Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - How much longer will this Penguins GM process drag on for?

Episode Date: June 1, 2023

The Pittsburgh Penguins still do not have a general manager and honestly, that's okay...for now. Hunter goes over the latest news and rumors surrounding the search before discussing why it was likely so quiet on Wednesday. Hunter gives a couple of theories as to what could be going on behind the scenes before looking at when the Penguins' deadline would be for Kyle Dubas since they are going to need to know sooner rather than later. He then pivots to why FSG has to get this one right and how rushing into something got the Penguins Ron Hextall last time (yes, it was a different regime, but still). After that, he reviews Casey DeSmith's season and why it was a total rollercoaster. He looks at how his numbers went down because he played too much and how he could never get going when it looked like the starting job was there for the taking. Will he be back next season? Hunter answers that before ending the show with a free-agent target for the Penguins as they badly need a new third-line center.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go to FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, we're basically done here on Wednesday. Still no general manager has been named for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I have your latest on that and why it was likely a quiet Wednesday heading to the end of this work week coming up 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 Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hotties, follow the shows, Twitter, and Elinor Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list in the day. We are free and available on all platforms for those watching on YouTube. Yes, my dogs are in here. Thrawn behind me here is just going to town on this pillow for some reason.

I hope he just does not ruin it. They wanted to come in and be a part of the show. And I think that's just how he's feeling that no general manager has been named. as you see our agenda on the right for those watching. I'll tell you for those that are listening. We're going to go into why no news is still good news, Casey Dispense Season Review, and a free agent that could fit very well here.

We're going to start getting into that now that it's basically June for this year free agency is about a month away. But yes, nothing new on the Penguins' GM search today. I was told radio silence. Basically nothing. And you saw it. Nothing got leaked. Absin of the only Penguins content that we got this morning

was from Elliot Freeman on the 32 Thoughts podcast where he only said that he thinks both sides were not accurate on Tuesday with a lot of the conflicting information he doesn't think a deal was close to being finalized but he also doesn't think that Dubus rejected the Penguins he said as of Tuesday evening 8 p.m and obviously it's been about 24, 25 hours since then would be more by the time you're listening as I was watching this

he had not decided Kyle Dubas that is on whether he was taking. the job. And that's interesting because I had heard coming into this week, they wanted to know by Monday or Tuesday. Obviously, that deadline has been extended. But the big question is, but how much? I'm of the belief. And obviously, I am just guessing here, people, I'm of the personal belief that the deadline for Dubus is this Friday. I think if he hasn't made up his mind yet, they're going to go in a different direction, whether that's Matthew Darsh, whether that's Steve Greeley, or whether that is Jason Botter.

Elliot Throat had floated his name around on the Monday episode of 32 months. And, I mean, can you blame FSG? You can't wait around forever. I understand a lot of people are upset by this. It's almost June. It's about to be June in the next few hours. They haven't named a GN yet. This is the longest.

I believe the franchise is gone without a GM. since, you know, when firing someone and hiring someone else, it's the longest they've gone without one. So I get it. And there's a lot of stuff coming up with the draft, but I also will say to you people that, well, one, I know Nick Pryor and a couple other people are, you know, the director of amateur scouting and all that stuff.

But the scouts are still in place, and they are doing their usual draft work. And I'm sure Mike Sullivan is helping them out. And the other interim guys, they're prepared for this. I think they're doing fine with the draft work crap. But in terms of free agency and trades, I definitely get why you need a guy in place. A sap because teams are going to start making moves directly out with the Stanley

final ends. Final starts on Saturday. But also we'll say, patience is a little bit of a virtue. It is obvious, at least to me, that Fenway really wants Kyle Dubus. If they didn't, they would have told him to get lost. nothing got out to it. We still don't even know if he's rejected them.

