Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - A MAF reunion? I say YES

Episode Date: July 27, 2021

What's that? A Marc-Andre Fleury reunion, you say? That's right! Hunter starts the show by going full hypocrite mode and explains why this is the perfect opportunity for the Penguins to reunite with Marc-Andre Fleury. He also explains how a three-way trade could work to get the cap even lower for the Penguins, but even half would do. Would the dynamic with Jarry be weird? Can the Pens bet on him to be as good this season? He also discusses how he's the best bet of any of the available goaltenders right now. After that, Hunter previews free agency tomorrow and makes a prediction on how active the Penguins will be, plus if it makes sense to sign Zach Parise. All that, plus thoughts on the other moves as of late, in this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hi everyone, welcome to this Tuesday afternoon episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L-O- underscore Penguins.

We have so much to get into today. I do get to being the Joker with this Mark Andre Fleury's stuff. I do have to say this is honestly one of my favorite times of the NHL offseason or just honestly the season as a whole. I've been calling it a silly season for the last couple weeks. We really

have been getting that with the trades and the signings or the rumors stuff that we have been seeing for the last couple weeks. And it's only going to continue to get better tomorrow. So stay tuned with me and this podcast. You will not want to miss so much Penguins coverage because this team I think will be busy

over these next couple of days. But okay, let's get right into it. I'm not going to waste all of your time talking about Mark Andre Fleury. So in case anyone is living under a rock, Florey was traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Chicago Blackhawks for a B or C level prospect

who probably is not going to make the team in Vegas. All of Flurry's $7 million cap hit is off the books. They basically got nothing in return, but they kind of got some cap space because I'm sure they're going to try to go after Jack Eichel, make a run, and get their number one center they have desperately needed. If they can put him with Mark Stone and Max Patcheretti,

I mean, that would just be basically not fair. I know they have to also create cap room to sign Alec Martinez because it sounds like that contract is coming to a head. I think they're going to be signing him. I think it's a four-year term for what was reported. But anyways, I am going to say it now. I understand I have been very against the idea of Mark Andre Fleury going back to Pittsburgh. I am here to tell you that I am the Joker and that I'm going to sound like a hypocrite,

but I think it is time for the Penguins to bring him back. Yeah, there it is. Thank you for listening. We'll talk to him tomorrow. Okay, I'm just messing around. But, again, I don't care if I sound like the biggest hypocrite in the world. It is time to bring him back. He is such a big upgrade over Tristanjari, and it actually finally makes sense now.

You saw the reports from Elliot Freeman and Bob McKenzie today. There are rumblings that Flurry is considering retirement because he does not want to play with the Chicago Blackhawks. Rob Rossi also touched on it with his piece with Mark Lazarus of the Blackhawks, the beat of the Athletic. They both reported that Florey does not intend to play for the Blackhawks. So Chicago really has no leverage here. I mean, is Flore just going to retire or, you know, he can force his way to Pittsburgh? I don't think Pittsburgh's going to have to give up a lot to get him. And I'm sure Stan Moeman would gladly, and I mean gladly eat half of his salary,

and then Pittsburgh is only paying at most $3.5 million for next season. And just get the band back together one more time. I mean, screw it. I mean, literally who cares? They're not going to be the biggest Stanley Cup contender going into next season. But to see Sid, Gino, Latang, and Flurry all on the ice together for one more season before. One of them, I think, retires after next season. I don't even know if the Penguins would bother extending Mark Andre Fleury.

Just inject that into my veins. And it just, it also makes sense because of how great Flurry was this past season. You know, he led the league in goals saved above expected last season with 19.2. He also won the Vezna Trophy over Andre Vasilovsky. I mean, he definitely dipped a little bit last season, and you probably can't expect him to lead the league again in goals saved above expected. But I'm pretty sure that you can bet on him to be a lot better than Tristan Jari was this season. for Pittsburgh, especially in the playoffs.

I don't think you're going to see him cough up another playoff series for the Penguins like he did in years past against the Flyers and the Canadians. And I'm trying to, well, almost the Islanders. I almost forgot that one. They're lucky they had Tomas LoCoon in there to come in and help. Sure, the dynamic would be a bit weird if they do decide to keep drawing because, you know, you have the franchise icon coming back to take the guy who's a lot younger to just basically take his job.

