Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Do the Penguins make sense as a Thatcher Demko landing spot?

Starting point is 00:00:00 So I definitely did not think that Fasher Demko of all players would be coming up today this wonderful Tuesday in trade talks. But sure enough, he did according to Elliot Freeman on the Jeff Merrick show on Tuesday afternoon that I hope all of you go listen to. Does he make sense for the Penguins? I'm going to give you my answer 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.

Starting point is 00:00:46 Hello and welcome to this Tuesday edition of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm, of course, your host, Honor Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, so on the shows, Twitter, at L.O.S.Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook of Lockdown. Make every moment more.

Starting point is 00:01:04 You can visitFandua.com slash Lockdown today to get started. So let's get into it. I will say, I know you probably were all expecting Josh Ely on the show today. He had to just rain check for today. We're going to be, he's coming on the show on Wednesday. Something came up with him. I wish him the best as he deals with that, but he said Wednesday is good to go. So if you only hear me talking on this one, that's the reason why.

Starting point is 00:01:33 But so today, you know, going through my notes for the show, you know, I knew I was going to have a lot of trade stuff to talk about because, you know, there's no practice. practices right now. No games. Penguins on a bi-week, you know, a lot of players are on vacation. Sidney Crosby is getting ready to deal with the All-Star break. Evgeny Malkin, from what I've been told, is going up to Montreal to go skate with his family, skiing, excuse me, then he's going to go down to Miami to stay with his wife and his kid. Ricard Raquel, it looks like, is down in Florida with his wife and his new kid. That's at least the stories I've seen on Instagram and stuff, but I was told that Malkin was going up to Montreal to go ski and then to go down to Miami.

Starting point is 00:02:07 So just a couple players who I know are on vacation. I'm sure other ones have probably gone to the traffic or something else. But so I saw this clip from Elliot Freeman on the Jeff Merrick should do now. And then I obviously went ahead and listened to it. And they brought up Patrick Demko from the Canucks as he could be the next domino to fall after Beau Horace went to the out of the honors. And on his radio hit with Jeff Merrick, they do the 32 thoughts podcast together, which is also another great listen. Friedman said he sees three really good fits for Demko. He said the Sabres first, the King second, and the Penguins.

Starting point is 00:02:45 Though he did stress that, you know, would the Penguins do this, you know, just because Dr. Demko has been hurt all year, and then Tristan Jari has also been hurt, you know, and again, he even said, you know, depending on Demko's injury status, doesn't make sense to the Penguins. He'll have assets before the deadline. Well, you're not even sure he can treat. truly help you and you know same can also be said to tris and jarring know how healthy is he going to be

Starting point is 00:03:09 the rest of the season so you know i took a look at that and you know i tweeted about i put my tweet out there saying like yeah freeman all suggestions that's making a lot of sense for demco um you know some people in my mention say they would love it uh other people said you know they wouldn't like it so you know that's penguin's twitter nutshell my view on that is this i would love to know what you all would be wanting to give up in return for go. He is a good goal. Don't get me wrong. I think when healthy, probably what, top 10, he's had pretty similar numbers when Jari is healthy and on his game to Tristan. So I just, would you be getting him for Jari in return?

Starting point is 00:03:58 Would you be giving up P.O. Joseph in return? Because I truly do think, sorry about that. I truly do think they would, Jim Rutherford and Patrick Gauving, because they know P.O. Joseph so well, and I think they were higher on P.O. that mismanagement staff is because, you know, after all, they were trying to trade POJ during the offseason as well as Marcus Petterson.

Starting point is 00:04:19 I think they would be asking for P.O.J. because, you know, they want young assets. They want players who they can build around. They want, they, Jim Rutherford even said, just a couple weeks ago that this team requires major surgery. Not my words, his word. So trading Demco makes sense for them. And, you know, they want to build a younger, faster team.

Starting point is 00:04:39 I think the only players who are off limits to them are Elias Pedersen, Quinn Hughes, maybe J.T. Miller. That's probably it. I think everyone else on that team, you can probably trade. Or is available. So I'm not surprised that Demko is out there. But again, if you're the Penguins, what realistically would you be giving up for him? Tristan Jari and P.O.J.

Starting point is 00:05:04 I wouldn't make that move. I think that's just at best a lateral move. You're giving up on P.O.J. Who's going to be in your starting lineup next season because, you know, impressed in training camp. And I know Ty Smith wasn't available just because Saturday kept situations, but, you know, he's going to be in your defense next year, along with Ty because Brian Dumlin's probably not going to come back.

