A former Pittsburgh Penguins favorite heads the list of NHL free agents whose paychecks will take the biggest hit. The Montreal Canadiens are poised to take advantage of the NHL trade block. Mark Recchi says he loves the Canadiens’ direction, too. There was a bit of a scuffle at Team Canada practice after Mason MacTavish slew-footed a teammate. The Calgary Flames are ready to play hardball with their free agents, and we look at Penguins GM Ron Hextall’s August history.
Typically, I save new information for fresh stories. However, after doing the research, there wasn’t enough for a story. Hextall likes to use August to sign contract extensions, not new players or make trades. Here is the entirety of Hextall’s external August moves covering his time with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins:
August 2014: signed Michael Del Zotto, Ryan White.
August 2015: Signed Chris Porter.
The list per FlyersHistory.com. No external August transactions since 2015. Last summer, Hextall signed Danton Heinen on July 29, Louis Domingue on Sept. 2, and Brian Boyle on Sept. 3.
No trades in August, either.
Pittsburgh Penguins / Sports Now PGH
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NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now
Montreal Hockey Now: The NHL trade block is goalie heavy, at least for a few moments. Sources tell us the team trying to take advantage as buyers and sellers is the Montreal Canadiens.
Also — Mark Recchi told our guys that he loves the rebuild direction. Canadiens news.
San Jose Hockey Now: Where will James Reimer or Adin Hill play? Who are the suitors for the goalies, and who makes sense? The other team with a goalie dangling on the NHL trade block is the San Jose Sharks.
Washington Hockey Now: Sammi Silber has kept her eyes on the WJC. Team Canada had a little drama this weekend when Mason MacTavish slew-footed a teammate, and tempers flared. Scuffle for Team Canada.
Florida Hockey Now: Marc Staal has been getting kicked around in Detroit for a couple of seasons. Historically, they have been some of the worst campaigns in NHL history. Now, he’s going to win some games and looking forward to it with the Florida Panthers.
Calgary Hockey Now: The Flames lost two big names, then lavished Jonathan Huberdeau with cash to keep him around. The other part of the Matthew Tkachuk trade is still a pending UFA next summer. Will they play hardball with Mackenzie Weegar? Calgary Flames.
