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Dan’s Daily: Coaches on Hot Seats, Tuukka Will Play for Lots of Bud Light?

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Pittsburgh Penguins Teddy Blueger

As our colleague in Vancouver aptly termed it, the end of the executive golf season will soon come to a close. Rob Simpson spoke with super-agent Pat Brisson, who is also Sidney Crosby’s agent, about the current two-headed monster in Vancouver. It was an illuminating conversation. Thursday is Team USA vs. Canada at the Women’s Worlds, you can see the result of our Pittsburgh Penguins reader poll, and The Hockey News put five coaches on the preseason hot seat.

The Vancouver Hockey Now chat with Brisson is a good read for those who want to know more about how the process works.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Take a look at the results of the PHN Pittsburgh Penguins reader poll. I’m not sure how I feel about the response to the Letang and Malkin question. It also looks like we attract THE smartest readers in hockey, or a few of you are fibbing on one question. 

I think I need to spend a couple of days with the results.

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Vancouver Hockey Now: Talking contracts and contract talks are different? Brisson explained the contract process and updated the status of Vancouver’s young stars Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. It’s comparable to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, a long, long time ago…

Boston: Hockey’s viral moment came via our friends in Boston. Tuukka Rask named his contract price, and it includes lots and lots of Bud Light.

The Hockey News: Low hanging fruit–The Hockey News put five coaches on the hot seat and five ready to step in. 

I think THN missed a few coaches who could be in trouble, especially Jared Bednar in Colorado. There was some wonder if Bednar would survive the offseason, but he was given “the vote of confidence.” If the Avs start rough, those playoff failures are going to loom large. Same with Alain Vigneault in Philadelphia, whose team collapsed and missed the playoffs last season. Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher isn’t messing around.

Philly: Speaking of those Flyers–they signed a player that Pittsburgh Penguins fans still regret lusting over–Derick Brassard–to a one-year deal. 

**Today is Team USA vs. Team Canada day. It’s like the Steelers vs. Cowboys, 1970s style. The best two teams in the world, usually by a large margin, meet in preliminary play tonight at 6 p.m. You can watch it on the NHL Network.

Detroit: Who wore it best? The boys in Detroit look at a few of the current Detroit Red Wings and the history of their numbers. 

San Jose: Evander Kane’s home is up for sale. The Sharks signed one of their top prospects and more…

I usually agree with the premise that you don’t have to be a saint to be a professional athlete, and I get irritated when people hold athletes to higher standards because of some mythical hero worship. But Kane is a different story. If I were his GM, that contract would be in my legal department’s hands, and they would be trying to find a loophole to suspend or outright terminate it.