Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - A speedy, scoring winger could help the Penguins at the NHL Draft

Starting point is 00:00:00 We're getting closer and closer to the NHL draft, and that means we're going to keep looking at potential picks for Kyle Dubus and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Today, we feature a speedy winger from the OHL that could bring some skill and some speed to the penguins lineup. You're Locked on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Welcome in to the Friday edition of the Locked On.

Starting point is 00:00:34 on Penguins podcast. I am one of your hosts, Patrick Damp. You can follow me across most social media platforms at Synonym 4WET. Joined as always by the one and only Hunter Hodes. You can follow him on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Before we get going today, today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. real quick before we get started.

Starting point is 00:01:05 Apologies for yesterday. My house got hit pretty hard by the storms. I was out without power for probably about four and a half, five hours. So it really knocked us off our schedule. We weren't able to do an episode because Hunter also had some things to do yesterday evening. So apologies to you guys. We had to take the day off. But we are back and we are ready to go.

Starting point is 00:01:30 Today we're going to continue our season in review. series by looking at Avery Hayes, both his performances in the NHL and the AHL. Since he's one of the young guns, we'll also quickly discuss what his future could be with the Pittsburgh Penguins. And of course, because it's Friday, we're going to have another fan take Friday, a Stanley Cup edition, because as you all well know, June 12th is a big day in Pittsburgh Penguins history. But before we get into any of that, we start the show with our show. next draft profile, and that is Nikita Klepov, a speedy winger out of the OHL who had a huge year

Starting point is 00:02:11 for the Saginaw Spirit, 37 goals, 97 points in 67 games. And while he is a winger hunter, I will say the same thing about him that I said on draft night when the penguins took Ben Kindle. You can spin it any way you want. Nearly 100 points. points is still nearly 100 points. You featured Kleppov on the hockey news a few weeks back. So Hunter, give us a little bit more on this prospect. Yeah,

Starting point is 00:02:44 I'm a big fan of Kleppov. He's also committed to Michigan State for next season. Really good collegiate hockey program, as everyone knows. You know, his playmaking ability is really strong. I like the vision that he has, excuse me.

Starting point is 00:02:56 He's also not afraid of getting his hands dirty. But his bread and butter outside of being a playmaker, Pat, it's from the right circle on the power play. He is a key distributor there, and it is so much fun to watch him do his thing on the power play. He can really rifle the puck. The one-timer that he has, again, very loose comparison, I think you know where I'm going with this. It very, very low-key reminds me of a Gino bomb from that exact spot because Klepov, he can really rifle the puck. Like his one-timer is absolutely gorgeous. He can also play on the penalty kill.

Starting point is 00:03:33 He had some short-handed goals throughout the year. Even at 5-1-5, he likes to hang out in that same circle that he does on the power play. I almost kind of think of it as his office. He sometimes can be shifty too. He has some dangles that you really won't see coming, some really solid edgework. So good skater, good playmaker. His release, especially his one-timer, absolutely disgusting. If the Penguins were to take him at 22, I would be a really big fan.

Starting point is 00:04:01 This was his only year in the OHL after playing in the USHL last year, 12 goals, 31 points in 59 games. He also played in the AIHL for the Wilkesprays, Grant Nights, his 15-100 and 16-under team. So that's kind of cool. But in his lone year for the spirit in the OHL, he was unreal on that team. So again, Pat, purely an offensive player for the most part.

Starting point is 00:04:24 I mean, his two-way game, it could use some improvement, but that's why you're going to Michigan State. I think that's a great spot for him overall. But playmaking, his release, skating, all really good for me. I am a big fan of this kid. I'd be happy if the Penguins took him at 22. This is another player that I struggle to see making it all the way, or not making it, but falling all the way to 22 to the Penguins.

