Dan’s Daily: Raging Controversy in Boston; Penguins Anti-Trade Rumors

We will get to the Pittsburgh Penguins and the anti-trade rumors, but the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers war in Round Two is escalating to a feud worthy of Wrestlemania. The villain this time is Panthers’ forward Sam Bennett, who scored a hotly debated goal that launched Bruins coach Jim Montgomery into a near fit of rage. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Score ranked the open head coaching jobs. The Vegas Golden Knights wiggled their way through the NHL trade market to keep their 2024 first-round pick, but will they trade it? And the Canucks struck back against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3.

I am entirely jealous of all of you who got to see the Northern Lights. They weren’t visible from the city, and seeing them has been a bucket list item.

I guess I’ll have to go north another time when the weather stops looking like the jungle’s rainy season in Forrest Gump. I’m getting a wee bit antsy to take off because I know the next busy season (the draft, trades, and free agency) is looming.

 Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The opposite of the Penguins trade rumors, and a little bonus. Instead of shipping players out, we laid out the seven Penguins who won’t be traded.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Skenesmas turned into a bizzaro world. John Perrotto went through the Tim Burton-like movie that was Paul Skenes’ debut and the continued Pittsburgh Pirates silliness.

Steelers Now: Our Derrick Bell put pen to paper. As team activities begin, the Steelers have a defender who will make everyone forget about not re-signing Bud Dupress and will be able to fill in for T.J. Watt. The somewhat secret weapon of the Steelers’ defense.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now

Florida Hockey Now: Even our writers sniped back and forth (the boss rang the bell, ending the round). Here’s what set off the controversy–did Bennett punch Brad Marchand, causing injury? Here’s the beginning of the red-hot Sam Bennett debate.

Boston Hockey Now: The controversy exploded in Game 4. Bennett appeared to dish a cross-check, toppling a Bruins defender on the goalie, then buried the loose puck. Boston lost. Florida won and controls the series, 3-1. Things were still boiling–here’s the Bruins postgame.

Vegas Hockey Now: Will it stay or will it go? GM Kelly McCrimmon deftly maneuvered through the trade deadline and will have a first-round pick this year, but will the Golden Knights trade it?

The Score: There are six open head coaching positions. Josh Wegman ranked them with pros and cons.

Montreal Hockey Now: It was done pre-lottery, but you get a good look at the first-round prospects in the 2024 NHL Mock Draft.

Chicago Hockey Now: The next generation is leading. We’re getting a good look at the future of Team Canada as Connor Bedard tears up the Worlds.

Nashville Hockey Now: Jason Zucker signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes (Utah Hockey Club?), but they traded him to Nashville at the deadline.

“I have more to give,” Zucker made his pitch to stick with the Nashville Predators.

Sportsnet: Rick Tocchet told his star players to dig in. They did. Vancouver rose to the occasion and put down Edmonton for a 2-1 series lead.