Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Danton Heinen is BACK for the Penguins!

Episode Date: July 28, 2022

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a great move on Wednesday when they decided to bring back Danton Heinen on a very cheap deal. Hunter gives his immediate reaction to the move and yes, it's all positive. He goes into how great Heinen was at 5v5 last year and how the Penguins are getting him on a bargain, plus looks at what line he'll likely start with to begin the season. He also again reminds the listeners that Hextall's work likely isn't done, considering that the team still has nine defensemen and because the team probably still wants another forward added. He gives an updated look at what the depth chart looks like and sings some praise as the forward group looks a bit better. Following that, Hunter gives his top 10 prospects in the system, starting with the top 5 in the second segment, and then the bottom five in the last segment. All that, plus me forgetting about poor Calle Clang in the Rakell trade, on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!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.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts! 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, Penguins fans. Welcome back to another episode for this podcast. We finally have some news to discuss. Danton Hinen is officially back for the Penguins, a one-year, one million dollar contract. And to get into all of my thoughts on that side and get into his numbers from last year, where I think he's best fit going into next year for the team. And what this means going forward is, again, I do not think the Penguins are done. And a little later, we're going to get to my top 10 Penguins. win prospects in their system. I know people have already tweeted at the podcast account that while they actually have 10 prospects and yeah, but believe it or not, they, you know, they somehow do even after

winning three Stanley Cuts in the Sydney Crosby era. But I'm going to go into what my top 10 look like, you know, who could rise, maybe who could fall throughout the next year or two and, you know, who could potentially make a big impact or actually say big impact, but make a decent impact at the NH level. So that's all coming up right after this drop. You're locked on penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguin podcast.

I am your host, Hunter Hodde. If you're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hurdy's. You can also follow the shows Twitter at EleanorSore Penguins. And, of course, thank you so much for making this your first listen of the day. So going into today, I was like, all right, you know, got my top 10 prospects. I'm going to spread it out over three segments. You know, just going to go to that, maybe do like three to four per segment. And then a few hours ago, the Penguins, you know,

release, press release saying they have re-signed Dayton Hine into a one-year deal worth $1 million. And yes, that is correct. In case this is the first time you're hearing this, he is only going to be making $1 million next year after he scored 18 goals. This is a $100K decrease in pay to come back on a massive discount to play for the Penguins, as they've. chase their fourth Stanley Cup, excuse me, in the city of Rosby, era. Something is wrong with my voice.

I don't really understand what, but I don't know. Maybe I've just been speaking too much. I don't know what's why. Anyways. But, you know, to start out, this is a great deal for the Penguins. I mean, I have absolutely no complaints about this. It does make the Kaspari-Captain re-signing. Oh, they feel a little weird because he's making 3.2 for just existing last year.

yet Heinen, who scored almost 20 goals, is taking a pay cut to come back. Just a little weird with that. But, you know, Heinen is a great bottom six player. You know, I believe of his 18 goals, 15 of them were at 5B5. You know, he was always just, you know, whether it was on Malkins line, whether it was on the third line with Carter. He's sometimes way on the fourth line. He was always making an impact on ice.

He has a beautiful release. Sure, he goes a little bit streaky. He'll kind of, I guess, upset some people when he's not finishing chances that he should about nine out of time times or a couple times last year where he missed some wide open. That's easily going to add 20. I don't know if those were to win in. But, you know, you don't score 18 goals in the league by accident. And, you know, this is a very good bottom six-winger. You know, you look at hockey-vis stuff with Mike of Lake McCurdy, his isolated impact as of this year.

you know plus point two expected goals for per 60 a whole blob of red right in front of the net means he's getting to the high danger areas a whole blob of red right above the left the far left circle that's also a very good area to shoot from his shot again is very good so plus eight percentage in terms of there but in the even strike defense basically not a lot of red in the defensive zone you know there's a whole swab a blue right in the front of the net which means you know he's giving up less expected goals against per 60 compared to, I guess, you know, players that, you know, are bottom six winners, basically, is what I'm trying to say.

