It was an off day for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and so the opinion pieces flew on Pittsburgh Hockey Now. Shelly Anderson called dibs on the updated Evgeni Malkin contract column. Should the Penguins re-sign Malkin? This writer took a few pokes at other issues, from straight talk on the goalie issue to two changes Dan Muse made that have made all the difference. <\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Daily, the Eastern Conference is waiting to see how the New York Islanders respond, and General Manager Mathieu Darche explained why he made the move. The New Jersey Devils went one step higher Monday night when they fired president of hockey ops\/GM Tom Fitzgerald. And the NHL save percentage has officially hit the lowest level in 30 years. <\/p>\n
One thing about New Jersey\u2019s moves, a lot of us knew it was coming. I believe even Fitzgerald did, as evidenced by the Devils\u2019 statement. But what you\u2019ll hear in the coming days\u2013if anyone on the inside will talk\u2013is the clash between the analytics department and Fitzgerald. There are players on the roster whom the GM would not have otherwise acquired but under directives to do so. Which is quite ironic because then Fitzgerald paid the price for them. <\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all had that situation, eh? Do this\u2013this doesn\u2019t work\u2013why\u2019d you do that? It\u2019s also why Fitzgerald will be at the top of other teams\u2019 lists for exec positions. I\u2019d expect him to interview in Nashville immediately. He\u2019s not Toronto\u2019s cup of Tim\u2019s, but Nashville would be an ideal fit. So would Edmonton, if it opens.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Re-sign Evgeni Malkin? Shells stepped to the plate and swung big. Here\u2019s her conclusion after his latest comments last weekend and the latest Penguins analysis.<\/a><\/p>\n I got a couple of reader emails on my column. They didn\u2019t want to comment publicly, but they enjoyed the directness. Perhaps I speak to the silent majority? Here\u2019s some straight talk on the Penguins\u2019 goaltending, and two changes Dan Muse made and stuck to his guns defending that are paying off for the Penguins playoff push<\/a>.<\/p>\n And Rickard Rakell was named the NHL\u2019s No. 1 star of the week. <\/p>\n NHL News, Rumors, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n New Jersey Hockey Now: Fired. Tom Fitzgerald is out as the New Jersey Devils GM<\/a>.<\/p>\n NYI Hockey Now: It was a shocker on Sunday when the Islanders made the move. The ship was sinking, and the team didn\u2019t have any snap down the stretch. So, Darche explained why he had to make the move\u2013why he fired Patrick Roy and hired Pete DeBoer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Philly Hockey Now: The playoff push. It\u2019s a good spot to be in\u2013the Philadelphia Flyers <\/a>control their own destiny.<\/p>\n Sportsnet: Nick Kypreos wonders if Mark Stone step away from hockey after this season to get healthy? What other front office changes are echoing in whispers<\/a>?<\/p>\n TSN: It is official. The glut of mediocre goaltending has not just become an epidemic; it\u2019s become a historical event. The worst in the salary cap era. And the worst since the mid-1990s. The NHL save percentage is on the floor.<\/a><\/p>\n Detroit Hockey Now: The coach called BS. A day after Andrew Copp said the fan negativity was seeping into the room, the coach cracked his team and called it out. Tense moments for the Detroit Red Wings<\/a>.<\/p>\n TSN Video: With the controversy and new coach, what are the odds the Islanders will make the playoffs now<\/a>?<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n