Again, and we probably would know. It would have leaked. Either FSG or Kyle will just send a text to an insider, but you haven't been seeing that. And honestly, you haven't been seeing a lot of these insiders get any leased because, A, Kyle Dubas is not part of the old boys club and FSG is so new to the league

that they don't have any contacts to send to Elliot and all these guys. FSG is doing a really, really good job putting a very solid grip on this. They're keeping all of it very tight. That's why you saw yesterday, like, I don't think any of those two leaks were coming from, you know, people directly involved in the process. And there, I think there were two people that were outside of it. And they were just speculating and guessing. And, you know, I did hear that last night, but the two side, the two, or horse that you saw, the two people that told Mark Madden and

Franks of all, they're guessing from what I heard. So the only people that really know what's fully going on are the Fenway Sports Group and Kyle Dubus and probably the other couple candidates out there, like Matthew Dar, Steve Greeley, and all those guys. And remember, FSG has to get this right. I know anyone that they're probably going to hire is going to be better than Ron Hextol, but you can't afford to rush into this. That's why they're taking such a long time to make sure they get the right guy. And again, I know it's obviously that they want him. And they're willing to wait a little longer. No news is good news.

I have people hitting me up all day. Hunter, you know, I'm getting an uneasy feeling about this. Hunter, what about this? What about that? Until you see a report that is official that dubious is out, you got you got nothing to worry about at least right now if that happens then you can worry a little bit but honestly I would say not to really worry that much

because if he does pull himself out or he rejects the job they can actually give this job to Matthew Darsh people say well what if he passes sure is that a possibility yeah but I also know that he would be a first time GM most people would jump in an opportunity to run their own team for the first time so I think he would take it

Again, you know, a lot of this that's been going around lately is just speculation, guessing. I really think what you saw today was by design. Either A, the penguins are working in the shadows. That's the one I'm going to believe. Obviously, again, I'm just guessing. They're working in the shadows and they're trying to get this done. And maybe the announcement's coming on Thursday. Or B, they said, hey, you know what?

Let's take a chill pill. After we saw all that speculation yesterday, let's give Kyle another day. Savi circles back to us on Thursday. If he says yes, let's work out a deal. You know, maybe they're still negotiating anyway. Elliot actually discussed that on the podcast. He said he's not wooing out that the two sides could just be negotiating. And they're maybe a little farther apart than they thought they would be.

I mean, Kyle is going to get handsomely paid, whether it's by the penguins or it's by another team if he gets hired for this upcoming season or if he takes a season off and gets hired next year. Whatever his next job is, he is going to. to get paid and he's going to get paid very handsomely. He'll also get a lot of, he'll get a very long leash. Penguins can definitely offer both those things. Also, you know, something that, you know, came into my head today.

You know, what if they've kind of ironed out a little bit of the money? But he hasn't made up his mind because of his family. Think about it. What is his mom, geez, what does his wife do for a living? Are there similar jobs here in Pittsburgh? What about the kids? Finding a place to live. All that stuff factors in.

So maybe they're just having a longer time deciding on that aspect of the move and all that stuff. Because, yeah, I mean, a flight to here to Ontario's, what, an hour and a half. The drive down here is five hours, something like that. You can do it easily in a day. But, you know, it might be more than just money. And again, as of right now, we don't even know what his decision is. It could come on Thursday. It could not.

But I think everyone right now overall, just take a chill pill. It's okay. Go outside. Read a book. Go hang out with some friends. It's useless to just be refreshing the Twitter app every five seconds. You are going to drive yourselves in six. Same. Again, I want this to be over as soon as possible because I am sick and tired of talking about this on the show.

I want to get to just who the new GM is going to be, what they have to do going forward, a whole bunch of other stuff. But it's out of you and your guys' hands. Comes down to Fenway Sports Group, Kyle, whether he wants to take it or not. And if he doesn't, it comes down to whether or not the other person is going to accept it. But as of right now, Wednesday evening, Kyle Dubus, he looks like, has not told the penguins one way or another, whether he is taking this job. And we will see, my friends.

This ends on Thursday, if it goes to Friday, and the weekend, or God forbid God, for some of your souls, goes into next week. Oh, there will be a lot of sickos on the internet if this goes into next week. But rest of sure, I will be here to cover it for you all and give you all the latest news on this team. Remember, patience, my friends. I think that's what FSG is trying to be here. Very patient.

