Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Crossover special with Locked on Wild!

Episode Date: August 9, 2021

Today's episode of Locked On Penguins is a special crossover. Seth Toupal of Locked On Wild joins the show to touch on both teams as former Penguins assistant general manager Billy Guerin has been pretty dang busy this offseason. Hunter brings up the Parise and Suter buy-outs and if Seth agreed on both of those decisions, plus what he's thought has been the best move from the Wild thus far. Seth also touches on the Jack Eichel sweepstakes and if Minnesota should still be in on that, despite limited cap space. With all that said, there's still plenty of Penguins content on this show as Seth asks Hunter what his favorite move has been this offseason (sorry Brock). The two also bring up where they think each team is positioned in their respective divisions going into next season and if there are any more moves coming as well.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.StatHeroStatHero, the FIRST Ever Daily Fantasy Sportsbook that gives the PLAYER the ADVANTAGE. Go to StatHero.com/LockedOn for 300% back on your first play. 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. Welcome to a special crossover edition of Locked-On Wild and Locked-on Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Hey, hockey fans, you need more hockey news? Locked-on NHL is here to fill the gap.

It's our daily podcast on everything happening in the NHL. You can subscribe and listen every day for a quick look at the biggest stories happening around the league. Subscribe to Lockdown NHL today wherever you get podcasts. On today's special crossover episode of Lockdown Wild and Locked on Penguins, Seth and Hunter, go back and forth about the off season for both the Wild and the Penguins. Favorite moves, least favorite moves, and so on and so forth. They will also discuss where each team, sets up in their divisions heading into 2021, 2022.

My name is Seth Topal, host of Locked on Wild, veteran of 10 plus years of Minnesota sports coverage, including the last couple of seasons, exclusively covering the Minnesota Wild. And I'm joined by the host of Locked on Penguins, Hunter Hodes. Hunter, man, how's it going? Not too bad, man. You know, we've really reached the dog days of summer now,

especially with the off season. So it'll be pretty quiet, I would assume. There's not a lot of free agents left to sign. Maybe you'll see some trades in August, most likely not, before it probably kicks up again in September when training camp rolls around. So we got a long way to go until next season, that's for sure. Yeah, and, you know, as the Wilds still maybe not super linked to Jack Eichel, that's one domino.

That could still fall here this offseason. but, you know, that's the thing that I guess I get to kind of chase around until the season starts. Don't even get me started on that. Let's just discuss the penguins to start. And a lot of moves for Pittsburgh coming off of a pretty successful season, although just kind of ran into a buzzsaw in the New York Islanders in the playoffs. So let's just look Hunter at some of the moves made in free agency. I'll just run through a couple of categories and have you just give me the move, the signing, or the trade that you think fits in to that category.

We'll start with best move of the offseason for the Penguins. Hunter, which one would that be? Okay, so I just had Brock McGinn on my show. If anyone, go, go listen to that. If you have not, a great interview with him. He's going to be great, I think, on this team. So if I don't say him, I think he's probably never going to come on Locked on Penguins ever again. But, you know, that being said, it's really close because I really like the Danton Hinen signing as well.

I really think that, you know, he could be the McCann. Part of them they can replace him that not a lot of people saw coming. If, you know, people remember, you go back a few years when he was with Boston, this was a player who averaged over half a point per game and for a couple seasons. I think his total in points for counting stats was 47, his underlying numbers were pretty good, and then, you know, everyone's been wondering, you know, why hasn't he been good?

I mean, you know, poor J.D., who obviously covers the Anaheim Ducks, that team, it has just been so bad the last couple of years. I mean, according to Natural Statrick, he played, his most common linemates last year were Yaacob Silverberg, who I think is aging like milk at this point, and Adam Henrique, who

is not bad, but he's, not what he used to be with New Jersey. So you put him on a line with McGinn, Jeff Carter, you can want to put him on the second line with Malkin potentially not being ready for the start of the season. I think he could do some damage. So I think for overall best moves, I think that's the best one. I'm sorry, Brock, if you don't ever want to come on the show, I totally understand that. But it's really close. I think both of them were really solid signings. I'm not really sure if you think about it with McCann and Tanniv for McGinn and Hinen, I'm not really sure it's a flat out upgrade for the team.

