Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - How can the Pittsburgh Penguins get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Episode Date: April 8, 2025

With the Penguins officially eliminated from the postseason for the third straight season, it's time to look to the future and how they can get back. Patrick and Hunter begin the show discussing Tuesday night's matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks as they look to bounce back from Sunday's 3-1 loss. Then, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed a trio of free agents. They talked about the difference they could make and what this means for the future of the organization's prospect pool. Finally, the Penguins did have some highlights this season with players reaching career-highs and historic milestones, and while that's worth celebrating, it could also be part of the road map to get them back to contention. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.Wonderful PistachiosGet snackin’ and get crackin’ with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR 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.

Today on Locked-on Penguins, it's Penguins Blackhawks, round two. The Wilkesbury Scranton Penguins made some signings. And despite missing the playoffs for the third straight year, there are still plenty of positives to glean from the 2024-25 Pittsburgh Penguins season. Hunter and I are going to talk about all that and more 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. Welcome back to another edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast.

I'm one of your host, Patrick Damp. You can follow me across all social media platforms at synonym for wet. Joined as always by the one and only Hunter Hodes. You can follow him on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can give our shows Twitter a follow at L.O. underscore Penguins. And of course, we appreciate you making us part of your daily routine. Don't forget that we are free and available wherever you get your podcasts, well as YouTube and the Roku channel. And if you follow us on YouTube, don't forget to hit the

notification button. That way you can be among the first to know when we drop our daily Monday through Friday episodes. Before we jump in, this episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money and use code locked on NHL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Here we are again, just a couple days removed. We are going to get Penguins versus Blackhawks round two. We recapped the game on our Monday episode after a disappointing three to one loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. That loss officially taking the Penguins out of the 2025 playoff contention window.

So this is for all intents and purposes a meaningless game for both squads. Penguins now officially not in the playoffs. Blackhawks never were in the playoffs, and they are out as well. They are a bottom of the barrel rebuilding team. The penguins are a team in transition. They are trying to do a rebuild, retool on the fly. Obviously, they've still got some great players, as we know. The Blackhawks really kind of have Connor Bedard, Spencer Knight, and it's really it.

So we go into this game. Obviously, the penguins probably feeling a little bit stung. after a very emotional, very motivating win on Saturday against the Dallas Stars, only to follow up with that loss to the Blackhawks on Sunday. So essentially, it's a home at home. The Penguins are returning home for one of their four remaining games. Three of those four remaining games are at PPG Paints Arena, including this one. So really nothing to play for here other than a little bit of pride

and giving your fans a little bit of a show. So Hunter, what are we looking for out of tonight's game? Well, the other thing that they're playing for is the pick for this year. Right now, Pat, if you look at the lottery standings, which we kind of have to at least a little bit, the Penguins are officially eliminated from the playoff contention. Pat, right now, they have the six best lottery odds right now. So it's San Jose, Chicago, Nashville, Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

And you look also, Pat, the Rangers with that pick, number 11, and they will have an opportunity to decide, do they want to send in almost 10 pick to the penguins this year? Or do they want to send next year's unprotected pick? That's more of a discussion that we're going to have to have once these next nine days go by because the Rangers pat, they're cooked. Like they got boot off the ice last night. Peter Lovillette kind of said,

yeah, I don't go in the locker room after games, which is a wild quote dude is just asking to get fired, by the way. So the Rangers is going to have to make a pretty big decision about that pick. before the draft. But right now, you look at the lottery odds, Penguins number six right now. But again, we have to see how the actual lottery goes once it happens in a little over a month.

But for tonight's game, I again, still want to see a response. I felt the Penguins really didn't have much left in the tank after that nice 5 to 3 win over the Dallas Stars. They played like it. They played at least to a push in the first couple of periods and then Chicago kind of took over in the third period. The Blackhawks are kind of a weird kryptonite to the Penguins.