But you deal with that when you can. But this is really the first time, I think, for as long as people have been saying this, to bring Flurry back to Pittsburgh, where, you know, I made the comparison on Doug Glacky's show with the forecheck. It's basically like, you know, the X you can't get over,

that you want them back into your life. This is basically Mark Andre Flurry coming back to Pittsburgh. And again, it just fills a need and gets them closer to potentially winning a fourth Steenly Cup in the Sadin-Gie. no era. I mean, you know, sure, again, they're not going to be the biggest contender next season,

but like I just said five seconds ago, they're a lot closer to winning the cup with Floreas your starting goaltender over someone such as a Tristan Jari. What could a trade look like if they try to negotiate it? I can honestly see Pittsburgh. I mean, obviously they're going to ask Chicago to eat half his salary, but I also could see Pittsburgh sending over a contract to save even more cap space. Hint Hint, Marcus Peders, potentially four million right there. You have Jason Zucker's $5.5 million that could come off the cash. cap. Mike Maddison if Stan Bowman is stupid enough to do that. I mean, he's not that smart of a GM anyway. He just gave Seth Jones 9.5 million per, but, you know, Chicago, I think also

needs more defense. If they want to put Pedersen with Caleb Jones on the third pairing, I think that would totally be fine because, of course, they just got Caleb Jones in the trade with Duncan Keith for Edmonton. But that is, I think, something that makes a lot of sense for both sides. And again, you know, it didn't make sense in 2017 to keep Flurry over Murray. You always go with the younger option. I will always die on that hill. It didn't make sense last year because if they would have gotten Flurry, they would have been in a world of cap hell even before they bought out Jack Johnson. But now this year, with Pittsburgh having over $7 million in cap space, even though they have not signed Aston Reese yet, you know, with that they'll still have over five close to six. They can

absorb half of Flurie's cap hit and still go out into free agency and make another big move, like signing Brandon Sotr, signing Tomas Datar, or signing another player in free agency that could come in at a cheaper cost than originally thought of. And then boom, the team is much better going into next season. And oh yeah, everyone, this would also be great for the marketing because do you know how many jerseys this would sell for the fan base? I think he would be the number one jersey selling player for the team next season, way higher than Sid, Gino, Letang, whatever other player that's on the team.

it finally makes sense. The Penguins should be all over this. And me and Doug Glacky were actually talking about this on his show today as well. He made a great point to me. The Penguins should honestly try and do a three-way trade with the Blackhawks so where they can eat a portion of his salary. They can also, the Blackhawks could first send him to another team, eat some of that salary, and then send him to Pittsburgh.

And then Pittsburgh is only eating, what, potentially half of that three and a half million, which is like what, $1.75 million for one season. Then we're really talking and then you can add potentially a lot more in free agency, still dump some salary along the way and then boom. I mean, again, that would just be the best

case scenario with getting flurry. I'm not sure it's going to happen. I mean, they would have had to be a three-way deal last year according to Elliot Freeman to make the money work. It was supposed to be, I think, go through Los Angeles or Anaheim and then Bill Foley mixed it. So this is

something the penguins should be all over. Again, I know I sound like the biggest hypocrite in the world, and that I totally am turning into the Joker right now. But the penguins should be all over this. And I think he's a better goalie than anyone you could sign on the open market or trade for that's not John Gibson. You would have to give up the farm for Gibson anyway, giving up basically nothing to get Flurry, who only has one more year left on his deal for at most $3.5 million, who's also

coming off winning the Vezna last season and leading the league in goals. saved above expected. It's a no-brainer for me. Sure, it's a bit weird with Tristan Jari, probably losing his job. I don't really give a damn. It gets them closer to winning the cup. That is what matters. And now it finally makes sense to have the big reunion that everyone has wanted for the

last four years. And you know what? I'll say, I haven't been the biggest Mark Andre Fleury supporter over the years. I love him as a player, but I think some Jensers take it to the extreme with him. But, you know, to see what happened to him today really shook me a little. bit. I kind of just was really upset when I saw that Flory found out about the trade via Twitter that just basically confirmed to all of us that he has a burner account somewhere. But I mean, it was just really crappy for all involved. And again, they basically got nothing in return

for someone who just won the Vesna and for someone who all of the fans absolutely adored in Vegas. And again, I feel so bad for him too because he's going to have to uproot his family again. His heart was in Vegas. He doesn't want to play in Chicago. But I I think, again, if there's one team he wants to play for that, he's probably comfortable moving his family back to. It's Pittsburgh and no one else. I really don't think he wants to go anywhere other than the Penguins. And I'm sure Sid and Gino and everyone else in the Penguins organization would welcome him back with open arms just because of how much they loved him over the year. So those are my thoughts on the entire Mark Andre Florey situation.