I think at best it's two lateral moves that you're just filling those voids the best you can. And also, you'll have time to potentially make a trade during the season if you feel like your forward depth is not good enough. I think right now they are still lacking another really good forward. on this lineup. I personally think Jared McCannas is a really good player. His underlying numbers proved that. He was great on the power play, great defensively. You can put him in any situation, and he would just be awesome. He just had a great season last year. I'm still kind of upset that they did give him away for nothing. They should have protected him,

but, you know, that did not happen. But in terms of, you know, a move off the ice, you know, it's honestly a move that it didn't involve a roster player as they took out the goalie coach and promoted the guy from Wilkesbury and Andy Chiodo. I totally forgot that he used to play on the Penguins before Cindy Crosby was here. So those 0304, he was one of the goalies on the 0304 team and 04 for that. So he was trying to steal games the best he could when that roster, their best player was RICO father. So we all that to chew on for a little bit. But that was also good.

but I think in terms of the best move roster-wise, to sum up all these long thoughts here, I will say it's Tanton Hinen. Okay. Now let's, and you may have tipped your hands to this one. Let's go to the head scratcher. The move, and this could include the expansion draft as well, anything that kind of has led up to this point,

the move or moves in which you just kind of took the news in and were like, huh, I don't really get that one. Were there one or two for the penguins that fit into that category? I think, yeah, the McCann move for a bit. You know, it didn't make a lot of sense at the time. It still kind of doesn't because you kind of just gave away a half a point per game player for no reason. I know Ron Hextall said, I went and he made the trade.

Like, you know, we weren't going to protect him. We didn't want to lose him for nothing. But then it's like you have the big four forwards, obviously. He should have been. next in line to be protected. You protect Kasperi Kappan and then you choose whoever else you want to protect it. That's Jeff Carter because then, you know, Seattle has their take on whoever they want from the fourth line. I think, you know, protecting fourth liners, you know, it's the easiest position to replace on the hockey team.

Obviously, they went after Brandon Tann. Heck, if they actually protected Carter and Kaepin and McCann and McCann outside the big four, I still think they would have went after Brandon Tannett because it sounds like Ron Francis had really liked him when the list got released. I'm not really sure they would have taken Teddy Bluber or Zach Aston Reese. Excuse me. I mean, I would have taken Aston Reese because he's a really good player. But, you know, that's, you know, that's not going to happen, obviously, at this point.

But, you know, that was, I think, the big head scratcher. You know, sure, they got Philip Hollander back. And so it becomes one of their best prospects. And, yes, anyone that follows the Penguins knows, this team does not. have a good farm system. That's the cost it comes with winning three Stanley Cups since 2009. I mean, you take that any day of the week, the donors will always

fly forever. But yeah, I think that was obviously the big head scratcher. Other than that, you know, people aren't going to want to hear this again. I've been talking about this on my show a lot. You know, Seattle taking away Brandon Tannib in his contract is a blessing

in disguise for the penguins because it created the cap space necessary to go out and make a couple of moves that they would not have had the room for had he still been on the team because, you know, Ron Hextal doesn't sound like he wants to, you know, make a move for the sake of making a move, you know, Alijian Rutherford, they are polar opposites of one another. He doesn't want to move a player for a draft pick. No, I've been talking on the pot about maybe moving Mike Matheson, you know,

Marcus Pedersen, though, I prefer to keep a ladder over the former. But, yeah, I mean, there's, you know, I can only, for my team, only one real head-scrouching move. and that's, you know, there's a lot of teams out there that have made way more head-scratching moves than that. So I'll be happy about with that. Yeah, and, you know, Seattle is one of them. There are just, there's no shortage of teams that do things where you're like, okay, that's a strange choice. So that was a nice little wrap-up of the Penguins' off-season move so far.

