Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - All about the goalies: Who is the BEST option for next season?

Episode Date: June 8, 2023

It's time to look at the goalies! Hunter starts the episode by breaking down the goaltenders who are set to hit the free-agent market, including Tristan Jarry. He breaks Jarry down, including a report that surfaced Wednesday morning when it came to the term that he was looking for. Is he worth that? Hunter tries his best to answer that before moving to other options, including Adin Hill and Frederik Anderson. Who is the best of those two options? What about Varlamov? Jonathan Quick? After that, Hunter turns his attention to the trade market and who Kyle Dubas could be going after since some good goalies are expected to be traded. Is Connor Hellebuyck the top option? If you can't get him, who should be the next best available choice? Finally, which goalie does Hunter want above all else this offseason? He then ends the show by discussing the latest on Todd Reirden as he looks to be a finalist for the Calgary Flames coaching job.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/lockedonnhl and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNHL, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit is only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go to FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) 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.

Well, it is all about the goalies for today's episode, the Locked on Penguins podcast. We're going to look at all of the UFAs, Tristan Jari included, and all of the trade options to see who are the best available options for the Penguins in net for this upcoming season that's coming up right after this. You're Locked on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes,

know, or follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows Twitter at Ellorsel Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list. Today, we are free and available on all platforms. Today's episodes also brought to you by Birddogs. You go to Birddogs.com slash Lockton H.L. And when you enter pro and kill the lockdown H.L. We'll throw in a free custom bird dog, Zeddy-style Tumblr with every order.

So let's get right into it. Look at the top. Free agents for this year's goalie class. And there is going to be quite a lot of movement with the goalies. And, of course, we'll start with the one and only Tristan Jari, who is expected to be a UFA. 9, 10% this season, below average and goals state above expected. The biggest thing, of course, with him, he can't stay healthy. at least for the last couple of seasons.

Had that injury towards the end of the regular season last year, missed the last month, and missed most of the first-round playoff series, and this year was on and off, had the back injury, had the groin injury, just hasn't been able to stay healthy. When he is healthy, he's usually decent. He was playing well before he got hurt last year, but ever since then, he's just been way too inconsistent. And there was a report today from Elliot Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast where he said during the season when Jari was negotiating with Hextall and Burke, he said he was looking for a five to six year term.

I'm sorry, that's a hard pass. I'm not giving him a five to six year term, especially because of his injury history and just because he's been inconsistent. You know, his numbers, they're comparable to a lot of other goalies in the league. But are you really going to sit here and give him what? five times five, six times five. That's ridiculous. I don't think, you know, Kyle Dubus can do that. You're just, you're setting yourself up for failure with that kind of deal. I think the best bet if you want to bring Jari back is if you sign him to do a two to three year deal, maybe three point five to four million per because his, honestly, his value right now is super, super low. So it probably would be in his

interest to sign a short-term deal for not that much money to try to rebuild his value, whether it's with the Penguins or whether it's with someone else, before he can maybe cash out in a couple of years if he does have two pretty good seasons and he stays healthy. That's what I would be looking at if I were him. Five to six-year term, I know there's a lot of weird teams or weird general managers out there. I don't know if any are going to sign him to that kind of deal. I think that's just a little ridiculous, in my opinion.

If it's not just a jari, you know, obviously one of the top options, if not the top one. Aidan Hill, who is having an unreal run for the Vegas Golden Knights in this Stanley Cup playoffs. He has a 937 to say percentage in this run. Say if he's eight goals above expected, that's top five right now. In the regular season, he was 914. He's always been around league average to a little bit of above league average throughout his career. He's been kind of used as a 1B platoon. slash backup.

But now he's been the guy for Vegas in the playoffs outside of a few games from Lauren Brasois before he got hurt. And Hill has been great. I mean, he has them two wins away from their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. And he's out playing Sergei Barovsky right now. And I think everyone thought that Barbarovsky, you know, he was the better goalie coming into this series. But so far, Hill is out playing him.

And it really hasn't been close. Hill, that's going to be interesting because, you know, obviously, if I have ever the Penguins, I will be interested. And if Jari walks, I would very much go after Hill. But the big thing with him is, are you comfortable signing him to a four times 4.5 or four times five or even a five times five kind of deal? Like what Darcy Kemper got in Washington. Because I keep making this argument on my shot. And I will say it until the end of time.

