Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - If it's not Kyle Dubas, who will take the Penguins' GM job?

Episode Date: May 26, 2023

Happy Friday! I know, the GM search is still ongoing but that's okay! To start the show, Hunter dives into Mathieu Darche and how he may take the job of Kyle Dubas and decides to not take the Penguins' offer. Hunter dives into Darche's history when it comes to the sport, including his playing career and how he sat in during labor talks in 2012. He then looks at how he got hired by the Tampa Bay Lightning and what his main roles have been with the organization. He discusses how he's been a big hand in getting the Lightning under the salary cap and how he's done with helping Julien Brisebois with contract negotiations. His work there alone should be enough for him to get the gig. He then dives into the latest with Kyle Dubas and when an announcement on his decision will be coming. Do the Penguins have a target date for it? What is the decision coming down to? He also discusses why it's perfectly fine for him to take the long weekend to discuss with his family since this is such a major decision. Hunter gives his prediction for what the answer will be before ending the show with Tristan Jarry's season in review. Will he come back next season? Heck, did he show enough to come back next season? If they decide to negotiate a deal with him, what does that look like? All that, plus much more is on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/lockedonnhl and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNHL, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order.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 is 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 ONE THOUSAND 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, the Pittsburgh Penguins, they do have Kyle Dubus as their top option. They're awaiting word back from him. But who will be their backup plan if Dubus does tell them no? Stick around for that 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, hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Locked On Penguins. one's podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at Amherst or Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listening to the day. We are free and available on all platforms. Today's episode is brought to you by Birddogs. You can go to Birddogs.com slash Locked on HL. And when you enter promo code Locked on HL, we'll throw in a free custom bird dog's Yeti-style tumbler with every order. So let's jump into this.

This week came, you know, it came, it left. Kyle Dubus is still a free agent. I'm getting flashbacks to Yachter Watch from 2012 with how this just continues to go on with no end insight, but I do think there is an end coming, and I will touch on that a little later. This is my first episode on Streamyard. We have moved on past Restream, and for those watching on YouTube, check this out. A brand new graphics card on the right. we'll discuss Matthew Darsh as a fallback.

Kyle Dubas talked for the second segment, and then we will finish off the show with Tristan Jari's season in review. Let me know what you think down in the comments about this new graphics package. Let me know if Stream Yard looks better than re-stream for those watching. For those just listening to me on audio,

you can go on YouTube and check it out. If you want, you can also just send me, you know, DMs and whatever about this episode as well. You guys are the OGs in terms because I started only doing just audio before. pivoting to posting on YouTube, but I, you know, I love all of you just the same. But let's jump into it. So if Kyle Dubus does say no to the Penguins and he wants to maybe take a year off,

spends more time with this family, wait for the Ottawa job, who would be the backup? And that, my friends, is Matthew Darsh of the Tampa Lightning, the assistant general manager, and their director of hockey operations. per Elliott Freeman on 32 thoughts. He is one of the other finalists still standing. He did discuss Steve really as well. But I do think this would be Darsh's job if Dubus declines the job. And you're probably wondering, who is Darsh?

Well, jotted some notes down, got some prep work done on him. He has a very, and I mean a very good resume. Works with the Tampa 8 Lightning. As I said, he's their assistant general manager and the director of hockey operations. He's worked for the Lightning since 2019. has risen the ranks there very quickly. Before that, he was a player in the NHL played over 200 games. The number was about 250 and sat in during labor talks when there was a lockout in 2012.

You kind of knew he was going to have a role in management when he was sitting in for those talks in 2012. That was remember the league had a 48 game season started what, I was like December, January, April, May season, whatever that was. But he was sitting during the labor talks, helped NHLPA negotiate a labor deal with the league, and then did the same thing with his latest CBA deal. It didn't turn into a lockout. But he did help the NHLPA negotiate the latest CBA deal with the league. And he's on a really nice job with the salary cap in Tampa Bay. He's kind of, Julian Brisbane's right-hand man when it comes to that.

And yeah, I get it. Tampa Bay. you can say all you want it, they cheated the cap when they kuturaved their way to a cup final, whatever, you know, that rule has been in place long before they abused it. Remember what happened with Patrick Kane before that? When he was put on IR, came back for game one of the playoffs, Blackhawks just ripped the league in half there. That's been going on for a long time.