Starting point is 00:04:48 Because again, you look at the way he plays, you look at the way his game is built. This is a player that I think is going to have a premium. put on him come NHL draft time because you look at those numbers. They're really good. And it was his first season doing it in the OHL, by the way, which is massive for him. The other reason I look at it is something you actually put in your hockey news profile of Klepov, which is something that also stood out to me is the fact that he is going

Starting point is 00:05:22 to Michigan State. And Michigan State is a factory. for future NHL players. Remember that guy that we really didn't like in the Flyers series, Porter Martone? Yeah, that's where he went to college and he's become a pretty solid NBA player. But yeah, the other thing that I do think he needs to work on, and this builds off the Michigan State part of it,

Starting point is 00:05:46 is that his two-way game does need work, but if there was ever a place for him to get that work in, it's Michigan State. Yeah, exactly. And again, he does play on the PK, a bit. So he does have that going for him. His coaching staff in Saginaw trusted him to do, you know, obviously some two-way work on the PK,

Starting point is 00:06:04 considering his feet, considering his shot. But I still think he could use a little bit of work. His vision, again, really strong, his hockey IQ. You can see him thinking when he's on the ice. He also anticipates where players are going to be before they get there. It kind of reminds me of J.P. Herbert in the draft as well, at least that aspect of his game. We'll talk more about JP as we get closer to the future.

Starting point is 00:06:26 draft because I'm really high on him as well. But I'm just a big fan of his game. And I think he can really develop in this system here. This will be a prototypical West Clark pick in my opinion. It really would. And this is something that we've gotten some questions on in fan take Friday and just in general, something that overall will talk about the closer we get to the draft. But this strikes me as the kind of player, if you were to ask me that do,

Starting point is 00:06:56 and Clark would start to put packages together to move up in the draft to go get. Because again, you look at his numbers, you look at his experience, his quote unquote experience, and where he's heading to college, it fits right into that mold of a player that would be so up there alley that, again, I think I've said it on the show if I haven't, and I want to know if you agree, Hunter, is I'm not totally convinced that the penguins are going to be picking at 22. I think that there's a world where either they're going to move up or they're going to move down to later in the first round, where maybe they're going to try to pull something they did last year where maybe they have two late first round picks and then some second round picks. Or I could see them packaging 22 along with some seconds to move up in the first round.

Starting point is 00:07:46 And if they did, Klepov is a player. I could see them doing that to go get. He'd be one of them, but I think they would be thinking bigger than Klepov, in my opinion. This is just me throwing stuff out there. We're in mid-June at this point. Tine and Lawrence, I think they'd look to maybe go up and get him and Vigo Bjork, who I am really high on in this draft. Those are like my two dream options in this draft.

Starting point is 00:08:10 If you can get Tyn and Lawrence or Vigo Bjork, I build a statue right outside of the arena right now. But in all seriousness, that's who I think they would want to go up and get. I don't foresee them trading down. I know they did that last year, but I also felt last year's draft was different than this year. draft. I think they either stay at 22 and go best player available for

Starting point is 00:08:30 or defense or they package 22 and something else and maybe another piece up and they go and try to get into the top 10 to get someone that could be ready as early as this year. Like obviously Ben Kindle was that we expect just outside the top 10 or someone that would maybe take one year and then maybe get ready for the following season. So those are like my two main options that I see them doing right now. We'll just have to see. I keep seeing, you know, rumors and reports that the penguins really do want to trade up. I haven't heard it myself. But hey, we got two weeks to go. We'll see if the penguins can potentially make this happen over the next couple weeks. Well, yeah, that's like every time a big

Starting point is 00:09:10 player becomes available. People always say this club, that club are interested in. Yeah, I'm interested in a Ferrari, but my bank account isn't interested in a Ferrari. So of surely, this is the year that a lot of movement happens at the draft, right? But of course, the penguins want to move up. Everybody who's not in the top 10 wants to move up. So we will see what happens with that. But that is going to do it for this opening segment. When we come back, we're going to talk about Avery Hayes.