Starting point is 00:05:23 And then, you know, with Marcus Pederson, it's a really strong left side. Very young left side. Very good left side too. then right side let's hang petri and jan rudah it's a solid defensive core if you ask me so i just don't think it makes sense from that perspective you know demco also makes five million per you would have to probably have the canucks retain some of that money you know they only retain 25% of bow horvats contract can you get at least 25 of that for demcom can you get 50 if you're down

Starting point is 00:05:59 a 2.5, that's a little bit dual, but then, you know, the price goes up with the assets, you know, because they're retaining money, of course. So, you know, as much as Demco would be fun, and, you know, a tandem of Demko and Jari would be interesting because it's probably one I didn't want enough. I will say maybe the law for Tristan, because he's been the number one guy here for the last few seasons. I just don't think it makes that much sense right now. I think if you're looking to get Demco, it's probably going to have to be a, summer move. You know, it's just, you know, I don't think it makes much sense to pair him with Tristan because that's just going to be really awkward. Like, you know, you run into, for example,

Starting point is 00:06:41 you run into the situation that the Minnesota wild have. Remember with Cam Talbot and Mark Andre Flurry, Talbot got really frustrated with the team, you know, he just passed him over starts. he felt like he was a one-b starter, but it was kind of being used his backup, asked out, they accommodated him and traded him in Ottawa and he's been getting starting minutes there. you know maybe i don't know if it's a little similar with phillop gustinson mark andrew flurry they're kind of sweating the net but florrie at this point probably doesn't care that much he's won three he's he's he's won three stanley cubs he's fine but you know someone like cam tall but you know he wanted to play and he wasn't getting that playing time so he yice out and when tristan

Starting point is 00:07:15 you know if you were to get demko tristan is up after the season you think there's any way he would be staying no he'd go get paid by another team the penguins would have demico all ready to go but again, can you also rely on him to stay healthy? He's been hurt all year long, basically. I know. Had a great year last year. Was amazing in the bubble for the Canucks. He alone took the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games.

Starting point is 00:07:41 It was like 950, 960 that entire series. When he is on, he is very good. It's just, can he stay healthy? And again, I just don't think the penguins would want to part with the pieces needed to acquire this player, whether it's Tristan Jari, whether it's P.O. Joseph, maybe it's Marcus Pedersen or something like that that Rutherford knows very well. And of course, you signed him. I just don't think it makes that much sense. I think at this point, for better or worse, you're better off riding Jari into the rest of this season. If you want to go and get a backup like James Rimer, I think that probably makes more sense to me.

Starting point is 00:08:18 but in terms of Demco again, you know, I would, you know, I would love someone for it to explain to me how that makes sense for this team right now and what that deal would look like. Give me a hypothetical deal what you think the conduct would want back. I mean, it's going to start with one of the young defensemen. I can tell you that right now. I don't think they're on Hextall wants to do that. It may even include the goalie because, again, a jari-demco tandem is just weird.

Starting point is 00:08:47 You know, then, you know, if you don't trade Jari, what happens with Casey to Smith? You put him on waivers, send him down. I mean, he's basically on a one-way deal. So then you're just eating money at that point. So, you know, I'm just, I'm not super big on it, at least right now. If you want to look at in the summer, that's probably a better case scenario, at least for me. But those are my thoughts on Elliot Freeman's report. Let me know what you all think.

Starting point is 00:09:10 You can send me a DM on social media. Leave a comment in the YouTube comments. Do you think Thatcher, Demico makes sense to the Penguins? If so, tell me why. Also, just give me a potential hypothetical trade scenario. If he doesn't make sense, tell me why as well. So that wraps up this first segment. Coming up in the second segment, we're going to do another little small list of some trade targets that I have.

Starting point is 00:09:32 I've had in my head. Who makes sense for this team as a deadline is just about five weeks away. I'm going to get into that directly after this with my wonderful, wonderful bet online. And if I can access the Fandul here, and I believe we got it. Yes, perfect. This year, the only app you need at your Super Bowl party is Fandul. America's number one sports film. We're really excited about our new sports betting partner.

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Starting point is 00:10:59 Make every moment more with Fandle, the official sportsbook partner of the NFL and of Lockedon. I'm back here in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Honour Hodes. I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Homer Hodes. follow the shows, Twitter, L.O. and, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. So let's do a small little trade board with your boy here. So Bo Horvatt was my top target.

