Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Do the Penguins have an underrated gem in Tommy Novak?

Episode Date: July 23, 2025

He only played two games before getting hurt, but the Penguins could have a diamond in the rough when it comes to forward Tommy Novak! Hunter and Patrick begin the show discussing the potential of Pen...guins forward Tommy Novak and how he could be a key piece for the team moving forward. Then, two of the Penguins' newcomers introduced themselves this week: Connor Clifton and Anthony Mantha. They first talk about how Mantha could be poised for a bounce-back season and provide value at the trade deadline. Finally, with Clifton, it’ll be an uphill battle for him to make the team, but there are ways he can do it. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get $150 in Bonus Bets if your first $5 bet wins!FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 Today on Locked on Penguins, why you should not sleep on Tommy Novak heading into the 25-26 season, plus Pat and I react to what Anthony Mantha and Connor Clifton had to say in their Zoom press conferences right after this. You're Locked on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am one of your host, Hunter Hodes. You can follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Joined by my co-st, Patrick David,
Starting point is 00:00:39 we can follow him on all social media platforms at Sin and for Wet. You can follow this show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins, and you can find us on Instagram at Locked-on underscore Penguins. Of course, thank you all so much for making this your first lesson slash watch of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. And finally, today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. It's on the GameTime app, creating account, and use code, Locked on NHL.
Starting point is 00:01:04 for $20 off your first purchase. So Pat, I don't know about you, but I think there's a lot of fans and the Penguins fan base that are sleeping on Penguins forward, Tommy Novak, heading into the 25-26 season. I keep seeing a lot of people
Starting point is 00:01:17 just kind of forgetting about him, even though they just acquired him right before the trade deadline from Nashville when the Penguins sent Michael Bunting to the Predators. They also got Luke Shen back. And then Luke Shen was like, hey, thanks for getting me,
Starting point is 00:01:30 but I want to go to a contender. The Penguins were like, okay, we'll just get a couple assets for you. And I think the Penguins did a fairly good job flipping him to the Winnipeg Jets. But they got a player in Novak who is a good score, really good playmaker, also good off the rush, solid skater. He's had a really good underlying throughout his career. And I wrote about this this week for the hockey news because I just want to put into perspective just how solid he's been throughout his career. So he's a career 15% shooter. He had the best season of his career in
Starting point is 00:02:02 23, 24 before he got traded to the Penguins this year. 18 goals, 45 points in 71 games. He shot almost 16% that season. His career best is 18.3. That came in 22, 23. But again, he is a career 15% shooter. This year for the Predators, 13 goals, 22 points in 52 games, only played in two games for the Penguins before he was lost for the season,
Starting point is 00:02:25 just because he got banged up. But again, you look at the underlying numbers. his shot attempts were 60, you ate at 5 on 5 this year, right around 56%. His expected goal share was 56%. He was on the ice for 57.5% of the scoring chances, 55.4% of the high danger chances. He is helping to drive offense every time he is out there. He's versatile. He can play center.
Starting point is 00:02:50 He can play wing if they really want him to, but he's also, again, he's played a lot of center throughout his career. He's kind of a jack of all trades, except on the penalty kill where he really hasn't played much on the penalty kill throughout his career. and I don't think that's going to change this year. I think he's going to get quite a bit of power play two time because he got a lot of power play time in Nashville throughout his career.
Starting point is 00:03:08 But he's someone that can virtually do everything for the Penguins. You've seen the reports that, you know, Havgeny Malkin may want to play with him this upcoming season. And I think that would be a really good fit, especially with the way that Novak plays, the way that he sees the ice. But also if they want to try him at center and maybe unite him with Philip Tomasino,
Starting point is 00:03:27 who they have played together. and nationally, even though they were teammates who I obviously know each other, they still got to play a little bit on the same line before both got traded here in separate deals. And the underwings were pretty good for there. I'll touch on that in a second. But they have a lot of options with Nobeck. And I think more people need to be aware that I can see him having a really good season for
Starting point is 00:03:48 the Penguins here, even though, again, I don't think the Penguins are going to be that good. No, that we have to constantly remind people of that. that we don't, and I don't think anybody does, has really any high expectations for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025, 26. And to your original point, I agree that a lot of people are sleeping on Tommy Novak going into this season. And I think a part of it is the obvious. He played all of two games for the Penguins.