Starting point is 00:09:40 Look at his season in review in both the NHL and HL levels and quickly touch on what we think his future is in the organization. So stick with us. We're going to do that when we come back right after this. But we've got to tell you about today's first sponsor in that. That is game time. There is nothing like playoff hockey live, the intensity, the rivalries, the crowd. It's just different when you're in the building. Playoffs are some of the best moments in sports and being there in person is something

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Starting point is 00:11:12 Keeping it rolling here on the Friday edition of Locked on Penguins, Patrick Damp with you right alongside Hunter Hodes. Before we continue, get your daily locked on penguins fix completely add free by joining the Every Day or Club today. Start your seven day free trial right now and get closer to the penguins without all the interruptions. Click the link in our show notes or just go to locked on podcasts.com slash everyday or club. Find our show and start our your free trial. Let's get into it, Hunter Avery Hayes. He absolutely rocketed onto the scene this year in a game against Buffalo back in February. His NHL debut.

Starting point is 00:11:57 he scores not just his first NHL goal, but his second NHL goal as well. In total, puts up five goals in 16 games, no assists. Talk about a puck hog, am I right? But he shows the kind of energy that the penguins have been lacking for a while. He's fast, he's physical, and he is a friggin pest. Meanwhile, in the AHL, 42 games, 24 goals, 15 assists, 30, points overall plays a gritty game but he's got some scoring touch to go along with it overall letter grade for this year at the hl level he gets an a a really solid year he was good in the

Starting point is 00:12:40 playoffs as well NHL not a ton of games so i would probably say incomplete but if i had to i'll give him a b strictly on the sense that he brought the energy he had some big moments and you can see him becoming a staple in the bottom six. Yeah, A in the HL, A minus to B plus in the NHL for this season. His first game, just awesome. First goal in his first game, amazing goal gets one a bit later on in the game. And both celebrations were also awesome, by the way. Also scores in the Penguins 8 to 3 win over the Islanders.

Starting point is 00:13:16 That was one of their biggest wins of the season. Also does get two goals in that 7 to 5 loss on the final game of the regular season against the blues. But I think he show you glimpses of what he can do. do in a fourth line role for next season. And I've been talking a lot throughout this off season about why I think he has the inside track to winning that spot on the fourth line next to Connor Dewar, next to Blake LaZott. Part of it is his scoring touch.

Starting point is 00:13:45 Another part of it is his speed. He's very quick out there. And another part of it is just his ratty element. Like he loves to be a pest. He loves being around the net. He likes getting in people's faces. he just likes, you know, stirring it up. And I think the Penguins need more players like that.

Starting point is 00:14:03 And you already know, you get that a little bit with Lazant, Dewar, obviously great penalty killer. He'll give you some clutch goals. He was one of their best players in the playoffs. But I think Hayes, he'll be like that passed on that line that just really makes everyone mad. And he'll be able to give them some goals throughout next season. I mean, he already had five and 16.

Starting point is 00:14:26 And I understand, Pat, that's a short sample size in the NHL, but I see no reason to think that he can't give you in a full season next year, 10 to 11, maybe 12 goals in a full 82 game season. Again, I'm not trying to overreact to small sample sizes. I just think that he has what takes to be a double-digit score on the fourth line in a full 82 game season. Now, he saw us to show up to camp. He's got to earn his spot in the lineup.

Starting point is 00:14:53 He had a great camp and a great preseason last year. He was able to get his cup of coffee at times in NHL. Now it's all about having that similar type of camp in preseason and also building on what you did from this past season. So I'm excited. I really am. And I still do think that he has the inside track to winning that spot. And you can see the development.

Starting point is 00:15:16 If you look at the way he's played the last two years, played 18 more games at the HL level last year. And he actually got. one more goal this year and had four or less assists, but 42 points in 60 games last year, 39 in 42 this year. So you look at those numbers and you start stretching them out. You can see that he has taken a step over the last year. And I'll say this much when he was in the NHL this year,

Starting point is 00:15:49 did not at all look out of place. He looked very much like he belonged. And to build off of what you were saying in that fourth line role, I think if you have Blake Lazot flanked with those two guys, you've got the makings of a pretty darn good fourth line. We saw what Dewar can do all season long. We've seen what he's been able to do, especially in his time with the Minnesota Wild and now with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Starting point is 00:16:17 He plays a very honest game. He's got offensive upside, but he doesn't sacrifice defense. You can say the same. for Avery Hayes. And to your point, Blake Lazott is just an intense guy. He plays hard. He plays fast.