I made it sound confusing, but he's giving up less chances in those areas compared to the competition. Only little red areas are right around the blue line. So, you know, this is a flat out steal for the penguins. He should not be making $1 million after what he did this past season. I know Josh Yewy said of the athletic that he was looking to getting $3 million in arbitration. I guess no one was really offering him that. Though there was a report from Danny Shiree, if I can find the tweet here,

said a source told him that Hynen's decision to return to the Penguins came down to taking money out of the picture. He says there are better offers out there, but Hinen felt strongly about saying with the Penguins and winning a Stanley cop. So that I think is what you're really seeing with a lot of Ron Hectorstall signings this year. You can also even make this argument for Latang and Malkin, right? You know, Latang, is he worth $6 million right now? Heck no. He's probably worth $7.5.

He should have gotten a raise on that contract. But he sacrificed dollars to get more turnover. Any Malkin, you know, is he worth $6 million? You know, a very decent argument, but I would probably argue that he's worth a little bit more than that considering what he did last year. But, you know, he took a heck of a discount to help the team and only $12.2 million. Brian Rust, you know, he also, he's making what, 5.1 million. This is a player that easily probably could have gotten 6 to 6.5 on the open market,

even though the flat cap is affecting the UFA market right now. But I think he easily would have been a day one UFA son. I didn't even think he was going to come back at this point anyway. But, you know, you have these players that they're taking these discounts to come back and help the penguins, you know, try to chase that one more championship in the city crossby era, excuse me. That is massive. And the bottom six, I feel a lot better about it right now than I did.

What's time I was right now? 8.30, I'm recording this. I feel a heck of a lot better right now than I did four, five, six hours ago. That's for sure. You know, we can do a little mini lineup right here. Say you got Jake Gensel, Sydney Crosby, Brian Rust, Jason Zucker, Gennie Malkin, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Ricardo, Robert, Kappen. I guess that's what they're going to go for right now. And then the fourth line, you know, Ryan Paling, Brock McGain, Teddy Bluger.

I think that's probably what we're looking at in terms of what the forward group will look like right now. Now, July 27th, so long ways to go. But, you know, those are the lines that I think will be in play when training, if training camp opens with these 12th wards. I do not think Josh Archibald or anyone else that they signed to those two-way deals. should have a place on the team, though, you know, Drew O'Connor is going to be competing for that last response, redeems of Horna, you know, and including Archibald, even though I don't think he should be on the team.

But that's just, that's, again, that's from a purely hockey standpoint. He is going to compete, though, for that spot. So you're basically going to have four to five players competing for that last spot. I do think Ryan Paling, just because, you know, he's a former first round pick. GMs love to take chances on those kind of players. You know, I think, at least right now, he's going to win that battle. But, you know, when you look at that bottom six, is it great? No.

Is it good? Me, maybe not. Is it possible? Yes. That is how much of a difference, Dan Hainty makes it. I said a couple weeks ago, Penguins have yet to replace 38 to 40 goals. Now you get 18 of those back.

Still maybe you have to replace 10 to 15. And maybe over the 20 more. Rodriguez is still out there. Maybe you have a shot of bringing him back. But I think right now he probably wants more tournament. more tournament dollars, excuse me. But, you know, this is a giant W, as the kids like to say, for general manager one, Hartstall.

You know, it's been, I'd say he said more Ws than L's this offseason, but, you know, Capmanin definitely put a sour taste in a lot of people's mouth. This one, though, just a great deal, someone who you can rely on to score for you at 5E5. Good playmaker, good in his defensive zone can play. Top six at times with the Giddy Mall can play on the third line with Jeff Carter. you honestly put him anywhere in the lineup and he will make a difference. So I honestly really was not expecting him back at this point.

So some very good news with regards to that for the Penguins, and they are going to be better off with regards to Hinen playing on the team next year. That's for sure. You know, what this means going forward, you know, I still think there's a trade to be made. They have nine defensemen going into the season. Now, I want to pull up something here. that or my saw i'm trying to find out um this yeah like this is from one of the penguins

reporters um and this kind of also sums up how you know i've been feeling to and you know yeah i do think hextall intends to move a salary before the season but you know even though they're over the cap right now but believe it's i think puckpedia had it as about 870k upwards of a million they can get rid of that by just sending a couple people down i wouldn't want them to send down Smith, but they could do that, send Drew O'Connor down, wave somebody like Archibald or Paling if they had to, and nope, they will be kept compliant. 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies. And that also includes them moving out a defenseman to get there.

