Dan’s Daily: GMs Detail Karlsson Trade Talks; Friction in Vegas

The Pittsburgh Penguins may need a right-side defenseman, but the UFA market is barren. The GMs involved detailed how the Penguins’ trade for Erik Karlsson came together. There was some heat between Jonathan Marchessault and Bruce Cassidy on the Vegas Golden Knights bench, and the Golden Knights haven’t yet opened contract talks with the Conn Smyth winner. And the Carolina Hurricanes are taking some heat for letting Karlsson get away and not addressing their pressing needs.

We won’t waste time today with any anecdotes … mainly because I have none. I was halfway to Cranberry Tuesday for the Karlsson presser before it was canceled. Otherwise, I haven’t left the house this week except for the Kyle Dubas presser.

Have you ever started a second season of a show on Netflix, only to realize you have absolutely no memory of the first season?

Pittsburgh Penguins

We rolled through the UFA market looking for PTOs and bargain-bin right-side defensemen to possibly round off the Penguins’ blue line. Yeah, there isn’t much talent left. Cal Foote and Mark Pysyk were at the top of the heap. Tuesday, we quickly took down a story detailing the availables. As a matter of accountability, I made two errors in the story, including forgetting that Justin Braun retired (though he’s still on the NHL UFA list), and the story didn’t meet publishing standards because of that. My bad. Moving on…

San Jose Hockey Now: Sheng Peng compiled the timeline and GM comments as the trade went from the NHL rumor mill to headline-grabbing reality. Dubas and Sharks GM Mike Grier detailed how the Penguins snagged Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.

Carolina Hockey Now: Bryant Baucom took the Hurricanes to task. They whiffed on Karlsson and haven’t addressed their scoring or defensive needs. Carolina Hurricanes have questions to answer.

Also in Carolina, coach Rod Brind’Amour is due a new contract before next summer, or he becomes a free agent. He said they won’t be easy negotiations because he wants to be PAID. The Hurricanes coach opened up.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Vegas Hockey Now: Could the Golden Knights say goodbye to another original Misfit? There was some tension on the bench between coach Bruce Cassidy and Jonathan Marchessault, who said the pair got into it a few times. Here’s the full story and the big question: will the Golden Knights trade the playoff MVP?

Colorado Hockey Now: A Nova Scotia boy is ranked as the NHL’s second-best center, but it’s not Sidney Crosby. It’s Nathan MacKinnon.

Florida Hockey Now: The NHL Network rankings roiled a few in southern Florida. Sasha Barkov ranked ninth?!

Nashville Hockey Now: With the retirement of GM David Poile, Nick Kieser ranked his five best Predators trades.