We are into Day 3 with no NHL hockey. Team Canada held a closed-door practice with no prying eyes and then chose to move out of the Olympic village for a four-star hotel. By contrast, Team USA is bunked in the dorms, hanging out with other athletes, and the Tkachuk brothers are already pounding on each other for snoring. The NHL trade speculation is getting to Toronto moving veteran pieces, and the Minnesota Wild could be dangling a pretty attractive trade chip. We also began our break coverage with the State of the Penguins column.

The price of hockey hit home with me on Monday. I spent the afternoon trying to find affordable hockey skates to play on the pond down the street (my good skates have been in a friend’s storage locker in Boston since the 2023 Winter Classic). Turns out, I have big feet, and three stops later, I struck out finding blades in my size for under $300.

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First, as many of you already know, but I got a reintroduction, the hockey world needs to do something about the cost to enter the sport. It’s $900-$1200 for high-end skates?! Yeah, get lost. Skates and one stick shouldn’t cost $1700. That just seems wrong.

By pure luck, someone posted a pair of Vapors on Facebook marketplace, mint condition, minutes after I got home. And I’m picking them up for a silly price today. But I went ahead and bought a stick … A good ol-fashioned wooden CCM stick. I might back it up with a $30 Sherwood twig. Gee, I hope it doesn’t impact my shot.

It doesn’t affect me, but I was aghast at the cost of equipment. All I could imagine was how many kids’ parents say, “Hell no!” when kids ask to play. Sports communities need to step in and stop people with money from trying to buy advantages. Curbs on equipment would be a good start.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The status and the five big differences that are propelling the projected bottom-dweller to a solid playoff spot. It’s the state of the Penguins.

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Sportsnet: Team Canada checked into the Olympic dorms and then checked out because they’re there for gold, not to hang out. A couple of the Team Canada players said they’d go back to hang out when they can. Team USA is taking the exact opposite approach, and the Tkachuk brothers are already acting like college freshmen. This might be the most underrated story of the Olympics.

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I recall some NFL teams taking a similar approach–closing off from family and friends–during Super Bowl week. And I recall some college teams skipping the events and fun leading up to important bowl games (Penn State fans might remember the 1986 Miami squad that did so rather rudely). I don’t think it works out as well as just enjoying the moment.

Colorado Hockey Now: Does the runaway juggernaut actually need help? Aarif Deen writes that yes, and they need a third-line center. Could the Avalanche call the Toronto Maple Leafs for that 3C?

NHLtraderumors.me: Toronto still has three goalies, and they’d like to trade one. There’s more chatter that the goalie will be Anthony Stolarz, probably. Maybe.

The Athletic ($): Wallstedt for Trocheck? The trade rumor has begun to make the rounds. The Minnesota beat writers tackled that and the possibility that Minnesota could deal their rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt for a big splash.

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USA Today: We Americans can’t see the video of Pierre LeBrun calling Jon Cooper’s decision to close practice (and deny he did) silly. Canada used the excuse that the rink was too small to let the media in, and that caused a kerfuffle. Team USA coach Mike Sullivan flung open the doors. The mind games are already being played.

The post Dan’s Daily: Canada Leaves Village; Trade Speculation; Penguins State appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

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