Connect with us

2022 NHL Draft

Dan’s Daily: Penguins Hope; Saad Punts Millions; More Buyers at Trade Deadline

Published

on

Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby

SALT LAKE CITY — The Daily won’t be long today, but we’ve got some juicy stuff. Several teams expected to be sellers are becoming buyers at the NHL trade deadline, which could help the Pittsburgh Penguins because as the pool of sellers decreases, prices increase. The Penguins had what they felt was a season-saving win over the Utah HC, and their optimism was shining through after the game, even coach Mike Sullivan. Elsewhere in the Daily, Brandon Said forwent millions owed next season to become a free agent now and avoid heading to the minors. You can help name the Utah HC, as they’re holding a vote on three finalist names. And J.T. Miller declined to comment on Jim Rutheford’s comments in the daily update of As the Canucks Turn.



Or should we name it the Canucks of Our Lives? How about the Cold & the Tradeable?

Some NHL news to dispense: Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad cleared waivers. Despite being owed more than $4 million next season, he initiated contract termination. St. Louis happily obliged, and he will become a free agent and play in the NHL next season. And the Seattle Kraken became the latest team to put their previously assumed No. 1 goalie on waivers when they waived Philip Grubauer Wednesday.

I really wish I had a bit more time to explore Salt Lake City, but I am homeward-bound. If anyone would like to help do laundry, shovel the inch of dust off my furniture, or otherwise sort through the mountain of mail waiting for me, operators are standing by.

Salt Lake City might be the most picturesque major city in the U.S. The people are friendly, and things seem to be affordable. It’s a must-visit.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Let’s start with the game recap. Down 2-1 in the third period, I didn’t see this one coming, especially since the Penguins refused to shoot the puck. Despite one shot in the first 10 minutes of the final period, the Penguins tied the game and then won it in overtime—Sidney Crosby doing Sidney Crosby things.

The report card doesn’t have the Xs and Os feature. I don’t think the Penguins played consistently, and I must confess that the view from the seats in Utah wasn’t great for diagnosing systems. However, the up-close seats were perfect for player grades after the emotional win. We had some good locker room chats, even as the Utah media hijacked the Crosby scrum with the same cloying questions as San Jose. Some Penguins played well. Some big names most certainly did not. No surrender. Here’s the Penguins’ report card.

Seriously, media folks, I get that you might be new to hockey. You might think it’s cool if Sidney Crosby blesses your town, your arena, or your new player, but for god sake, the beggar questions on this trip have been insufferable. They’re high school-level journalism and show a total lack of understanding of the sport. These aren’t high school kids getting to play the state championship game in the big stadium, all right? Rant over.

Don’t look now, but one of the Penguins’ prospects is starting to have an awakening. How about four goals in a game? Vasily Ponomarev went off Wednesday night against Hershey, but Ville Koivunen scoured FOUR.

PHN+: The Penguins trade chips know their situation. We checked in with Marcus Pettersson again and chatted with Drew O’Connor about hearing his name in the trade rumors. Their reactions were strikingly different. It’s the human side of the trade rumors from a pair of guys who don’t want to leave, especially Pettersson. But here is the story and as much info as we can deliver from inside the Penguins locker room.

Use coupon code Dan10 to join PHN+. I’d love it if you joined us. I’m also the only reporter who is 53-for-53 games this season, and I’ve covered a pair of WBS Penguins games to do some scouting, too. Subscribers get an ad-free experience on ALL stories.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN: Despite the Carolina Hurricanes going big, other Eastern Conference GMs aren’t rushing to keep up. The East is still moving methodically on the trade block, so we have to wait for more blockbusters.

TSN Overdrive Show: I’ve been saving this for a while (and forgot I had bookmarked it). The TSN crew debated rebuilding and whether the big rebuilds in Detroit, Buffalo and Ottawa have failed.

What should the Utah HC be called? They can’t get trademarks for Yeti, so they’re letting fans vote on the three finalists. I like HC, but it’s up to you:

Sportsnet: Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Canucks of our lives. J.T. Miller declined to comment when confronted with president Jim Rutherford’s latest comments.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Injuries have rocked the top of the lineup. James Nichols has the latest on Jack Hughes (some good news) and Nico Hischier (not as good) in the New Jersey Devils injury updates.

Sportsnet: There are a few teams that expected to sell, but might now become buyers. Of course, that means there are teams going in the other direction. Here are the five biggest movers on the NHL trade front and how they could affect the market.

CHN+: The Mikko Rantanen deal signaled a big sea change in Colorado. Should GM Chris MacFarland be rewarded with a bit of patience, or is it GO TIME as fans await the next Colorado Avalanche trade?