the penguins have struggled against them a lot throughout Cindy Crosby and of getting Malkins tenure. Obviously, some of that is because Prime Jonathan Taves was a very tough going up against Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith and all that. But even since those guys left Pat, these games are still tough. You know, some of those younger, faster teams, even though they're not that good, they still give the Penguins some fits. You saw that on display on Sunday when, you know, a couple of bad pinches lead to some goals against, especially the first one shorthanded. Eric Carlson makes a hope play trying to pinch on the power play. but Tang doesn't cover his man right on the odd man rush,

and it leads to a goal against Connor Timmons a bit later, caught flat-footed as he was honestly flat-footed for a majority of that game. Pucks also in the back of the net there before Ricardo Rakel was able to make it a game again before the Blackhawks got the empty netter. But still, Penguins have lost two of their last three and three of their last four to Chicago going back these last couple of seasons, even though the Blackhawks have been one of the worst teams in hockey. So for me, you know, seeing that response, seeing that heart,

I think Cindy Crosby is going to play a lot better tonight. He had a little bit of an off game on Sunday, and that's fine. He had 11 goals and 20 points in his last 12 games before that game. I think he's going to play well. So I expect a response from him. As of right now, Pat, I don't know which goalie is going to start. That's probably going to get announced at some point during this recording. We'll have that breaking news if we get it during this.

But again, biggest thing for me, making sure that you are playing smart, because I didn't feel like they were playing smart hockey on Sunday. I felt like they were just kind of going through the motions, especially on the power play late in the second period. And even though the Blackhawks are the second worst team in the league, when you look at points, teams like that can still make you pain. They're still going to play their butts off every single night, even though they're not very good.

So give me a response, give me a Sid, bounce back game. And, you know, give me some pride. Your season's over, but still go out there and at least play your tail off. For sure. I also, I think obviously, with only four games to go, it's a little bit different. When you get to this point of the season, you've got four games left. Opinions and evaluations are pretty much locked in at this point,

but you can still send a little bit of a message if you're an individual player. You can show that you are part of this team's long-term future, or you're worthy for a team that may need to make assigning this summer to take a chance on you if you're a pending UFA. And I think a lot of players need to play that way. I think there needs to be a little bit of, like you said, pride. It has to be, hey, yeah, this team is not making the playoffs. This is going to be the third straight year.

Pittsburgh misses the dance. But I'm a player that either the penguins can count on over the next couple of seasons as they try to get themselves back into the playoff picture. Or I'm a player that some general manager of third. other teams might want to offer a contract to. Now, that's a lot easier said than done. You've got four games left. You have two of those four.

One is tonight against Chicago, another team that is not making the playoffs. Then this weekend, you've got the Bruins, another team that is also out of the playoffs and sliding really fast. And then you've got New Jersey who's going to make the playoffs. But again, we talked about them yesterday. It's a shame that they have really not been able. to stay healthy. So we'll see what happens with them in the playoffs.

And then you finish the season with the rival Washington Capitals, who have been just the toast of the league, and rightfully so, because of having on top of a great season as a team, Alex Ovechkin breaks the record. So it's a lot easier said than done because really you look at all four games, and they really don't make much of a difference for anybody involved. maybe the devils can solidify themselves a little bit, but then Chicago, they're still rebuilding, Boston's sliding,

and Washington is as locked in as it can get for the postseason. And the capitals might rest some guys for that game. Right. You beat me to that point. When you get to next week, there's a very real chance that it's the baby penguins versus the Hershey Bears at PPG Paints Arena with a couple big names sprinkled in here and there, the caps are going to the playoffs. They've got their sights set on a championship.

The penguins, they just want to get out of that game and get to the golf course. So for tonight, I would like to see this is my main thing. And I think we're going to see this because we've kind of started to see it over the past few games. I want to see the young kids play. I want to see McGority. I want to see Coivinen. I want to see everybody else involved. Really, I don't want to say totally putting the saddle on them.

and making them the focal point. Obviously, you're still going to have Sid, Rust, Raquel, Carlson, Latang, but I do want to see these two continue to be put in prominent positions, whether it's McGority on the second power play unit or the penalty kill, covenant on the first power play unit in big moments. I want to see these guys deployed. I want to see them get the lion's share of the minutes because at this point,

they've proven to you that they look like they can hang. Now, with four games left before they go back to help the baby penguins in the Calder Cup playoffs, let's see how much they can hang down these last four games. Well, 100%. And they're going to keep throwing them to the wolves in this game. You have no choice. They've more than answer the call so far since coming up. I think McGrady has been great on Crosby's line.

