Dan’s Daily: Rutherford Apology, Tocchet Rejection, & Penguins Short

It’s Pittsburgh Penguins-west. Rick Tocchet is the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, but popular Canucks fan Twitter accounts are angry with the horribly botched coaching change from Bruce Boudreau. Tocchet received a more than thorough Twitter vetting by fans, and #firericktocchet was trending by mid-afternoon. Also in the Daily, watch the Florida Panthers on the NHL Trade market. Dallas tongues are wagging over Timo Meier, the Pittsburgh Penguins played brilliantly except for scoring, and an insider’s take on Bo Horvat’s cost after he’s traded.

There’s nothing couth about digging into Tocchet’s Twitter. The conformity required on Twitter is Orwellian. You don’t have to agree with everything from everyone all the time. Maturity and grace allow space for some people to think differently.

And that’s all I got to say about that.

We had a fun time on the TV last night. I busted out the Coach’s Corner jacket…

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates:

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Marcus Pettersson celebrated. It looked like a 2-1 OT win, but officials blew the whistle and busted Pettersson for getting onto the ice early for the two-on-one chance. Oops. Pettersson highlighted our postgame feature inside the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room.

PHN+: The Penguins grades. It was a great structural game (after the first minute), but the Penguins’ missing ingredients were on full display. The insights and Penguins grades.

PHN+: Our weekly Off the Record as NHL execs, GMs, and league sources spill the beans. What about the cost AFTER a team acquires Bo Horvat? What about the Minnesota Wild on the NHL trade block?

Pittsburgh Baseball Now(+): Andrew McCutchen was finally introduced. What is Cutch’s one goal with the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Steelers Now: The Steelers have had three coaches since LBJ was President, and Country Joe and the Fish played Woodstock. The Philly Eagles have rolled through a few coaches in the past decade and been to Super Bowls. Is the Steelers’ way better?

I said this on Final Word last night — Does anyone realize Mike Tomlin’s coaching tree has ZERO branches? Something to ponder…

NHL Trade, News & National Hockey Now:

Awful Announcing: Fans are not happy in Vancouver. #FireRickTocchet was trending.

Daily Hive: Jim Rutherford apologized for the botched coaching swap but also blamed the leaks.

Sportsnet: It’s now the Pittsburgh Penguins-West. Patrick Allvin-Jim Rutherford-Rick Tocchet, and Tocchet is stepping into hostile territory.

Look, Tocchet is a good coach. His record in Arizona may have something to do with a poorly constructed team without prospects that couldn’t afford a free lunch, eh? Rutherford is hoping for a Mike Sullivan Part II. Tocchet will have to channel that intense leader with a constant cut on his nose and glare in his eyes, but he has a chance.

Washington Hockey Now: The Capitals laid down in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and T.J. Oshie didn’t stay quiet. He blasted his team — Washington Capitals locker room.

The Athletic ($): If Dallas bucks up and goes for a top-six forward at the NHL trade deadline, go Timo Meier, writes Saad Yousuf.

Pierre LeBrun writes that the Florida Panthers aren’t giving up and have closed the cap on the Penguins and Capitals (they really have). Watch out for Florida shaking and baking on the NHL trade block.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings just aren’t there yet. They’re falling in the standings. Here are the rebuild lessons, as taught by Tampa Bay and Chicago, for the Detroit Red Wings.

Not to question the great Yzer-plan, but Ottawa is much further along despite not having Dylan Larkin. My .02: It’s “go time” for Detroit next season, or it could soon be gone time.