Avery Hayes made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins and made quite an impact for them in what was essentially an emergency recall that happened just hours before the game. The kid had a day, and the depleted Penguins smoked the red-hot Buffalo Sabres. We\u2019ve got full coverage from Buffalo and an examination of some of the issues facing the Penguins, including being on the short end of a lot of refereeing. <\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Daily, the St. Louis Blues might become the biggest seller on the NHL trade block after the current Olympic roster freeze. Leon Draisaitl calmly and coldly ripped his Edmonton Oilers coaches. Jonathan Huberdeau is done for the year. And there was more brawling between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. <\/p>\n
Well, that was a Penguins game that even I might not forget. In a season in which several of us had to ask each other if that was our first or second trip to Long Island, and for which colors and cities have blurred in the race to hit that obtrusive blue publish button and catch the next flight, watching Hayes not only score a pair of goals but do so with elevated individual effort was a treat. <\/p>\n
I mean, watching Hayes\u2019s performance was cotton candy at the circus (if you\u2019re old enough to remember), it was a seventh McNugget when you ordered six, catching green lights in rush hour traffic, and a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese with unlimited tokens. <\/p>\n
I\u2019m going to write more about it and the potential positive fallout\/consequences later this morning before I turn for home (or Niagara Falls, I\u2019m not yet sure which), but I can tell you, he made an impression on those who make the decisions. A real one. <\/p>\n
Penguins PA announcer with the tweet of the night:<\/p>\n
At this point it’s borderline malpractice leaving Avery Hayes off the Team USA roster for Milan.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Ryan Mill (@RyanMill) February 6, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n And, bear with us a bit longer. I know the logins are screwy for PHN+ members. It\u2019s a process, and darkest before the dawn. They\u2019re working.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We spent yesterday writing news stories. Acciari was ill. Rakell injured. Blake Lizotte went home to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Now that you\u2019re caught up, it was an entertaining game in Buffalo with some high drama, high performances, and a big 5-2 Penguins win<\/a>.<\/p>\n And let\u2019s dig into the big picture here. The Penguins win with rookies filling the net, refs who are not giving the Penguins calls, and the team really starting to notice, as well as goaltending, a beleaguered defense, and more in the Penguins report card<\/a>.<\/p>\n Also, make sure you\u2019re subscribed to the No Pucks Given podcast. Our Live Chats are available in video or audio, as well as each Monday\u2019s new episode. I\u2019m not sure who is titling these pods (I tell them the title, but it seems they go their own way), but the last couple have been pretty good. You can start on the PHN podcast page<\/a>.<\/p>\n NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n First, I haven\u2019t seen much storytelling in the Gavin McKenna story. The updates have been about the legal process and criminal complaint, not about the events. Yes, we know he popped the kid and was charged with a felony, but it seems witnesses have a story to tell well beyond that. Quite frankly, it seems most people are strongly on McKenna\u2019s side. <\/p>\n Let\u2019s plead this down and go about life. Some people just deserve a good ass kicking, and it seems one of them got it. State College DA\u2013#FreeMcKenna.<\/p>\n TSN Insiders: I missed this one. Darren Dreger reports the St. Louis Blues are putting some big names on the trade block. Colton Parayko? And Team Canada made some injury replacements<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Athletic ($): Calmly. Surgically. Leon Draisaitl ripped the Edmonton Oilers and said it starts with coaching, extends to defending, and goaltending<\/a>. <\/p>\n NHLtraderumors.me: Jonathan Huberdeau had a sparkling game, then exited stage left. Huberdeau will have hip resurfacing surgery and be out for quite a while<\/a>. <\/p>\n New Jersey Hockey Now: Another loss, more dejection, and Nick Bjugstad\u2019s debut. We\u2019re just about done closely following the New Jersey Devils<\/a>.<\/p>\n Philly Hockey Now: Hanging on by a thread are the Broad Street Bullies. That thread frayed a bit more Thursday. A lack of offense until late merely earned them a loser point against the Ottawa Senators. Here\u2019s the big picture as the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> are sinking.<\/p>\n Florida Hockey Now: Another battle of Florida, another brawl. Coach Paul Maurice was tossed, players were injured, and the Florida Panthers<\/a> lost.<\/p>\n I dare say, the Panthers might consider selling some of the players they over-signed. Their reign is over. Too much hockey over three years, and Bill Zito did exactly what the Penguins did: keep everyone. <\/p>\n Sportsnet: The full story\u2013how Artemi Panarin wound up with the LA Kings<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: avery hayes<\/a> gavin mckenna<\/a> nhl trade<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n Categorized:Links<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t