In my opinion, there are only five to seven good to elite goaltenders in this league. The rest, you can kind of interchange them, rank them however you choose. Aidan Hill is in that latter category. Maybe he's probably a pie right now because the way he's playing. But is he going to be this consistent over the course of a four to five year deal? That's the risk you will have to run if the penguins go after him if you are Kyle Davis. Again, he'll give you at least average to above average goaltending, but he's not a lot of

going to give you a 937 season. I mean, this is a short sample size for one and two, you know, again, goaltending is very volatile. There's a reason why it's one of the, it actually is the hardest position to predict when it comes to the NHL. So, yeah, that to think about the contract, he could turn back into a pumpkin. It's, it's interesting when it really comes out to it. He would be at the top of my list, but there's still some concerns there. Another one, Freddie Anderson got healthy for the playoffs, saved six goals above expected with a 927 say percentage. But the big thing with him is when he gets in the next season, he's going to be 34 years old. He only had a 9 or 3 Sabresens just past year.

And of course, can he stay healthy? It's kind of a similar situation like Trish and Jari. When he's really, really healthy, he's very good. And you solve them in the playoffs. But can you rely on him to stay that way throughout the course of the season? Because he's had this problem throughout his career, even not. this season, but the last season before this, he was playing at a Vesnik caliber level, gets hurt at the end of the regular season, the hurricanes have to rely on anti-Rontza

and Kukhov in their run to the second round before they lost to the Rangers in seven games. So you have that risk to run there. He would be at the top of my list as well. But again, another big concern there with the injuries and only being 903 and, of course, his age. I think he would come cheap. I don't think he's going to sign a massive five times. I had a five deal. I think you'd get him for two years.

Maybe what, $3 million, something like that. I don't think he's going to cost you too too much money. He's also an option. Another player on my big board, yeah, Jonathan Quick. Hasn't really played much this season. He's a bit older, but I think he would sign for cheap,

maybe a one to two year deal for a couple million. It was only $8.82 this season. Not good enough. He's a bit older. He'd probably be on the lower end of my, I guess want category. Semion Varlamov. Same thing a bit older.

What is he? 35, 36 now. 8.98 percentage for the Islanders this past season behind Ilya Sorokin. I don't think they're going to bring him back because Sorokin is the guy. I think they're going to want to go with a cheaper backup for him. And also they are going to have to pay Sorokin.

Probably, potentially this on season, that's going to be a massive number. I think Varlamov could be a decent one being this system. If you get another goalie to pay with him, I just don't think it would work with Tristan, just because I don't think he had a good year. And I think if you could sign a cheaper or a younger goalie, I should say, to pair with Varlamov,

that would make more sense. Other options out there, Anato Houdobin, Jonathan Bernie, they didn't really pay much this season. We got James Reimer, Lauren Beeswa, Martin Jones, Antironsa. Of that group, I would say Ansi Ransa is the more intriguing slash fascinating option.

played a little over 30 games for the hurricanes this season. He's good, you know, in a jiffy. He can give you 30, 35 games, average goal-tending he played pretty well against the Islanders in the first time before Freddie Anderson took over and then he led them to the conference final.

I think he can give you decent 1B production for the Penguins. If you do, if they do decide to bring back Jari, I think Ranta as a backup behind him would make sense. You can send to Smith to another team. Because, you know, if Charlie does get hurt, you can rely on Ranta for a and he's a good enough goalie where he can still use some games at times

or at least give you a chance to win games. Whereas Casey Smith, a lot of times this season, he was not able to do that, which was one of the main reasons why the Penguins did not make the playoffs. So he's an option. Outside of those, though, there's not really too many other UFAs. Jeremy Swayman is a dream RFA option, but the Penguins, they don't have their own pick to offer sheet him.

for next year. They traded that pick away. Their pick they have is a pick they got in return for the Teddy Bluger trade. They can't give away that pick because it was not their pick to begin with. So they would have to, so they can't really use that. They would have to offer sheet swimming in a different money category for picks. They do have, you see, I hope that all of you follow that one. Obviously, that's a dream, but I think it's probably less and less likely right now.

In terms of the free agent options, I mean, Jari's not up there. If that's only what you're looking at, but I don't think Kyle Dubus is going to only look at that. If he does, though, let's just play this hypothetical. It's Jari, Aidan Hill, and Frederick Anderson up at the top for me with Antiront, a little bit below him. If you can't come to, give me with Jari, that your next box option is Aiden Hill.