Tell you what, let's talk some wild and some of the things that they've done in their off-season. our crossover edition of Locked-on Wild and Locked-on Penguins continues next. All right, guys, so before we do get to our next segment in this special crossover with Seth from Locked on Wild, we have to touch on a couple of things, one of them being, bet-on-line, 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 BetOnline. You can get all the latest news, odds and info for all your sporting needs, including MLB, NBA, NHL,

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Go to statenro.com slash locked-on, excuse me, stathero.com slash locked on. Continuing our special Locked-on Wild, Locked-on Penguins Crossover Show, and we will turn it to Minnesota Wild-related questions. Hunter. You have the floor. You can put me in the hot seat. I'm sure probably want to get some sort of update on Carol Caprize off. Everybody seems to want to. But yeah, the floor is yours. Any wild questions you've got? Hit me with them. We got to start with the obvious, Seth. You know,

just the big news that they're the two franchise icons, Ryan Suter and Zach Perise, both bought out by the wild. I was not surprised at Perese because I said this on my Twitter. I think he was kind of getting to the point where he's a bit washed. Just was not the player that he used to be all those years ago. And, you know, I keep thinking about this too, man. You know, the Penguins were a finalist for both of them. And, you know, I have no idea where the franchise would be today. If both of those players signed there, I don't think they would have those three Stanley Cups.

That's for sure. I don't think also Jim Rutherford would have taken over for the team had they not signed. A lot of this franchise history would have been flipped upside down if Pittsburgh had gotten both of those. But you know, for Souter, though, he's still a good player. He can play in both zones. I'm glad that, you know, Dallas is able to sign him to a good contract, but just, you know, what were your thoughts on Billy Gere's big decision there to buy both of the amount? And then cap-wise, that's going to be a big ticket in the next couple of years. Yeah, you know, as I've had time to digest this a lot and now see that, you know, Suter was a pretty sought-after command.

which indicates that the team's at least view that he still has some good years left. In the end, it came down for me to Bill Garron just wanted to basically have in front of him what it was going to, what the penalties were going to be for these contracts. He didn't sign Parisi or Souter to them. And there was just always this assumption with a 13-year contract that at some point you're going to have to clean up the mess because it's just it's not likely that players will last through the duration of that contract and so i think garen just decided he would rather deal with the buyout penalties and the additional salary cap space that that was going to eat up as opposed to the unknown if in two years ryan suitor

elects to retire and does not finish out the contract. Then you're getting hit with that salary recapture nonsense that just causes a nightmare. And it ends up being substantially more than they would end up having to pay. And it would come at a surprising time where maybe they end up losing out on a free agent that they really wanted to sign. And so, yes, it's going to be a long process. to get to the point where there's relief in sight, the four years up until the point where they basically become minimum contracts

are going to be tough, especially the last two, because you're basically, you're carrying a, what would equate to a very good level player at that salary. You're just carrying them on the books without them being there. So it's a huge risk, but at the end of the day, I think Bill Guerin just wanted to take, that something that the wild know that they'll have to deal with, as opposed to the surprise factor, if one or both of them would have elected to retire, then I think it would have ended up

being substantially more. So Garen just wanted to have the concrete, like, this is what we have to deal with in front of him as opposed to some of the unknown variables. And, you know, at the end of the day, ended up that he just kind of wanted to do this. And so as with a lot of things during the Bulgarian era, he just elected to do it. Yeah. And, you know, immediately when I also saw it, you know, my mind did jump obviously to the Jack Eichael sleep stations because this saga is never-rending of Eichael mad at the Sabers. The Sabers are like, well, you know, screw you. We're going to only trade you if we get the right value. It leads to a very weird divorce that is going to inevitably be coming.

And, you know, they have the cap space now. And I feel like Minnesota would have the package that the Sabres would want. But I don't know if they could stomach that cap hit with all that cap recapture stuff. And, you know, the buyouts with Parisi and Souter really affecting them when Ico is, you know, in the prime of that contract, even just halfway through. And, you know, obviously on the ice, it makes so much sense, right? You can put Caprice off with him. that's a deadly first line that not a lot of teams are going to like to face against.

We're going to get to the Capricos of stuff coming up in a bit anyway. But it makes so much sense, Seth. And they keep going in, they keep going out, it seems like it. I honestly feel like that's a lot of what's going on with the Iql's sleepstakes just because Buffalo has been hard on their asking price. And why not? You know, he's their franchise player. Yeah. They want to get a lot for him so they can really get the.