Starting point is 00:16:33 But he's not the rat kind of guy. Yeah, he'll throw his hits. He'll be physical, but he's not getting in your face. He's not getting under your skin. Imagine adding that to Blake Lazott's game. Kind of looks like you got Avery Hayes. So that is a fourth line that can give you a spark

Starting point is 00:16:50 and give you some offensive upside. Yeah, he'd fill Nolichari's role. really well because Atari was someone Pat that you know he'd get in your face he would start some stuff up as well he'd be very physical especially along the boards it looks like right now with about three weeks to go until a free agency probably not coming back which I agree with we talked about pet during our season and review how he had a great season but considering his age just don't think it makes too much sense Avery Hayes I think would fill his role really well like that's a spot where you have a replacement for him ready in waiting where you can get younger at especially.

Starting point is 00:17:28 And I think Hayes is also a smart player. I think he has good hockey IQ. So I think all of that combined, it just makes so much sense for him to be on that fourth line to start next season. We'll have to see if Damu is in the front office and the rest of the coaching staff agrees. But I think he would compliment the other two players on that line really well, considering what those two guys do. In the spirit of fan take Friday, which is our final segment and it's coming up, so make sure you're staying tuned.

Starting point is 00:18:00 I'm going to get it started a little early with a hot take here. I think Avery Hayes, his peak dream scenario ceiling, is another Brian Rust. Because you look at the way he plays the game, you look at the way he thinks the game, in the fact that he has shown offensive upside. If he works, if he gets better, if he continues to grow, I could see him working his way into being a top six forward. Now, again, I want to reiterate, that is pie in the sky, everything goes perfect, everything goes right.

Starting point is 00:18:40 But I see a lot of similarities because you think about the way we're talking about him right now. You go all the way back 10 years ago to when Brian Rust came around, This is without the ratiness, this is what we talked about with Brian Rust, a really good two-way bottom six player with some offensive upside. He turns into a top line winger. So pie in the sky, but I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities. I'd probably put it low, but I'm sure a lot of us also said that about Brian Rust back in the day as well. And he's been one of the most consistent players on this team for the last decade now. But I guess if you want to have it as a dream, Pat, that's fine.

Starting point is 00:19:24 I think overall, though, more realistic, you know, middle six to bottom six for Avery Hayes. And I think that's totally fine, just considering what he has done already, what I can hopefully he can do going forward as well, excuse me. So those are my main thoughts on Avery Hayes. He will have a very, and I mean a very legit chance to make this team. And I hope he does. You and me both.

Starting point is 00:19:48 I liked his game a lot in the NHL. I loved what he did with the baby penguins all the way through their run to the conference finals. So the spot is there for him to take. And if he wants it, he has it, but he does have to earn it. That is going to do it, though, for this middle segment, when we come back, it's a very special fan take Friday because you all know what June 12th is in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins. We get into that as well as some time. talk about a pretty big name player who's on the market and maybe wants to come to Pittsburgh,

Starting point is 00:20:24 find out more when we come back right after this. But we've got one more sponsor to get to, and that is Kalshi. The hunt for the Stanley Cup is on, and you can trade every game on Kalshi. On Kalshi, you can trade every single playoff game, every series, the conference finals, and the Stanley Cup championship. Vegas Golden Knights are currently trading at 42% to beat the Carolina Hurricanes, meaning a $100 trade pays out $244 if it wins. As the playoffs heat up, those numbers move in real time and you can buy in or out any time. On Kalshi, you're trading against peers in a live market, meaning there's no house. And as the probabilities change, you can buy in and out of your position.

Starting point is 00:21:13 For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code locked on to get $10 when you trade 10. K-A-L-S-H-I-K-C-TRAID on anything. We're closing out the Friday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast, the same way we do every Friday with some fan-take Friday questions and takes. Patrick Damp here right alongside Hunter Hodes and 17. That's right. 17 years ago today, Hunter, Lord Stanley, scratch their names on your fabled cup.