Starting point is 00:11:29 Fortunately, you know, he is, well, he's not available anymore because he is a member of the New York Islanders now. And the funny thing is, if the founders really do tank the rest of the way with the next five weeks, would not be surprised if he just traded the dead. I'll say that because I don't really like the United States. downers right now. They have a good, you know, they have two good goalies in Sorokin, Varlamma, but, you know, for the first 45, 46 games for them, they've just been really inconsistent. They can't score. Horda's going to help in that department, but other than

Starting point is 00:11:56 that, they haven't really had a lot of scores this season. Barzell's awesome, but Brock Nelson hasn't been the same. Hunter's Lee's okay, but still, I don't think that's going to make too big of a difference. But overall, my trade board, you know, in terms of centers, I'm really looking at the St. Louis Blues. I really do think someone like Ryan O'Reilly makes a lot of sense, especially, you know, coming from the blues, the math is not good for them this season. That's the thing. You know, right now, as I am recording this, a little bit before dinner time, as I look at the Western Conference standings here, they are eight points out of a playoff spot. Oh, the avalanche have three games in hand on the blues. So if they win those

Starting point is 00:12:51 three games in hand, they are 14 points down for the final playoff spot. The math is really bad for the blues. I think they're going to miss this year. So unlike Ryan O'Reilly does make sense. I understand his comments from the other week saying he wants to stay in St. Louis. I just don't know if he's going to get his way. O'Reilly doesn't come super cheap. I believe he makes, if I can find, I believe it's six, if I'm not mistaken, just double-checking this real quick here. Ryan O'Reilly. Yes. Yes.

Starting point is 00:13:24 I believe, yeah, it is. Yeah, it's a little over six. Yeah, if Charisanko makes the most at 7.5. O'Reilly is at, geez, why? I must be blind because I just cannot see this for some reason. Um, yeah, yeah, yeah. So he's, he's a little over right now. So you would, you would definitely have to retain. And no, no, it's it's not six. It's seven point five. And my apologies. I forgot that he is on I on, on, um, I are on, um, I are right now. But he's going to be healthy when the deadline rolls around. Seven five, that's a high ticket. Even 50% retained. You're probably at 3.7, something like that. If my math is right. So that works, but also the price goes up if you are forced to retain there. O'Reilly, though, how? How are, had a pretty decent year he can still produce you know he's not what he once was but he's still a good play driving center and he can also play really good defensive you know he was a strong candidate for

Starting point is 00:14:20 the selky trophy new for numerous years i don't think he's that player anymore but in terms of who i would rather have at third line center him or jeff carter i'm going with iron out riley it's a rental you know that's i think the big thing for me with these you know i'm good i have them on my big board, but I'm also just not sure how many assets Hextol wants to part with when it comes for rental. Technically, he did last year for Ricard Raquel, because Raquel was not signed going into this offseason. He did obviously sign him, but that is the exception, not the norm. But with the Penguins having some salary cap space open up after the season with Brian Dumlin up, Teddy Bluger, Tristan Jari. I don't know if he's coming back. And a couple other players, you know, I think they want

Starting point is 00:15:03 to have as much space as possible. So where if they lose, you know, some of these guys, they will have money left over to replace them because you know the penguins are going to spend the cap. But I have O'Reilly up there. If you want to get even spice here, you know, Vladimir Terrace and though he's a right wing so he doesn't truly fit that third line center spot. But he's still a very good sniper. Had a great year last year, even after he requested a trade was at a point for game this year. You know, he's close to that.

Starting point is 00:15:28 He's, you know, really found himself after being injured for, you know, a lot of, you know, just a lot of the last couple of seasons, to be honest, you know, before he had this true Renaissance. I think he's definitely going to be someone that gets traded by the deadline. Again, right there, if you're retaining 50%, that's 3.7. I do think that the price to get him is going to be high, probably a first, a prospect and a decent roster player going back. I just don't know if Ron Hextall's going to want to trade a first for a rental. I think if he trades the first, and I know he's very big on the future and stuff, I think

Starting point is 00:15:59 it's going to be someone with term. No, heck, even last season for Ricardo Raquel, right, trades the second for him. I know he traded Thomas Simone traded the Ashton Reese was in the deal in a prospect so it was a four player package

