Dan’s Daily: Rebuilds Going Sideways; Penguins Problem

The Pittsburgh Penguins and leads are tenuous friends, if not enemies. As Pittsburgh Hockey Now dug into the statistics, it cast a dark light on the Penguins’ season, highlighted by another head-scratching loss. Elsewhere in the Daily, what to make of rebuilds gone sideways and how to avoid them. The Ottawa Senators could fill the NHL trade rumors with good players in order to effect change. The updated Philadelphia Flyers’ playoff scenarios, coach Rick Tocchet says, “It’s go time” for playoff-bound Vancouver Canucks, and Detroit Red Wings coach Derek LaLonde is reportedly on the hot seat.

We had some fun on the TV last night. If you’d like to know a little secret, I can’t possibly watch Pirates games AND cover the Penguins with the depth that I do. They play at the same time, eh? The same goes for a lot of college basketball. So, when Final Word wants an opinion on the Pirates, I text John Perrotto, “Hey John, what do I think about this?”

The crazy thing is, despite the sad-sack Penguins weekend, they’re seven points behind the Flyers with two games in hand. So, I still can’t write off the Penguins’ playoff chances. Unbelievable.

And to cap off my birthday weekend … While many people spend time with family, have Easter ham, and hide eggs, I was en route from Columbus and treated myself, too.

These onion-covered sliders are the bad boys of fast food and should not be undertaken at the beginning of a long road trip, but what the heck?

 Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Lost leads. If he were still alive, a trench coat-wearing Robert Stack could host an hour-long special of Unsolved Mysteries on the vanishing leads. They are one of the worst in the league. Check out the numbers and player reaction in the PHN Blog. This is why the Penguins can’t have nice things.

Since I screwed up the link yesterday, despite using Marc-Andre Fleury in the headline, here’s the NHL.com/FR story about Fleury giving hints that he could return next season.

NHL Rumors, News & National Hockey Now

Ottawa Sun: Stick tap to our buddy Spector’s Hockey for catching this one. Bruce Garrioch looked at the rebuilds gone sideways. It’s been wandering in the desert for 13 years for the Buffalo Sabres and six or more for the Ottawa Senators. Take lessons from the Sabres’ mistakes, chum the NHL trade waters, hire an experienced coach, and more. How will the Senators get over the hump?

Philly Hockey Now: Here we go. It’s April. The Stanley Cup playoffs hang in the balance. The odds and scenarios — Can the Philadelphia Flyers hang on?

Detroit Hockey Now: Could the Detroit Red Wings make a change behind the bench if they don’t make the playoffs? It’s something to watch for as the Detroit Red Wings struggle.

The Score: Tocchet has helped the Canucks transform from sloppy underachievers to a playoff team. Now, Tocchet says, “It’s go time,” the Canucks.

Colorado Hockey Now: The Denver Pioneers are in the Frozen Four. A Penguins prospect is a big part of the group and scored a double-OT winner to keep it going.