BOSTON \u2014 The train never really got on track. The Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 attack was all about \u201cI think I can,\u201d but in practice could not. We\u2019ve got the full coverage and analysis from Boston, including pointed comments from coach Dan Muse, who showed poise, but if you watch the postgame video, was clearly seething. <\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Daily, the NHL trade rumors got a jolt when TSN reported the Buffalo Sabres are engaged in trade talks for THE big get, St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. Nearly all of the Vancouver Canucks are available this week, but that\u2019s not news. The question is, will someone\u2013anyone\u2013step up and take Elias Pettersson at full boat? The Minnesota Wild spent big and got big in a trade Tuesday night, and there was some on-ice action, too. <\/p>\n
Sometimes, I just miss. I can tell by readership numbers that I missed Tuesday night on my coverage angle of the game. I explained what the Penguins didn\u2019t do and my headline was big picture \u2026 instead of the anger of the moment? It\u2019s not often the coach\u2019s postgame is watched more often than my postgame. But, trust me, the Report Card includes the anger in the room. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve also got some stuff for the travel day, including Kris Letang\u2019s candid comments (exclusive to PHN) on his pairing with Sam Girard, and Bryan Rust going on a deep dive with me. <\/p>\n
I\u2019m racing to get as much of the Daily done as I can before I head to the airport. Fortunately, the heavy snow became rain last night, and I should be able to get out of Boston without issue. <\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: More injuries for the Penguins, which resulted in some real line shuffling. I\u2019m not sure how serious, because he was on the short trip, but Blake Lizotte<\/a> is out.<\/p>\n Yeah, I know you don\u2019t want the recap of a loss. The Penguins lost 2-1 to the Boston Bruins, but here is the real breakdown, some inside-the-room reaction, and Dan Muse\u2019s sharp comments in the Penguins report card<\/a>.<\/p>\n And no, no team claimed Detroit Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson. We reported early in the season that the Penguins made some calls on him, but Detroit didn\u2019t like the soft offer. But the Penguins didn\u2019t bite as he passed through waivers. <\/p>\n Boston Hockey Now: Flip side coverage from Big Jack Studley (I like this kid. He\u2019s got a future in the business). Here\u2019s Studley breaking down the Bruins\u2019 win<\/a>.<\/p>\n NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n TSN Insiders: The Buffalo Sabres are getting serious. They\u2019re not just making a playoff run, but GM Jarmo Kekalainen is engaged in talks for Thomas, which would set up Buffalo in the middle for another decade<\/a>. <\/p>\n Hey, the last time Buffalo got a center from St. Louis, it worked out pretty well. See also: Tage Thompson. <\/p>\n The Montreal Gazette is reporting that Calgary needs Wifi. <\/p>\n I\u2019m hearing Calgary has an interest in #Habs<\/a>\u2019 defenceman Arber Xhekaj<\/p>\n \u2014 Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) March 3, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Sportsnet Video: Elliotte Friedman did a TV hit on the sports network. Edmonton is close to moving Andrew Mangiapane to open up the cap space. So, can anyone, will anyone take on Pettersson<\/a>?<\/p>\n And Nick Kypreos has his NHL Trade Board 5.0 out, with the sought-after names like Vincent Trocheck, Tyler Myers, and some of the guys who will add real value like Justin Faulk. I think this is the most realistic trade board<\/a>. <\/p>\n NHLtraderumors.me: I hate to link to aggregators at this time of year, but I don\u2019t see any source material from the Donnie and Dhali show in Vancouver. Reports indicate the Islanders and Vancouver are closing in on a deal for Conor Garland<\/a>.<\/p>\n Florida Hockey Now: You can play the video game midi. Game Over. Is this good news or bad news? With yet another loss, that\u2019s just about it for the playoff hopes of the Florida Panthers<\/a>.<\/p>\n They will be much better next year with Sasha Barkov back, but I dare say Bill Zito\u2013who did a spectacular job building that team\u2013used emotion to sign a couple of players to unwieldy contracts that are going to bite them, hard. <\/p>\n ESPN: The Nashville Predators traded big, physical center Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild, and Bill Guerin is building for a playoff battle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Philly Hockey Now: Gee, just a maintenance day? Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was absent from Philadelphia Flyers practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Buffalo Sabres<\/a> nhl trade<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> robert thomas<\/a> <\/p>\n Categorized:Links<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t