Daily Nuggets

Daily Nuggets: Pietrangelo Concerns, Eichel Honored; Olympics!

Published

4 weeks ago

June 17, 2025

Jack Eichel practices with Team USA at the Four Nations Face-Off Tournament (Photo/Screenshot- Vegas Golden Knights via Twitter)

Good morning, folks. I hope all the fathers and father figures had an excellent Father’s Day. On Monday, Team USA named Vegas Golden Knights superstar center Jack Eichel as one of their six preliminary roster players for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Elliotte Friedman doubled down on his earlier report, once again expressing concern about Alex Pietrangelo’s availability for the upcoming season.

Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, Jaromír Jágr recognizes Connor McDavid’s greatness. The Edmonton Oilers delayed naming a starting goaltender ahead of tonight’s Game 6 against the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche could pull off a shocking one-for-one trade, and the Devils should pursue Nikolaj Ehlers.

Golden Knights News

For the first time since 2014, NHL players are permitted to represent their countries in the Olympics. On Monday, the 12 participating countries named the first six players to their preliminary rosters. And, surprise, surprise– Team USA named Jack Eichel in their first batch of players.

Now, the not-so-good news. On Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman appeared on The FAN Hockey Show. While discussing Mitch Marner and where the top Free Agent could sign, Friedman doubled down on his report, hinting that Alex Pietrangelo’s health might be worse than previously stated.

Friedman’s report once again raises an important question– without Alex Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights need to address the right side of their defense. And that’s not the only area of their roster that needs improvement.

NHL News, Rumors, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Now, this is drama. Ahead of a win-or-go-home Game 6, the Edmonton Oilers refused to name a starting goaltender.

Sportsnet: With his longevity and incomprehensible talent, Jaromír Jágr is indisputably one of the all-time greats. And, like all the elite players before him, he’s able to appreciate the greatness in today’s best– Connor McDavid.

The Athletic ($): With Jack Eichel, William Karlsson, Tomáš Hertl, and Nic Roy, the Golden Knights are very deep down the middle. They should consider themselves lucky because this year’s Free Agent crop of centers isn’t much to write home about.

Florida Hockey Now: Last year, the Panthers nearly let their Stanley Cup dreams slip through their fingers. Now, they need just one win to cement themselves as back-to-back champions. The Panthers learned from last year and are hoping they’ve left their nerves in the rearview.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils have made it very clear that they want to upgrade their offense. On July 1st, they should take a run at one of the top Free Agents who checks all their boxes.

Colorado Hockey Now: Martin Nečas, the disgruntled centerpiece of the Mikko Rantanen trade, has headlined trade boards this offseason. Pending RFA JJ Peterka wants out of Buffalo. Could the Avalanche and the Sabres pull off a one-for-one swap to kill two birds with one trade?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: All hail Captain Canada. To no one’s surprise, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was one of the six players named to Canada’s preliminary Olympic roster.