Starting point is 00:16:12 going back for Raquel but still he was very adamant that he did not want to give up that first per rental got to think he's probably going to take that same philosophy

Starting point is 00:16:21 this year because he knows the cover is pretty, you know, barren. Personally, I don't much care about a first one

Starting point is 00:16:28 pick for rental but well for the right rental I would probably do it but I think for some someone like Terosenko, if you're not, you know, having that money retained, you know, then I don't really, you know, think that's worth it. And also, you know, if you're playing out

Starting point is 00:16:43 round one again, you know, the GM is probably just going to get fired anyway, then the guy who comes in is just going to be bad. So again, if I'm in a perfect world, I'm trading the first for someone with term, but those are a couple of players who I'm looking at, from the St. Louis Blues. Someone, a couple of people have also mentioned to me, Ivan Barbashev. He also makes a lot of sense. He only makes 2.25 million for this season before he's a UFA next season. 27 years old can play any position, center, left wing, right wing. You can probably put him at third line center for Jeff Carter. He brings an offensive punch.

Starting point is 00:17:15 He's also decent defensively. Good skater. You know, for the toughness people, he can lay his body around. I think that player makes a lot of sense for this team. Again, the cap hits really manageable, 27 years old. You know, even for a rental. I don't think you need to trade a first for him or anything like that. maybe get away with getting a second or third,

Starting point is 00:17:35 something like that. Maybe a contract goes back the other way so that the money works out because the payments have to do dollar in dollar out. But, you know, Barboshev is someone who I really have circled. I think he can make a really big impact for this team. So I'm definitely looking at the blues. That's a team right now that's, you know,

Starting point is 00:17:52 I think a lot of the hockey world is going to be looking towards that, to be honest. So if I had to rank who I would rather have, obviously Teresanko and O'Reilly at the top, but just for cap reasons, I would put Barbashev a little over them. That's just my take. I'm also, you know, I have looked at the Buffalo Sabres a little bit. Casey Minolstadt makes some sense.

Starting point is 00:18:12 But also, I'm not really sure if the Sabres are going to sell this year. You know, I don't think they expect to make the playoffs. I don't think they expected to be, you know, one point behind the penguins right now. But they are, and they're in the race. So I wouldn't be surprised if they are buyers at the deadline. So they can really just give the fans something that they haven't had in over a decade. and usually this team is well out of the playoff base at this point. And, you know, they're right into right now, which is awesome.

Starting point is 00:18:37 You know, those are some of the players I'm looking at. Nick Schmaltz from Arizona. He makes sense. He's definitely a little bit of a high ticket himself. But, you know, for third line center, I would do that in a heartbeat. I think he's a really great player. Someone who I've had an eye on for quite a long time. You know, the cover gets, it really, you know, barren after that.

Starting point is 00:18:58 Because, you know, right now there's just not really too many. actual centers available for this team. Those are some of the players who I definitely have had an eye on. Max Domi from the Chicago Blackhawks. I don't think you don't need to trade your first rounder for him. Maybe it's a second plus a roster player, second plus a prospect and a roster player. Maybe similar to the Workhard Rakel deal,

Starting point is 00:19:18 but maybe a little less because Rickel's a better player. But would not mind seeing Domi on his team, he checks a lot of boxes. I think that's his typical Ryder for an Xon move, to be honest with you. So those I think, you know, in terms of my trade board, those are the main ones. I don't really have any defensemen on it. I've seen some people ask me about Jake McCabe.

Starting point is 00:19:40 They don't really need defensemen. I mean, when healthy, you're running what? Duman Matang, Pedersen Petrus and Petrie, Jan Ruda with P.O. Joseph, it's fine. You know, if Dumaun continues to be a little bit better, you know, it gets a bit better. but, you know, if do one stings, you can call up Ty Smith and figure out some cap situation with that. And, you know, put Ty Smith in there. So, you know, that gets even better if you ask me. Goaltending-wise, you know, James Reimer on my list.

Starting point is 00:20:11 I'll have to look at the goalie market. Some people have asked me about semi-onvar-lawmove. Right now, I don't think the Islanders are going to do that. I think they're in win now, though. They want to see if they can make the playoffs this season. If they flame out or start to flame out with these next couple weeks, asked me about that then, but he also, I think he makes $5 million this year. So I don't know if I'm willing to do that.

