Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Cam comes back on for some CBA and Olympic talk, plus a look back at some Penguins free agent signings on this day!

Episode Date: July 2, 2020

Cam (NotThatFehr) from Penguins Twitter is back on this episode of Locked On Penguins as he and Hunter touch on some important NHL updates that came out today. They touch on the impending CBA extension and what that means, plus how the players will likely be able to play in the Olympics in 2022 and 2026, and how the hub cities are very close to being announced. They then close the show with some memories of July 1st for the Penguins, including Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby's contract extension, and the signings of Tanner Glass, Paul Martin, Pascal Dupuis, Jack Johnson, Steve Downie, and so much more! 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.

Hello, welcome to this episode of Locked on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Happy July, everyone. The fourth is three days away. So, well, let's calculate that. Oh, it'll be Saturday. And then my mom's birthday is next day.

So very exciting times around here, well, my house at least because my mom just keeps obsessing over her birthday. But Cam is back on podcast tonight. I wanted to get his thoughts, honestly, on the Olympic participation that looks like with the CBA being agreed to be extended, also as well as the hub cities. There's a lot of announcements that I think are going to be coming at the end of the week. So, Camp, how are you doing? Thank you so much for coming back. It feels like I always have you on here, and it's a lot of fun to do it.

No, I always thank you for the invite, and I have so much fun. And I also want to say, happy Canada Day to our friends of North. Yes. It's also the five-year anniversary of the Phil Kessel Trey. so it's a good day, you know, given all the circumstances, you know, with coronavirus, it's, you know, all as well right now. Yep, that sounds great. As you said, yes, happy Canada to all the listeners up there that listen to this podcast, as well as basically everyone that's up in Canada. Always awesome to have amazing neighbors with you guys.

And thank you guys for bringing us Cindy Crosby because also eight years ago today, he signed that 12-year-old contract with Pittsburgh that will keep him until 20, 25. I was 14 at that time. That's another, what, four or five years from now? I will be 25, 26 somewhere around there by the time his contract and is expired. So I'm officially getting old now. Oh, me and you both. I mean, it's interesting because we grew up with Crosby, you know?

I mean, we were at the right time, like where, I mean, for myself, it was right when I started watching hockey and it was the introduction of Crosby into Pittsburgh and I mean I've literally grown up with his team and it's we're spoiled you know and we might be even

more spoiled with the possibility of the lottery draft but you've been discussing that I'm sure and yeah I mean it's Crosby is I saw Bobby Orr's comments or was it yesterday about discussing him

top being top five possibly and um yeah i i think he deserves to be in that discussion yeah i think you know people that still deny him being in the top ten for greatest players of all time or honestly even top five at this point are kind of just delusional and they're still hating on sunday crosby for stuff that he did a decade ago um flyers fans yeah capital's fans too um yeah but yeah it's i i i always will tell people like like By the basis of someone's hockey knowledge, if you say that Chris LaTang is bad or that Sidney Crosby is not a top five, top 10 player of all time, I don't want to hear you talk about the sport.

I really just don't because those are just bad opinions and they're just not reality. Well, and, you know, I saw the argument on Twitter today about how it's, you know, he has all the accomplishments. And that was what Bobby Orr was talking about. He has all the aculates and all that. And someone was saying that it's just not the numbers. You know, he doesn't have the numbers. But his points per game in his career is like, it has to be tough.

It's close to top five of all time. I think it's six, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah. So he's getting there, you know, and he definitely deserves to be in that conversation, I think. Oh, absolutely. I mean, he would have over 1,400 points right now in the league if he didn't miss a season and a half with concussions. He's still probably going to get well over 1,400 points by the time his career

over. I even put him over 1,500 points. If he asks me, he's going to be climbing a lot of players on that list. I always, whenever he has games during the season, I'll check that, it's this website that tracks the most points of all time for NHL players. And it's just fun to see Sidney just leaping, leaping all these awesome players that played. And he's going to keep leapfrogging a bunch of them by the time his playing days are over. Well, and you just mentioned that his injuries over his career.

and I think that almost plays into it as well, his perseverance to be the player he has been, even with the concussion and the injuries that he's dealt with over his career, it's really remarkable, I think. Yeah, I 100% agree with that. Also, Cam, it's, I don't know how familiar you are, with the Mets with Bobby Bonilla Day,

but he gets paid basically a million to stay home every July 1st, and I think it's for the next 15 years because the Mets just basically screwed up really bad. So happy Bobby Bonilla Day because I would love to sit at home every July 1st and collect a check for over $1 million for a team that I don't play for anymore. Wouldn't we all? Wouldn't we all just like a nice check just sitting at home? I had to stick that one there. But also it looks like we're getting closer to the Hub Cities. Bob McKenzie, the Bob father, as we all know him.