I think Coyvin has been really good also in a top six role. I think he and again, Malkin also have really good chemistry together. It also looks like that Coyot Chanuck Pat is going to be coming in tonight for Ryan Shea. he was on the third pairing with Ryan Graves today. Other two pairing stayed the same. Connor Timmons with Eric Carlson and then Matt Grizzlick with Chris Latang. I would look to change up those top two pairings.

Grizzlic and Latang do not work together. They have not worked together all season. And that's not going to change now in the final four games of the season. And one more thing, I do want to see a response from Eric Carlson. I think these last three games especially have been really poor from him. He's made too many boneheaded mistakes. I need to see a response. I know these games are meaningless now, but I still want to see him get back.

to the level that we've seen in play at for at least a decent chunk of this season because these last couple of games hasn't been good. No, it has not been a very good performance, I guess, is the easiest way to put it for Eric Carlson. And we'll obviously have a full off season to talk about this. But after the way he performed at Four Nations, he suddenly became a little bit more palatable to other general managers. And you don't want to decrease your own stock.

in that way because even though he says he likes it here, I do think he is somebody who is still chasing that elusive first Stanley Cup. And if you can find a taker for him this offseason, helps your cap situation and helps it. It fits into what Dubus likes to do with a lot of players. He likes to do right by his guys. And if he can find a way to get Carlson to a team with a legit chance to win a Stanley Cup in the next year or two, I think he does it.

So it has to be responsible. I'm just letting you know. I don't know who's going to drive the offense from the back end if he gets moved. Like, I think it makes sense to move him just because where they are as a team, and you're going to see a lot of rumors. And he has this big cap it and all that stuff. I don't know who's going to drive that offense, though. Well, Tane can't do it anymore.

Connor Timmons can't do it. Owen Pickering I like, but he's not a top pairing guy. Harrison Brutig, I don't think it's going to be that guy yet. They got, they'll have to bring in someone because that's a lot of offense to replace from the back end. I know, again, I get it, man. He hasn't been as good as some people thought he was going to be. I get some of the grapes. But if he gets traded and there's a decent chance that that does happen, I think.

When there's not as much offense from the back end, don't say I didn't tell you. And whether Hunter meant to do it or not, that is actually a little bit of a tease to our final segment, which we will talk about some milestones, some highlights from this year, and just maybe a quick theory or two about the next couple seasons ahead. but that is much later in the show. That is going to do it for our first segment. When we come back, the baby penguins announced a couple of collegiate free agent signings.

Hunter and I are going to talk about those when we come back. So stick with us. We'll have much more on this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. But first, we've got to tell you about today's first sponsor, and that is Monarch Money. If you've ever checked your bank account and wondered, where did all my money go? Between dining out, online shopping, and entertainment,

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I'm Patrick Damp, alongside, as always, the one-and-only hunter hoodies. and the Wilkesbury Scranton Penguins, they made a trio of signings on Monday landing three collegiate free agents. And I am just going to apologize in advance for this first player because I am probably going to butcher this name. But they have signed David Brazzali, Aaron Huglin, and Zach Erdall, three pretty solid players out of the NCAA. They have defensemen, Brazali and forwards Huglin and Erdahl. They are all on HAL deals. Brazali and Huglin, two-year deals with the baby penguins on HAL contracts for the 25, 26, 26, 27 season.

And Brazali has also signed an amateur tryout agreement with the penguins. He will join them immediately. And Erdahl's contract is a one-year deal for the 25-26 season. And this is actually something Kelsey Sermats and I talked about on an episode last week. With where the penguins want to go with where they are as a franchise, this is one of the resources that they are going to have to take full advantage of for a couple of reasons. One, you can't rely solely on draft picks, trades, and signings. But also, you look at where this franchise is and where it's going. it can be an attractive destination to collegiate free agents.

And we're not talking about the guys who have already been drafted, their rights are owned, they're already in systems and they are on development tracks with other organizations. But if you're a guy who just got missed or a guy who didn't get drafted one season and then had a breakout year following that draft, there's an opportunity to get to the NHL in this organization, right now because we're at the is good as job as Kyle Dubus has done, we are still very much at the beginning of this team rebuilding its prospect pool. And that means there's going to be a

lot of opportunity for these guys to not only get into the lineup right away at the American hockey league level, but maybe make the jump into the NHL. Yeah. I mean, what this really is, you're throwing darts out of board, right? Trying to see what you have in these three players. They're going to help you here down the stretch into the playoffs, you know, for Brazal you know, eight goals, 51 points, and 144 games at the University of Maine. For Hoogland, Pat, he was a former fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL draft. He had 73 points for the University of Minnesota in 150 games throughout his collegiate career. So you're taking chances on these type of players. You're going to plug

