The news was fast, and it was a series of important happenings at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice on Monday. From Tristan Broz’s call-up to injury updates, the only thing missing was a whopper of a trade, and we’ve got it all. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Vancouver Canucks have become Rumor Central and are listening to their veteran players. Barry Trotz F-bombed his players to the media, and Logan Cooley had himself one heck of a night in Utah.
Silly me, though I had a bit of a scoop–and I did for a few minutes–when we noticed Filip Hallander on the ice Monday, and then the Penguins just fired all of their guns at once and exploded into space. I must confess, when I wrapped up the last news story somewhere around 6 p.m., I was good and exhausted. My very old recliner, which is now featured in my living room after I wore out the old recliner, got a good workout.
I’ve been on the Broz bandwagon for a while. When I first saw him, it was the 2021 or 2021 rookie camp, and he wasn’t much. His skating wasn’t there, he wasn’t a gritty winger, and he wasn’t a scoring winger. His goal was to be a net-front winger, and it wasn’t working. The pick didn’t look very good.
But what is supposed to be will become. When Broz’s University of Denver team suffered a spate of injuries, it pushed him into the middle, and that unlocked his game like walking through the closet door into Narnia. That move, his determined attitude, and the Penguins’ work with him have created a player who deserves a healthy NHL shot.
If you haven’t yet, you need to see his locker room media scrum. Unfortunately, he was the last one off the ice, so everyone was waiting, and my little scrum became a big one, but dude delivered an epic performance.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: I encapsulated the first few news stories and the practice happenings into one post. From Broz’s role on the ice to Harrison Brunicke’s assignment to Wilkes-Barre, to the line tweaks, we’ve got you covered on all the Penguins news.
All righty, here we go. The speech, the emotion, and damn it, was a moment to be a part of. Broz missed the call from Jason Spezza telling him that he was being called up, and hilarity and emotion ensued as Broz dropped to his knees in the bus bathroom. Yeah, it’s a wild one you have to read, and we have the full video, too. The full Tristan Broz.
Oh, and by the way, the Penguins signed their 2025 second-round pick, who can’t play for six or seven months. There’s that bit of Penguins news, too.
Opinion: Broz is going to pop. He may make a few mistakes in his first game because he’s going to be playing on level 11 adrenaline, but he’s got the goods to be a solid second-line center.
Also, coach Dan Muse should consider Malkin on Crosby’s wing–that’s really been potent this season–Kindel in the second line spot, and Broz at third line center. But that’s just my thoughts.
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NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: A few days after the Quinn Hughes explosion from the local media, Elliotte Friedman got some clarity, but it’s no less explosive. The Canucks are not talking of dealing Hughes, but they are letting teams know they are taking calls on their veteran players. The Canucks have become rumor central.
Vegas Hockey Now: The VGK were absolutely no match for Mr. Logan Cooley. One goal? Nah. A hat trick? Nah. Cooley scored four consecutive goals and notched five points. Hannah Kirkell has the story and the highlights, so you can see that a couple of the goals were beauties as the Utah Mammoth whacked the Golden Knights.
Yahoo/The Tennesseean: “I need f—— more from them,” Barry Trotz said of his team. He ripped into the boys pretty good in defense of his head coach, Andrew Brunette. Having seen them in Stockholm, they really aren’t very good, but they should be a lot better, and Trotz agrees.
Philly Hockey Now: Brad Lambert, meet the Philadelphia Flyers? That’s what Frank Seravalli is reporting that the two sides could be a match for a Flyers trade.
New Jersey Hockey Now: It was Monday Night Raw with the Red Wings and Devils. I hear it was a fun game, and then Jonas Seigenthaler popped off after the game–he had some digs for the Red Wings. Yeah, brother! So, here’s the game and the New Jersey Devils postgame.
LA Hockey Now: The Kings are a tweener team. Good enough for the playoffs, not good enough for the Cup. Oliver Figlin is our new guy out there, and he’s putting out some good content. So, how do the Kings get better? The three potential Kings trade targets.
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