He's just the goat. The goat. Bearing any foreseeing less minute complications, he says the two NHL hub cities will be Edmonton and Toronto. It looks like logic has prevailed with the NHL. Cam, Las Vegas was a stupid decision if they were going to make it, considering the rise in cases. I know I've been spewing about that on this podcast for the last week now.

Just wanted to get your thoughts on the Hub City situation and how both will be in Canada. I think the two says that they're potentially going to pick are great with Edmonton and Toronto. I agree with you with Vegas. It just, it was a head scratcher. And, you know, I've seen the videos on social media of Vegas reopening. And it's like people are still walking around without masks on. It's kind of ridiculous, in my opinion.

Please wear your mask. I'm going to say that. I had a little rant about that yesterday. Yes. Please, when you go outside, when you go into a restaurant or shopping, whatever, please wear a mask or grocery store. Please. Don't be stupid. Please.

But, yeah. I mean, it's, and I kind of like, I thought it was weird. They were going to have it. They should have the two cities in one country, I think, because I'm not sure how the whole, the travel situation would have been going from Vegas to potentially Toronto in between, you know, with whoever's going to play in the championship. And, yeah, I do think Toronto and Eminton were the best picks, and I'm happy they went that direction. Yeah, they're not spiking like a lot of the U.S. cities are right now, especially like Florida and Texas. I will never stop it insulting Florida because of just how incompetent people are down there.

That's like the – you just got to have that Bugs Bunny meme of him just cutting off the state of Florida and sending it into the Atlantic Ocean. That's what I want to do right now to that whole state because they just – Well, and it's fun just to go – you know, I have my grandfather living down there, my 89 grandfather. father and here I am worried about him, you know, with how old he is and the health concerns. And he's just going to Publix, the store down there without a mask. He's just, oh, I just wouldn't got apples. I'm like, you need to wear your mask. It is like, especially with that age.

Yes. That's a whole other discussion. Please wear your mask. Yes, exactly. Also, it looks like we're going to have a CBA extension. I think it's going to be for the next four years. And also, I found this to be funny, Emily Kaplan of ESPN. It took a goddamn global pandemic for the NHL to be to send their players back to the Olympics.

Isn't that just crazy? Like they didn't want to send them back in 2018. Now when the pandemic happens, the players are going to vote on the CBA. They're like, oh, yeah. By the way, we want to go back to the Olympics. I think it's going to be for 2022 and 2026. So that means we will finally see Sidney Crosby play with Connor McDavid on Team Canada and probably whoop everyone's ass.

That whole team is going to be insane. I mean, you think about all the young talent that has come up in this league since then, since the last time they went to the Olympics. Yeah. It's going to be, I mean, I haven't really sat down and made a projected list, but you already put McDavid and Crosby there, and you pretty much win there. You know, the Olympics right then there, I think, you know. And give credit to Team USA and their development of the young players over the past couple years, too. They're going to be a good team. If they don't screw this up, you know, you can literally.

have Austin Matthews as your top center, Patrick Kane up there, Johnny Goodrow, Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, I mean, Matthew Kachuk, I mean, maybe you put Phil Kessel on there if he bounces back. I mean, that's a real question mark, because I saw your tweet about that, you know, given what's happening with the coyotes this year, you know, I've thought about this year too, especially when he played the pain ones. It's like, I personally liked to. I personally liked the trade. Looking back at it now, I like the trade, but, you know, I think he was, there was a, there was a distant between, you know, like a, I don't know, something happened between

the two teams with, you know, Pittsburgh and Phil, and I just. I read Josh's article a couple days ago. Very, very well written, Josh Yoey. Always shout out to him, especially as he comes on this podcast sometimes. He'll probably be on here again at some point, but still, that was a very well-written an article just coming over the theories about the trade. Yeah, you know, just, you know, maybe he didn't get along with Mike Sullivan. I loved how he talked to Sullivan's mentor.

