EDMONTON, Alberta — Something is different. On the way to their annual embarrassment in Edmonton, the Pittsburgh Penguins were the ones who converted breakaways, opened up the game, and it was they who embarrassed the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-2 win. Then Evgeni Malkin dropped the big news after the game. Elsewhere in the Daily, Florida and Seattle are the latest teams making calls on the NHL trade market, and Elliotte Friedman gave all of the inside details on the Mitch Marner, Toronto divorce, with details and context stretching back to his rookie year.

Friedman’s story isn’t voluminous, but rather reads like a Ray Boom-Boom Mancini boxing match (Tip of the cap to Youngstown’s finest). It was just body blows and hard punches, in rapid succession.

We’re off to Vancouver today. It’s an off-day, technically, but you know we’ll be working through it. My column that I’ve been working on is mostly done, but I have to insert the quotes now. The Penguins’ win only served to add even more flavor.

But I’ve got some very bad news for many of you. Another journo on the national stage let me know that he, too, catches the Daily’s and finds the food and travel bits interesting.

Finding new places is getting more difficult, especially as cities continue to recede. A bar owner told me that Gen Z drinks 40% less than all other generations, and thus goes out less, too. So, restaurants are getting squeezed without new customers.

Gen Z, I’m going to need you to pick up the pace on some stuff. You only get your 20s once. And you’ll need a lot better stories than regaling us with the time you used a hashtag.

Have I ever told you about the time I nearly asphyxiated Mario Lemieux in an elevator? Maybe another time…

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Bang. Then a couple more. Quick strikes put the Penguins up 3-0. And Evgeni Malkin scored a breakaway goal, too. Here’s the full Penguins recap.

And rather than a Report Card, Evgeni Malkin made the news. Yeah, he said it. One more year. Here’s the story, the video, and what you need to know about Evgeni Malkin’s future.

Before the game, the team activated Erik Karlsson.

TSN: The flip side coverage. “The Penguins came out and handed it to the Oilers.” Here’s TSN’s coverage of the Penguins’ win.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: The messy divorce between Marner and Toronto. Friedman really got into it, no villains, no victims, but I’m curious how it will settle with you. Player overly sensitive, or team needed to be more involved in some aspects?

TSN Insiders: The boys have a truckload of stuff today. The IIHF might let Russia back into the hockey fold in 2028. Seattle is not shopping Shane Wright, but they do have extra centers and are listening. Oh, and the Florida Panthers are on the trade market prowl.

NHLtraderumors.me: Alex Lafreniere. Trade fodder? He’s got a hefty deal, but the New York Rangers might be willing to let the former first-rounder go.

Teams to watch in the playoff hunt:

Boston Hockey Now: The Penguins weren’t the only team that piled up three goals in under a minute Thursday. The Boston Bruins did it, but then they had to defend a furious Golden Knights rally. The B’s just keep on keeping pace. Jack Studley breaks down the whos and hows of the latest Bruins win.

Toronto Hockey Now: Injuries are nipping at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ heels. Two defensemen out, including Oliver Ekman-Larsson? Well, maybe. The banged-up Maple Leafs news.

Detroit Hockey Now: One of my favorite players in the league is too often overlooked. Bob Duff shares that opinion and puts fingers to keys while covering the Winged Wheel. Will the league finally take notice of Moritz Seider?

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