They're trying their best. I can totally see them have a quote when they hire if they get due this. You know, sometimes the best things are worth waiting for. Something along those lines, I don't know. But I don't think it's going to be too much longer. I do think they have a deadline in place. my guess is that it's this Friday, I could be dead wrong.

I'm just like other people out there, you know, even the top insiders, they're guessing. I'm not going to say, I'm not guessing either. And again, I've never claimed to be an insider. I will never be an insider.

I don't have those kind of scoops. I will never have those kind of scoops unless I somehow get Elliot Friedman's job, and I don't think that's on my agenda for later on in my life. But I'm just purely guessing right now that the deadline is Friday. and that's what they want to know going in the weekend

and I'm sure they want to have a higher done ASAP. So that is the latest on Kyle Dubus and the Penguins' GM search. Let me know your thoughts. Are you okay with this being drawn out a little bit? Or do you want someone in place right now? Are you concerned or are you not? Let me down in the comments. If you're watching on YouTube,

you can also send me a DM on social media and all of that. Coming up in the second segment, we're going to get into Casey DeSmith's Season Review. Also how he played very well at the World Championship. championships and what his future is with this team. But before we get into that, we do have to discuss the official sports betting partner of Lockdown, which is Stan Duel. Make a fast break to Fandul during the NBA playoffs because right now new customers

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All right, I'm back in this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. No, no, follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow this shows, Twitter, and onerso Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this. Your first list in the day. We are free and available on all platforms. So getting into our second goalie season review here, Casey DeSmith, who played the most amount of games in his NHL career to date,

38 this year, played almost half a season, finished 15 and 6 and 4, 3.17 goals against average, 905, Sabres, and you compare those numbers to the last few years, 914 and 22, 912, before that, 916, 921. So his numbers definitely took a little bit of a dip this season. I think part of it is due to him playing a lot more. if you compare these numbers to last season, played in 26 games, 11 and 6 and 5 record, 2.79 goals against average,

also a 9-14 Sabres sentence before that. Played in only 20 games. You had before that 36. So, I know, he's been, he's usually used to playing, at least the last couple of years, 20 or 25 games. This year, had to play a lot more, had to play almost half of a season, because Tristan Jari was so banged up with his back

and his groin injuries. if you look at the numbers on MoneyPuck. He actually led the Penguins in terms of goals above expected with three. Again, 905, Supergenus 3.17 goals against average. Sabre percentage on unblock shots was 947, a little lower than Tristan. Tristan's goals against average was a bit lower, 2.9.

His saber sentence was a bit higher 909. So Casey, numbers that we took a bit of a dip, but again, I do put that up to him playing a little bit too much. but also will say, I think he's, you know what you're going to get with a goalie like Casey to Smith. And that is inconsistent play. And what I mean by that is you all remember the game against the Washington Capitals in late March, right? Penguins are fighting for the playoff lives. They base out to that 3-0 lead.

DeSmith is having it looks like the game of his life. At least they do two periods. In the third period, lets in a couple of garbage goals. Capitals tie the game. Malkin saves the day. But still, he was having a great. game for the first two periods, big reason why they won, but still lit in a couple of garbage goals in the third period. There's the inconsistency. You have other games where he's getting lit up

like a Christmas tree, getting beat on bad angles. You saw that in the final two games of the World Championship where he was playing very well. Save percentage, well over 930, goals against average, below two. And then last couple of games happened in the semifinals and in the bronze medal game where he gives up two really bad goals to either tie it or win it for the opposition where it's just like, man, got to make those kind of saves. Just beaten from bad angles, I would say. The game against Latvia in the bronze medal game, beaten from a horrendously bad angle there.

And then the game against Germany in overtime, that would have sent the U.S. to the gold medal game, beat on a bad angle there as from the other side. So you know what you're going to get with him. But before this year, his numbers were better than league average. And, you know, I will always take, even though he's like inconsistent goalie, I will still take what, 26 starts 9, 14, 7%. That's better than the league average.