Starting point is 00:04:17 And his second game got cut short because he got hurt. And he has been out of sight, out of mind for a lot of Penguins fans, because he just gets acquired and immediately goes to the injured list and doesn't return for the rest of the season. So you just kind of forgot about him. But you brought up a lot of the analytics for his game that tell you this guy drives offense. You look at his just regular counting stats. I mean, in the two season or the three seasons, excuse me, where he's had consistent playing time, he's been a double-digit goal score.
Starting point is 00:04:53 he's been in the seasons where he played upwards of 50 games, which is two of them, 22, 23, 23, 24, 43 and 45 points. This is a solid middle six forward for really just about any team. And while he doesn't totally fit the mold of what Kyle Dubis is looking for age-wise, he's 28. I know that's still not old per se, but you also look that, He didn't break into the league until 21, 22. So there's not a lot of mileage on Tommy Novak at the NHL level.
Starting point is 00:05:32 He's shown pretty consistently that he can hang before getting moved to the Penguins in 52 games with Nashville. 13 goals, 22 points. This is a guy who consistently gives you middle six production. And like you said, jack of all trades, if you want to put them on your power play too, He can do fairly well there. He's had quite a few play, not playoff, power play points, excuse me, in his career. 12 and two consecutive seasons with the Preds only had five last year, but I do give that a bit of a grain of salt because Nashville was unexpectedly not very good last year.
Starting point is 00:06:17 And that went for just about everybody who played for the Predators last year. so hard to get a really good grasp on that. And I know Pittsburgh Penguins, same deal, but different situation. The Penguins weren't trying to be good last year. The Predators were, and they weren't. So different situation, but I digress. So, yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, this is somebody that if you're a Penguins fan going into training camp,
Starting point is 00:06:46 Novak is going to be a guy to watch. And throughout the season, he's going to be a guy to watch. because while I'm not ready to say he could be a part of this team when they get back to contention, he can really elevate his stock with a good season over the next six, seven months once the season begins. 100%. And he has another year left on his contract. And that's another reason why they made that trade, because he has an extra year left on his contract. He has this upcoming season and the following season compared to Michael Bunting, who only has his upcoming season left. on his current contract.
Starting point is 00:07:21 Also, he is a little bit younger than bunting. He can also play center. Those are all the reasons that Kyle Dubus said at the time why they felt like they wanted to make that trade, even though Dubus had bunting multiple times, obviously in Pittsburgh, he had been one of his quote-unquote guys throughout his management career. And Dubus was still like, hey, this trade makes sense for us.
Starting point is 00:07:43 So, again, I really feel like he is being slept on by a lot of fans. also you look at some of the numbers when it comes to him with Philip Thomasino playing together. And this was only, they only played roughly 68 minutes of five-on-five ice time together during the 23-24 season, 67 minutes, 50 seconds to be exact. But during that time, they still had a 55.7% shot at Tim's per 60 rate, 54.7% of the expected goals, 62% of the scoring chances and 64% of the high-dainer chances. Again, small sample, but they still had some chemistry. So I'd be curious to see if Dan Muz wants to try that combination again on the third line, considering that, again, they both know each other and they've played with each other at least a little bit during their time in Nashville. You've said it on the show a lot that he's probably going to put the lines in a lot of blenders this upcoming season trying to find combinations that work.
Starting point is 00:08:35 That's what happens when you have a little bit of a surplus of forwards, but I still think it's going to work itself out pretty handily. They'll have to make some tough decisions late in camp, but they're still going to be quite. a few options for Tommy Novak whether it's on the second line or whether it's on the third line. That's the biggest thing I'm keeping an eye on with Novak this year is how long and if and when does he play with Evgeny Malkin? Because Gino's been on record saying he likes the way Novak plays. He thinks they've got some chemistry there. And I'm curious to see what Dan Mews wants to try first or what he wants to stick with more.
Starting point is 00:09:14 because I know that they have said as a team that they really want to get this youth movement going. And when you read between the lines on that, it pretty much means, hey, we're going to see which of these young guys can hang with Malkin and Crosby. And in that regard, it's which players can continue to make Sidney Crosby, the Sydney Crosby we've seen pretty much his entire career, in which young guys can give Evgeny Malkin the jolt inconsistency that he needs so badly. But if I'm Dan Mews, I am not going to hesitate to do two things with Novak and Malkin. One is the obvious of what I've just been saying is putting them together and seeing what they can do. Gino is, I don't want to go so far as to say he's difficult to play with, but you have to be able to check certain boxes in order to mesh with him.
