Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Shine; Trades, Rantanen Rumors, Ovi Scores 885

The Vegas Golden Knights were in action on Wednesday night and took it to the Toronto Maple Leafs on national television. The sub-par January play disappears further in the rearview mirror with every passing game. Adin Hill is once again at the top of his game, proving why he will be the starting goaltender when the postseason rolls around.

Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, the Devils received devastating news about star center Jack Hughes. Finally, the trade dam cracked a little more on Wednesday. The floodgates aren’t fully open yet– no, Mikko Rantanen and the Carolina Hurricanes still hold the league hostage– but we’re nearly there. Wednesday saw four trades and countless rumors.

It feels like Christmas Eve; the trade deadline is in t-minus 29 hours and 30 minutes. It’s almost time to open presents.

Golden Knights News

The offense roared to life on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Golden Knights took an early lead and never looked back. Unlike last week against the Chicago Blackhawks, they didn’t suffer an embarrassing collapse; the Golden Knights methodically added to their lead and beat the Maple Leafs 5-2. Here’s my analysis:

Now for the bad news: Raphaël Lavoie exited the game in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. 

SDPN: Poor Steve Dangle has been through the wringer with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I appreciate the videos he and his team make— the guy’s funny, traumatized, and loves the game. The beating the Golden Knights gave the Maple Leafs on Wednesday pushed him to pray to Brad Treliving above for a trade. 

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: My god, he’s going to do it. He’s really going to do it. That’s been the reality for some time now, but now he could do it this season. Alex Ovechkin scored his 885th career goal on Wednesday. He needs nine more to tie Wayne Gretzky’s record and ten more to stand alone at the top of the goal mountain.

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman reports that the Carolina Hurricanes are doing their due diligence. They’re calling around to gauge what a return might look like if they traded Mikko Rantanen.

Sportsnet: I respect the Tampa Bay Lightning. They, like the Golden Knights, continue to go for it. On Wednesday, they sent two first-round draft picks to the Seattle Kraken for Oliver Bjorkstrand and a reunion with Yanni Gourde.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: To quote Professor Hinkle from the 1969 animated holiday classic Frosty the Snowman: on Wednesday night, the Penguins were “busy, busy, busy!” They first banished Vincent Desharnais to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2028 fifth-round draft pick. Shortly thereafter, they sent Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators for Tommy Novak and… Luke Schenn?

Florida Hockey Now: Spencer Knight is a Chicago Blackhawk, which means the Panthers needed a new backup goaltender. So they went out and got their guy.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Well, this sucks. Jack Hughes underwent successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday, but he’s out for the remainder of the season, including playoffs. The Devils are in a tricky spot now– what will they do moving forward?

Colorado Hockey Now: If the Islanders sell, Brock Nelson stands to be the belle at the ball. The Avalanche could certainly use him, and they’re reportedly very interested.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: Russ Macias from NYIHN and James Nicholas from NJHN discuss trade proposals between the Islanders and the New Jersey Devils.