Starting point is 00:21:52 The Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup champions, 2009. Then 10 years ago, the penguins have jumped over the boards. It's over. Get in the fast lane. Grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll. The 2016 Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. What a time it was, man. And two elite calls, by the way, from Mike Lang,

Starting point is 00:22:20 the greatest to ever do it. The greatest to ever do it. And what a time, especially to talk about the 2009 championship, because you know who's kicking ass in the 2026 Stanley Cup final? Jordan Stahl. And Jordan Stahl was so damn good in the 2009 final against the Red Wings. He's been great against Vegas. So speaking of that, let's get into some of these.

Starting point is 00:22:48 And this is a great one from Penn 60. This might go under the radar from 2009 because there were so many good ones, but I don't think the defensive pairing of Rob Skidari and how Gil gets talked enough for how good they were. They were de facto shutdown pair and played outstanding. Yes, Skidari's second stint wasn't very good, but Prime Rob Skidari was amazing. Those two were the unsung heroes along with Miroslav Chatan of the 2009 Stanley Cup final because they did a lot of grunt work and did not get enough credit, but they were truly, truly awesome. The piece, that's what they called him back in 2009.

Starting point is 00:23:28 And I love that he brought up the save in game six. That puck was going in, not once, Pat, multiple times. And Skidari literally sticks his leg out and is literally just guarding the goal because Flurry is just sprawled out, sprawled out, excuse me, to the side, trying to put his glove in his blocker out. And Skidari is just literally in the goal playing goalie. and just unbelievable two huge saves to keep the penguins in front, forced game seven.

Starting point is 00:23:56 You brought up Jordan Stahl. He had a huge game six, as everyone remembers. And he's just built for the Stanley Cup final man. It doesn't matter if it's 2009 or 2026. Jordan Stahl has that dog in him, and he loves playing in the Stanley Cup final. This is now two separate Stanley Cup finals where he has been unbelievable,

Starting point is 00:24:17 both for the penguins and the hurricanes. The hurricanes are obviously now one win away from winning their first Stanley Cup in two decades. And for Saul, this would be, of course, his second Stanley Cup. Penn 68 also mentions for 2016, the HBK line, which, of course, I mean, I posted that on my social media. It's been 10 years, which time flies when you're having fun. HBK line, probably my favorite Penguins line ever, just the way they were able to be a matchup nightmare for whoever they played. No coaching staff on any team had a clue about what to do about that line. They were just kicking everyone's butts in all four of those series in 2016.

Starting point is 00:25:00 And just and just the fact that all three of them said after the season that their chemistry together was just natural. There were no like meetings. There were no sit downs or hangouts. they just had natural chemistry together. They got together on a line and it just clicked. They weren't sitting around crushing tape or talking X's and O's. They just hopped over the boards, played fast, played hard, scored a pile of goals, and the penguins were way better off for it. Keeping it moving here, though, another great one from G-Tots.

Starting point is 00:25:39 Can we all say thank you to Mr. Game 1? flies under the radar from 2016 because of how great Matt Murray was on those two runs. But both Flurry and Murray were hurt going into the 2016 playoffs. And you think, oh, my God, this team that is white hot going into the playoffs is going to fall apart because of injuries in net. Jeff Zatkoff stepped up admirably in game one against the Rangers to get them to keep home ice in their advantage to win. that help him win that series and he was really good in game one he didn't win game two but he still played pretty well in both yeah he made a lot of really key saves to help the penguins win that game in game one and i loved the chant that they had from after they won the stanley god they were

Starting point is 00:26:32 literally in the locker room going mr game one mr game one so i'm glad that he brought him up and the other part of the comment here two point oh two triple over the glass versus the capitals yeah I don't even want to think about that. Thankfully, the Penguins won the game, of course. Thanks to Nick Benino. But the stress that I had during that moment, I was just like, what are you people doing? Just the stupid penalties. But again, thankfully, they won the game.