And then Freddie Anderson. I honestly, this might be a little bit of a hot take. I might be prepared for some backlash in the comments. I understand. I might be more inclined to go after Freddie Anderson than Aidan Hill. And yes, I know. Injuries, it's a bit older, 9-03-7s, injured the regular season, but I was very impressed with him during the playoffs.

He was fully healthy. If you can carry that over to the regular season, I would be very intrigued about signing him to a one-to-two-year deal, kind of like a prove-it deal. He has the prior history with cops. wild dubus so i can see what that and you know i'm also saying this in the case that hill prices himself out of pittsburgh and if jari continues to want the big term for his contract i don't think freddie inderson is that much of a throwaway as some people think he is that's what i'll say on that

that wraps up this first segment though with the top free agents who is your top free agent goalie for this upcoming all season if it's not jari who would it be let me do down the comments, you also send me a DM and all that good stuff. But before we get to our next end, which will get into the trade market, and yes, that means some discussion regarding Connor Hellebuck. We do have to discuss bird dogs. Bird dogs, they stretch khaki shorts, and they are designed to fit slimmer through the thigh and leg, giving you a truly sculpted look. Bird dog shorts do the exact same thing as Lulam, but Lulamon, excuse me, but fit way better. They also fit way better than regular shorts that are made of a stiff, restricting cotton, and they fix this issue by inventing

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You won't want to take your bird dogs off. We will promise you that. I'm back in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at Eleanor for Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this. Your first listen to the day.

We are free and available on all platforms. So let's get into the trade discussion when it comes to goalies surrounding the NHL. Again, this is going to be a very, very busy offseason for goalies. I think you're going to see quite a bit of movement. Number one on my list, Connor Halaugabuck, baby. One year left, making $6 million per. This would be a big splash if Kyle Dubas was to call win.

If I can see if you can pry him out, almost 31. one goals saved above expected this season, 927 percentage, one of the five best goalies in the league. Obviously, he doesn't have an extension past the season, but if you are the Penguins, I don't think that matters right now. If you are dubus and company, you want to win right now. Not two years down the line, not three years down the line. You want to win right now.

I understand he has the same AEV as Jake Gensel, who is also a UFA after the season. but Hellebuk puts you back into the playoff picture. He's a true number one superstar goaltender who you can win with. I don't think he's going to cost as much as UC Soros would. I think you'd still have to give up your first-round pick, top prospect, maybe a roster player or two. And I know at times I hate putting value to a player just because sometimes that player goes for a lot less than what I thought he would.

For example, Jacob Trickman. I know it's a different position, but he went for draft picks. There was no roster players that went back. So you could see the same thing happen here, but I don't know if Kevin Shevoldeoff is that much of a fool, considering how good Hellebuck is. But he does have that one year left on this contract. Could that affect his value a lot? We'll have to see what it comes to that.

But he is the cream of the crop or at the cream of the crop when it comes to this position. He's been probably the only reason why the Jets are in the playoff discussion year after year after year. He had a great first half of their season this past season. but after January or February, they played like absolute crap, and he was the only reason why they got it and even why they won a game off the Vegas golden nights. I very much like him, I would love to obviously go out and acquire him. You see Soros, Elliot Freeman and Jeff Mayerick spoke on the 32 Thoughts podcast today,

and they both said that it would take a lot to prize Soros out of there. They do think that Nashville is going to listen, but you have to actually come to Barry Trotz with an offer that he can't refuse. Soros has two years left. had another ridiculous season, saved over 45 goals above expected, 9-19 say percentage. Another one of the five best goaltenders on the planet. Probably one of the only reasons, if not, definitely I think the only reason why Nashville was even in consideration to make the playoffs this past season. He is also at the top of my wish list.

I think that the price will be a bit more. You're probably talking multiple first-round picks, maybe multiple prospects and a roster player. This could be maybe four to five, maybe even six pieces going back to Nashville. That is how much I think they will value Soros. I know it's a goalie. I know the value is sometimes weird, but you're not going to fleece Barry Trots in a trade for him. Trots seems like he knows what he's doing as he's stepping into this rocker, being a coach for so many years. He said some pretty good comments about being a GM the last couple of weeks.