rebuild going. I mean, they've been rebuilding for ever since I was 14 years old or something like that. Those of you are aware, I'm 23 now. So, especially since I've been a freshman high school, they have not made the playoffs. It's just, you know, what are your thoughts on the Eichol situation? Do you think Minnesota should potentially get back into the mix or does it not make sense for them at all? I think if Buffalo were to drop their asking price out of desperation and now, the latest report in which his agents basically told, you know, basically have that statement to the media of like, look, Buffalo is basically trying to torpedo this. And, um, and so we just want to go somewhere where, you know, Jack is valued and he's able to, you know, play for a contender. And so making Buffalo look bad, maybe we'll push them to the point of desperation to where

they have to drop that, that asking price, which at this point is, you know, a like NHL ready player, a bunch of top prospects and picks, like just a mass of all of that. It's just, it's too rich for me right now. And you add in the fact that you would be taking on $10 million in salary. You're obviously going to throw a player in to try to kind of even that out as much as possible. but especially in two years, that gets to be a very tough price to pay. And I think it's signaled as well when Parisian Souter Roboto, Bill Garan wants to give opportunities to Marco Rossi to try to show that he can be the top center on this team. And now, because they're going to have to really watch their spending,

he's going to get those opportunities over the next three, four years to show whether or not he is, he's able to do that. And at the end of four years, when Parisian suitors buyouts are minimal, if these prospects in the system, you're Rosses, you're Matt Boldie, some of those other guys, if they have not proven yet that they are capable of being stars at the NHL level, then that gives Garen some freedom to just blow it up and try to find a new nucleus. So I think we are probably out on the Ikel sweepstakes unless Buffalo drops the price, in which case it would not surprise me if Garen maybe takes another look at it. One interesting note that I did hear on this note is that I think it was Michael

Russo that tweeted it. He said that if the wild would acquire Ikel, they would give him the option of getting that that neck, that disc surgery that he is apparently supposed to get. So I find that interesting as well. There's a lot of rumors with that surgery. I don't really, no, I was listening to Elliot Friede, the 31 Thoughts podcast with that. That's a great listen for anyone that doesn't, you know, know what's going on with that. I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm, I hardly don't even know what is going on with it. I listened to that whole episode, and I was still so confused the entire time.

But, yeah, that surgery is going to play a huge role into where he goes, I think, is what team is going to take him on, knowing that he likely is going to get that surgery. And who knows how long he's out for, which, you know, again, it just brings me to my next point, Seth, you know, what is the latest on this Caprisov stuff? Is this KHL, you know, nonsense real? or is that just like a negotiating ploy where he just going to be like,

okay, you know, I'll wait to the last moment, then bolt there, even though I want to remain a Minnesota part of the Minnesota while, excuse me. It's full out a negotiating ploy. I mean, I had a guest on a couple of weeks ago, and we actually looked at what he could make in the KHL if he would go and play there, and it's something along the lines of like a million and a half dollars. so it does not make any sense for him to go back there.

I mean, if he does, if he would try to come back to the NHL, the wild still have his rights. And so really, it's the only play that his agent has. So obviously it's going to get used. And at the end of the day, I think it's more so. I think the hold-up more so is the, Kevin Fiala contract because it sounds like the wild want to go more of a short term and Fiala obviously wants Fiala is at the age where he wants that long term deal because he likes it here.

He wants to stay here for eight years. The wild want to go with a little bit of a shorter term with him. And so I think if they can get Fiala's contract, if they can get that ironed out, I think Capri Zoff's will come shortly after that. I think it will be a short-term deal with Caprizov, but I think he will end up re-upping here. And then my long national nightmare can finally end, not having to deal with this anymore.

Yeah, trust me that. If that ever happened with Evgeny Malpher or something, speaking of, Gino, his contract is up next season. I would definitely be a bit nervous. So I don't expect it to because this is probably going to be the last contract he signs in Pittsburgh. Yeah. And then whatever he wants to do after that. I mean, he'll have earned his right.

He wants to go home and play for a season in Russia with his family. You know, so it be it. I think Ovechkin's probably going to do the same thing once his five-year deal is up as well. You know, just switching, you know, probably before we do get to the next commercial break, switching to your free agency, you know, your team was pretty busy, you know. John Merrill, one-year contract. I like that signing. I think he's not terrible.

Dmitri Kulukov probably didn't really understand that one just because he's not been, he's not good anymore. I don't feel like. Obviously, you took away Frederick Goodrow from the Penguins. I really liked that signing for you guys. Great fourth-line player down the stretch. He was deserved the Ice Time. And I really thought the Penguins were going to bring him back.