Starting point is 00:27:01 They won the series. So all is forgiven. This is also, it's not from either of the cup runs, but it made me think of it because it happened against the capitals a few years before. but the one that's embedded in my brain, because it happened during HBO 24-7 against the Caps in D.C. When Matt Cook on the penalty kill fired a puck down the ice from the defensive zone, but he got so much air on it, it hit the netting behind the Caps goalie. So that ended up also being delay of game because it went over the glass from the defensive zone.

Starting point is 00:27:41 So something about playing the capitals makes the penguins take the craziest delay of game penalties. Here's one that I absolutely love from another someone on YouTube from 2009, the second year of the big screen. And if you're not old enough to remember the grip that this had on the city, because it wasn't just the penguins put a big TV outside of Mellon Arena. it was a big TV outside of Mellon Arena with the watch party being hosted by 961s Mikey and Big Bob. Yes. And they got this city so hype.

Starting point is 00:28:23 Like I went back to watch today the Jordan Stahl game four shorthanded goal back when the NHL was on Verses. And this was such a thing that Verses had cameras outside. of Mellon Arena to catch the crowd reaction of the big screen. Yes. And I will forever say it. That goal by stall turned the series, followed up by the goal, of course,

Starting point is 00:28:53 in quotation marks with Evgeny Malkin and Cindy Crosby, on that two on one, Pat. We remember Detroit calls time out. Those two sequences, I know I was only in middle school at the time, but I remember saying to myself, okay, they can beat these. guys. Like that turned the series. It was finally like, okay, this was different than 2008.

Starting point is 00:29:14 Like that 08 Red Wings team. To me, I think that's the best team that I've ever seen, but the O-9 team was also really freaking good, as everyone knows. But that, those two moments, the stall goal and then Crosby's goal, those finally told me, hey, the penguins can do it this year. They can actually slay the dragon and beat this Red Wings team that was still full of Hall of Famers. And hey, they went on to win it in seven games. Another one on YouTube even says, flower save against Ovechkin, that signaled the series was finally over. The Gino Hattrick. I mean, yeah, he absolutely bullied Carolina in 09.

Starting point is 00:29:54 Max Talbot's two goals, he mentions. What time is it? Six past Lungwis. Yes, that is also an underrated moment because for a while, Pat, Henrik Lungu, owned, and I mean owned the Penguins. So it was nice getting some much deserved revenge on that guy. Great goaltender, one of the best of all time. But man, it felt good lighting him up in that series.

Starting point is 00:30:20 So I'm glad that he pointed that out. Yeah, you and me both. But if you're in our YouTube comments, keep commenting your favorite memories because this is the best walk down memory lane that there is. Who the F is Brian Rust? another, I love that. That's hockey Twitter Hall of Fame, who the F is Brian Rust from Dom LaSision. And it's the spiritual sibling of the acting a fulamint tweet of you'll find out

Starting point is 00:30:48 the penguins have nobody you've heard of, including Mark Donk, who suddenly has 25 goals. But we're going to leave that one there because we do want to get to this before we close out the show. A couple of comments and questions. one from Bradley Vision, another from Drake Barrett in the same vein. Darnell Nurse has requested a trade out of Edmonton, and reports have surfaced that the penguins are one of the teams he would approve a trade to.

Starting point is 00:31:18 So I don't have any real mock trade scenarios in my head, because this is just from basically this morning, haven't really had a chance to sit down and look at all the specifics and what could work and what couldn't. But I will say how I've had this thought, Hunter. Initially, I thought, eh, that's neat that he wants to come to Pittsburgh, but I'm good. Then I had this thought.