Starting point is 00:10:14 And if he was here for all of two games and a handful of practices, and Hvgeny Malkin says he likes the way he plays, kind of tells me Tommy Novak checks those boxes. The other thing, I'm curious to see if maybe you give Tommy Novak center minutes with Hvgeny Malkin and tell Gino, just go cook on the wing. And I know a lot of people are going to get annoyed at that. I know that it's a silly talking point, but remember, we're in late July here. We need to talk about things.
Starting point is 00:10:47 And maybe that is a bit of a jolt that Malkin needs. You tell them, hey, you don't know, I worry about being a 200-foot player anymore. Cover your point, try to score some goals, make some plays from the wing. Let Novak handle the rest of that. And then also, if he does get some second line center minutes, Gino kicks out to the wing, you still have to figure out who plays third line center, Pat. Is that Kevin Hayes? Is that Blake Lazott?
Starting point is 00:11:13 There's other options, too. Those are just the two that come to my head right away, but you still have to figure that out. So he's going to play, again, I think on a couple different lines this upcoming season, he's going to have a whole bunch of different linemates. As I said, he's kind of a jack-of-all-trades type player, and I do think he's going to have a good year for the Penguins. But that would do it for this first segment.
Starting point is 00:11:34 Coming up in the second segment, Pat and I are going to discuss Anthony Mantha's comments to the media earlier this week and all that good stuff. So stick around for that coming up right after this. Before we get to that, we have to tell you all about our first sponsor, and that is game time. Have you ever decided at the last minute to head to a ball game with friends or family? Maybe it's game day and you suddenly realize you want to be in the stands. That's exactly where game time comes in. Is the easiest way to grab last minute tickets without the stress.
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Starting point is 00:12:53 Down the game time app today, last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. All right, we're back here in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host Hunter Hodes joined by my co-s, Patrick Dave, and Pat, Anthony Mantha, got to speak to pay,
Starting point is 00:13:10 Penguins reporters earlier this week, touched on his recovery from his torn ACL. And he did confirm that he is expected to be ready for training camps. So he will be a full participant. Great news. And I've said this a couple of times on the show. When I look at all the players the Penguins signed in early July during, you know, the peak of free agency, I've said, and I will continue to say that Anthony Mantha will provide the best value in or he will do the most out of all of those players that they
Starting point is 00:13:36 sign, especially for goal scoring ability, offensive creation, and all. that good stuff. I think he's going to be especially a perfect replacement for Anthony Vivalier. They can potentially flip him at the deadline, especially if he fully bounces back. And the quote that really stood out to me. He said for me, it's to bring the best hockey that I can and to find some confidence and make things happen. Hey, you can bring the best hockey you can, make things happen, Anthony. And then we can flip you for a second round, think of the deadline like the Penguins did for Anthony Bavillier or maybe even a late first if you perform even better than we expect. Obviously, that's way, way down the line. I'm just excited that he's a Pittsburgh penguin,
Starting point is 00:14:14 but you can't really, you know, glean too much from these. But in terms of this small presser, I think he said everything you would want him to say. And he is going to get also a lot of opportunity this upcoming season. He's at least going to play on the third line. But do not be surprised if he gets quite a bit of top six minutes, especially with a vietnam. any Malkin. With Malkin, with some power play time. Here's the thing. Earlier this week, we talked about Dubus's comments on the PEOCast and what it
Starting point is 00:14:49 means for the rebuild, his theory of management, his view of the league and all of that. Mantha was a player that he brought up by name on that show, basically saying like, this is a guy who has played fairly well in his career, had some slips and stumbles here. there, but you see the potential, you see the skill. And yeah, he's 30, which in sports terms means apparently let's push him into a retirement home. But I still think there's a lot of game left there for him. And this is also going to be the kind of player that as Penguins fans and analysts, we're
Starting point is 00:15:30 going to have to get used to for the next couple of seasons where is he a top of the table, top of the market guy? No, but he's going to be in that second tier. And these are the kind of players that they're either going to take a chance on, let them find their game, and then flip them for assets, or it's going to be very similar to a lot of the younger players that they go for. These guys who have bounced around a little bit, had a couple of good seasons, have never really consistently put together two to three years,
