Dan’s Daily: Crosby Trade Talk Won’t Die; USA Blowout; Outside Views on Penguins

WILKES BARRE, Pa. — The Sidney Crosby trade talk won’t die. He has personally tried to kill it. On the recent two-week road trip, a Penguins team source pulled me aside to spare Crosby more questions on it. Yet, two days into the Four Nations Face-Off, the Crosby to Colorado trade talk is back. On Night 2 of the tournament, fans in Montreal booed the US Anthem, and the Tkachuk brothers were devastatingly good in leading Mike Sullivan’s Team USA to a 6-1 blowout win over Finland. There was a minor-league Penguins trade, and we did a roundtable discussion with the Metro Division beat writers of National Hockey Now to find out how the outside world views the Pittsburgh Penguins.

I adjusted my travel plans to get to Wilkes-Barre a day early because we’ve got a conversation set up for this morning that should greatly inform our prospect coverage. I’m unsure if I’ll cover both WBS games this weekend or just tonight’s game and then head home–I suppose that depends on how satisfied I am with the combination of Tuesday-Friday games. Specifically, I want to see more of Rutger McGroarty. I’ll have more on Ville Koivunen and maybe Tristan Broz, too.

However, I’m still hesitant to grade or analyze Broz because he missed so much time due to illness and is just coming back. If he pops, I’ll tell you about it, and if he doesn’t, he gets a pass. Sadly, the team sent Sergei Murashov back to Wheeling yesterday. I had really hoped to see him play an AHL game. Really, really, hoped.

It would appear Tristan Jarry is in the way. Or Filip Larsson is in the way. The organization may have to sacrifice Larsson unless they think he could be an NHL goalie (I haven’t seen enough to make that judgment. My only viewing was in December–he made a lot of second-chance saves, but only because I didn’t feel like he was absorbing shots or directing the rebounds well).

However, I changed hotels in Wilkes-Barre. After a bad experience last time, I abandoned my Motel 6 for a Days Inn with an IHop next door. I am craving some eggs and bacon (by the time I got home from the roadie, my eggs had expired, and I didn’t go shopping over the last few days. Of course, I’m only a sports writer; I can’t afford eggs anyway).

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: I have to poke at a beauty of a tweet from one of the rumor purveyors who long ago lost the buzz, “I was told the Blues just made a trade that’s going to set up another. Maybe Brayden Schenn.” Yeah, no. It was a minor-league swap with no NHL impact. Here are the details of the minor Penguins trade.

TSN Overdrive (Video): Boys, stop. Stawwwpp. Here’s the topic–Could Crosby follow Shanahan’s lead after the 1996 World Cup of Hockey? The boys can’t help themselves, so they go right into the Crosby to Colorado trade talk based on Brendan Shanahan leaving Hartford.

Let’s flip the script. Why doesn’t MacKinnon come to Pittsburgh to rebuild the franchise? He could take Crosby’s legacy and keep it going. He’s already won a Stanley Cup in Colorado. The Penguins have the cap space to build around MacKinnon immediately. MacKinnon wasn’t happy when they traded Mikko Rantanen. Why not, right? Stop it.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The round table was fun. Who will win the Metro playoff bracket? And another question delivered some insights into how the outsiders view the aging Penguins roster.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Pro Hockey Rumors: Emily Kaplan said on the recent national broadcast that the Bruins are getting calls on numerous players, but she doesn’t expect Brad Marchand to be traded. The Bruins are coming to the fork in the road.

Sportsnet: I can’t think of players who better fit Sullivan’s system than the Tkachuk brothers. They are perfect grinders with tons of skill to play low or on the rush. Here are the highlights of Team USA’s 6-1 win over Finland.

Detroit Hockey Now: The trade rumors are good news in Detroit. Vladimir Tarasenko has not fit in Motown, and Kevin Allen writes that if other teams, such as the Florida Panthers, are interested, that’s fine and dandy. A trade would benefit the Detroit Red Wings.

Philly Hockey Now: You can enjoy this read: Three reasons for pessimism for the rest of the Philadelphia Flyers season.

Vegas Hockey Now: Playoffs and trades. Trades and playoffs. It’s been like a roller coaster around the Stratosphere for the VGK this season. Hannah Kirkell predicts the rest of the wildly inconsistent but very good Vegas Golden Knights season.

Ottawa Hockey Now: And lastly, our Danny McCloskey puts the Ottawa Senators under the microscope. The team looks ready to break that playoff drought finally. So here are three forwards to target on the trade block.