I don't think you're going to be able to really fleece him when it comes to this goalie. But he is still at the top of my list. of that, though. Coral Vamelka, if you can't get one of those top two, he obviously catapults right up to the top my list as well. This past season is in Arizona. Top 15 was 14th in goals saved above expected with 11. His save percentage was a bit low at 899, but I chalked up to just how bad Arizona was in his defense on front of him. He only makes $2.7, $2.25 million for the next two seasons. I think he is your guy if you can't get hell of up. Moro Soros on the trade market. You put him behind, you know, this.

defense, especially if Dubus make some changes in this forward group in a better situation, I think he'll be one of the best goaltenders in the league, and his favorite sentence will obviously go up as well. I think the cost to acquire him will be a bit lower than Helibuck and Soros to the point where maybe the Penguins, you know, some could argue that they wouldn't be able to afford Helobok or Soros. I do think they will be able to afford the Melka here. Maybe I'm being a bit low or wishful thinking with this, but could you get him for a pick and a prospect, a pick in a player, a prospect and a player, something like that, that will be awesome. Again, it has a beautiful contract. Then if you can get him and then maybe sign someone

else to back them up for cheap, maybe you're only paying, what, 4.5 to 5 million for your goaltending for next season. That would be a really best case scenario right there. Linus Olmark, the Bruins have a big cap crunch coming, having a historic season this past year, top five in goals they were expected, over a 930 Sabres. could easily win the Vesna. I think it's going to be him or Ilya Sorokin, in my opinion. But two more years, $5 million for him, had a bit of a rough playoff,

but I think it was a bit banged up. Is he going to be available because they have Swayman to resign? I just don't know if the Bruins can have both of them going into next season. And that's going to be a lot of money tied up to your goaltending. Swayman was also awesome for the Bruins this past year. They won the Jennings Stovie together, but can you commit? I know I noticed women had a bit of a chief cap hit.

Can you commit $9 million to those two goalies? Probably not. You have Taylor Hall that could be a cap casualty. Now, Grizzly could be out there. They have Patrice Bergeron. They got to figure out. They have a lot of tough decisions to make this summer, and that includes what to do with their goalies.

So, Linus Allmark, I would definitely be calling Boston about him. He's up at the top of my list. I'll end here with John Gibson. Look, I would not trade for John Gibson. unless almost all my other options were out. I am sorry. I am not a John Gibson fan. I don't care that he's from Pittsburgh.

If he was from freaking Saskatchitune or freaking Northern Virginia where I'm from, for God's sake, no one would be caring about him. His backups have outperformed him for the last two to three seasons. Anthony Stollars has had a higher save percentage than him. He's in better goals they above expected as well. John Gibson is not the same goal. If you were getting like 2018 level John Gibson, maybe 2019 level John Gibson, okay, I can understand that and why people want him.

But right now, he gets $6.4 million for the next few seasons. That contract stinks. He's not good anymore. Say no to him. I am not traded for him. Even though his value is probably not that high, I'm sorry. I'm not a fan of it. I do not think the penguin should go out and trade for Gibson.

and I just do not think he is a goalie anymore. I understand the situation, and Anaheim is not good with the defense he plays behind, you know, the overall team. But I just don't think he's going to magically figure it out in another situation, such as Pittsburgh. So those are my thoughts on the trade options, on the goalie market.

If you're asking me, overall, Connor Hellbuck is the guy I go after first. If not him or Saros, I go call Arizona and keep pounding him about the Melka. honestly, the free agent market is the last thing I go to for this goalton decision. And I know it's a huge one for Kadubitz. It's one that he has to get right. Because it's also one that he struggled at times with when he was in Toronto.

It's not Helibuck or Soros. I am calling Arizona and offering what I can for Wilka. He was one of the better goalies in the league this season. And I do think he would be very good here in a better situation in Pittsburgh. If you can't get anyone of you in the trade market, I would say you go to free agency, look to see what Jari is asking for in negotiations, look to see what Aiden Hill is asking for after a good run,

also look to see what Freddie Anderson is looking for as well. If I had to rank those three, this is tough. I might go Aiden Hill one, Jari and Jari right behind him, and then Freddie Anderson right behind him. And then Antiront for like a 1B kind of, but tune type.

