BHN Daily
BHN Daily: COVID Dictating NHL Schedule. Flames-Rangers Trade?
Is a Sam Bennett for Tony DeAngelo trade imminent?
Could the NHL postpone the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and have back-to-back drafts in the summer of 2022?
Is it time to say Boston Bruins management and coaching were right about the 2021 Bruins?
That and more in the BHN Daily!
With the Colorado Avalanche becoming the third team in a week to have to postpone two or more games and shut it down for at least a week due to a COVID outbreak, the NHL was forced to change its COVID protocol on Thursday.
As of now, the NHL is doing its best to maintain the 56-game schedule that they have in place but it appears the offseason calendar could be changed. On TSN Insider Trading Thursday night, friend of BHN Darren Dreger reported that the league is considering moving the 2021 NHL Entry Draft to the summer of 2022 and having both the 2021 and 2022 drafts back-to-back. (TSN)
The Boston Bruins won’t be playing their scheduled games at TD garden against the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow and Monday thanks to the COVID outbreak the Sabres experienced earlier in the week. That could serve as a well-deserved break for a Bruins team that after a slow start has reminded everyone they’re still one of the NHL’s elite teams.
As my partner-in-crime pointed out, the Bruins have been serving up some hefty crow as of late. The preseason and early season call for a trade to bolster the left side of the blue line or the second line right wing slot have faded and that’s because since losing to the New York Islanders 1-0 on January 18, the Boston Bruins are 6-0-1.
Is it time for the preseason naysayers (like yours truly) to admit they were wrong and Team President Cam Neely, General Manager Don Sweeney, and Head Coach Bruce Cassidy were right about the 2021 Bruins? (Boston Hockey Now)
The Boston Bruins are certainly getting love in the various power rankings across the media (Sportsnet)
Speaking of expectations, should we expect Hockey Canada to reunite the successful 2016 World Cup line of Boston Bruins forwards Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby? (Boston Hockey Now)
Boston Bruins prospect Zach Senyshyn couldn’t stick on the Bruins NHL roster or the taxi squad but according to Providence Bruins head coach Jay Leach, he isn’t sulking down in the AHL. (Boston Hockey Now)
Could a player that wants out of the Calgary Flames, Sam Bennett, be in a trade for Tony DeAngelo, a player that is being forced out from the New York Rangers? (New York Post)
Speaking of DeAngelo, as Larry Brooks opined after the Rangers placed the outspoken defenseman on waivers and he cleared, it was odd that his teammates were singing his praise despite the fact he started a fight with goalie Alex Georgiev. This clip pretty much proves they were simply taking the high road with their soon-to-be former lightning rod for controversy teammate.
Did Shestyorkin and Panarin just pole fun at the "altercation"? 😂 #NYR pic.twitter.com/OBXOCDkuHl
— Stat Boy Steven 🇳🇱🇦🇹 (@StatBoy_Steven) February 5, 2021
Speaking of trades, go back in a time machine with former Los Angeles Kings Assistant General Manager Mike Futa and relive the 2015 trade that sent winger Milan Lucic to the Kings from the Boston Bruins. Futa orchestrated that trade for the Kings and worked with then Bruins Assistant General Manager John Ferguson Jr who is now being considered for the Pittsburgh Penguins open GM post. (Show Me The Money Podcast)
National Hockey Now
Speaking of the Penguins GM job, our NHN man in charge and our man in Pitt, Dan Kingerski, has been all over this story and reports that the Penguins are considering two ‘outside the box’ candidates. Dan confirmed the numerous Kevin Weekes reports but I guarantee the majority of you have no idea who the other candidate he’s confirmed is! (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)
Besides safety and getting healthy, why else is it a good thing the Colorado Avalanche won’t try and play over the next week? Colleague and longtime buddy Adrian Dater explains. (Colorado Hockey Now)
Colleague Sheng Peng looks at how much the absence of fans in NHL arenas is really affecting the outcome of games. (San Jose Hockey Now)
Finally, I apologize for this Murph’s Music Pick Of The Day because now, as expected it’s stuck in my head and will be in yours too. However, I was strolling through February 5 Celebrity birthdays, and lo and behold, Boston, MA native, and late eighties and early nineties pop and hip hop star Bobby Brown is 52 today. That’s the period that this 46-year-old puck scribe went from the hiked up Girbaud Jeans to torn jeans with plaid button-downs to black jeans and a Clash t-shirt. Happy Birthday, Bobby Brown!