupidly expensive, so I’m driving (obviously). Hotels defined a new level of ridiculously expensive–even my dumpy hotel in Jamaica was sold out weeks ago, so I’m staying in New Jersey and either driving or triple-training it for the game. Seriously, who the hell thought it was a good idea to build an arena with NOTHING around and no easy way to get there?

When the Islanders stink (which could be soon), they won’t draw flies because getting there is just such an aggravation, even for the most rabid fans. Ten miles can take an hour or two trains (also about an hour if you time it poorly). Visiting fans won’t go, either. They were so desperate for a new arena that they built one that might kill them. I suppose they can thank the NY politicians for that one; whatever ideas they had, the bureaucrats stopped them.

The poor Uber drivers can’t even drive their own cars on Long Island. They must rent cars from a service that charges them upwards of $4,000 a month. I’ve confirmed that nonsense with multiple drivers who had to bust their butts just to break even.

But I digress. To the hockey.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Exclusive—a few players tipped us off to the improvements the Penguins are making to instruction and player development in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and McGroarty is also reportedly hitting the gym pretty hard. So, we also got to talk with WBS GM (and Penguins AGM) Jason Spezza about the investments into the Penguins prospects.

From dropping attendance to the Fenway Sports Group facing a similar “aging icon” contract negotiation with Liverpool and other odds and ends that Dave Molinari picked up in the Penguins locker room.

For the holiday, we did the naughty and nice list–what we’ve learned about the Penguins team.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Detroit Hockey Now: The boys up in Detroit are pros. They were all over the Detroit Red Wings coaching change. The news, the reasons, backstories, and why Steve Yzerman chose Todd McClellan.

From Bob Duff–why McClellan just might be the right guy for the Red Wings.

The Athletic ($): Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun hit all of the big names on their trade board. They say an Islanders trade is “inevitable,” as the Islanders must trade Brock Nelson because he wants to test the free-agent waters. So, Minnesota and Dallas are sniffing around.

New Jersey Hockey Now: I really like what Tom Fitzgerald is doing with New Jersey–he’s building a solid, sustainable contender, but there is one glaring hole in the lineup that James Nichols writes could force Fitzgerald into a very tough decision. Here’s the Devils analysis.

Montreal Hockey Now: Oh boy. A little more fallout from the Canadiens-Blue Jackets spat over Patrik Laine and his comments. Reportedly, Columbus was trying to injure Laine by targeting his repaired shoulder. Yikes. Here’s the Canadiens, Laine drama.

I suppose that’s always been the case in pro sports. I’ve heard stories of twisting ankles and arms at the bottom of a pile in the NFL. But I also thought most, if not all, of that was out of style. There’s too much money for all involved to play those games, but I suppose Columbus just proved why teams only say “upper body” or “lower body” injury.

Sportsnet: I saw the tweets yesterday, and I knew I had to include this story. Full disclaimer: Trump and every variation of his name, nicknames, and political terms are flagged on our comments board. Just go with this one because it’s both amusing and when you’d tell your friend at the bar to have water. DJT pushed Wayne Gretzky to run for Prime Minister.

I think Trudeau has earned his coming landslide loss, and that ritzy vacation this week was the nail in the coffin, but not my farm, not my cows.

Florida Hockey Now: This is how you do it. GM Bill Zito and (former Johnstown Chief) Brett Peterson have been on a three-year roll. Everything they’ve touched has turned to gold, including some very under-the-radar additions this season that are paying handsome dividends for the Florida Panthers.

You know, good on Florida. I hope the fanbase sticks around for this great sport. I’ll see George Richards next week! I also rented a car, not to go to the beach but to drive through Alligator Alley (and it’s cheaper than an Uber to get around down there).