Starting point is 00:16:06 and they're going to say, listen, the pressure is not on yet. So come here, rediscover your game, find some consistency, and if you're showing that you're going to grow, we can consider putting you on this team for a little bit longer when this team gets back to contention. Now, to bring it back to Anthony Mantha, don't think that second example is the case. This is a guy who they have seen he can produce,
Starting point is 00:16:34 they can see he can give you middle six production. And we know that's something a lot of teams look for when bolstering their team. They want to do the classic case of depth management when you go into the Stanley Cup playoffs. You want to get a guy like Anthony Mantha who on a team like Pittsburgh, his ceiling is going to be fringe first line. Now, I don't think he's going to play on the first line. I don't think he's going to be a first line player. but he's a guy who second line with injuries,
Starting point is 00:17:06 you can put him on the first line, but you put him on a contender, third line and below. So he produces that way. You can get a good return. And this is a good opportunity for him to bounce back in Pittsburgh. Right. I don't think anyone would be surprised
Starting point is 00:17:19 if he put up 15, 20 goals for the bank of this upcoming season. He's going to get power play time more likely on the second unit than the first. Though, I think he could get some time on the first unit. If there are injuries or some of the other players are struggling a little bit, but also a lot of the top powerplay unit, the players pick themselves, especially with the core guy still there. So yeah, more likely it'll be injuries. But power play two time, absolutely, third line minutes, absolutely, second line minutes. Also absolutely, heck, maybe he even plays a little bit on the top line with Cindy Crosby if, you know, one of Russ or Raquel or
Starting point is 00:17:51 both of them get moved, you know, if maybe one of them are struggling up on that top line and Dammeuse wants to change that up. He could go out to the top line and play with Cindy Crosby. So, again, He's going to play all over the lineup. I don't think you'll see him too much on the fourth line unless he's struggling a bit, but anywhere in the top nine, I think is where you're going to see him this year. And I know some people are maybe a bit concerned just because he's coming off a torn ACL, but this is still a player that can put the puck in the back of the net. It can be a really good depth score for the Penguins.
Starting point is 00:18:22 So I'm excited for it. Again, can't really glean too much from these press conferences. We'll talk about Connor Clifton in a couple of seconds, but still, coming in with the right attitude. And I'm excited for him to be a penguin. Do you have anything else to add before we get to Connor Clifton? I liked the attitude a lot because here's the thing. It would be really easy for a player like this to kind of come in,
Starting point is 00:18:46 not with a chip on his shoulder. I want to see guys come in with chips on their shoulders. I want guys to come in and say, I want to be part of the solution. I'm going to show the naysayers that I've got what it takes to be a consistent NHL player and all that good stuff. but it would have been really easy for him to be in a frustrated place. And he, in my reading and my viewing of the things he said,
Starting point is 00:19:10 he came at it from the right way. It would have been really easy for him to be frustrated, to kind of feel like he's in a bad spot, didn't want to land in a place like Pittsburgh kind of feels like, oh, I should be with a better team, I should be given a better opportunity. But you can kind of glean from the way he spoke about how everything's gone. how he's got his way, how he made his way to Pittsburgh.
Starting point is 00:19:33 This is a guy who views this as, yeah, I may not be a long-term Pittsburgh penguin, but I can be with the penguins, I can play a good game, and it can get me to that spot. But it's not a guy who's going to come in and go, you know, screw this team. I'm just going to serve my time, and then they'll ship me off to a contender. He's going to come in and try to be part of the solution. and I have all the time in the world for players like that. And speaking of players that have a chip on their shoulder, I think Connor Clifton applies considering one of the things he said to the media earlier this week.
Starting point is 00:20:10 And Pat and I are going to discuss that comment right after this. All right, we're back here on this episode of the Lock Tom Penguins podcast. I am one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-s, Patrick Damp, and Pat. Connor Clifton also spoke to the media earlier this week. He was scratched for nine games this past season. He was also scratched during games in the 23-24 season. And he was asked about that during the media presser. And he even flat out admitted he was not happy about it.