I think it's what, Jack Parker. So I think that's his name. If I misspelled it, if I, like, missaid his name, I should not be allowed to do this podcast anymore. But, yes, Jack Parker is what it is. Thank God. But, yeah, I mean, he was basically said, yeah, he goes, he would call me. Sullivan would, like, call me and be like, oh.

Phil again. That was really funny to read, to be honest. Yeah, and Phil was an interesting character, you know, and we saw that, and, you know, there was the whole media dispute with him in Toronto. And there wasn't really that in Pittsburgh, but I think there's a lot behind the scene things that happen that we, the fans don't see.

And it's unfortunate, you know, but Phil got two cups. He brought in, you know, I think his short time in Pittsburgh was well served. Yes, exactly. Five years ago today, they traded for him in that monster deals, I quoted from the Bobfather. Man, I remember just going crazy. And then I think the Penguins tweeted out that video of him a couple, like a week later, of him trying on his jersey. I think it was, what was it, Cam?

Foreigners feel like the first time. Is that what it was? Yeah. Yeah, it was in slow motion. It was just, it was perfect. And that was when the third jersey was like coming back to the, the traditional black and gold. Yes, that's right.

So it was just, it was a beautiful time to be a Penguins fan. Yeah, that was going into that season. That was their third, I always forget that started out as their third jersey. They would wear it on select home dates. Then the fans were like,

okay, ditch the black, dumb jersey. Yeah, the Vegas gold. Give that the, put the third jersey as the home playoff games. And they're like, Oh, okay, I guess we're going to do that. And then, of course, that paved the way to going full time. The fan base was just so ready for them to ditch the Vegas Gold.

I was ready for them to ditch it. I absolutely could not stay. Personally, me either. I mean, again, like, I grew up with that, you know, but I don't personally own a Vegas Gold jersey because I don't think they're good-looking. But, yeah, but it was just, yeah. I mean, I remember I was in, it was my freshman year. of college and

I was in class and I saw the trade. I'm just like, I was trying so hard not to like jump out of my seat and celebrate. But it was, it was awesome because I was watching it was the, yeah,

it was the Canada Day free agency signing show on TSA. And I was watching a live stream. It was awesome. Yeah, I remember I was like kind of sitting watching the TV. I was playing, I think back that day I was playing NHL 15. That was I think one of the last

NHL games that I thought because I'm kind of, a boycotting the franchise with how they can't seem to fix a lot of the stupid crap in the game. That's a whole... Preach. Preach. Yeah, that's a whole rant for another time. I'll probably spend a whole episode talking about how the NHL franchise is just dog shit. Don't get me started.

It's just awful in so many ways. I remember because I was playing there, and I think it was Nick Keeperius that said, watch out the penguins are working on this. I was like, what? And then, you know, there's more rumors start coming in. And then Bob McKenzie confirms it. And then I'm just sitting there, like, I kind of like, it almost like chills down. I'm like, did we just trade for Phil Fricking Castle?

And then I was like, okay, what did we give up? And then when I saw what we gave up, I'm like, that's very competent. And that's basically it. I mean, our first round pick, I mean, because where we can go? Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa. You forgot the legend, Nick Spalling, okay? Oh, God, yes.

Nick Spalling, the legend that scored like two goals in that 2014, 15 season. I think one of them came against the Blackhawks where they lost him to shootout. That's a random thing that I've remembered for a long time. But yeah, Nick's following. I remember that. He came over in the Neil trade. Everyone thought, oh, yeah, going to be a great bottom six player.

Nope, pretty bad. Yeah, it was just one of those added-depth players that really just didn't pan out for the penguins. Yeah, he just, yeah. Well, at least Patrick Hornquist does. And speaking of Patrick Hornquist, Mike Sullivan today said that the last player to arrive in Pittsburgh, apparently all the players are back,

was Patrick Hornquist because, you know, of course, he had to come from Sweden. Apparently he was being quarantined right now And also today, Cam, we had a report from Eric Engels and Chris Johnson that the training camps are going to be pushed back until July 13th. And I think the teams may travel to the Hub Cities as soon as July 25th for a potential restart around the 30th or 31st. So, yeah, Ken, we are potentially four weeks away from having hockey played again. Not really sure if it's 100% feasible with what's going on right now. I know the positive test rate was up from the last one.

I guess I think it's now 6% up. from the 5% from the last one. So still a long ways to go. I think they have to vote on the CBA. They have to vote on the return to play format. I think Bob McKenzie said that it's going to be coming this weekend. So I'm going to be curious to see if that's going to be a full player call or it's just going to be the executive board.