Starting point is 00:20:32 I don't know if the Islanders will trade inside the division. So that's like my big board just right now. Let me know what you all think about that. Do any of those players intrigue you a little bit? Are there other players who you have your eye on? I'm going to be adding to this big board over the next five weeks with players who I come across on other teams that could be had for maybe some bargains or some players you know, that maybe some people are not looking at enough.

Starting point is 00:20:58 So really got to talk to you all about that. Finally, Ron Hextall is a pretty big topic of discussion today on Penguin's Twitter, excuse me. We're going to go over just, you know, his tenure as a whole, best and worse moves, and just what's my confidence level in him heading into this trade deadline? I think you all can probably answer that, but, you know, we are still going to really talk about it and all that stuff. So that's all coming up right after this commercial break.

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Starting point is 00:22:54 So looking at the NHL scores as I'm just finishing up this recording, Cabo's up to 1 in the end of the first intermission center is up to 1 on the Canadians, and then the hurricanes are 1-0 on the LA Kings. So let's get into this. So Ron Hicksall, as always, very hot topic of debate today on Penguin's Twitter. And this all started, I saw a tweet from Brent Baldwin, When, who, you know, he does a good job covering the Wilkesbury Scram payments. Shout out to him.

Starting point is 00:23:25 He probably does not, he does not have enough followers. Please go follow him for, you know, for Wilkesbury Scrant news. But he tweeted, everyone wants to blame Hexel, but it's not his fault. Rutherford cleaned out the organizational cupboard and then bailed. It's going to take Ron multiple years to fix this. Okay. I understand what he is trying to say here that Rutherford had some bad jamming his last couple of years.

Starting point is 00:23:48 Then he bailed. He quit on the team, blah, blah, blah, blah. I understand that. But at the same time, you know, who made the decision to sign Casperi Kappin into a two-year $6.4 million deal of the all season? Who made the decision to protect Jeff Carter in the expansion draft over someone like Jared McCann? I can personally tell you the crack, the cracking were never going to take Jeff Carter.

Starting point is 00:24:14 I have heard that through. And that, and that shouldn't even be breaking news to you all. You can probably just guess. I don't even need to scoop it, if you will, to Giggins. But I can specifically tell you that they had no plans to take Carter in that expansion draft. The penguins got spooked for some reason. They were going younger and faster. There was no need to do it.

Starting point is 00:24:35 And had a penguins known that, they could have protected McCann. And, oh, yeah, McCann could have been on that team. And, you know, rest was history. I know, I know his contract was up where the penguins are frustrated. to pay him. I don't know, but that was a very stupid move. Ron Hexel decided to do that. He is living with it. He also decided to extend Jeff Carter after having a good first half last year, understandable at the time a little bit, but then also when you think about it, how, that may be like 2%. But also, how is he the first player to get extended when you have so many other more

Starting point is 00:25:17 important players that need to be extended first. That meant to no sense. And then his play is granted and now the Penguins were stuck on that contract for the rest of the season and then next season. He also went out and no, they lost Brandon Taney after the East Bankers draft, which Stunk. He was a decent fourth liner that can put up goals and lead defensive impacts on that side of the ice. He made up probably one of the best fourth lines with Teddy Bluger and Zach Aston Reese. He left and who did Ron Hacksall decide to sign? Rock him again. 40 years 2.75 million per has played fine in spurts.

Starting point is 00:25:52 But overall, if you look at his body at work, has he done enough? I don't think so. You know, Teddy Bluger, I saw it today and Josh Joey's story on the athletic. Since January of last year, this might blow your mind. He has one goal for this team. 66 games, he's been hurt. He's been hurt at times. 66 games in the last calendar year.

Starting point is 00:26:20 It's one goal. Just pause and think about that. It's pathetic, isn't it? But, you know, he decided to keep him and that has been bad. You know, the bottom six is entirely he's doing. So, you know, I just don't really understand, you know, that at all. And also, you know, even this past all season, you know, he didn't even make, it looked like didn't even make an effort to re-sign Evan Rodriguez, who I was.

