Our top story this morning: Generalissimo Franco is still dead, and the Philadelphia Flyers are still winless. In addition to the angst in Philly, the Detroit Red Wings are also a smoldering tire fire, and the son of Illitch spoke to the situation but probably made it even worse. And in the NHL trade rumors section, it seems the LA Kings are the surprise suitor for Connor Hellebuyck, but there’s also talk of a three-way trade with Buffalo and New York.
Brady Tkachuk went back-to-back with the hatties to steal a win. Oh, and the Pittsburgh Penguins did a little more lineup tinkering. And it looks like Big Elmer Soderblom is getting a sweater.
I wish I had some good food or fun on Thursday, but it was a race: a race from the hotel to the practice rink, an “Amazing Race” style run to the airport, and it was all capped by the most uncomfy plane ride I’ve ever had. I thought I had a free middle seat until a very pleasantly round grandma got a standby seat. Because of the schedule change, ol’ Dan had to sit in the cattle car from Chicago to Denver, but when grandma plunked herself down in the middle, she picked up the armrests so she fit, put her big purse on her lap and mine, threw out her elbow into my ribs, and went to sleep.
She kept her elbows out for the three-hour flight, and when I moved, she took more space. Oh, I had some things I wanted to say, but you just don’t win that argument, and there’s no way to avoid looking like the bad guy, is there?
The bad guy is the airline industry. They wonder why people choose not to fly, but unless you have at least their Economy Plus, Bonus Economy, Economy Mucho, or Super Duper Main Cabin Comfort class, you’re in for a miserable ride.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Elmer in. Ville out. Maybe. Coach Dan Muse had to bust me a little bit when I asked about the new lines: “If we do it.” Here’s the scoop from the power-play-intensive Penguins practice.
Steelers Now: JuJu?! The Steelers wide receivers’ meeting room has been moved to the trainer’s room, so the team is bringing in WRs and a name you know: JuJu Smith-Schuster.
NHL Trade Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: Frank Seravalli reports the LA Kings have at least gone as far as to get the price and get Hellebuyck’s approval as GM Ken Holland considers a big swing.
Detroit Hockey Now: The one-win Red Wings vs. the no-win Flyers. It was a grand battle as neither team held the upper hand. They skated, they passed to the other team, and in the end, a couple of Red Wings grinders connected for the win. And ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are still winless as the Red Wings win.
Sportsnet: Red Wings owner Chris Illitch has been the subject of heavy criticism in Detroit as players want out, there isn’t a GM, and there is an undercurrent of belief that ownership doesn’t really care about the hockey team as much as their other team, the Detroit Tigers. Illitch met with reporters Thursday and gave the usual “I’m angry too” answers, said the Red Wings won’t rebuild, but set his timeline on hiring a new GM as maybe by the end of the season?!
Mostly a minor league trade, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are the team to give Aatu Raty more runway. Thursday, the TML acquired Raty from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr.
NHLtraderumors.me: The New York Rangers are scouting the Buffalo Sabres but also the Toronto Maple Leafs. More specifically, the Rangers sent former NHL goalie Scott Clemmensen to scout, as it appears the NYR are looking at Anthony Stolarz as a trade target.
The TSN TV segments are not visible to the US audience, so I won’t bother posting them, but the story you’re going to start hearing about is that Toronto head coach Jim Hiller benched Gavin McKenna in the Toronto collapse to Buffalo Thursday.
Florida Hockey Now: Again? Yep, the Florida Panthers trailed the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 with less than nine minutes remaining. That’s when Brady Tkachuk went off, scoring a hat trick, including the game-winner in overtime. It was Tkachuk’s second hatty in two games, and the Panthers won.
One assist in six games. Six goals in the last two games. That’s a hot streak. What can I say? I like the Tkachuk brothers and everything they bring to hockey, including your hate. There was no Hulk Hogan without Rowdy Roddy, and the Tkachuks fit that bill nicely.
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