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<\/p>\nLast season. The symbolic turn begins today as the Carolina Hurricanes bask in the glory of last season\u2019s Stanley Cup championship. The league despises news that breaks during the Cup Final, and it\u2019s good form to hold any deals until after, which means the NHL trade chatter is about to explode. Probably. We have change-of-scenery candidates and bold predictions ahead. <\/p>\n
Also in the Daily, will John Tortorella stay in Vegas, or should Edmonton and Toronto give him a call? And our Pittsburgh Penguins news, including signing their recent trade acquisition to a new one-year contract, as well as putting a wrap on the 2025-26 season by emptying the cache on the campaign and zippy travel log.<\/p>\n
One great memory from this season that I forgot to include in the wrap was Erik Karlsson absolutely roasting Parker Wotherspoon. I got to practice early in Minnesota and watched it all go down, but promised secrecy for a day or so. <\/p>\n
Perhaps you remember a play early in the season when Wotherspoon teed up a one-timer from the point but whiffed on the shot and fell forward in the process, thus giving up (I think) a breakaway goal? It was a breakaway or a two-on-one against Philadelphia on Oct. 28. Well, Karlsson memorialized the moment when we arrived in Minnesota.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Everyone from Sidney Crosby to Dan Muse laughed heartily when they saw it. Even Wotherspoon had to laugh. <\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Oliver Okuliar. I think that\u2019s going to be a name we watch in training camp. The Penguins acquired him for Emil Pieniniemi Saturday, and now the Penguins have signed the Slovak Olympian, who is no fan of the Tkachuk brothers, to a one-year deal. Here\u2019s the Penguins news<\/a>.<\/p>\n It still shocks me that the Penguins could get such a return for Pieniniemi. The Ilya Solovyov for Valtteri Puustinen deal was really good, at least for the NHL club, and this is another that is a steal for the AHL club, at the very least. <\/p>\n And I just emptied the tank on the 2025-26 NHL season. Ev-er-y-thing. From Carolina connections to the Penguins (beyond Jordan Staal) to Rod Brind\u2019Amour shutting up a lot of critics, to some inside nuggets and travel recommendations, it\u2019s a great purge of the Penguins season<\/a>. <\/p>\n It was a helluva season. If I return for next season, I believe my Gonzo style will intensify. I think the industry is changing so rapidly as to demand it, and the stories you\u2019ve responded to the most are the inside stories, whether it\u2019s inside info about their plans, or inside opinions on players, or simply being on the inside, I think that\u2019s the way to go. But I\u2019ll always focus on hockey. <\/p>\n I\u2019m studying my Hunter S. Thompson pieces for inspiration. Perhaps I\u2019ll cover the Mint 400, too. <\/p>\n NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n TSN: The Philadelphia Flyers are looking into it. They\u2019re on the approved short list for Darnell Nurse, and GM Daniel Briere said the club is investigating the possibility. As Myron would say, Hmm ha. It\u2019s time for trades<\/a>.<\/p>\n My only regret for not attending the Combine personally this year was not being able to speak with Kyle Dubas, though it\u2019s my understanding that he has declined to speak to reporters since his presser. <\/p>\n Sportsnet: It\u2019s nothing you and I haven\u2019t been over a few times, and the four candidates are names we\u2019ve discussed, but Sportsnet started their offseason trade talk with four change-of-scenery candidates, beginning with Mason McTavish<\/a>.<\/p>\n Elliotte Friedman also reported that the NHL has officially launched an investigation into Mike Babcock\u2019s termination in Columbus to see if the league will allow him to coach in Edmonton. In fact, there is another, yet unspecified allegation against the sweet and cuddly Babcock<\/a>.<\/p>\n Edmonton is usually low on free agents\u2019 preferred list of teams. If they add Babcock, they\u2019ll be luck to sign anyone. The mystery is: How do they not see it?<\/p>\n TSN Video: (Not available to US readers). Here we go. The sharpening of the knives for Mitch Marner. They are debating if Marner was justified in not speaking after the Cup Final loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n I couldn\u2019t watch the video either, but let\u2019s be blunt. He didn\u2019t have to speak. He wasn\u2019t the story of the night. So, why would he? In moments like that, it\u2019s the coach\u2019s job and the captain\u2019s responsibility. The same Qs from October were going to be asked again. He did the game a favor by keeping the focus on Carolina. <\/p>\n New Jersey Hockey Now: Here\u2019s an interesting take. Danny Amoia writes that the Hurricanes\u2019 Stanley Cup win actually proves new New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta<\/a> correct.<\/p>\n Philly Hockey Now: Mailbag! The Trevor Zegras extension, offseason trade targets, draft trades, and more from Will James about the increasingly exciting Philadelphia Flyers <\/a>offseason. <\/p>\n Boston Hockey Now: The report cards are still coming in. Two stars shone brightly, but one big question remains for the Boston Bruins<\/a>.<\/p>\n ESPN: And after telling TSN that he was done after the Cup run, John Tortorella is leaving the door open to return to the Vegas Golden Knights. Maybe. Possibly. It wasn\u2019t a no<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: John Tortorella<\/a> nhl trade<\/a> Penguins news<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n Categorized:Links<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last season. 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