DETROIT — There was concern and perhaps a little consternation over the Pittsburgh Penguins’ trade cost to acquire Yegor Chinakhov, but reports indicate several more teams were also interested. The NHL trade chatter is still echoing in Minnesota, where Billy G might be playing more blockbuster tunes. Elsewhere in the Daily, Team USA was upset in the WJC, a pair of Penguins will join Team Sweden, and we looked at the Penguins’ next steps for this season in the context of the trade block and the rebuild.

For some reason, writing about Chinakhov instantly unleashes music in my head, the Doobie Brothers, “China Grove.” The pentameter fits perfectly. As part of our Penguins notebook Friday, I also included my first impressions on and off the ice of Chinakhov.

And for you travel blog followers, yesterday was a unique day at the food table. I can’t explain it, but it made me happy. On the drive here, I stopped for dinner outside Toledo at … a truck stop Denny’s for a Grand Slam breakfast.

The place was still under construction, so I guess everyone was fairly new at their jobs. My eggs over easy were simply eggs…over. The boys in the kitchen didn’t flip them back, but it made me laugh. A Karen, I am not. And I got to Detroit in good time, where I found that my hotel is a half mile from the holy of holy fast food joints. The god of grease. The omnipotent of the onion. The sultan of sliders. White Castle!!

Sometimes, it’s the simple pleasures.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Hello, Olympics. Erik Karlsson was all but assured a spot, but Rickard Rakell was initially left off the roster for the Four Nations Tourney. But yes, both Penguins are headed to Milan as part of Team Sweden. Here’s their reaction and Rakell’s humbled joy in the Penguins locker room.

As a semi-news item, Evgeni Malkin joined the team at practice Friday. It didn’t necessarily rise to a news story because his status is unchanged. He was able to join the 23-minute practice because it was low stakes and no contact.

Now, we can get into the beefy issues. The questions over the last couple of weeks, since general manager Kyle Dubas flung open the trade doors, have been about the future, the rebuild, and what’s coming next. In the context of Chinakhov and the pending UFAs, PHN delivered the first impressions of Chinakhov, the trades, and why there are more Penguins trades coming.

NHL Trade Chatter, News, & NHN

TSN’s Chris Johnston discussed the Chinakhov trade on the First Up podcast. At least three other teams were interested:

Chris Johnston: Re Yegor Chinakhov trade: There were teams around it, going way back earlier in the season the Leafs were one of them, I don’t know that they were there later on here; San Jose I think had some interest, Winnipeg; a lot of teams were curious – First Up (12/30)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) January 2, 2026

The Athletic ($): GM Bill Guerin is not done? Despite the Minnesota Wild winning the Quinn Hughes sweepstakes, Guerin is still going big-game hunting.

In fact, this morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I’ll never know.

TSN: The folks up North looked at Team USA, and there were some big names, worthy names, like Jason Robertson, who were not selected. Who were the biggest snubs?

It disappoints me greatly that the talking heads don’t discuss Bryan Rust. He only scored 31 goals last season and is a primary penalty killer.

ESPN: Team Finland stunned the two-time defending World Junior champions in the Quarterfinal, beating Team USA in OT.

It’s funny how players can feel the game, even from afar. A player in the Penguins’ room recently asked who would win the WJC because he didn’t think Canada or the US “have it this year.” He was a week ahead of the rest of us.

Montreal Hockey Now: Former first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky has become a horse in the bleu, blanc, et rouge. Marc Dumont examines how and why the emerging star has increased his offensive output with the Montreal Canadiens.

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