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Dan’s Daily: Lehner Wants to Fight Devils, LeBron Reps Penguins

Amid growing fear and concern for the continuity of the 2021-22 NHL season and the Olympic participation, we’ll try to keep it on hockey, but the COVID storm doesn’t want to let us out. New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff sent the muscle after the Vegas Golden Knights in the final seconds on Thursday, the first NHL player has called for a season pause, Evgeni Malkin seems to be getting closer and closer to a return to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and LeBron James was spotted repping his new investment via a Penguins sweater.
And cue the NHL trade rumors–it seems Vegas Golden Knights scouts are becoming regulars in San Jose.
Seriously, how does LeBron not go with the Gin and Juice jersey? The headline picture is all there really is. It wouldn’t be news, except the kid from Cleveland will soon be a part-owner via his investment in the Fenway Group.
LeMagnifique pic.twitter.com/UdM0JtdPCj
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 15, 2021
First, the fun story today:
Vegas: The Devils wanted a scrap as time expired. Old school hockey, coach. At the faceoff, it was on, and everyone was involved. The Vegas Golden Knight obliged, but goalie Robin Lehner wanted to fight, too.
On Thursday, Shelly Anderson had practice duty while the bonehead who runs National Hockey Now spent the day in meetings.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Brian Boyle has a nagging lower thing, and Evgeni Malkin is ramping up.
Remember when Dustin Tokarski made what seemed like 100 saves against the Penguins? The Penguins don’t really remember, but as Shelly notes, the Sabres’ return to PPG harkens back to what was a turning point in the Pittsburgh Penguins season.
NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now:
Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights have sent a scout to at least a couple of Evander Kane’s games with the AHL’s Barracuda. Here come those Evander Kane NHL trade rumors.
TSN: There’s growing concern that more teams will pause games, forcing the NHL season to pause, thus denying the NHL players an opportunity to go to the Olympics. Nick Cousins is the first player to declare a pause makes sense.
Calgary: Confirmed. It’s the Omicron variant that is ripping through the Calgary Flames.
San Jose: Connor McDavid called the IOC/Chinese COVID protocols and potential five-week quarantine “unsettling.” It sure sounds like Team Sweden will be without the incredulous Erik Karlsson.
Colorado: As Adrian Dater writes, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar sounds fed up with the haphazard application and nebulous NHL COVID protocol policy.
NYI: Pick your poison. One team had to win: the Pittsburgh Penguins’ best wild-card pursuer, the Boston Bruins, or their division rival, the New York Islanders. The Bruins are the latest team wrecked by COVID, but the Islanders looked like the team they’re supposed to be. The best fourth line in hockey did the damage, and the Islanders won, 3-1.
Boston: Oh well? The Bruins are beaten up and dealing with COVID. So, of course, the Bruins lost?
Washington: For the first time since he was injured against the Penguins nearly two weeks ago, Tom Wilson is back on skates, but injuries claimed TVR and Evgeni Kuznetsov.
Detroit: The Detroit Red Wings–if they could play all of their games at home–would be on the Penguins’ heels. However, the NHL schedule dictates teams play 41 games on the road. In another bad road effort, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Red Wings.
Im surprised you included James in one if your articles, particularly in light if your stance on the CCP.
Less of ‘KingHypocrite’ please.
Kane to Vegas??? He won’t leave the casinos.
There is nothing more disgusting than seeing an apologist for the CCP wearing a Penguins sweater.
Kane to Vegas would be great! The hockey Gods have smiled on this upstart team for too long
I’d really like to know what “open mind” means. I’d also like to know why somene should listen to that particular thing with an open mind and not everything else? There are thousands of pages to be read and many people to listen to before one makes his choice. Once a person makes an informed choice, it could just be that the person in question listened to Rogan and McCullough with an open mind and concluded that he is not in agreement with them. Beliefs are not the problem, it’s trying to convince others how to think as if they’re… Read more »
You are correct sir!
Le-garbage is no Jordan
I guess every time someone has the sniffles now we are going to pause the season. The narrative and what is actually happening out in society are at polar opposites. God bless us all.
Absolutely!
James wearing a hockey jersey is as to me wearing the surgical scrubs of a heart surgeon. I seriously doubt he gives a damn about hockey or the Penguins but he can now weigh in on the team with probably more clout than Lemieux. Sorry guys but I just am not sharing that warm and fuzzy feeling about this group that is being suggested by the team and hockey “pundits.” Nonetheless no one asked me and I am just an observer. And even the dullest among us can look at the purchase price that Burkle/Lemieux got and now the sale… Read more »
I will not go to Joe Rogan for medical advice, nor listen to an outlier. Further, PHN has not said anything about COVID. We have presented reputable statistics and conclusions from scientific institutions in the context of the NHL season and life. That’s an infirmnia. Folks need to apply the same skepticism to the anti-vax talking points, as they do the vaccinated scientific majority.
You people are bonkers. If you applied the same level of skepticism to this newfangled religion of anti-vaccination that you apply to proven science, it would crumble. I’m tired of explaining.