them into your lineup. There's going to be a little bit of a rotation, right? Wilkesbury's regular season is almost over. They're going to make the playoffs. They have quite a bit of four-depth, even without McGroarney and Covenant in the lineup. And I do all. also think, Pat, that is at least a small reason why you're making those moves because McGorion and Coivant are up here for now. And this gives these players opportunities, the forwards at least, to especially get in the lineup a little bit, get their feet wet, see what they can do. And then, you know, we'll have to see what happens when Magradorian Coivant and get sent back down because they're going to be in the HL playoffs for Wilkesbury, expectantly so,

just because they've been two of Wilkesbury's best players this year. You know, for Brazali, you know, we'll have to see Wilkesbury is pretty deep defensively this year. You know, Harrison Brunich is also, I think he's looked pretty fine so far during his short sit in Wilkesbury with his first time going up against professional players. So I'll be curious to see how that goes. And, you know, this would be as good of a time as any to get these players in a game because their next game, Pat, this Friday against the Hershey Bears. And that is a huge game to end the regular season right now.

Yeah, this is a crucial time. even though that they are solidly in the Calder Cup playoffs, but you've kind of seen it since McRourty and Coivinen have come up. Those two really were, in a way, the straw that stirred the drink for the baby penguins, because they've struggled a little bit since those guys went up. So it shows you how valuable they were to the baby penguins in their success. That's not to say that without those two,

there are a bunch of bums and that's all that was there. But you take away to what is probably their best players and suddenly things get a little bit tougher. So now having those safety nets and having these guys who had solid NCAA careers could really be a big difference for this organization. But at the same time, I keep bringing this up and it's a drum that I'm going to continue to hit for as long as I can, as long as it remains true. But you can really tell. And again, I know that Pittsburghers hate me saying this, but Kyle Dubus very much went to the Bill Belichick School of Asset Management.

You look at the way that he built those Patriots dynasties. And yeah, it was on the backs of obviously Tom Brady and a bunch of very talented wide receivers. But he wasn't making one pick in the first round. or one pick in the second round. He was making two to three picks in the third round, two to three picks in the fourth round, signing castoffs. And in the modern day professional sports world,

especially in leagues like the NFL and the NHL, it's going to be a lot easier to give yourself a bunch of lottery tickets than buying one ticket for the power ball and hoping that you win in this metaphor. So I like the fact that the penguins and Kyle Dubas are doing this, rather than putting all of their stock and, oh, we got a good first round pick. It's going to be in the top 10. And that's going to be our ticket to success.

It's, yeah, maybe we'll get a good pick in the first round. But then we're going to have two picks in the second, three picks in the third. And we're going to have four or five college free agents that we signed and a bunch of guys who fell out of favor with their NHL club because it's going to be a lot easier for two to three of those guys to hit when you have 10 to 15 to pick from rather than one hitting out of five to six players. Right, 100%. That's why you've seen them really started the cupboard here. And remember people, they're not going to use all these things. They're going to use some of them, especially their main first round pick that's going to be a top 10 pick. Potentially,

if they get a lottery luck, they could be a top five pick. We'll have to see on that. And then there's a chance that the Rangers give them that other pick. It could be as high as in the top 10 or if not number 11 because the Rangers are playing so poorly right now. They could also look to move that pick. But even after that, they have plenty of second round picks, plenty of third round picks. But you can also use some of those picks to go and get younger NHL players. And he even said this during his trade deadline press conference that will help you right now. And I do think, again, for free agency this summer, I think they're going to be a bit quiet again,

unless they do an offer sheet and give up their own third round pick or something like that. But I think the trade market is where I think if he gets. it's aggressive and he wants to make a bunch of moves, I think that is where he will do it because he will have the picks to do it. They're not going to use all those picks. This is why you also accumulate them. But he is still going to use a good chunk of them and rightfully so because even in second, third round picks, all of those are also, you know, dark throws. If you can hit on at least a couple of them, that also will go, again, such a long way for this rebuild on the fly. Absolutely. And we'll cut this middle segment a little bit short

because that is a good place to leave it for our final segment. We're going to talk about a couple of milestones and highlights from this season, as well as talk about what all that could mean for this franchise moving forward over the next couple of seasons. So we will do that when we come back right after this. So stick with us, but we've got to tell you about today's final sponsor, and that is indeed. You just realized your business needs to hire someone yesterday. So how can you find amazing candidates fast?