They just, there's a gap in the rule. I shouldn't say, I shouldn't say there's a gap in the rules. It's, you're allowed to do it. And I know it made people mad, but got them a championship. So, yeah, you have the league to blame when it comes to that. He has done a really nice job with contract negotiations for the Lightning. When you look at some of the deals, they've signed. His handiwork is all over that.

But he has signed for a lot of years. Nikutikutnik Kuturov, Anthony Sorrelli, Nick Paul. Well, Nick Paul, I think, is a little bit of a weird deal because he's 28 signed for $3.5 million, but $3.15 million. A lot of term on that one for a bottom six. player. He's done a nice job bringing back Patrick Maroon at a lower cap hit. They did a nice job identifying Mike Acymont and he has a lower cap hit. Mikhail Surgachev just got his deal last year.

I was a really nice job. 8.5 million. That's a steal in my opinion. Victor Hedman, his deal. Eric Chernak signed for a long time. He's only 25 years old. Philip Myers, Hayden, Florees, Zach Magogh, and all these players making, you know, below or at league minimum. And obviously, you know, he was there when the lightning signed to Andre Fasilev to his ridiculous contract. So his fingerprints, excuse me, are all over this roster when it comes to the salary cap and contra negotiations. And I think that's why he's the biggest reason, or that's the biggest reason, excuse me,

why he would be such an upgrade over on Hexel. He actually knows how to negotiate contracts with players and is good with the cap. And has done a really nice job drafting and helping acquire. players next to Julian Briswaw. He's young. I know he hasn't been a GM before, but he's been knocking on that door for quite a while. If he doesn't get this job and Kyle

Dubas does say yes, I'd like to think he will get a job either, I wouldn't say this year because the Maple is the only other team without a GM next year or the year after. He's very close. And I do think he will be a very good general manager in this

league. And you know, obviously there is the point to discuss what if Dubus says no and then Darsz pulls himself out what happens then well i mean Steve Greeley according to Elliott Freeman is still involved it looks like those are the three finalists for the position they would have to hope that Greeley still wants a job if not him you might be really up a creek at that point but Darsh in my opinion he is the next best option behind dubus I know some people put Darsh actually above dubus but I think dubus is A little bit better than him, I think, by the narrowest, slimmest of margins.

But I really liked Darsh's work in Tampa Bay. He rose up the ranks fairly quick in terms of hockey ops. He is ready to be a gym. I don't think you would see him overpaying for debt players. Is he going to trade a second round pick to acquire the corpse that was Mikhail Granland? I don't think so. Is he going to screw up the salary cap so bad to the point? point where you can't even start your season with the sixth defenseman you want. Remember,

the Penguins, they wanted Ty Smith to start the scenes with them this past season. They were very impressed with him at camp and preseason. They couldn't because they had no salary cap space. That's how badly Ron Hextall screwed up the cap. That would not happen under here with Darsh. He uses analytics. He's, forward thinking he is he fits fenway sports model to a t and i truly believe that so i think the pegams will be getting a very strong individual if they do hire darsh if dubus says no for all those reasons that i outlined i think his drafting would also be better you're not going to see him make weird bad trades i don't think you're going to see him make unnecessary signings you know josh archibald fine player

not a day one free agent signing. I don't think you would see Matthew Darsh do that. So that's where I'm at when it comes to Darsh. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. You can also send me a DM and stuff. Would you like Darsh as a GM if Duba says no? And are you concerned that he would pull himself out of the mix if Dubis takes a little long to decide?

And I don't have more on that coming up after this commercial break. I have a couple scoops, some things that I have heard on Friday, when to expect a decision, why it's not that bad that he's taking the full weekend to decide that's coming up right after this commercial break. But let me know your thoughts about Matthew Darsh as well. But before we get into the latest on the Kyle Duba situation, we do have to discuss bird dogs. Are you tired of sacrificing comfort for style when it comes to your active wear? Well, introducing bird dogs.

The game change on athletic shorts. Picture this. Pre-im shorts designed for maximum performance combined with unparalleled comfort. They are here to revolutionize your workout routine with their unique built-in liner. These shorts offer ultimate support and flexibility ensuring you stay comfortable during even the most intense workouts. And here's the best part.

They are more than just workout gear. They're versatile enough to take you from the gym to the street without skipping a beat. Design with pockets that actually work, bird dogs give you ample space to store your essentials while you're on the move. Bird dogs are made with premium breathable fabric that keeps you cool and dry throughout your activities.

