Dan’s Daily: Bruins Want Trade; Reaves Cheap Shot; Penguins Play Rookies

We are finally into the meat of the news cycle and NHL trade chatter, so the news should be getting good from here. The Boston Bruins are chumming the trade waters, looking for a shakeup as they bubble around .500. Ryan Reaves got the heave-ho after a cheap shot on Darnell Nurse. The Pittsburgh Penguins went rookie-heavy on Saturday with four in their lineup, including a couple of first-timers. And coach Mike Sullivan explained why he put the rookies into the lineup.

We had lots of analysis from the barn last night. Sadly, it’s been such a long few days, including rolling in from Columbus around 3 a.m. Saturday morning, that I didn’t get to do everything I wanted Saturday night before the Sandman clubbed me about the head.

In short, I tossed coach Mike Sullivan a big-picture question, kind of expecting a dodge. Still, he surprised us with–in my opinion–a very honest answer about the team’s situation and the veterans who have been well below expectations.

And a hat tip to Zach Aston-Reese. The former Penguins forward not only scored his fourth goal of the season but spotted me in the hallway at Nationwide and stopped for a chat. There aren’t five players in the league who would bother giving me more than a nod. Nor would I expect them to. He was always just a chill guy who didn’t worry about the new policies of keeping a huge distance between reporters and himself. It’s good to see Columbus bring him back to the show.

The media freeze-out began some 10 years ago. About 20 years ago, players and media could be quite friendly—heck, they’re basically my coworkers, and I see them a lot more than I see any friends or family. And I’m told that 40 years ago, reporters were welcome to dig their hands into the bucket of ice and pull out a beer while chatting with the boys in the locker room. I think that last part might have gotten me in trouble.

Can anyone imagine Sidney Crosby doing a postgame presser with a Miller Lite in his hand? Perhaps the price we pay for 24/7 media is indeed less information and less access.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: OK, it’s time to get serious. How in the world does a team blow a three-goal lead to the San Jose Sharks? That’s unacceptable, but the team pulled back on the yoke, and the Penguins won in a shootout. Here’s your lowly Penguins recap.

Sullivan indirectly tossed some veteran players under the bus. He wasn’t wrong to do so, but his veiled language wasn’t so hard to see through. Owen Pickering made his NHL debut, and Vasily Ponomarev made his Penguins debut. The report card has the nonsensical stuff—like a diagram of a terrible defensive breakdown—but also some analysis on how the kids played and what Sullivan said about the direction of the team. I hope it’s a pretty good read—the Penguins analysis.

I also hope that I’m bringing you more insights and information as the direction of the Penguins team and franchise changes like a hurricane finding cool water. It’s not headed where they thought, and it’s shifting course. But no, I won’t now, or ever, just tell you to want to hear for the sake of business. We’re keeping it straight.

To that end, the times are uncomfortable. Perhaps they should be. Inside the organizational shift, the blown leads and lazy play, the culprits and those at fault—from Sullivan to general manager Kyle Dubas—here’s an unvarnished look at the situation and Sullivan’s job security in the Three Thoughts Penguins blog.

Oh, and it’s Steelers-Ravens Day. The slobberknocker begins at 1 p.m. (as it should be!) at Acrisure. You can live on SteelersNow.com for all of the analysis and Steelers news.

From the kids to the blown lead–Here’s the Five-minute postgame video:

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada: Some salary cap news and some chatter about the Maple Leafs, but the thing to keep an eye on is the Boston Bruins, who are seeking shakeup trades. It’s the Headlines Segment with Elliotte Friedman.

Also from the League’s rights holder–Ryan Reaves freight-trained Darnell Nurse and was given a match penalty. He’ll be hearing from the Department of Player Safety. Here’s the hit and call.

Philly Hockey Now: Here’s a headline that grabs attention from Jon Bailey–Meet New Flyers Defenseman Emil Andrae and his “F*ck Off” attitude. And then he got hurt Saturday, but here’s the Philadephia Flyers story.

Montreal Hockey Now: The heavyweight fight of the weekend was not Tyson-Paul but Arber Xhekaj vs. Mathieu Olivier. Here you go, the highlights and more Montreal Canadiens highlights.

Detroit Hockey Now: And the drama is growing in Detroit. Bob Duff reported over the summer that GM Steve Yzerman was not happy with the job Derek Lalonde had done last season. Things aren’t so hot right now, either. Does Lalonde need to win on Monday to remain as the Detroit Red Wings coach?