Again, just get this done yesterday. And then we can get on with the rest of our lives for the rest of the off season, which I'm sure is going to be. be really interesting for the Penguins. I'm going to have much more on that topic coming up in the next segment because Rob Rossi and Josh Yale, we dropped a very juicy article on the athletic today, which I'm going to go over in detail. It sounds like they've had a lot of talks regarding certain players, either on the free agent market or on the trade market.

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Go to rockado.com right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck. and you can write Locked On and their how did you hear about us box so they know we sent you amazing collection, rivalry low prices, all the parts of car we ever need. That is rock auto.com. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hoddies. I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hoddies.

Follow this show is Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So the content never stops when it comes to penguins and off-season stuff. I'm trying to load up this article for you all. right now. Just give me a second here. There was just a time of juicy info in that Rossi and Yoey article. I just have so many tweets on my timeline with going to Mark Andre Fleury. But here goes. So according to Rossi and Yoey, they've had talks with these teams, the Arizona Coyotes, the Anaheim Ducks, the Calgary Flames,

the Detroit Red Wings and the Vegas Golden Knights. The bottom one was Mark Andre Fleury before he got traded. You know, it was actually funny that they both came out that article and then like an hour later Fleury traded to the Blackhawks and they also sent the article that it was unlikely that Flurry was going to be traded so definitely a big miss by them. We're not going to hold it against them

but these are the players that they've had trade talks with varying degrees of interest according to both of them. Lupi Coyotes Darcy Kemper and Christian DeVorak in my opinion I think DeVorak is a good player. He's probably overpaid but I also think his eye test

I think it's better than what his numbers suggest that he is. I think in a role here, he would be a lot better than he has been in Arizona. Kemper, again, a goaltender makes a lot of sense, but I think the penguins were going to be outbid for him. I've seen a lot of reports that the price is very high. Don't think Ron Hextell wants to give up a lot of futures for someone who's making $4.5 million for the next year, and also someone who's batted a lot of injury problems for the last couple of seasons. I know I said yesterday that he would be on my top list, but that was only if they get him for. basically a steal. I don't want to give up a ton of assets for him. With the ducks,

they've had talks about Ricard Raquel. So we finally got to see some people from Penguins Twitter have been pushing the Ricard Raquel talk, excuse me, for a long time now. It's good to see that they're having talks about him. Calgary Flames, Milan Luchich. Let me just say this on the Luchich stuff. If they actually do trade for him, I don't know what I'll do. But I will say this. I was having this talk earlier today with Jason from Penguins' Twitter. If you could convince Calgary to eat half of his salary at $3 million and do a one-for-one deal with Mike Matheson going the other way, I do it. I mean, that's 1.8 in cap savings that you're getting.

I mean, the more you can get, the merrier, everyone. The penguins are always up against the salary cap every year. Getting almost $2 million in cap relief even by dumping Matheson but getting Luchich in return. That's a win in my book. And you honestly can just stick him on the fourth line. and I'm sure Teddy Bluger and Zach Ashton Reese can carry him on a nightly basis. Again, though, I don't really want to go after Luchich, but that's probably the only trade scenario that would make sense to me,

and any other one, just a hard pass. But again, it makes sense from their perspective, that being Ron Hexton, Brian Burke, because they both have said that they would like to add some sandpaper or some grip this offseason, but, you know, Loochich really can't even play that much anymore, and he also makes way too much money. He's just kind of cooked, I think, at this point. But again, the only way I would trade him is with a scenario that I just told you all.