Starting point is 00:20:42 He said he thinks his game was all over the place. He said especially these last couple of years, his game has kind of been out of standstill. And he even admitted that he kind of lost himself with his game. And he did admit that when he got the call that he was going to be a Pittsburgh penguin, he said he was really excited. He wants to get back to his old self and how he plays in the impact that he has on the game. He said it was a couple of mental battles these last couple of years. So he very much has a chip on
Starting point is 00:21:08 his shoulder. I think at best right now, and this is best, best case scenario, he is a third-paring defenseman, but he is still not very good, has been very bad these last couple of years. I'm not going in expecting a whole lot from him, but if he can at least be okay at times in a third-paring role, the Penguins will take that and they'll try to flip him at the trade deadline. But when you talk about attitudes, I think he's definitely coming in with the right attitude based on that comment. Again, that was the money quote. And I got that for my co-worker story. Kelsey Sirmax, shout out to you. You do a great job. Awesome working with you. But again, that's someone who is very much committing to try and change the narrative around him a little bit.
Starting point is 00:21:56 But hey, let's wait and see. I don't have that high expectation just because of the way his game has gone down especially these last couple of years, but I'm always open to be proven wrong. Same here. And kind of similar to what I said about Mantha, this, he could have come in and kind of pouted, right? Like, you know, I wasn't getting an opportunity. I was getting overlooked, yada, yada, yada. He admitted, hey, I haven't been playing well. My game's been all over the place. And I need to fix that. Took accountability for it and looks very similar to Mantha. looks at it as this is an opportunity. It's not a punishment.
Starting point is 00:22:35 It's not a banishment. It's not, oh, I'm just taking whatever is put in front of me. There's an opportunity for him. And the other thing that I really do think we have to take into account here, he was on Buffalo. And again, I know the penguins aren't exactly great. I know they haven't been good. Can't use that excuse for every player, though,
Starting point is 00:23:00 even though I know it's Buffalo, you still can't use that. No, no, listen, I totally agree. I totally agree. You can't use that excuse for everybody. And I'm not sitting here saying, oh, Connor Clifton's going to be an All-Star and he was in Buffalo. But you do have to take into account that these sabers have been absolutely woeful for a long time. And not to veer too far off course here,
Starting point is 00:23:23 but this is exactly what I talked about months ago in my anti-tanking rent. part of the problem in Buffalo is that there are zero expectations there is zero culture there are guys who get there and they just want to leave they don't want to be in Buffalo they don't want to play for the Sabres and it drags down everybody now again doesn't mean i think that connor clifton is going to come in and become a top pairing guy i completely agree with you he is a third pairing guy with a very very very limited maybe ceiling of second pair depending upon the roster. Wouldn't say that right now, sorry.
Starting point is 00:24:03 Neither would I. But the reason I say it's very limited is maybe you get into a different situation. You have a coaching staff that's known for being able to develop. Maybe it is far, far unlikely. But at the same time, you've mixed the fact that he has acknowledged that his game's been all over the place for the last couple of years. it happened on a team like Buffalo. Maybe he rediscovered something here, but it all comes back to my main point.
Starting point is 00:24:34 Mantha and Clifton are two players who very easily could have said all these injuries and these damn coaches and these damn situations. I got screwed. This is terrible. No, they're looking at it like there's a new opportunity in front of me. I have to be the one to seize it. right and right now the right side is still pretty crowded there has been no er carlson trade we are recording this at 4 15 p.m eastern time on wednesday july 23rd he is still there crystal tang we know
Starting point is 00:25:08 he's not going anywhere mac dumba he's staying here at least for until the trade downline we'll have to see if they try to flip him and then you have connor clifton and then oh yeah harrison brunick is also waiting in the wings and we'll have to see if he can try to make this team out of camp or if that's going to be a next year thing. So again, that right side right now, pretty loaded. You can make it a little bit less of a log gym if you do trade Air Carlson, but at the same time, there's no guarantee they are going to do that. So it's kind of a wait and see situation when it comes to that. So as of right now, he is going to be fighting just for a spot in the every night lineup. That changes if someone that Carlson gets dealt. I think he especially needs to have a really good camp in preseason if he wants to
Starting point is 00:25:50 be on the opening night team. I think at worst he'll be maybe a number seven, number eight. But in terms of where the blue line is right now, he's got a fight for every inch. Like Anthony Mantha, you know what you're going to get from him. He's going to be in the opening night lineup,
Starting point is 00:26:05 getting top six, top nine minutes. Connor Clifton, still wait and see approach right now just because of where the blue line is. And that's a good place to kind of put a bow on what I was saying, is I like the attitude he's bringing in. I like that he's taking accountability for the way he's played for the past couple of seasons.