Before that, 36 games in 2019, 916, 7%. That's fine, 912 after that. That's good. He's a career 912. that's better than league average. But this year he took a step back. He's too inconsistent at times. I think the penguins could do better than him for next season.

And he's a tricky one because he has one year left on his contract, $1.8 million. What do you do there? And I really think it all depends on what they do with Tristan Jari. If you bring him back to your deal, $3, $4 million per, you are going to have to find a trade warrant for Casey to Smith. I am sorry, I know he makes only $1.8 million.

You cannot run that tandem back for another year. Now, if Jari walks in free agency and they bring in someone via trade or someone via free agency, like Aiden Hill, something on Barlamas, something like that, where they trade for like a good boy, like Cornelbox, something like that. I think you can live with DeSmith as a backup because someone like a hell of buck or a sorrows. And obviously, you know, I'm just, it's silly season here, people. So give me a break.

Someone like that's going to command a lot of starts. But if you can have DeSmith still get 20, 25, probably more than 20, actually, because it's annoying for goal. He's a start 60 plus games in the league today. If you can still allow him to get, as he has basketball seasons, 25 starts, 26 starts, something like that, I think you're mostly okay with him. but you can't have him to be your backup to Tristan. It's failed a few seasons in a row.

It will fail again if they bring him back. Jari, that is. So overall, I don't think to Smith did enough this season. At times, he was the better option. And when they went to him for a few more games, that's when he struggled. Because he's not a capable starter in the league. He was fooling people.

people, my friends. Because yeah, he would have two or three good starts where he was like, oh my God, maybe he could finally take the reins from Jari, be the starter. Another start after that. Oh, gives up four goals, gets yanked. Like clockwork. It would happen multiple times this season. That's why you just fully can't trust him in that one B platoon kind of role.

All he is is just a backup. He's not going to be a starter for you and give you 35, 40 games or even God forbid more than that. He's a backup, nothing more. Better than some of the other backups in this league, I'll give him that. But I just don't think, you know, if you're bringing Jari back on a short-term deal, he can't be on this team. You're going to have to find a better option that can be a good platoon guy

that can start, I think, 35, 40 games with Jari's injury history especially. So his future is a bit murky right now. In a perfect world, I would like to move on from both goaltenders, as I've said numerous times from the all season, but I don't think that's realistic. As of right now, a new GM can come in here and just say, hey, Hunter, screw you with that. But as of right now, I don't really fully know how realistic.

That is. So overall for DeSmith, I'll give him, I'm not going to give him a D or an F. I'll give him like a C-minus, something like that. Just wasn't fully impressed with his play. It was a little bit below average this season. Cost them some games that they probably should won. You know, the Detroit game, I didn't even mention that.

Penguins run prime. position to get at least a point in that game. I know they took a dumb penalty late in regulation, but you need to kill a penalty there. Gives up a bad goal with less than four minutes to go from a really bad angle. Same thing, the goal that made it 6 to 4. People have just gotten some saves from them in some of these games. Things could have been a little bit different.

Maybe this team sneaks in the playoffs. Obviously, you know, I think we'd be having different discussions about the overall team right now with maybe they, with a new GM and all this other stuff. but still those were the lines and you know to Smith wasn't good enough for a lot of those times but that wraps up the second segment coming up to win the show or get into a free agent that I think really fits this team for next season someone from the Western Conference

who stick around for that coming up right after this I'm back on this episode of the Locktown Penguins podcast I am your host Hunter Hodesman to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes for all this shows Twitter at Alas for Penguins and of course thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day we are freely available on our platforms yes i am checking twitter right now because i am making sure that nothing is breaking god forbid while i am recording this and to everyone's you know just everyone's so what's the word i'm looking for here you know happiness i guess yeah nothing did

or else this i think episode would have been a little weird but the free agent that i am most or one of the free agents that i'm most excited about jason T Comfer from the Colorado AdLedge had a career year for the abs this season. 17 goals, 52 points, 82 games. Last year had 18 goals, 33 points and 70 games. This was the first time he's had over 40 points in his career. First time he's honestly had over 35 points in his career. He can play left wing, can play center.

