It appears the NHL may be closer to 33 teams after both Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke and the Billionaire behind the new Atlanta arena went public. The Florida Panthers escaped in Game 3, Ken Holland is getting close to the LA Kings GM job, there are rumors that the Boston Bruins will take a run at hiring Rick Tocchet but he could receive several “mega offers,” and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was finally honored instead of snubbed.

We’re dipping into the offseason trenches now. The Penguins’ coaching search is in the conversation stage, and we don’t want to burn up all of our draft content seven weeks before the big day. We’ll be speaking with scouts about the prospects and chasing down coaching candidates, though I suspect we’ve already put the eventual selection on our two lists. Some of that content will be PHN+. Every year, I begin to worry about how we will fill the pages, but every year, I run out of time to print everything I planned.

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It took me a few days to figure it out. My Peacock binge this week–Poker Face starring Natasha Lyonne–is a fun watch, but I couldn’t put my finger on who her character reminded me of. It was starting to drive me crazy until it finally hit me. She’s doing a perfect Peter Falk/Columbo. Even her casual delivery with a rasp is spot on. I hope that doesn’t ruin things, but for me, it made it funnier. John Mulaney, Simon Helberg, Giancarlo Esposito, and especially Rhea Perlman’s guest spots at the start of season 2 were also a nice touch.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The NHL Quarter Century Team is another subjective selection team, and Evgeni Malkin usually gets snubbed despite being one of the very best players ever to lace up the skates. Crosby made the team, but so did Malkin.

Dave Molinari tackled the Malkin issue. He’ll be 39 this summer, and his play was clearly impacted this season. So what can the next Penguins coach do about Malkin’s spot?

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A little prospect note–former Penguins prospect Nathan Legare re-signed with the New Jersey Devils. It’s a two-way deal. The 2019 third-round pick finally made his NHL debut this year, going scoreless in three games.

Steelers Now: GM Omar Khan explained the big trade and why the Steelers moved on from George Pickens.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Don Kelly wins his first game as the Pirates’ manager. Baily Falter delivered a quality start, and the seven-game losing streak is over. Congrats to Mt. Lebo’s Donny Kelly. Here are the details of the important Pirates win.

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

Daily Face-Off video: Frank Seravalli reports that Tocchet will get huge offers that set the market for coaches and have his choice of teams.

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Toronto Star: Brad Marchand. It just had to be him. The Florida Panthers needed overtime to get it done, but they survived Game 3, and the series is now 2-1. Here’s the Toronto media’s take on it all.

NHL.com: It seems Connor Hellebuyck has settled down. The Winnipeg Jets protected him, and Winnipeg won Game 2 to even that series.

NYI Hockey Now: Wait, is Lou Lamoriello going to stick around on Long Island? He isn’t keeping his job, but will he help his successor? It’s getting a little bit weird with the New York Islanders.

Colorado Hockey Now: There’s a lot of consternation and talk in Denver about Mikko Rantanen. The Dallas Stars forward was first an Avalanche, then a Hurricane, and now a red-hot Stars forward. The situation still isn’t sitting right, and in Aarif Deen’s latest mailbag, the fans want more details on what went down with the Colorado Avalanche.

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Sportsnet: Atlanta. Again? The first time Atlanta had a hockey team, they became the Calgary Flames. The second time Atlanta got a team, they became the Winnipeg Jets. Third time? Gary Bettman discussed the possibility, and a potential owner says a proposal is coming.

The post Dan’s Daily: NHL Expansion Closer; Tocchet Offers; Penguins Honored appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.