WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ trade paths are coming to a fork in the road. We examined the “either or” choice facing general manager Kyle Dubas. Also, we’re going to stick around Wilkes-Barre for another day and chat with a few of the Penguins prospects this afternoon. Last night was not a time when they were prepared to speak after their hearts were ripped from their hockey chests with a 2-1 OT loss in Game 6 and losing the Eastern Conference Final series to Toronto. We’ve got plenty of analysis, less so on the game and more so on what we learned from this almost magical WBS Penguins playoff run.

Elsewhere in the Daily, DFO dropped an interesting nugget–the “change of scenery” trade board with some interesting names. Mitch Marner is the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are interviewing a surprising candidate for their head coach position.

I can’t wait for the Marner reaction.

So, there’s a little plot twist in Wilkes-Barre. Instead of shaking hands and chatting with the boys this morning, we’re doing it late this afternoon, which is going to keep me in town all day but probably prevent me from getting all the way home tonight (it’s not fun to ride a motorcycle at night on twisty deer-laden country roads, nor I-80). So, any help from the locals on how to kill a day around here besides swilling Starbucks coffee or pancakes from IHOP?

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Well then. Dubas has a choice, but he most likely cannot do both. He can chase a top prospect by moving up in the draft, or he can chase his “difference maker” on the NHL trade block. After days of building to this by analyzing the costs, we came to a fork in the road. Dubas has options, but here’s the real Penguins trade choice.

I put a little writing flourish into this one for you. I figured the boys deserved a playoff sendoff. It was a raucous house last night, but WBS just couldn’t find that winner. And I emptied the tank. Who took that step, who didn’t play as well, and who almost guaranteed themselves a spot in the NHL? Here’s what we learned from the WBS playoff run in the Penguins prospects analysis.

Watching Harrison Brunicke and Sergei Murashov kneeling, just staring at the scoreboard in disbelief, was a powerful visual.

In fact, Brunicke remained in the position until Joona Koppanen eventually skated over and essentially helped him up. It was as bad as I’ve felt for a team in a long time. I felt for the 2022 Penguins, whom I thought were robbed in several games, including Game 7 in New York, but I knew just how hard this loss hit the WBS team. They really wanted that trophy.

I’m sorry I couldn’t get out to have a beer with some of you last night. The OT obviously out-kicked the serving times of most places in Wilkes-Barre, which closes up by 11 p.m., but I appreciated the kind words for PHN and our efforts from those of you who stopped me in the concourse last night. That stuff is worth more than money. Thank you.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Detroit Hockey Now: Kevin Allen did the homework on this one, and there’s no one I trust more. Kevin laid out the ‘Dylan Larkin power rankings,” and which teams have the best shot at landing him in the coming Red Wings trade.

Daily Faceoff: Matt Larkin dropped a “Change of Scenery” trade board that included a couple of names we’ve already included as potential targets.

TSN Video: Mitch Marner. Conn Smythe? Oh, it’s looking that way, and the Canadian media is both building the hype and preparing for the fallout.

Sportsnet: Say what? Perhaps following in the footsteps of the Montreal Canadiens who hired a midget hockey coach, Martin St. Louis (also, a former NHL player, of course), the Toronto Maple Leafs reached well off the board and are interviewing Joe Pavelski for their vacant bench.

NJ Hockey Now: The scuttled deal between Toronto and Montreal for Matthew Knies is echoing loudly in hockey circles, not only because it seems Toronto erred in not getting the paperwork in on time, but as James Nichols writes, other teams can beat the offer. In fact, Nichols shows the better offer that the New Jersey Devils can make.

Philly Hockey Now: Reports indicate the Flyers are quite interested in Larkin. So, Will James did the work. What will it cost the Flyers?

Tags: dylan larkin nhl trade Penguins Prospects Pittsburgh Penguins wbs penguins

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