Perfect for the trails. The gym are simply lounging around. They are also the shorts you've been searching for. Order your pair of bird dogs today and join the thousands of satisfied customers who have made a switch. Visit birddogs.com slash lockdown NHL and entrepreneur code locked on NHL

to get a free custom bird dogs Yerdi style tumbler with every order. Bird dogs, where the style meets comfort and performance meets perfection. Get yours now and unleash your true potential. All right, I'm back in this episode of the Lockton on Penguins podcast. I am your host,

Proenter Hodesmer to follow me on Twitter. at Honour Hodes, follow the show's Twitter, at Anwarcial 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 let's get into the latest when it comes to Kyle Dubis and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

So, as I said earlier, Friday came and went, no decision. That is by design. I have been told by a couple of people he is taking the weekend here to mold us over with his wife. I know Elliot Freeman touched on that on the 32 Thoughts podcast, but I have heard that he wants to take this,

but he needs to discuss it with his wife. And you know what? This is very typical for job searches, people. Anyone that is listening to this show or watching it, have you ever had a situation where you've applied for a job? It's been offered to you, but then the person offering it to you goes, hey, take a few days,

discuss it with your family, get back to us at the start of the week after. That's what's going on here. I understand that people are concerned because the draft is in a month, agency is just after that, and you won't have a lot of time. I totally get that.

And as I said, my first segment, you never know if someone will pull out that as a very realistic possibility, like a Darsh or a Steve Grill. But it is the right, move for me, at least in my opinion, to give Dubis as much time as he needs to discuss this with his wife. I heard that she accompanied him this week down to Pittsburgh to check out the area and who knows, maybe they're looking at new houses or something like that. But it's

obvious that he's very much considering this job. I've heard he wants it. He just needs to clear it with his wife and convince her in the kid, obviously, to move down from Toronto to Pittsburgh. And again, this is a tough decision. I'm sorry it is. You're uprooting your whole life. Toronto and Pittsburgh are two completely different cities. You're moving from a different country. I don't care that it's a four to five to six hour drive. You're uprooting your life up there to move down to a city where you haven't spent much time in other than when the Maple Leafs have come to Pittsburgh, what, once or twice a season? So I get it. He's been hearing being very thorough. He wants to discuss it with his family. I very much support that this is

very typical again of regular job searches where they give you a long weekend. Let them know early next week. I have been told they are targeting an announcement on Tuesday. That's their hope. Their hope is to announce this if he accepts it on Tuesday. He could take a little longer than that. I never know with people, but their hope is right after the holiday, Memorial Day on Monday. For those that are in Canada or other countries, this weekend here is Memorial Day in the United States. It is the unofficial start of summer. Everyone goes away. It is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Outside of the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas Eve, this is in the top three to five of the most traveled days

in the country. People go to the beach. They have cookouts. barbecues, all that stuff. People also finished school around the country this week. No one is going to be online this weekend. That's just, that is how it is with Morales. So I am not surprised that, A, he didn't decide today. And B, if he somehow did and we don't know about it, the penguins are delaying the announcement until next week.

Because, you know, I don't think you're going to do a news dump on a Friday right before Memorial Day. Everyone's going away. I think you want to capitalize from a PR perspective. on Tuesday when everyone is back working, back online, boom, you make the announcement one way or the other. And, you know, Penguins are obviously hoping that dubus is a guy. I've also heard the contract offer is more than four years. They have gone all out for this.

I don't know the money terms on it. I don't know if anyone will ever know that. But I've heard that it's longer than a four-year term. And, I mean, I can only assume that the money is pretty good for that. So that's really the latest when it comes to do this. If I had to make a prediction right now for you all, I do think he's going to take it. I think he will be able to convince his wife

that this is a good opportunity for him to get right back into it. It's obviously a unique challenge because this team is at the, you know, they're close to the end of the window, then they are at the beginning. It's a new city. There's not as much media pressure here than there is in Toronto. I'm not. I'm kind of like doing my pitch from my,

Thursday episode a little bit here, right? But I do think he's going to take it. I understand that a lot of people are getting impatient because this is almost like Yager watch from 2012, but you're hearing all these things, and then it goes south. I don't think that's going to happen here. I do think he's going to take it. If not, though, I think the Penguins will be in good hands, assuming Matthew Darsh and or Steve really are still in it. So that's really the latest on Kyle Dubas. I'm glad I got to tell you a couple of scoops from what I've heard. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. You can also send me a DM.

