The Daily: Toffoli Best Available Deadline Day Option; Guentzel Deal Backlash

The NHL is on the clock this morning with the trade deadline set for 3 p.m. ET. We start the day with a changed TSN trade board reflecting New Jersey Devils forward Tyler Toffoli as the new No. 1 deadline day option.

The Devils scratched Toffoli Thursday in anticipation of moving him. Several NHL teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks, are looking for a scorer. Toffoli has 26 goals this season.

Also, this morning, Pittsburgh Penguins fans are reacting negatively to the return Kyle Dubas received for trading Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. The ‘Canes receive Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith in exchange for forwards Michael Bunting, plus prospects Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius and conditional 2024 first- and fifth-round picks from Carolina.

Koivunen, a Finnish League standout, is ranked 34th on Craig Button’s recent list of top NHL-affiliated prospects, but the Hurricanes didn’t part with their top prospect (Alexander Nikishin) or anyone who is close to being NHL ready.

Second, the first-round pick becomes a second-round pick (previously owned by Philadelphia) if the Hurricanes don’t make the Stanley Cup Final.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski gave Dubas a C- for his work.

“The Penguins haven’t fortified their prospect pool,” Kingerski wrote, “nor have they gotten better on the NHL ice. It’s hard to say what Dubas and the Penguins really accomplished.”

What are your Toffoli predictions? pic.twitter.com/iKBkfYDTPz

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 7, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• What would it take for the Red Wings to deal prospect forward Jonatan Berggren? He has played well for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
• Bob Duff writes that it doesn’t seem likely the Red Wings are going to acquire Michigan native Bryan Rust from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• The Red Wings need to down the Arizona Coyotes convincingly, given their recent struggles.
• Paywall story: Tim Robinson updates readers on Detroit draft pick Noah D ower-Nilsson, To subscribe, click here.  Use the promo code kevin10 to receive a $10 discount.

Red Wings Next Game

It’s too much to say the Red Wings face a must-win game tonight when they play a road contest against the Arizona Coyotes. However, the Red Wings have lost three in a row, and need a victory to return to the path to earning a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit and Tampa Bay, holding the two wild card spots, only have a two-point lead over the New York Islanders. They have won five in a row.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Jimmy Murphy addresses whether the Boston Bruins still have a chance to land Elias Lindholm in a deal with Vancouver.

Buffalo: Who’s leaving Buffalo today? Erik Johnson is likely to move, and there could be others. Jason Moser explore the Buffalo Sabres options.

Chicago: Nate writes about what the Chicago Blackhawks can offer shopper on trade deadline day.

Colorado: GM Chris MacFarland made another deal Thursday and he may not be finished. Colorado Avalanche.

Montreal: Marc Dumont writes that Joshua Roy deserves to be in the show with the Montreal Canadiens. 

Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Flyers are going to try to trade Ryan Johansen before today’s deadline.