Starting point is 00:26:22 And he knows he's got to go into training camp and he's got to earn it because let's be real here. As much as the Penguins Blue Line is a problem going into this season because they're in this middle of this rebuild and the defense needs a lot of work, he is still low on that depth chart, which says a lot more about his game and where he is. But if he takes that opportunity, makes the improvements, plays well, and gives himself an opportunity. Not only does it help him make the lineup, it makes Kyle Dubus and Dan Muses
Starting point is 00:26:54 jobs a little bit harder because then they got to go, all right, well, we want to play this guy, but we got to move some people. And maybe that unpackes the log jam a little bit. But again, the thing I want to completely reiterate, because I see you making your faces over there as I look into my camera, I don't have high expectations or high hopes for Clifton. I'm just game, I'm just game theorying this out to saying what he said, where he's played in the past, and what the penguins might see in him.
Starting point is 00:27:24 Do I think he's going to suddenly turn into a usable four or five defensemen? No, but hey, if there's one thing the penguins have done pretty well in the last 10 to 15 years, they've taken some defensemen who people go,
Starting point is 00:27:41 that guy, and they make them usable. So maybe we still have some of that magic. maybe we don't maybe i'm huffing the hopium but we'll see hey i was going to check on you because you talked about even though it was very unlikely you know the second pair stuff with connor clifton i was like pat are you okay there because let's let's let's let's let's calm down a little bit here again let's just have to we have to see how he does on the third pair and i'm not making a one to one comparison here it's just i have to make this reference it's one of my all time favorites
Starting point is 00:28:09 remember when they got justin shultz the the tweet of it's a pet the penguins have acquired a defenseman and whatever Edminton writer was was like, they're not getting a defenseman. They're getting Justin Schultz. And it's like, is it a one to one comparison? Absolutely not. It's not even nearly a comparison. But again, we've seen the Penguins organization rehab a lot of defensemen. I'm not exactly hopeful it's going to happen for Clifton, but it's a rebuild, retool year.
Starting point is 00:28:38 And we know that coaching staff is going to be in mad scientist mode. So see what happens. Hey, I mean, I get where you're coming from to a little degree with Justin Solch, but yeah, I mean, Schultz is not even, no, it's not like the comparables with the way the two players play. It's not there. But I get like your angle with where you're coming from with it. But I think that'll do it for today's episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Pat and I will be back with a special edition of the show on Friday because, well,
Starting point is 00:29:08 we're both going to the beach, several beaches. Pat's going to New Jersey. I'm going to Virginia Beach, but don't worry. We will have a fresh episode for you guys on Friday. we're actually going to be recording this a little bit later on. Pat, do you want to tease the audience a little bit with what we're doing these next several weeks every Friday? I'll explain more for our Friday episode when we record that. But in case you're unaware, it's the year 2025. That means we've had 25 years in this decade. We are going to do a top 25 of the last 25 years. But it's not just going to be a list. It's not just going to be 25 players. We've got.
Starting point is 00:29:45 our own special spin we're putting on our top 25. So make sure you're tuned in on Friday so you can learn all about it and hear the first installment of the top 25 of the last 25 years. And there it is. Pat, you said top 25 players of the last decade. And then you corrected yourself and said top 25 players of the last 25 years. So just had to mess with you about that a little bit. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:30:10 Buddy, you're not in your 30s yet. You'll learn when you're in your 30s, time has no meaning anymore. just none at all. 25 years, 10 years, they feel like five minutes to me. Hey, that's fair. I'll be 28 later this year. I'm less than two and a half years away from being 30 and I don't even want to think about it honestly.
Starting point is 00:30:26 But hey, we've rambled too long. That would do it for the Wednesday edition of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Yes, people, we will still have some fan take Fridays coming up. But we're also going to be debuting this new series that Patch has teased a little bit starting this Friday. So for Patrick Damp, I'm Hunter Hodes. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. We appreciate it.
Starting point is 00:30:44 We'll talk to you guys on Friday.

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