Do you think he will take it? Do you think his wife will oblige to him wanting the job here? Because again, I've been told he wants to take it, but he's going to take the weekend to discuss it with his family. And that is fine. One more thing. You know, there's one more thing on this. It's only been a week since he thought he was going to be in Toronto for the next several years of his life. they probably could offer him. If he had stayed, it was going to be, what, at least four to five year term, something like that. He was ready to stay. He was. Obviously, things changed and he got fired, which is why he's looking at this opportunity. But you got to give someone like this some time. That's, that's human nature, people. And again, I get it. I very much do. So, again, that'll wrap up this segment of,

of the podcast. Coming up to end the show, we are going to review Tristan Jari's season and what the Penguins should do with him in free agency. So that's coming up after this. Before we get into that, though, we do have to discuss the official sports betting partner of Lockdowne and that is Fandul.

Make a fast break to Fandul during the NBA playoffs because right now new customers get a no-swet first bet up to $1,000. That's $1,000 back in bonus bets. if your first bet does not win. There's no better place to bet all the playoff action than America's number one sportsbook. Visit fandul.com slash locked on

and get a no sweat first bet up to $1,000. That's fandle.com slash locked on. I like the heat to wrap up their series against the Celtics in game six. I also like the knights to wrap up their series in five against the stars. And you will see an NBA finals

of the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat in the Vegas Golden Knights and the Fort Panthers for the NHL. Again, Fanduil.com slash locked on to get a no sweat first bet up to $1,000. That is Fandul, the official sports betting partner of the NBA and locked on. All right, I'm back in this episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hansa Hodes, and I'll follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows Twitter at Eleanor for Penguins.

And of course, thank you so much for making this your first list in the day. We are free and available on all platforms. So continuing with our season reviews for today, we're going to do the starting goalies before we start doing some of the reserve forwards and the reserve defensemen and all that. Tristan Jari played 47 games this season for the Penguins, 24 and 13 and 7, 2.90 goals against average. 9.09% percentage for his career. 1, 17 and 16, and 20, 2.65 goals against average. 9.14 save percentage.

Those are, you know, league average to a little bit above, well, to a little bit of above league average. Last season was, you know, arguably his best season in the league, 58 games. 34, 18 and 6, 919, Sabro Gards 2.42, goals against Chavich. If he was coming off this kind of season, going into free agency, I think it would be a slam dunk for them to resign him. But the injury concern is very real. And I get it. You look at the free agent market, there ain't a lot out there, people. I know Freddie Anderson's there, and I think he would be a decent option.

He played well for Carolina. But he's also battles injury concerns. Aiden Hill is there, and I think that would at least be a decent option because he's playing well for Vegas. But you got Semyon Varlamov, who's a bit older. What would the hurricanes do with Ansi Ransa? That should be interesting. Outside of really those guys, there's, again, not much there. And whoever comes in, whether it's Kyle Dubis, Matthew Darsh, especially Dubas, I should say,

because goaltending is the one area of concern that I have with him. if he is the higher because for this season, his tandem in Toronto was Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray. We all know Matt Murray with his injury concerns, Samsonoff. They were lucky that they got a pretty decent season out of him because he was very inconsistent in Washington throughout the last couple of years. But still, it's a tandem that, you know, I don't think anyone was expecting to really work. I mean, it got them a playoff series win. I mean, you take that. But also, Matt Murray was banged up throughout the season.

And honestly, Samsono didn't even finish the playoffs. It was Joseph Wall. That didn't. And he's looking pretty soft. I made the stupid mistake of thinking he was just some like Louis Domingue guy. No, no, no, no. I was way wrong. I looked up his numbers.

