It slammed the hockey world on Wednesday morning. After a few years of muted debate over the Yzer-plan in the shadow of reverence for a franchise icon, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman stepped down, sliding into an advisory role. And now there are major questions in Detroit regarding a successor and the NHL trade chatter surrounding Dylan Larkin, who was no fan of Yzerman, and vice versa.
Elsewhere in the Daily, a couple of teams handed over hefty paydays to restricted free agents with pending arbitration cases, beginning in Winnipeg, where the Jets locked up Cole Perfetti, and then in Philly, where Trevor Zegras got a new contract. And we continued our Penguins Prospects Week with the latest countdown from 10 to six.
And oh boy, have I fly-papered some people. How could you…?
The prospect rankings are simple. But I’m trying to figure out the great flip. How did everyone go from “Rebuild now” back to “these guys suck, you have to win with Crosby” and cast aside the entire group of prospects minus Sergei Murashov?
For the most part, I have greatly appreciated PHN readership and the interactions this week on the prospect list. I think if you’re coming here, you’re more connected with the goings on because we’re hockey 24/7, 365. But good golly, some of the external reactions have been so belligerent as to make me laugh.
Just wait until today’s Top 5.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The first three games of the schedule were released on Wednesday. It’s kind of like an appetizer, but we know the home opener and the first couple of big games on the Penguins’ schedule.
And, I guess it was provocative to some. How could you rank Rutger McGroarty ahead of Liam Ruck?! Oh my gawd! Well, it all makes sense when you read–Here is the 10-6 Penguins prospects countdown.
By the way, I took a new way home from my “vacation” in Wellsboro, and I finally took a minute to stop at the Germania Hotel, which was an 1880s hub for German settlers that didn’t go around the corner to the other still-standing house that may or may not have been a brothel and gambling house. You’d love this little place. The hotel is a preserved spot with a 150-year-old bar that serves $3 cans of beer for the few folks who still live in the area. And if you stop in, say hi to Bim for me.
And what’s so wrong with an Old Milwaukee?! My choices were limited, but almost any $3 beer on a 90-degree day tastes amazing.
To the big news…
NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now
Detroit Hockey Now: First, the bombshell. Steve Yzerzman is out at the top of the Detroit Red Wings organization.
The look for replacements has already begun. Bob Duff took a look at the internal candidates, including one Penguins prospect’s father. Could the Red Wings promote from within?
Bob also teed up the organization with a strong column. I love it when Duffer swings away. When will Detroit learn–putting a legend in charge just doesn’t work for the Red Wings.
Sportsnet: Cole Perfetti got a hefty payday (which shocked me) and will be sticking in Winnipeg for several more years to come.
Philly Hockey Now: Just as I was surprised by the big amount Perfetti got from Winnipeg to avoid arbitration, I was a little surprised by the terms and what the Philadelphia Flyers gave Trevor Zegras.
It’s a new day. If Leo Carlsson is worth $18 million, then everyone else gets a raise, too.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Check this out. Anthony Mantha finally signed. But he only got two years and not nearly the money he wanted from the New Jersey Devils.
If he had agreed to that term and valuation with the Penguins, I think it would have gotten done before July 1, but the team had already signed Andrei Kuzmenko. I believe in this instance, Mantha’s reputation preceded him, and teams weren’t willing to commit to a player with such a checkered Hockeydb page.
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Pittsburgh Penguins