That's what I'm looking at right now. But my best option is Connor Hellebuck. After that, I'm going to go with Femilke, and then some of the free agent options for me. But that does it for this segment. Coming up to end the show, we're going to get into some ton of rearing news and why he might not be on the Penguins coaching staff

or next season that's coming up right after this short break. All right, we're back here in this episode of the Lockton Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Now to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodeys, follow the shows, Twitter at End. or so penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first system. Today we are free and available on all platforms. So there was a little bit of new other news surrounding the Penguins on the 32 Thoughts podcast today

from Elliott Freeman and Jeff Merrick. They were discussing the Calgary Flames coaching search. And Freeman was saying who he thinks is still in it. He said these were educated guesses. He said he's heard the names, but he's not fully sure and how much they're in it. And he mentioned Mitch Love, Brian Huska. Travis Green, who was the former head coach of Vancouver Canucks, and he did mention Todd Reardon,

and this is not the first time that Reardon has been in head coaching interviews. Remember, last year, he interviewed and was a finalist for the Chicago Blackhawks head coaching job before they gave it to Luke Richardson. And I did not know that Reardon was a finalist for the last head coaching cycle in Calgary when, you know, before they hired Daryl Sutter. So it's obvious that they do have some interest. in him and they've had interested in for a long time. Elliot thinks the new general manager, Craig Conner,

he's just circling back to a couple of people interviewed for that last cycle. You also mentioned Green to see if, you know, maybe they're ready for this job. And when I, my first reaction, when I saw this, I was kind of like, okay, I think I'll be fine with this because I do that the Penguins need a little bit of a shakeup to their coaching staff.

I mean, no disrespect to Tarud, and I've heard that the Penguins organization very much respects him in his work. I don't really even the power play has gotten any much better for as long as he's been the assistant coach. Some of the defensemen this past season didn't really do that good of work with Reardon, especially Jeff Petrie coming over from Montreal. I thought he was just okay.

Jan Ruda, okay as well. He's known for his work with Crystal Tang. You know, what Tang has said many times that he's one of the best coaches ever had. Mike Matheson actually said the same thing after getting traded to Montreal. And then I'm glad that Elliot and Jeff brought this up. They did a great job, or not they, but Reardon did a great job turning Cody Cici's career around before he signed a long-term deal with the Edmond and the others. So he has had good work with some defensemen, but others it's kind of been lacking at times.

I think the biggest thing, though, is that his work with the special teams has not been that good. And I do that the flames are intrigued about him because of that work with the defenseman and because he's only been a head coach once. Remember, he had that short-term stint with the Washington Capitals where he flamed down his only year for a couple of years, was fired, brought on by Mike Sullivan to his staff. So I mean the plans are maybe looking to see if he learned from that experience in Washington. And I'm sure that Dubus and Sullivan will have plenty of people out there available to them if Reardon does end up getting this job. But I just don't think it should be a surprise to anyone that Reardon is involved in this because this is not the first time he's been courted for a head coaching job.

And honestly, both him and Mike Belucci have been courted for, several head coaching jobs, even though they haven't gotten them since they were promoted to assistant coaches here in Pittsburgh. But overall, be curious to see what happens with that. I don't think it's going to be that major of a loss if he does go to Calgary. It was funny seeing all the reactions from people on Penguins' Twitter and all the forums and they were like, please, please take him. I can understand how some of the fans are feeling that way just because of his work again

with the special teams. but, you know, I do think in a way he will be missed if he goes, especially with, you know, Chris Tang and, you know, Cody Sisi before he left and then Mike Matheson. And, you know, I thought Marcus Pedersen had a great season this past year. I think he could chalk up a little bit of that. Tatar Reardon with him working with MP 28. So I don't think Pedersen's going to have a massive step back if heur and takes that job. But, you know, it would be something at least, you know, I don't want to say this. it would be something, I guess, to monitor, in quotation marks, but I think he'll still be just fine.

But I do think you saw quite a jump from him this year. And overall, Reardon, I think, played at least a decent part in that. But back's the latest when it comes to the Pistler Penguins and their news surrounding the team. I'll have more on the team for a Thursday episode. We'll continue to dive into the Free Agent Marker. We'll look at some of the forwards soon. Some of the defensemen give you my best options for Kyle Dubas, because, again, the Penguins have over 20 million salary cap space.

As of right now, they could have upwards of $25 million if they buy a Macau-Granlon. There is no shortage of options to discuss when it comes to the free agent market for both defense and forwards. And we'll also have plenty of trade talk, silly season scenarios where the Penguins can be going after a couple of players. It may be including Pierre Locke de Bluio. He has one year left on his contract. He would make a lot of sense here in a top six role or even a third line role for this team. So again, thank you all so much for listening slash watching. Really, really appreciate it.

I'll be back with another episode for you all on Thursday.