And I was like, well, I will take the L on that. He is going to be, I think, their starter at some point going forward. You look at more of the underlines when it comes to Tristan Jolly. He finished 64th this season when goals 8 of above expected. about honestly minus point one so completely average his say percentage on unblocked shots was 9.56 2.53 goals against average on money puck and then 918 for at least that's per money puck 918 for his eight percentage for shots on goal money puck money puck it's funny money puck and hockey reference are a little bit different which i found which i find a bit interesting on that by usually only use

money plugged for goals, goal state above expected. Had a fine year when he was healthy, but again, that is the biggest concern for me. I thought he, I gotta be careful how I say this. I wouldn't say he choked

under pressure in the Blackhawks game, but he gave the Penguins an unacceptable level of goaltending with their season on the line. I did not like the first goal that went in that made it one-nothing. I know there's a little bit of a screen in front of the net,

but that's still the biggest game. in the season, you can't allow that shot from about 55, 60 feet to go in. The buddy Robinson shot was obviously pretty well-played shot. But the Andreas Ethnesee one was just a joke. I don't know what he was doing trying to play that puck. He's not even in his net, and Athensu just banks the puck off him and to make a 3-1. That ended up being the game winner. I don't know what the heck that was.

So if you are bringing him back, it needs to be on a short-term deal, not about high of the cap-pit. I've seen the projections for his contract. Daily Faceoff had it at what, five times 5.4. We talked earlier this week. No thanks. I think evolving wild had their projections a lot higher. I think theirs was like something like six times 6.8. If I saw that on social media, actually, no thanks.

The only way you can bring him back, if it's on maybe a two-year deal, $4 million per something like that, can you even stomach paying him that much with all the injury concerns? That's the true question, too. And I'm honestly not even sure he would command that on the contract. Maybe he would take a lower money cap it to try to rebuild some value back up. I don't know. obviously the penguins I'm not starting negotiations with him

because they don't even have a general manager still. It's been six weeks. But that is priority number one for whoever gets this gig. What do you do with him and the goaltending overall? And if you do bring him back, you have to find a way to get out of Casey to dispense contract. He has one more year left. Cannot run that tandem back for a fourth straight season.

You cannot do it. It's failed every season that it's been the tandem. You cannot waste another season of Sydney Crosity, Gany Monkin, and Crystal Tang with that tandem. When Jari was on his game, he was playing aggressive. First part of that season, it all went downhill during the Winter Classic. Right when I saw him itching for his groin, I'm like, well, not good. And from then on, it was not.

pretty and i know what he said after the columbus game he said he'd been battling injuries all season came back was still battling the injuries and that just begs the question why was he even playing at that point especially especially in that game against columbus right that was a very weird decision for myself that game met nothing to the penguins and he still trotted out jari out there like their season was on the line i'm like what what are we doing here and he gave up that goal to johnny gurdron then he spoke to the meeting and said yeah he I've been banged up for the last few months. It's like, geez.

I mean, so in a way, I get that his play dipped, but he shouldn't have been getting, you know, just some of those drops, especially towards the end of the season when it looked like the penguins were just collapsing. So they have a true pickle on their hands here. If it's up to me, I would let him walk. So he can sign with someone else.

And I would bring in a full-fledged starter, whether you're overshooting Jeremy Swamen, if you can, trading for Conner Hellbuck, UC Soros, training for a different goalie if another one becomes available. Or, you know, maybe you're signing something like Aidan Hill and Free Agency. He's had, again, a really strong season. And he's, you know, he's almost to be one of the more underrated goalies in the NHL last couple of years.

And if you want to pair Hill with DeSmith or maybe trade DeSmith and get another backup, I think that's fine too. But, you know, overall, you can't run the same tandem back in Jari. He's just too banged up and I think too inconsistent for me to really commit to him. And if they do, you've got to get someone else behind him that has starting experience

and isn't inconsistent like Desmith is. So that's my take on Tristan Jari's season. Painfully, at times he was good, a lot of times he wasn't. It gives me like a C minus D plus grade, just wasn't good enough this season for the team. I know he's battling injuries.

I'm trying not to, you know, really poor on the guy just because he was hurt, had the back, had the groin. But it wasn't good enough from their number one. And, you know, he really hasn't recovered in a way since he just blew that series to the Penguins a couple of years ago against the Islanders. That one is still kicking at me and I think quite a lot of people who watch that because the Penguins were the better team in that series. But that will do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.

I really appreciate all of you listening slash watching. will not have an episode on Monday because it's Memorial Day here in the United States unless there's somehow a move, but I don't expect there to be an announcement on Memorial Day. But Tuesday, I will be back and assuming we get an announcement, there will be a whole lot of content to come, whether Dubis takes the job or whether he does not. So again, thank you all so much for listening. I very much appreciate it. I'll talk with you all on Tuesday.