From the Detroit Red Wings, Tyler Bertuzi, I think that makes a lot of sense. He's always been a pretty productive player with the Red Wings before this season when he only played nine games but had seven points in those nine games. In 2020, he played 71 games, 21 goals, 48 points in those 71 games. He's in before that, 47 points in 73 games. So he's always been well over half a point per game player. He's also a left wing. Again, the Penguins have a pretty big left wing problem because they just lost Jared

Bacan and Brandon Tanna, both of which who can play left wing. I think that's going to be a position that they target aggressively in free agency tomorrow. That's why I touched on Brandon Zad on yesterday's episode. Tomas Tatar in a written form for full press hockey. And now again, it makes a lot of sense that Bertuzi would be another left winger

that they would look at. I think that it would be a lot to get him just because he's been very productive with the Red Wings and Steve Eisenman really doesn't lose a lot of trades. You know, that's a GM that I will be cautious about trading with just because of how he can really, I guess, manipulate other GMs into making bad moves.

I would really hope that he wouldn't do that to Ron Hextall, but you never know. Again, that makes a ton of sense, and the other one we already talked about was Mark Andre Fleury. They did have a discussion about Brandon Zod in this article. Rossi and Yoey report that there was anger from some circles in the organization when Rutherford failed to land Brandon Sott in 2016. Again, I really don't know why there will be so much anger because they got Phil Kessel a day later,

and then he went on to be a folk hero in Pittsburgh, and should have probably won a Kahn-Smith in one of those years. Their sources have said that Sod and the Penguins are on each other's radar, so it looks like Saad is interested in coming home. For those that did not listen to my episode yesterday, what I would do for my contract was Saad four years times 4.1 or 4.2 million. Anything higher than that, I think you would have to walk. I know evolving hockey has his projection at 4 times 4.94 million per.

I think that's a bit too rich. If you want to shave that off by about 600 to 700K, I would be persuaded into doing that. So we'll have to see if Pittsburgh is aggressive after Saad tomorrow, but it is good to see that both sides are interested in each other with free agency looming in less than 24 hours. This one here right after the Brain and Sodd talk really caught me on. off guard. Two sources, neither of them with ties to the Penguins, reported to them that Zach Perise might sign on the cheap with the Penguins when Free Agency opens. I really don't think that move makes a lot of sense, in my opinion. I think Perisei is cooked at this point.

Sure, he could probably be carried by Ashton, Reese, and Bluger, and sure there's probably worse options out there than Perise, but I just don't think he's that effective of a player anymore. And if you basically look at Andy and Rano's site with data from Puck IQ and Natural Statrick and Corey Schnadser, I mean, 52nd percentile for offense, 58 percentile for scoring, only one to one percentile for power play efficiency, 11th percentile for shooting, 49th percentile for passing, play driving 37th percentile, 31st percentile in transition. And overall, when you look at even as his counting stats last season, seven goals, 18 points in 45 games.

Even if it's a one-year deal for $1 million or $900K or even a little more than a million, that's just a million too much, in my opinion. I think you could put Freddie Goodrow down there, and he could do a better job than Perise. I just, I would stay clear of that and just let someone like Lou Lamarillo with the Islanders sign Parise, because I think he's just cooked at this point, in my opinion. There was some stuff with John Marino to end the article, but with saying that the Penguins are willing to part with Marino for the right price. I'm not going to entertain that that much just because I don't think Hextall and Burke are going to do that.

If they were to ever trade Marino, it would have to be for a pretty hefty package. I don't think he should be untouchable. I think if you're getting a pretty good player in return that's better than him and that can help the team win now, I think the team should do it, though are they really going to get that, especially considering he did not have that good of a second season? I really don't see it, at least in my opinion, though. It was weird, apparently. they both reported that there's a growing concern that Marino's family is too involved in his career.

I don't know where that came from. For those of you that are going to ask me about that, I have not heard anything about that. I don't know what that could pertain to. I don't know if his mom drives him to practice every morning or, you know, it makes his lunch for him. But it's definitely a bit weird to see in an article, but I have no idea what that pertains to. But I'll try to dig in on that a little bit and try to get some info for you. wall. But some pretty big stuff in there, everyone. These next 24 to 48 hours, I think, could be really big for this organization going into next season. Could see a flurry move. Could see something

for Brandon's side. Could see a different signing. We'll have to see. I mean, just, again, keep it right here with Locked on Penguins and follow me on both Twitter accounts. Before we do get to our next segment, we also have to touch on. As always, one of my favorite topics. Bet Online, the fastest and easiest way to bet on all your sports action. Baseball season is in full swing. You can track all the action. At bet online, you can get all the latest news, odds, and info for all your sporting needs, including MLB, NBA, and H&R UFC, MMA action.