So I was a bit surprised to see them go with Evan Rodriguez and Dom Simone from Calgary over Freddie Goddegro. And then, you know, you also got another former penguin and Alex Gologoski who played with the team in 2010 and also season after that when they got James Neal from the Dallas Stars in exchange for him. So were you pleased with the free agency signings? And what would you think was the best move they made in free agency? Yeah, I thought free agency went as well, considering what the Wild had at their disposal. I mean, the only player that it seemed like they really missed out on was Nick Folino, who ended up going to Boston.

I think, though, this was the, like, this is, so if you're doing one of those, like, readers, one of those books for dummies, it's like, so you didn't get Jack Eichel or how to navigate free agency if you don't trade for Jack Eichel for dummies. Like, that was kind of the approach that it felt like the wild took and not to say that it was, like, bad or anything.

anything. It just was very much, okay, so we lost Ryan Suter. Let's find somebody to plug that hole. And they got Alex Goligowski. We ended up losing Nick Pinino. Let's find somebody to plug that hole. That ended up being Freddie Goodrow. And they basically just went down the list and like, okay, this player's gone. Let's find somebody to plug there. So, you know, it's not like it was, it was not a terrible offseason. I just think considering the reason, resources they had, the wild did what they could. And I'm really intrigued to see what Gologoski has in the tank. Very consistent defenseman from what I've been told, a guy who very much is like a Ryan Souter. So I'm very interested to see where he fits in because one of the biggest questions that has

popped up with Souter gone is what does that wild power play unit look like? Who takes? Who takes some of those top powerplay minutes. Does it end up being a defenseman or does it end up being another offensive player? So that's kind of a fun byproduct that I'm going to look at as we get a little closer to the season. So I would say best moves probably Goligowski. I'm really intrigued to see what he brings to the table. I will say he does have experience running on the power play. I remember when he was in Pittsburgh. This was obviously, He wasn't in the Penguins very long, but this was when Chris LaTang was really starting to cement himself as the number one defenseman of the future.

When he wasn't on the top power play with Ganshaw, it would be Gologsky running the show on the second unit. So he has experience doing that. I know he also did it a bit in Arizona. So I think that might be your guy unless they want to put, you know, Brodine on there. I don't know how much experience he has or they want to do Dumba, who obviously just signed, and maybe they could do that. as well. But I think probably of your best option would be Gologoski because he does have

the most experience. But yeah, I mean, you know, Billy Gern just been bringing in all these former penguins. I saw Ray Shiro was brought in as a senior advisor to him. So he's really just bringing in any former penguin or penguin player that he can just because obviously he was with the organization so long. But, you know, these are either good hockeymen or good players from the organization that he knows very well. So I really enjoyed, I really enjoyed the job that he has been doing. I remember I was so happy that he got the job

because I knew he was ready. I was hoping one day that he could be the Penguin's general manager, Rutherford ever resigned, obviously came a bit too late, and then Hextall is now running the show. But give any other thoughts on the offseason so far for your team? You know, just, you know, is there any move you think could still be made other than, you know, maybe the big extension, obviously, and then Jack Eichael.

Yeah, I think other than, I think at this point it's just extension mode. Obviously, if the Wilde have any other money left over, they will probably try to fill out some depth. But at this point, really the only box left unchecked is Caprizov and Fiala's extensions. And so I await those being put to paper with very, very much anticipation.

But until we get there, it's just going to be kind of a waiting game. And so, you know, that's what I get to do the rest of the offseason. You know, you just, I mean, I have no extensions really to worry about now, man. Zach Astromis just to be signed for a one-year contract, 1.8 million for the season. He's probably gone next year if he produces what he did this past year and with his defensive impacts. I could see him getting upwards of $3 million a year.

for, and you know, people won't pay that just because he's a, well, he's a fourth line or whatever, but, you know, he's, this is a really good player that could potentially be leaving the Penguins after next year. The only extensions that I guess could happen are for Krista Tang and of Guinea-Malk, and I think Ron Hextall, so they want to start having those discussions

this month. So any time now, they could be heating up discussions with those two franchise cornerstones. The goalie stuff, you know, they're probably going to walk into the season with both of them. And if they both stink by the time, December rolls, round, that's probably when they'll make their move. But I think coming up in the next segment, we'll do some expectations for the season.