Starting point is 00:26:50 or die on the hill that he is a great bottom six player. There is a weird segment I think of fans that do not like Evan Rodriguez for some reason. He was a perfectly fine third or fourth liner. Is he going to go a few games without some goals? Yes, that's how all bottom six players were. But what I have Rodriguez on this team right now? Abs so freaking louis. Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:27:09 Really. Again, Senator Carter and Capitan. He lost McCannan, Tannett, prioritized Blugher over Rodriguez. And of course, Freddie Goodrow, remember him. he was great for this team when he was here. Kudos to him, went out to Minnesota. He's been great for them. Really, you know, I think it's not playing with the Penguins really just, you know,

Starting point is 00:27:28 brought his career back up. But, man, that was another blender as well. You know, this team used to have such a great bottom six. And Hexol took that and turned it into mud. When I look at the Penguins' Bottom Six right now, I get very 2014-15 vibes with it. Brandon Sutter, Craig Adams, Joe Vitale, Tanner Glass, Brian Gibbons of all people,

Starting point is 00:27:53 though I will say Brian Gibbons was okay. A little bit. Lee Steffianak, Marcel Gotch, if you all remember him. Maxime LaPierre, if you all remember him. Those are the kind of vibes I get when I look at the bottom six right now. And that's all he's doing. Point blank. He's had the quarry in place the entire time.

Starting point is 00:28:16 He even signed them to steals of contracts. I have people in my mention say to me, oh, you know, they signed for overmarket value based on what? Based on what? You look at the second line center options from this past year. Evgeny Malkins outpacing all of them. He's on pace for 84 points. Chris is saying, okay, he hasn't had the best season, but the guy's also had a stroke and his father has died this year and he's been injured. Like, come on.

Starting point is 00:28:44 And he's still making only $6 million per. they had plenty of money they had plenty of space this off season they decided to bring back cap and at 3.2 million per without that money if they didn't qualify him and he went to be a uf a because you know if they didn't get him a qualifying offer that he becomes a ufay they would have had three extra million salary cap space that's a need no needer writer or something like that because what he only signed for 3.54 million down in Nashville man how will google with the bottom six look right now with him down there pretty freaking awesome right heck he bum he bungled the salary cap situation so bad that Ty Smith can't even play right now.

Starting point is 00:29:23 And he looked pretty good when he came up. So, you know, the Penguins failures this season, most of it falls on this GM. And again, I understand that Jim Rutherford screwed up badly in this last couple of years here. His roster management was not good. His salary cap management was also not good. He sometimes didn't even know when he was adding money versus subtracting money. Remember that from the Matheson trade with Hornquist?

Starting point is 00:29:45 But still, this is the general. GM's fault and he has to live with this mess. I will put part of the blame on Mike Selden because he, you know, he chooses to put Brian Duhlin on the top hearing. He chooses to play Jeff Carter in meaningful situations, especially late in five on sixes and stuff. And same with Brian Dume with. But also at the end of the day, who constructed this roster? The GM, you know, outside of bringing the court back, it's one, Ricard Raquel, the original Jeff Carter trade, which was good, That was good.

Starting point is 00:30:19 Three moves right there. Outside of those three, Dan Heiden last year, I'll give you that. TBD on Jeff Petrie and the defensive moves. Outside of those four moves, what else has he done that's made you go like, wow, that's good you're yemming. A lot of very meh to a lot of very bad news. and if he doesn't clean this up and make a couple trades for the deadline, and if this team loses in round one or doesn't make the playoffs, he's out.

Starting point is 00:30:53 I cannot see Fenway Sports Group bringing him back. You'd think they almost wanted to do it after a first-front exit this past season so they can have their own front office. And they love Mike Sullivan. I can tell you that right now. Mike Sullivan is not getting fired. You can all takes expose me for that. If he does, I'll take the L, but I've heard they.

Starting point is 00:31:12 love him. So if anyone gets fired, it's the GM. But, you know, just wanted to really touch on that and just, you know, explain, you know, a lot of these failures are on the front office. And I just don't trust their talent evaluation at all right now. I mean, you know, Hextall doesn't really keep the coaching staff in the loop from what I've told from what I've been told. And it's almost like it's his way or the highway. I don't know how much input he gets from the assistant GMs and stuff. But, you know, bad vibes. And he has five weeks to put the best team out there heading into the stretch run of the season. I'll say that. So that wraps up this episode, Lockdown, England's podcast.

Starting point is 00:31:51 Really appreciate all of you listening. I'll be back with another episode for you all on Wednesday. Josh Yowie will be on for this one unless something else comes up. He had a rain check for this one. But we'll look forward to talking with Josh Ball on that. Get into some trade targets. Get into how he feels about the front office. All of that plus so much more for my Wednesday episode.

Starting point is 00:32:10 So again, thank you all so much for listening to this one. I'll talk with you all on Wednesday.

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