Of course, again, that's probably not what they would want to do, but I don't think they're just back, they've backed themselves into a corner here. They can send a couple of players down that will clear them of their cap problems, and they can go into the season, you know, under the cap, whether that's with eight or nine defensemen. Again, I do think there is at least one more move to be had here. I think a defenseman's going to go. I think a forward is going to come back.

That's just, that's my current thinking. What you're seeing right now, I don't think is going to be the final roster going into camp. And finally, remember what Ron Hextal said a couple weeks ago? And I like the depth going into this season. If I were to do this right now, you know, I'd be pretty thrilled about it. He's not going to tip his hand. See this.

Dan He had him one year times one million. He wanted to bring him back. He knew probably that the forward group was not that good. He's just not putting it out there to the media like Jim Rutherford did. And he went out and made the forward group a bit deeper. And, you know, again, I don't think the work is done. I think they need to go out and get another forward. Hopefully someone in the top six.

That could bump someone like Jason Zucker down. That would be awesome. Or if you want, you can go get the other top nine winner, put them on the third line. and then keeps soccer up there. Who knows? But, you know, this move makes the Penguins a better, deeper team heading in to the 2020-22-23 season. Big A-plus in my book for my next door.

So that wraps up this segment of the podcast. Coming up in the second segment, we're going to start getting into my top 10 prospects in the Penguin system. And then the third and I'll finish that off for you all. But before I get to that, I'm making this right here. Ben Online.comnet is the fastest, easiest way to check in on all of your. your betting needs. You can find your favorite sports and events at the number one source for odds, lines, and games. You can find reviews and news on every league, including MLB, NFL, NBA,

NHL, combat sports, e-sports, et cetera. Beneline continues to be the top online resource for all our sports-based information from live-in-game betting scores and podcasts. They have you cover. You can hand a bet online today or use your phone showing more with a transit action. That is bet online where the game starts. All right, I'm back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. host, Honored Hode's. You want to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow this show's Twitter at Eleanor for Penguins. So let us get into the top 10 prospects in the penguin system.

Note, I'm not going to count Droghunter, redeems the Horna, or Alex Nealander. And I'm also not going to count POJ either because he's on the one-way deal. He's probably going to be on the team this year. Maybe a little twice if he got sent down, but I think he is going to be on the team in some capacity. But coming in at number one, this should be no surprise to anyone. Oh, in Pickering. It's not even close. The skating that he has, you know, the way he moves the puck up the ice, there's no other defenseman in the system that can do what he does. And from a pure talent standpoint, he has a lot more talent than any prospect in the system. You know, you look at hockey

prospecting and, you know, the star probabilities, you know, it's a little low for that, but, you know, for NHLR probabilities, it's, you know, a little over 50%. A couple comps there like Essel and Dale, you know, Carlo Coliakavo, you know, et cetera, et cetera. But, you know, this is a player. He's definitely, he's a little bit wrong in some areas, not as good offensively, but, you know, you can start, you're starting to see if you watch some of the video that he's involving himself

more in the offensive zone, he's activating himself below the goal line, which is something that, you know, only really a few defensemen on this team. do at this point, you know, he's not going to be ready, I would say, for three to four to five years at this point. But, you know, he is the potential, you know, to be a top four defender on this team. You know, he has skills that you can't teach, especially with that reach that he has, you know, skating is just so crisp, you know, defending very strong in his own zone. And also has a nice shot too. So, you know, if he can work a little more on his offensive game, I think he's going to be even better. So I do think, you know, a little more time for him.

to be polished up, but I do think he is by far the number one prospect in this system. Number two, I would probably put Philip Hollander. It may sound a bit weird because Valtrey-Puson is there, Sam Poulin, a couple others. But, you know, Hollander does have, you know, a good amount of talent. And I know his stance in Wilkesbury last year, we're not the greatest. 14 goals, 28 points, and 61 games, played a few games, you know, at the NHL level. I think it was only a couple. but, you know, I'm still very high on this player.

You know, you look at the data for him and, you know, he still has around a 60% chance of being a full-time NHLer in his career. A couple comps for him, you know, include, you know, Michael Dow Cole, you know, Nick Pitt, Doug Waite, Mika Zepenajette, you know, Epgenic Netsov, even for the star probabilities. I don't think he's going to be that good. But, you know, they're, you know, he's a good center. has a good shot, fast skater, good playmaker. He has all the tools that you would want to be a good center in the league. It's just, you know, his full offensive game hasn't come out yet, at least down in Wilkesbury. I'm hoping to see him improve his numbers a little bit next year.