I think he was playing center. When Gabriel Landis Scott was out for a little bit, he was awesome. his underwines this season were also very, very good play. All 82 games, when he was on the Avalanche had 51% of the shot attempts. That's the highest it's been since 2021. They also had 56% of the actual goals for, 52% of the expected goals year. 51% of the scoring chances for high danger was about 50, 50, 30 high, high danger goals for, 24 high danger goals.

Again, shot 7.5% this season. He can four check hard. He skates fast. He scores. he great playmaker good defensively fits the mike solven system to at he and oh yeah he would be a massive upgrade to the third line i'm sorry if you were asking me to pick between jeff carter or even i don't think he'd be the third line center next year what he if you're asking me to protect you know to pick between ryan paling or j t comfor i am picking comfor every day of the week

and it's not even close he could be a little bit out of the penguin's price range but we you watch the film, I see a guy who has a very deceptive shot. I see a guy who has a great first pass. I see a guy who can win a lot of puck battles along the boards. I see a guy who can really cycle in the offensive zone. You can put him on your second power play. You can put them on your penalty kill. He can play virtually at anything, honestly. You can put him at left wing, you put him at center, I would put him at third line center just because this team badly needs one heading into next season. But he is the total package for me heading into next season. He's definitely going to get a pretty decent deal. I think on the free agent market,

because when you look at this market as a whole, my God, people, it is weak. It really is. You know, when you go to cat friendly or spot rack, you know, Got Kane out there, Jonathan Taves, Ryan O'Reilly, Vladimir Teresanko, James Van Reeves-Zike, Sean Monaghan, Milan Luchich, Jordan, Saul, Patrice Bersron, Tyler Bertuzzi. I mean, I'll get to him at some point, but still a lot of these names, big names, but some of these players are just not what they used to be anymore. Made $3.5 million on his last deal, he's probably going to get a little bit more on this next honest I'd probably guarantee that he will.

I think the Penguins will be looking at in terms of a contract here, four to five years, at least four million per, probably $4.5 to $5.5. I think you're looking at maybe a similar contract to what Jason Zucker could get on the open market. If you want to keep him, if you want to put him at left wing, he would be a good replacement for Zucker.

He scored a little bit less, but he still had, you know, similar point production. But I would want to bring him in and move him and put him at center. So I would love that. Again, he fits Mike Sullivan's system to AT. He will be a lot of fun. And again, you can put him in any situation,

and he will thrive. He's been a very underrated player throughout his tenure in Colorado. You know, the last several seasons, last, I can get this right, last six seasons, 10 or more goals It's been a good player in their bottom six. This year he was elevated to the top six for a good while

because Gabriel Landisog missed the whole year. He's going to miss all of next season as well. And he still ate those numbers up. Here he would be playing with not as good players just because he's not going to be getting as many minutes as he did with, you know, let's say Nathan McKinnon at times. You know, McKinnon, he rotated between Paine with Evan Rodriguez and J.G. Comfer.

Comfer also played with Branson at times. And it was Valerie Natchewski. I almost missed it. I almost forgot his name for a second, of course. But, you know, before everything happened in the playoffs. But Comfort would be a great fit in my book. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. You can also send me a DM on Twitter.

Do you think he would be a good fit? Would you like him at left wing? Or would you prefer him at center? Like, I would do you think he would have similar success here? All of that good stuff. But that will wrap up this episode, the Locktime Penguins podcast. Really appreciate all of you listening slash watching. I'll be on another episode for you.

all on Thursday, and God willing, hopefully we'll have an answer to Dubus Watch and the GM search in general. If the Penguins are any closer to naming that general manager, as of course Thursday will kick off the month of June. So again, thank you all so much for listening to class watching. Really, really, really appreciate it. I'll be back with another episode for you all on Thursday.