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All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at LO underscore Penguins. There really hasn't been too much other news, I guess, today. We did see Alex Ovechkin sign his call. contract five years, nine and a half million per. Did not think the caps would go to five years, but then I was reminded by some Capitals fans that I'm really close with that this lines up with Nicholas Baxter as they both will have five years left on their contract.

So they'll just walk off into the sunset together. I'm sure Obie will go back to Russia after this contract is up. But good to see his loyalty to the Capitals organization, as this will be it right after his contract expires and Nicholas Baxter. Otherwise, again, just not really too much. We did see Brendan Dillon be traded from the Capitals to Winnipeg Jets last night. Two second round picks come back to the Capitals. If Brendan Fricking Dylan is worth two second round picks, and Marcus Pedersen, I think is worth a first.

I'm sorry, those are the rules. I think Pedersen is a better defenseman in every way, shape, and form. Over Dylan, I think he's better defensively, and I think he probably contributes more offensively than Dylan does at this point. In terms of what contracts you'll likely to see tomorrow, Zach Hyman's probably going to get one of the most overpaid contracts of the day, probably the most overpaid contract of the day. It's probably going to be seven times five and a half, seven times six.

That's going to be absolutely ridiculous from the Edmonton Oilers. I think Casey Sazikis is going to get a contract that someone is going to regret. If Brandon Fricantanav gets six years with three and a half million per and so does Barclay Goodrow. You're probably going to see Sizicus gets six years, four million per. because he is basically TANF, except he contributes more offensively than TANF. So I can't wait to see what that deal looks like. As for some others, you know,

the hurricanes continue to take L's or closing in on an agreement with Tony DiAngelo, expecting it to be a one-year deal. Really don't know what the plan is with the hurricanes. They really are turning into a bunch of jerks right before our very eyes. I just don't understand the logic into giving that guy a contract. It's just, again, hockey culture stinks. this guy should be nowhere near an NHL team.

Three teams have given up on him already due to him being a complete idiot. I don't know why he's getting a fourth chance in the league. That's for sure. I just really don't understand it. I'm sure you're honestly going to see CC get over paid in free agency. And don't get me wrong. I love what CC did with the Penguins this past season. But any team that gives him four times four, that's just a huge mistake,

especially if you're going to put him on the third pairing. I don't think he can eat up second pairing. minutes. I just don't think that's who he is at this stage for his career. Sure, he probably defied the odds a little bit this past season with how good defensively he was and how he even put up some decent numbers offensively. But if you're giving that guy $4 million per in a multi-year deal, even if it's just for three to four years, that's just going to be a mistake. You can find good players for the third pairing on a $1 million per deal or $1.5 to $2 million per. I mean, it's just giving CC that much money is going to be stupid. I think Blake Coleman is

going to get too much money. That screams like a six-time-six deal. Giving him just six million per year is just absolutely ludicrous to me. I know he won the last two cops with Tampa Bay. I know he was really good on the third line and should be on a top six on most teams, but not, I think, at a six-million cap it. I think that's just too high for him. Whoever's going to sign him to that kind of contract is going to be making a pretty big mistake. Update on Gabriel Landiscag, according to Elliot Friedman looks like seven times seven. No, everyone, it does not look like that the penguins will be in on Landisog. They do not have the cap room for him, nor have they ever had the cap room for him, excuse me. So that is not going to happen. Other than that, I think I'm going to call this an episode

for Locked on Penguins. Keep it right here tomorrow. I will post breaking news for Locked on Now videos and hopefully on my YouTube channel as the stuff comes in. I think you will see the penguins pretty active tomorrow. Maybe not as active as some other teams, but I would expect one to two moves from Ron Hextall tomorrow, whether it's Tomas Tatar, Brandon's side, maybe Rossi's right with Zach Preci or a couple

other signings or maybe a flurry trade. I expect to see them make a couple moves tomorrow and then have Hextall, have a press conference after while talking about what those moves mean for the team next season. Hoping for no overpays that they do go into free agency and sign a couple players, but we'll

have to see. But again, thank you all so much for listening to this episode. Keep it right here with Locked-on Penguins. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes for all your latest Penguins news. And we will do this again tomorrow on one of the busiest days of the NHL off-season calendar. Can't wait to talk to you all then.