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Dan’s Daily: Patrick Kane Trade Chatter Increases, Penguins Show Up
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — With one story, everything is about to change on the NHL trade market. Our colleague, Jimmy Murphy in Boston, didn’t drop a bombshell, but he stopped just short. The NHL trade rumors are about to pick up around Patrick Kane, and the Boston Bruins’ red-hot start puts them at the top of the list. Ryan Reynolds, the wisecracking former star of Two Guys a Girl and Pizza Place (plus some other stuff I’ve never heard of), is meeting with potential Ottawa Senators ownership groups. The Washington Capitals are getting lowercased and lost again. And, the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled a Ric Flair and finished a full 60 minutes, to the delight of themselves and their coach.
You meet some fascinating people at the airport before 3 a.m. Today will be another test of our endurance at PHN. Plane-hopping from the tundra to snow-covered Toronto and back to Chicago for a game, then home to Pittsburgh on Monday. I’m not sure I’ve looked forward to returning to my little spots and big people this much since spending a month quarantined in Toronto, covering the bubble playoffs. I hope you’ve enjoyed the current road trip coverage. I think we’ve brought some info and context that others didn’t have and angles others don’t have the space to explore.
I hope you’ll join this dedicated group of reporters with a singular focus: THE best coverage. Get Steelers and Pirates coverage for free when you subscribe to PHN+ here.
Let’s get to it. The airport Tim Horton’s is about to open, and there’s a double fudge pretzel donut with a black coffee giving me bedroom eyes.
Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates:
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins beat the Winnipeg Jets, 3-0. Here’s the nitty-gritty Penguins recap.
The Penguins’ locker-room reaction. Some days, we’ll print the quotes, and sometimes we can do video. Today, you get a bit of both. Bryan Rust broke script for a moment. He knew all about that seven-game scoreless streak. He scored the insurance goal in the third, which had to feel pretty good. Watch Mike Sullivan, Tristan Jarry, and Rust react in the Penguins locker room.
PHN+: So, how did they do it? What was special or unique about the Penguins’ performance on Saturday? Here are the full Pittsburgh Penguins chalkboard and player grades.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now (+): One subscription gets you behind the paywall for all three sites. John Perrotto hammered the Pirates after they traded Kevin Newman for a 26-year-old pitcher who has not yet become a full-time major leaguer. Hammered. Check it out: A move symbolic of a franchise in decline. Pittsburgh Pirates analysis.
NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:
Boston Hockey Now: The GM meetings in Toronto were a springboard. There are officially Patrick Kane rumors, and Boston appears to be first in line. Get the latest NHL trade chatter.
Washington: Sammi Silber writes the Capitals can’t catch a break. They are dropping like a stone in the NHL standings (do you feel bad?), and they lost again Saturday night, this time to the Avalanche. Enjoy those Washington Capitals woes.
Sportsnet: Ryan Reynolds is meeting with potential Ottawa Senators ownership groups. It would be pretty cool to have Deadpool on board in the NHL.
Philly Hockey Now: After a hot start, the Flyers are scrapping, but not winning. They are winless in six, and injuries are mounting for the Philadelphia Flyers.
NYI: Josh Bailey has been a healthy scratch. Our Stefen Rosner steered into the skid and asked him and new coach Lane Lambert to clarify the situation. Lambert gave an honest answer. Here’s the New York Islanders drama.
Florida: It was rivalry night in Florida. After the summer blockbuster trade, it was Jonathan Huberdeau’s homecoming, and Matthew Tkachuk hosting his old team. Huberdeau got the last laugh in an emotional night for the past and present Florida Panthers.
Calgary: Since both of our NHN partners covered the game, here’s the Calgary side of the 5-4 Flames win, Flames win, Calgary Flames win.
Dallas: You may have seen Scott Wedgewood carted off on a stretcher a few days ago. The Dallas goalie talked about those scary moments. Dallas Stars coverage.
Vegas: Lastly, I knew I liked Owen Krepps. The stars should play like stars, but the grinders make the team. To become truly elite, here’s what the Vegas Golden Knights need.