Starting point is 00:31:48 Stan Bowman is a mark. And Kyle Dubus has swindled him a couple of times now. Yeah. And if you can make a trade where he attaches something good to come along with him. I wouldn't hate it because also, with the way Darnell Nurse plays in where the cap is going,

Starting point is 00:32:12 in two, three years, that cap hit ain't going to be all that bad. And we know the penguins right now, they're not contending. So if you can rehab Darnell Nurse for a couple of years and flip them later on, I wouldn't hate it. Here's what I'll say about the darnal nurse situation

Starting point is 00:32:29 because I did see the report from David Pagnoda, who is, let's face it, he's hit or miss when it comes to some of the top initial insiders. I trust some of the other people like Pierre LeBron, Elliot Freeman, a bit more. So I'm just putting that out there for everyone. As for Nurse and the Penguins, I am not a big fan of Darnel Nurse. I don't think he's that good. Now, I do think he is overhated by some people. I think some people go a little too far what they hate with him.

Starting point is 00:32:57 But I still don't think he's very good. The biggest thing, though, Pat, he is very overpaid. is not worth close to the money that he is getting right now. But when you get offered a contract like that, you're going to accept it. You're not going to pay no. Yeah. It's over nine million over eight years. You're not saying, or nine million a year over eight years. You're not saying no. Yes. And here's the thing. My interest would be slightly peaked in one of two ways. Number one, you send Ryan Graves and that entire contract back to Edmonton because let's face it, he's probably not going to get a lot of playing time this year,

Starting point is 00:33:32 and they're going to have to get rid of that contract in some way, shape, or form. So, again, slightly peaked. Another one, you see how much Sam Bowman will be willing to attach to moving Darnel Nurse's contract to Pittsburgh. Maybe it's a second. Maybe it's a younger player, other stuff, et cetera, et cetera. Those will be the only two ways that I'd at least hear an argument for or a discussion for. Otherwise, I'm just blah about it. I think there are other better ways to spend

Starting point is 00:34:07 your money this off season. There are better players to get to upgrade your defense on the left side, which I do think they want to do. He's also 31 years old. That kind of goes against what Dubus has been saying about getting a bit younger overall, not just on the back end. It's just black. Like, I'm good at the end of the day. So those are my main thoughts on the darn-n-nour-n-nir-s situation. I know he's also been linked to Philadelphia. L.A. I think has also been linked to him. That's mainly because Ken Holland is there for people that don't know. So again, Pat, those are my main thoughts on Darno Nurse.

Starting point is 00:34:43 At the end of the day, I'm good, to be honest. I'll put it this way. I don't want Kyle Dubus to go out of his way to make it happen. But if you can get a sweetener, like say a pick or two or a young, young player or maybe a combination of both. And you can get something else out because you know if you're the penguins, you have to tell Stan Bowman and the Oilers, hey, if we're going to take on your bad money, we're going to send some bad money back.

Starting point is 00:35:15 It won't be as much. They're not going to make them take on more cap hit than they're trying to get rid of. But if you can make it work to the point where you get a sweetener, you get some money off your books, I do think in three, four years, when the penguins are hopefully ramping back up to being contenders again, he can become a chip that gets you past the finish line because that contract will become a lot more affordable in a rising cap environment. So I also don't really want to absorb the nine million. They can easily do it.

Starting point is 00:35:49 They have so much cap space. So that's not a problem. I just for the play that he is at right now. Yeah. It's not worth that. Like you'd have to also convince Edmonton to retain what? 2 million that drops it down to what 7.25 million somewhere in that range. It's about 7.7.1.2.5 million.

Starting point is 00:36:08 Again, I think there are better things to do this off season to upgrade your defense. That's the way I do. I do too. And I also think to end the show and end this segment, I do think there might be a few teams out there that are going to get stars in their eyes over Darnell Nurse. so they might be willing to pay a little bit more than what the penguins want to. But again, if you can turn this into something that helps to what your future vision is, which I do think there is a path if you acquire Darnel Nurse,

Starting point is 00:36:37 wouldn't hate the idea of it because we know that this is not a team that's gunning for a Stanley Cup in the next two years. So if that requires taking on bad money, not against the idea of it. But that is going to do it for the Friday edition of Locked On. Penguins. Thank you all so much for tuning in. We will be back with a brand new episode for you on Monday. Have a great weekend. Hunter and I again will be back on Monday. So for Hunter Hodes, I am Patrick Damp. Thank you once again. And we will talk to you on Monday.

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