But I do think in terms of raw talent, he is their number to prospect, you know, in my opinion. I think after that, Sam Poo-Land, he was a bit lower on. my list. If you were to ask me last year, he would probably have been down to like five or six, but he had a really nice ending to his season in Wilkeshire. Finished with 16 goals, 37 points and 72 games, was second on the team in sporting outside of Nealander and Dalton. Of course, they tied for the team winning points. But, you know, everyone's been wondering, you know, where is seeing Julian, you know, when is he going to come up to be in NHL or you know he's not going to think he's going to be a star in this league you know has you

know I think the odds right now when you look at hockey prospecting about 40% chance that he makes it but you know there's you know a couple decent comps in you know Michael bunting you know Brett Richie there's also Bo Bennett in here but yeah I think that's that's just because he got hurt way too often but you know Brett Richie and Michael bunting you know especially bunting you know he's he was he's been a pretty solid player you know up in Toronto for those last couple of years. So, you know, I think there's still a little bit of time for him. Again, I was a lot more sour on him, you know, this time last year going into this past season than I am now, but, you know, he's able to really rebound, get some of this game back,

stayed a lot more healthier. And I think at a pretty good season down works very enough. He's able to, you know, do have like a nice red hot start to next season. Would not be surprised if he's one of the first call-ups. I know he hasn't really made us initial debut yet. But I think, you know, I think that's going to be coming sooner rather than later. Number four, I have Tristan Braz, you know, someone who, you know, decent goal score. You know, he was pick, remember last year in the second round, this was on HECSahl. Well, I think it was actually Hexdahl's first pick.

And, you know, he's still, you know, a ways away, to be honest. But, you know, there's some good comps for him, too, like Mason Appleton, Matt Moulson. he was a really good player back in the day, Andre Palad. You know, he hasn't gotten to Wilkesbury yet. He's still in his junior league. But this is a player that, you know, I think can really open up some eyeballs this year. He was definitely a project, a little more of a project, I should say, when he was taken. But, you know, I think he's someone that, you know, maybe three to four years down the line,

if the development keeps going strong and he has a couple years in Wilkesbury, once he's able to come up, I do think that, you know, he can potentially, you know, make the team at some point. After that, you know, I guess I would say Joel Blumquist, you know, he's a pretty decent goal. I mean, he's a fine goal. You know, I remember when they traded the other goaltender in the trade for Ricard Raquel, and of course his name is just escaping me right now for whatever reason. I'm just going to, geez, penguins trade. The fact that I don't even know that I'll tell my head just goes to show how embarrassing this is.

Yeah, Callie Klang. I knew it started with a C, but that's just embarrassing. I apologize for that. So, you know, they're kind of a wash if you ask me. But, you know, Blumquist, he had a pretty decent year in junior last year. I don't know if he'll ever make the NHL. but in terms of the Penguins prospects, I would probably put him on my number five.

And here, there's some full comps for him. You know, Cam Ward, Corey Crawford, Jake Allen. Maybe he turns into one of those. Maybe he doesn't. But, you know, pretty decent year and junior last year. And I think, you know, if he keeps growing, you know, we'll have to see, you know, he comes up to, you know, wheeling, you know, Wilkesbury and all that stuff.

So that is the first half of my prospect rankings. Let me know what you all think in comments. you know, did you like them? Did you not? I'll be doing the second half coming up right after this commercial break. All right, I'm back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.

You can also follow the shows Twitter at L.O.S.Penguins. So after that, I would have Zamblant. And, you know, he is, you know, this is someone who, you know, a very strong goal score. remember, you know, he he models his game after Jake Gensel. He has a wonderful, and I mean a wonderful shot. And, you know, just look up the clips on YouTube. The way he's able to find, like, the softest parts in the offensive zone and just rips the puck past the goaltender. You know, it's stuff you can't teach.

