Dan’s Daily: Could New GM Trade Penguins Superstars?

Will a new general manager initiate a blockbuster Pittsburgh Penguins trade? The question had to be asked, and the Penguins’ good intentions to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang ride off into the sunset together will be tested. Also in the daily links, the Vancouver Canucks are shopping for a defenseman, Vegas canceled a pair of games, and why Brad Marchand will absolutely not chirp Zdeno Chara.

Conspiracy theories are taking hold in Penguins fanbase after Jim Rutherford resigned. However, I did note a couple of recent events which you should circle (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

What is wrong with Evgeni Malkin? The Penguins superstar admitted the factors which have been affecting him (PHN+)

Now to the hypothetical Penguins trade discussion — Daren Dreger asked the honest question — what if the Pittsburgh Penguins go sideways this year and have to rebuild? Will a new GM try to trade Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang? (TSN)

I’ll answer that. Crosby is off limits unless he says otherwise. Malkin has been placed all but off-limits unless he says otherwise. And Letang is mostly off-limits, for now.

Elliotte Friedman says the Vancouver Canucks are interested in St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn (NHLtraderumor)

I hate linking to a rumor blog, but it was the only write-up of Friedman’s radio report that I could find, and I didn’t think you wanted to listen to 15 minutes of Vancouver sports talk to get to the nugget?

Fantasy hockey: Guru Nick Alberga says don’t give up on Malkin or Taylor Hall yet (Sportsnet)

Given Malkin’s frank admission that he had trouble getting into shape, I’d buy low on Malkin. You know when those jets finally fire, the plane will go supersonic.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo landed on the COVID list as the NHL canceled a pair of VGK vs. San Jose Sharks games (San Jose Hockey Now)

Our Sheng Peng has been away from home for over a month. He set a National Hockey Now record, breaking my Toronto quarantine isolation by a full week. And I bet both of us would do it again if needed!

Earlier this season, Matt Calvert went viral for his pink visor. It wasn’t a political statement or kitsch for women’s health, but a necessary piece because the bright lights affected him. Calvert is now out of the Colorado Avalanche lineup, and those concussion symptoms are back (Colorado Hockey Now)

Calvert was a pleasure to watch when he was with Columbus. I appreciate his gritty style, and we wish him the very best.

In Boston–“Don’t poke the bear!” Brad Marchand is a world-class trash talker, but he won’t say a word on Saturday when the Bruins play the Washington Capitals and former Boston captain Zdeno Chara (Boston Hockey Now)

Semyon Varlamov is struggling in New York. He was lit up in a three-goal rally by Washington, and his technique was breaking down (NYI Hockey Now)