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Terms, conditions apply, hiring all you need. is indeed. All right, welcome back to the Tuesday edition of Locked-on Penguins. I'm Patrick Damp alongside Hunter Hodes. And yes, it stinks for the third straight year. The Pittsburgh Penguins will not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. But there were a lot of highlights in this season. We obviously spent a large portion of this season tracking Sidney Crosby's quest to set the points per game record, which he did.

But there are also some others that I want to start with. And we'll begin with the guy who has become the ultimate penguin. And that is Brian Rust over the weekend, scores his 200th career goal. He has already reached a career high in points with 59. And he is one goal away from reaching his career high in goals at 29. And obviously two away from hitting in that 30 goal plateau and three assists away from tying his career high of 34. Hunter, I know that over the next couple of years, it's going to be very enticing to try to move some of these big names, these cornerstones. And this might not be

the most popular thing I say, but I don't think you ever move Brian Rust. Unless Brian Rust comes to you and says, I want out. I think Brian Rust remains a penguin until he wants to either not be one or retire. Or until his contract is up, honestly. But I would agree with you on that. I think if you're looking for two players that were veterans, Pat, that could move this on Ritz, too, that we've talked about a lot,

especially during the trade deadline. Ricardo Raquel, who is still, I think going to have more interest than some others think. He just tied his career high in goals with 34. He's one way from setting a new career high with 35. I say he does it with one goal in his last four games. He has been very consistent throughout the season. And then, of course, as we just discussed,

Eric Carlson, I think there is at least, a decent chance that one, if not both of those players, gets moved. And, you know, there's a lot of talk about, you know, tanking for Gavin McKenna this next year draft just because how much of a freak he is. I don't think they'll go full-blown towards that. I think the way they would tank for him is something that you've seen this year, Pat, if they decide to do that, where they're quiet during free agency and say maybe they're not as aggressive on the trade market as I think they will personally.

and they just kind of make some little moves to try and maybe set themselves up to be really aggressive in 26-27. I could see them kind of, I guess, tanking that way, if you want to call it. But they're not, I don't think, going to intentionally tank for Gavin McKenna, as long as Cindy Crosby is on the roster for next season, as all along with Evgeny Monk, and I don't think they're going to strip it down that far. They easily could be like, you know what, trading those two that I mentioned, you know what brian russ you know your no move clause is up is up this summer we're going to move you too because remember pat his full no move is up this year like that's a pretty big deal about this so they

could be like you know what we're going to move you to see yeah we'll move other veterans as well like they really could if they wanted to do that i don't expect them to really tear it down to the studs and then just put a roster out there like you've seen chicago do especially for some like connor mcdard and all that stuff so for me i don't really see them stripping this thing down to the studs and you know, Kyle Dubus has kind of confirmed that even though, again, he's, you know, rebuilding on the fly. He can move a good veteran or two this summer. I still don't think he's going to go full blown like what the sharks just did for Macklin Celebrini or what the Blackhawks did for Bardard, for example.

For sure. The only way I see them doing that next season is if it becomes a complete disaster after the first month and a half where it just looks like this team does not have it. And then you can just go, you know what? we've got our picks for this year. We've got a good solid pipeline, especially after the draft this coming summer. And if it looks like this team is just fully cooked, then I can see him doing that. But I look at the way Sidney Crosby has played this year. I look at the way Brian Rust has played this year. If they don't find a good enough deal for him over the summer with the way Ricard

Raquel has played. And then you mix in Vili Coivinen. You make mix in Rutger McGorrie, you mix in Tristan Bros, Harrison Brunick, Owen Pickering, and a couple other guys who look like they're ready to, if not right away next year, but some point into next year are ready to make a difference. You have the makings of a team I could see that gets a little bit better next year. Now, I don't want to artificially inflate anyone's expectations. I'm not saying they're going to turn into the capitals next year and go on a marvelous run I don't think that's in the cards either, no. But when you look at how well they've developed some of these younger guys,

Crosby, barring something disastrous, I think is going to be right in the mix for 80 to 90 points again next year. If they hold on to Ricard Raquel, I don't see him dropping fully off of a cliff. It might not be career high, but 25, 30 goals, definitely in the cards. And there's a couple other guys that I want to mention here in this, in this, this segment. Blake Lazotte in many, in many less games, has already matched his career high in goals with 11. And some of that was a hot start,

but you've got a guy in your bottom six who can get double-digit goals. You've got a guy who's on the injured list right now, but tailed off a little bit over the past month or so, but showed a lot of promise in Philip Tomasino, who is already with 10 goals. That's a career, a tie of a career high. And you mix a lot of this together.