And, you know, I wouldn't have him a little higher, but, you know, I want to see how he does next year in Junior League. You know, I think he has a very strong potential here to be, you know, an impact player in the NFL, you know, 57th percentile to be an NHLer according to hockey prospecting. A couple good comps in there, like, you know, Andrew Cogliano, Jordan Everly, Brett Connolly. You know, this is a player who I am very bullish on. That's for sure. After that, I would have Valterrey Pustin in at number seven. You know, actually, 20 goals, 42 points in 70.

three games. And yes, I don't have him in the no longer counts category because he really hasn't played in the end. I show you he's only played one game at this point. But, you know, his hockey sense seems to be off the charts, good responsible player in his own end, good offensive player too. I also think he's going to be one of their top call-ups this season. If he does not make the team out of camp, a lot of people are waiting to see him get an actual

sample size on the team. I know there's a big log jam right now for him to pass some of these players. But I do think, you know, again, I've said this a few times about the all season of, you know, of all the guys in Wilkesbury that have a chance to come up this season. I think outside of O'Connor and Zohorna, who are no longer prospects, I would have Pustinan right up there, in my opinion. After that, I would have Philip Lindberg. Everyone thought, you know, that he was going to challenge.

I think Casey does, I shouldn't say, I think some people thought that he was going to challenge the backup spot last season for Casey Smith because he had great numbers. I'm in the NCAA, but, you know, certainly the season, Wilkesbury was playing fine, but he just battled so many injury problems. You know, I'm hoping that he can, you know, rebound this year and not be banged up because, you know, if he can, you know, have some good numbers down there, you know, there's the chance in the future that he could be up on the Penguins. but right now I have a little further down on my top 10 list. I just I want to see what he can do when he is healthy at least. Coming up on number nine, you know, Nathan Legerie just has not, you know, people for a time, you know, they had him, you know, higher than San Poulin, but, you know, he has, I hate to say, he just has not lived up to the expectations yet of being one of their top prospects.

I'm trying to find his stats on Wilkesbury. You know, 57 games last season, seven goals, 16 points. You look at his hockey prospecting chart and, you know, the full comps there. I mean, you know, Jason Ward, Phil G. DeScepe, Ryan Hartman, Max Jones, just a couple others like Nick Spalling, you know, just not good enough for him yet. You know, 2019, third round pick under Jim Rutherford. You know, people have always said, you know, you can put him in a trade and get a top winger. you know, again, I don't really know what team is taking him at this point. You know, he just, he has not worked out yet with the penguins.

You know, maybe he figures out this year, like Sam Pooh landed a little later on towards last year. But right now, just everything in his game is just, it's not, you know, the greatest right now. And then finally at number 10, Lucas at Shavkovsky, you know, he improved a little bit. You know, this past year, 2024, found. pick under Jim Rutherford. His numbers, you know, aren't super terrible. You know, a couple good comps in there, like, you know, Matthew Joseph, you know,

Brian Backel, Chris Wagner, excuse me, you know, he's kind of just a fourth liner. I'm not really sure if he's ever going to make the NHL, but, you know, I have met at the top 10 kind of just because I have to. After that, you know, you kind of start looking for other prospects and, you know, there's really not much there, though, you know, the goalie they did take. I mean, this year's NHL draft, you know, he had some very good stats. And I think he could potentially, you know, you know, upsurf Blumquist as being the best goal-tending prospect on the team.

You know, his projection right now is looking pretty good. It's actually looking a bit better than Blumquist. But, you know, until we see him put up those numbers again for the next year or two, as a member, well, you know, as a member of the Penguins, even though he's on the team, he's playing with his junior league and all that, I'm going to be, I guess, a little bit more skeptical to say the least. So that wraps up today's show when I look at the top 10 Penguins prospects. Let me know what you all think.

Do you all agree with my list? Who should be higher? Who should be lower? Let me know in the comments or YouTube. Send me a DM on social media, all that stuff. So again, thank you all so much for listening to this episode. I really just enjoy everyone listening to the show, even though we're down to three days a week at this point. I'll be back with another episode on Friday.

We'll have plenty more. to discuss. We're getting closer to August. Things will probably go a little more dormant just because that's how it is. The dog day is the summer right around the corner. But after that, training camp is in a couple weeks when September starts. And we'll be back to five a week and now the season will be coming up before you all know it. So again, thank you all so much for listening. I really appreciate it.

And I'll be back with another show on Friday.