The Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects are acquitting themselves quite well in this playoff run. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins rallied twice Wednesday night for a gritty win to even their Eastern Conference Final against the Toronto Marlies. As for the Penguins, we went rapid fire on Penguins trade talk, rebuilding, and your approval.

Elsewhere in the Daily, it seems the New York Islanders will lose captain Anders Lee to free agency. In NHL trade chatter, there are new Vincent Trocheck rumblings. And the Toronto Maple Leafs are going the recycled route for their next head coach as a pair of “experienced” coaches are getting second interviews.

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Whelp, I am headed to Wilkes-Barre Sunday. We’ll find out Friday if Game 6 Sunday is to advance or survive, so if a Game 7 is necessary, I’ll be there for that, too. You all supported me so well in the NHL playoffs, I can’t possibly ask for more. But I will ask for places to stop and little towns on the way that you love.

I’ve never been to Jim Thorpe. That should be one stop on the way back. I’d love to make a couple of stops, and who knows, maybe do one of those travel videos some of you have suggested. It’s been a minute since I found a great little diner in the middle of nowhere, you know?

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: They trailed 2-0, and they yielded the tying goal in the third period on another dubious call involving goalie interference. However, the WBS Penguins won when Rutger McGroarty made Toronto may for a ghastly mistake. The Penguins prospects are rolling.

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Rapid fire time. Some glancing stories–read between the lines, some nuggets for free agency, Penguins trades, and more stuff on the prospects. Here are the not-so random Penguins thoughts.

I also shared the rest of the story of what a player who played in Canada told me about the difficulties of playing up North.

Also, we’re doing a live podcast at NOON today. Make sure you like and subscribe to the YouTube page here. I’m doing it early for two reasons. First, we may have a guest from the WBS Penguins join us. Second, I want to get out and see some sunshine today. Believe it or not, except for a quick walk for groceries and a haircut, I haven’t left the house this week. Time to go…

NHL Trade Chatter, News, & National Hockey Now

NHLtraderumors.me: Mollie Walker reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have circled back on Vincent Trocheck. She soft sells what Toronto will have to give, but the important detail is Toronto is trying.

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Forever Blueshirts: Dan Muse’s mentor, Peter Laviolette, is in the running. So are a few other well-traveled coaches, including Patrick Roy, who will interview for the Maple Leafs head coach position.

The speed with which Laviolette has burned up in his last couple of jobs would be quite concerning to me. Given Toronto’s new age core, perhaps someone with a little positivity.

TSN: Far apart. A face-to-face meeting between the agent and GM did little to bridge the gap on Long Island, and it appears that Anders Lee, who has been with the Islanders his entire career, will head elsewhere on July 1.

Sportsnet: In keeping with the same long-time player leaves theme, Brendan Gallagher will end his 14-year career with the Montreal Canadiens this summer despite having one year left on his deal. Eric Engels writes, it shouldn’t be too hard to trade Gallagher because he’s got some gas in the tank.

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Philly Hockey Now: Could John Carlson return to the Metro Division? It seems there’s a bit of heat around Carlson returning, and the interested party is … the Philadelphia Flyers.

Washington Hockey Now: So, what’s Alex Ovechkin’s decision? He seems to have waffled and may or may not return. Ovechkin said his decision will come in July, but does that mean it’s also up to the Washington Capitals?

NHL.com: I didn’t much agree with the GM of the Year nominees, and I’m a bit surprised by the Jack Adams winner. Not Lindy Ruff. Not Dan Muse. No, Jon Cooper wins the Coach of the Year award.

That seems like a whiff, at least in my opinion.

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The post Dan’s Daily: Penguins Prospects Roll; Muse Snubbed; Trocheck Trade Chatter appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

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