Because I'm not sure if you saw Eric Engel's tweet from the other day where he talked to a bunch of players. It didn't seem like they were too keen on playing again. I guess for obvious reasons that it's the summer and that a lot of them want to be golfing or, you know, spending with families, having kids doing anything but playing hockey in 90-degree heat. Well, and to go on that, it's, I've been thinking this whole time because here we are waiting, waiting, waiting, and so are the players. But how is this going to affect the 2020, 2020-20-1 season? Yeah. And that's the biggest question mark for me.

Is it going to be a shortened season? You know, because we're getting into the point where, you know, this would have been, you know, free agency, frenzy, you know, today. Today would have been, yeah. I was thinking all that. And it's just, it's very weird to me. And as much as I miss hockey, I'm almost in the back of my mind. And I have positive thoughts right now, but with all the spikes I'm seeing and all that,

I think it's just be safe to, I know it might get some backlash here, but it might be safe to, you know, call it, you know, and just, hey, let's work on next season. It might get to that point. It might not. But, you know, it's just, it is a tough situation for the players and the owners. And it's, yeah. It's tough. It's just tough.

Yeah. I mean, a lot of people that I follow on Twitter and that follow me, you know, I'm sure follow you too. They want the season to just be canceled. I think same with the NBA. You know, they're playing Disney World for God's sakes. That's going to be a, might be a train wreck down there with how Florida. strange. Baseball is coming back.

I think the 23rd. They still need to release the schedules. Well, and then the NFL just shortened the preseason to two games. And who knows how if they're going to put fans in the stadiums for the NFL, that's going to be very interesting. Well, I saw something interesting that there was talks that they were going to sell the first six to eight rows of each stadium to advertisers. And they were going to put like ads, like big banners. for ads. That would be interesting.

I would actually, I would like that. You know, you're not close enough to the players. You can sit back a little further. I personally like sitting back a bit further. I feel like I can see more. When you're that close, I feel like you can't see the field as well. Maybe I'm just playing. Oh, those people, people like to talk trash about nosebleed, but it's the same with hockey.

But you get to see the overview, you know, of the whole stadium or arena. Yeah, if it's a good scene, absolutely. Yeah. Like when it's, like, you're saying. sitting like at the 50 yard line or whatever or Sunn Rice for a hockey game. Yeah, it's great. I 100% agree with that. And Cam, to your point about the potentially next shortened season, I think what the

NHL is going to try to do. And what I think Gary Betman said, you know, may try to start off the next season with the winner classic on January 1st, which would be interesting. You know, they'll try to cram it. They said they want to cram in 82 games. I really don't know how you're going to do that, especially if you're going to have the playoffs end in what, July, and then you're going to have another shortened off season, and then you're going to have, what, a full 82 game season, a season after that.

It's going to be interesting to see how they do it. I mean, they could also potentially start the season around Thanksgiving. They could do it around Christmas before January 1st with the Winter Classic. But I do think the play that they very likely will do is I think they may start with the Winter Classic. I think Gary Vettman was talking about that when NHL had their big press conference when they had the return to play format with the 24 teams. I think that was when he was talking about that. That's going to be interesting to see if they do that. And I don't even know when the initial draft is going to be.

There's so many questions that they need to answer with this proposal. That Bob McKenzie said that they may try to vote on towards the later stages of the week. Yeah. It is really, like, divided in terms of fans and what they want. You know, just, hey, cut it out. And we'll just wait until next season, you know, wait for all this corona stuff to blow over. but yeah i i've been kind of wishy-washy on it myself because you know i've missed sports and and missing hockey as well and i've mentioned it on the last time i was on the podcast with

you know crosbie and malkin don't have that many years left to play uh they're their time's ticking you know so that's another thing i'm like okay i do want to see him play but yeah i feel i'll see if we get it. I'm sure Jake Gensel will be back. It's been officially six months now since his surgery, so the four to six month timeline is basically out the door unless he had a setback, but still there's still a lot of

parameters that they need to cross. Well, and he's been practicing in the facility. I've seen the Instagram and the Twitter videos, and I think he's been looking good from what I've seen in the video. Yes, he's been looking damn good. And Cam,

to finish off this episode, let's go way back so look at July 1st signings that the penguins did in history so in this day in 2008 Eric Daugard was signed to a three-year deal with 2.25 million Pascal DuPuy was inked to a three-year deal we love Pascal DuPuy here and Mark Eaton was also signed to a two-year deal worth four million so that was back in 2008 so a lot of nice throwback names there in the next year Mike Rupp was signed to a two-year contract I always forget that Mike Rupp does the

the post, not the post game, the intermission on 18T Sportsnet sometimes, the Penguins game. Yeah, he switches from there in the NHL network. Yeah. It's, I really like him. He's really good at being an analyst. He's good.