And I'm starting to see the makings of a team that could put themselves back in the conversation for getting into the playoffs. And if you can figure out what to do in net with one of Jari Nadelcovic and you can see Blumquist or Murshov take the next step, I could see a world where Dubus is active in the trade market this summer. and this team is right back in the conversation to be in the playoffs in 26. Well, the East is just awful.

So that's also your silver lining there outside of a few teams. The Eastern Conference is absolutely awful going in the next year, I think still. So you do have that, but you also do have to wait. Like, is it worth it, you know, getting said to the playoffs next year versus,

you know, maybe the year after, which right now, Pat, is the final year-vers contract when you're going to have an even more boatload of Cap Space. Yeah, I know. Evgeny Malkin is a UFA after next season, but you will have a lot of needs. You will have a lot of money to spend. That's the year I think they'll be way more aggressive in free agency than the trade market. I think this year you'll probably see the more aggressive in the trade market just to maybe fill in a couple holes,

especially, you know, the top pairing left-handed defensemen. I think not enough people are discussing how much of a need that is for next season. If you're up to me, I don't think I'd bring any of these guys on the left side back for next season. outside of calling up Owen Pickering. He deserves a spot. I think he's ready. Outside of that, you can move on from basically every single one of these guys on the left side.

Maybe you can have Ryan Chea's number seven, but they need to remake that entire left side. The right side, you know, Eric Carlson, if you move him, you need to bring in someone that can drive offense. Crystal saying he can't handle top pairing minutes anymore. I like Connor Timman's on a third pairing rule, but again, man, I don't think enough people are talking about how much the defense needs to be remodeled for next season.

It's a lot of work. I don't know if you're going to be able to be able get all of it done over the off season. But again, this is why you have a plan in place and why I think they're really targeting the 26-7 season as the year where, okay, now we're really going to start potentially turning this into a contender. Maybe not that year, but, you know, 27, 28, but I think that's the start when they get really, and I mean, really aggressive, but they'll also mobilize a little bit this summer with some trades and all that. So again, we'll have to see. We still have a few months to go until free agency starts right and you kind of you kind of made my point better than i could have

there i don't see i don't see dubus being overly aggressive in free agency one because like you said it's not a phenomenal class this summer and i'm also skeptical that a lot of the big names that are slated for ufa this summer aren't going to make it there i never going to be connected to Mitch marner people and it would be fine i just don't i do not see him signing here i'm I think it's one year early. If he was a UFA next summer, I could absolutely see them doing it. Yes. But since it's this summer, I'm extremely skeptical.

He even makes it to July 1. I think Toronto is going to find a way to lock him up, especially if they find a way to go to the second or even third round of the playoffs, because that kind of feels like that's the vibe around him is, yeah, we love you, you're great, but you got to earn your keep in the postseason before we make a decision. So we'll see what happens there. But I do think there could be an offer sheet or two.

I do think there's going to be a good amount of trades. And I think it's a chance where you can kind of have found money to a little bit of an extent because they're going to have still going to have a ton of draft picks. They're going to trade a few away, but they're not going to trade all of them away. You still got a good few prospects. And you can give this team a little bit of a facelift via the trade market in the off season. You're not going to make them a Stanley Cup contender, but back to the play. playoffs, I think it's absolutely possible.

But that will do it for today's episode of Locked-on Penguins. Hunter and I will be back with a new episode for you on Wednesday. We will recap this Penguins and Blackhawks game. And it's Wednesday, which means Warrior Helmet Wednesday. We'll give out our MVP of the week and talk about anything else that might happen between now and then. But for Hunter Hodes, I'm Patrick Damp. Thank you, as always for tuning in.

And we will be back on Wednesday. Thank you.