So stick around for that. Finally, before we do end today's show, we have to touch on Bill Bar, which has many delicious flavors. There is something for everyone when you talk to, a Bill Par fan. They're definitely passionate about their favorites. If you don't know the flavors well, you are missing out with cookies and cream, which is my personal favorite, German chocolate, orange, strawberry, salt to caramel, etc. If you haven't tried all the flavors, you can get a mixed box where you'll get two of each

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by looking at some expectations for both of our teams with where they are penciled in, back to the normal division and conference setup after doing the COVID year for a year. And so now we're back to normal. So let's look first at the Penguins and the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. Where do you think Pittsburgh slots in both in the division and in the conference? Yeah, so division-wise, I think they're going to be in their running to win it next season.

I think they're still a better team than the Rangers who obviously had quite a lot of action this summer, probably not for the better of their core and for obviously they want to make a playoff push. The Flyers made a lot of moves as well. Don't think they're better than Pittsburgh. Obviously, Columbus is not going to be that good. New Jersey's made a couple of nice moves, but I think they're going to still be not. They'll be better next year, but not as good. But you know, you have the big teams at the top.

Carolina is going to be back. They're going to be really freaking good. Washington is still a player. Obviously, you have the Penguins. And yes, the New York Islanders who have come within a game or two the last couple years are going to their first handic up finals since the 80s. They will be back there as very trots as one hell of a coach. Andresley is there and their goalies and will be back as well.

So they will be a very tough out. I think it's those four teams that you will see in the playoffs next year. I think honestly, outside of Carolina, I would have Pittsburgh at two in the metro. I mean, people forget the Penguins won the East Division this past year, arguably the toughest division in hockey with both those goaltenders in a very deep lineup. I would not be surprised if they won it again, hopefully with less injuries just because the Penguins were top five and man, the games lost all year. Conference-wise, I would probably put them below Tampa Bay,

Carolina, Boston, and maybe that's it. I think I would have them as the fourth or fifth best team in the conference. But it's really close. You know, the East is always so loaded. Toronto is up there as well. Of course, I can't even forget about the Panthers. They're, I mean, they're four to five, I think, right there with the Penguins. do they really impress me this past season?

So I think that four to five to six range conference-wise is where I would have Pittsburgh. I definitely think they're a top three team and the metropolitan. As of today, there's obviously still a lot more time left in the off season. Do I think they're worse right now than where they were at the end of this past season? I think I would say, yes, just because those two new boardrooms of the neighborhood were just lateral at best, the goal tending is still very inconsistent. I don't know what they're going to do on defense. I mean, I guess they'll slot in Chad Ruehdle as the number six spot,

but are you going to move a left-handed D? For forward help, are you going to get just some salary cap space? Or you're going to put Malkin on LTIR and go full Nikita Kutrov on that? Probably not just because of, you know, the hysteria that it caused with the lightning. And, you know, it was legal, but, I mean, I don't think Malkin's injury is going to be as serious as that. but I still have them as a top team, not only a division, but the conference next season as well.

Just flipping it back to you with the Wild, obviously they made the playoffs this season going back to the Central. But with the Central, that's interesting one. It's obviously a lot more competitive than the Pacific. That division is a joke, I think, at this point. I mean, Chicago is there,

but I don't really know how good they're going to be. Colorado, obviously, I think, is the team to beat. I think, yeah, I don't. I almost mistaken them in the Pacific just because they were there. Again, it's going to take so much time getting used to the back to the usual alignment, excuse me. You know, you got Colorado. You got St. Louis, which I think is still a good team. Minnesota's right up there.

Dallas is going to be really good. I would have them right in the thick of those four, to be honest with you. Yeah, that's pretty much where I would have it as well. I'm really interested to see what Chicago looks like. If all of their youth figures it out, puts it together, I think that's going to be a real dangerous team. If not, though, and if they get, like, if they get a regression from Mark Andre Fleury, who you just assume at some point it's going to happen, but yet it never has,

If they don't get that same flurry the Vegas had down the stretch, that could be a huge problem for them. I mean, Colorado is the toast of the Central, but they're going to be a different-looking team as a lot of those top-tier teams have to deal with in losing just a ton of their depth because they don't have the cap space to sign up. And Gru Bauer left, so they got Darcy Kemper in Nets. how much of a hit do they take there? Colorado is going to be a very good team, but I think it's going to be a different looking team than we've seen over the last couple of years. I mean, Nashville was plucky in getting to the playoffs this past season.