Yeah, no, I like, and he was a good player too. I loved watching him play too. Yeah, no, I did too. He was always a riot to play. I think, I remember the game against the capitals out of it. I think he had a hat-tricked. I think that was, yeah, that was in 2010,

I think. it up on my computer. I got to figure out what date it was, but I know I remember he had a hat trick. I was the only hat trick I've never seen him have. And then 2010, Penguin signed Paul Morton to a five-year contract along with old friend Sabinik McCallick. Oh.

He was just, he was okay for a little bit, but he just never scored, which was piss me off. Better than a certain player that I won't mention that we always talk about on this podcast. That's when I get on here. Yes, he signed here two years ago.

JJ, you can go away anytime now. But also on this day, a couple years ago, Antimiemi was signed. What a bad situation that turned out to be. Also, on this day in 2012, Mr. Game 1, Jeff Zackoff was signed by the Penguins. Mr. Game 1, yes. That was incredible. I think they also signed Blake Como on this day.

Steve Downey in 2015. I'm trying to think of... I love... You know, what was funny about those two signings was... We never really thought of it. And Steve Downey, for the type of player he was, he put up some points here in Pittsburgh. He put up a 10-goal, almost 15-goal season, I think.

Yeah, and it was really caught me and a lot of fans off guard. But, you know, he just had those penalties that were just like... He was always a nun. He fought too much, too. We all know how I feel about fighting and how I think you feel about fighting as well. Also, K.Las, last but not least, unto this day in 2012, Tainer Glass was signed to a two-year contract by the Penguins. It's a big yikes in the chat right there.

Yeah, and then he went to New York. He went to New York, that's right. He went to New York after that, and then they were, like, facing each other as a playoffs. He scored a playoff goal for the Rangers against Kerry Price. So anything is possible when's going up against Kerry Price. You can even have Tanner Glass score a playoff goal for you. Hey, let's not joke. Hopefully, you know, we can get past Montreal here.

Yes, yes. And if not, Cam, we have a 12.5% chance to land Alexis Leffronier. Oh, that would set the hockey world of fire. When I was watching that, I was just like, oh, my, you know they're going to have to probably make changes to the, to the, to the, to the, the, to the, the. Yeah, I was... Freedman's 31 thoughts, and apparently some executives were texting him, and they're like, yeah, this is bullshit. Can we, like, get a change on this, please?

So... I just, you know, from my perspective, it's like, being a Penguins fan, I don't see it as being fair. Even if we were to get him, it's not fair. Because, you know, we put almost 90-point, I had a 90-point season almost. And here in Detroit, which was literally the worst team in the league. and they get fourth, you know. I don't agree with it, but...

Yeah, it's... It is what it is. Pretty lame. But I think that will do it for this episode of Locked-on Penguins Cam unless you have anything else for this? Nope. Just gonna enjoy the Fourth of July weekend, grill some ribs, have beer.

Just chill out, you know? Yep, that'll be me. I'm going to... Smith Mountain Lake for my mom's birthday tomorrow. I'm going to try to have another episode tomorrow or Friday. I'm not sure which day. Hopefully, hopefully this, my mom's friend's house has internet down there. If they don't, I'm not going to be really pissed.

But, so, yeah, we'll have another episode coming tomorrow, like I said, tomorrow or Friday. Thank you guys so much for listening. I'm sure, Cam, you'll be on some point in the near future as we get closer to potentially playing. Sometimes. Yeah, I'll reach out to you then. So, Cam, where can they find you on Twitter again? Twitter is not that fair, like the hockey player Eric Fair. And you can also find my photography on Instagram, Cam underscore T-S-A-E.

Yes, he does. Cam does fantastic photography, so please do check it out, especially your last post-Camp. That was really, really good. Thank you. Yes, of course. So we will be back, like I said, tomorrow or Friday, and I will talk to you all then.