Can they carry some of that with them back into the Central? Yeah, I would say at this point, I put the Wild probably fourth or fifth in the Central Division at this. this point. But as you alluded to, the Pacific is a mess. The Vegas Golden Knights may have that division wrapped up by the All-Star break. I mean, you've got, you've got Anaheim. Or by now. Yeah, they like honestly, it's, it's a disaster. You've got Anaheim, you've got San Jose, you've got the Kings, you've got whatever Edmonton is trying to do. The Kings might be a bit better this year. I'll say that. But yeah, you have Anaheim, San Jose, those two will give you. Arizona is

probably going to be the new Los Angeles in the last couple years. They'll be bad. Yeah, like, they're just, so let's say the wild take, I'll just put the wild at fifth, just, you know, make me commit to a spot. I'll say the wild end up fifth in the central, but here's the crazy thing. I still think, based on what is going on, in the Pacific Division, that the Wild, even if they're fifth in the central, I think they could still find themselves right in the mix for one of those playoff spots, one of those final two playoff spots in the West. Because Vegas is going to win the division.

Beyond that, I have no earthly idea. Who else? I mean, Calgary, question mark. Seattle, question mark. Vancouver, question mark. Edmonton question mark. that division's going to be just just a nightmare. So, yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if the wild end up fourth or fifth in the central

and still end up making the playoffs because they're not going to send extra teams from the Pacific. Yeah, I mean, remember everyone, half the league makes the playoffs. I'd be kind of surprised if Minnesota was on in that upper half. Actually, I'm remembering, I think Arizona is moving to the central this season now that I think about it. So my mistake on that because Seattle is going to be taking their place. So, you know, and then Winnipeg, I think, is also in the central this season. Yes. Yep.

Yeah. So you have, there's a lot of bad teams in that division as well. So, again, I think Minnesota will be in there. I mean, heck, they almost challenged for second placed in the West Division this year with Vegas and Colorado. I mean, they went down to the very end with both. of those teams. Obviously, you know, Colorado pulled away towards the late stages, but, you know, Vegas, it was tough as nails with them with home ice. So, I mean, I think I would be pretty surprised if they didn't get in. I'd like to see more of Carrillo-Croposov in the playoffs.

It's just going to be ridiculous as he just keeps getting older and older and just now into his peak years now because he's so young. And I have a blast watching him. I love what Kevin Fiala has been able to do just coming from Nashville not really doing too much there and then all of a sudden he just becomes this half a point per game player even more with the wild and it just came out of nowhere again always loved the defense with spurgeon and Brodine and Dumba and you know suit obviously when he was there but you know they just always had those big three and it's just you know good luck getting a lot of quality chances on them because they were just great at, you know,

preventing chances, you know, with zone injuries and all that. But unless you have anything else, Seth, for next season, just fire away. No, I think that's a good spot to leave it for this episode. A good look at both teams heading into the season. Hunter, since you, this is the first time you've hopped on with Lockdown Wild. just give the listeners where they can follow you on Twitter and a plug for Lockdown Penguins as well. Yeah, so you can follow me on Twitter

at Hunter Hodes. The last name is HOD, IES. You know, I also have the verified checkmark as all locked on hosts do. Lucky. Now, basically, oh, well, Seth's not quite there yet. But he will give it maybe about a week, I think, or maybe even tomorrow. You know, I think he'll get verified at some point.

Anyways, you know, the shows Twitter as an L.O. underscore penguins, and you can find all your penguins coverage there. As you're just going to keep chugging through the offseason, providing content for you all. You know, sooner or later, training camp will be here and we'll be starting the new season. Thank goodness for that. And of course, you can follow Lockdown Wild wherever you listen to podcasts, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram as well. And you can follow your fearless leader, Seth Topol, at Seth Topes on Twitter. That wraps it up for the special question.

crossover edition of Lockdown Wild and Lockdown Penguins. You can find new episodes all offseason long as part of the Locked On podcast network.