Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Is a Jason Botterill reunion in the cards?

Episode Date: September 14, 2020

Another week means more episodes of Locked On Penguins and Hunter is back to discuss the latest report that Jim Rutherford is looking for a new assistant general manager. Would Jason Botterill be a good fit back in Pittsburgh? Hunter ponders that as it was mentioned in Josh Yohe's latest article for The Athletic as the Penguins gave lost a number of assistant GM's over the years. Hunter also dives into some more GMJR comments as he wants to dip into free agency and why Penguins fans should be hiding their wife and kids as GMJR has never been good with free agency. Finally, Hunter touches on the Conference Final matchups, plus a small rant on the GM of the year award winner being announced!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order.Door DashRight now, our listeners can get $5 off and zero delivery fees on their first order of $15 or more, when you download the DoorDash app and enter code LOCKEDONNHL.RomanGo to getroman.com/lockedonnhl TODAY. If approved, you’ll get fifteen dollars off your first orderof ED treatment. 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.

You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow those shows Twitter at L-O. And so for Penguins, welcome back, guys, to another week here where, you know, we're getting closer to the Stanley Cup final. It's pretty crazy that both series are now the three games to one. I'll touch on that later in the podcast.

It wasn't been many too much Penguins news over the weekend besides the Nick Bukestad Trey, but we already talked about that on Friday's episode of Lockdown Penguins. As I'm sure, many more moves are on their way for Jim Rutherford. We all know Matt Murray is going to get traded. Not really sure what else. You know, Patrick Hortquist Jack Johnson, hopefully not someone like Brian Rust or anything like that or Max don't mean coming in, but still a lot more moves coming. One thing I did want to touch on in the first segment is an article that came out today

from Josh Schialey, the Athletic. Basically, he spoke to Jim Rutherford, and it sounds like Jim Rutherford does want to hire another assistant general manager. If you guys recall, he's lost a lot. He's lost a lot of assistant general managers not his tenure here. Tom Fitzgerald, of course, left to go to New Jersey. He's still there. I think he's the full-time GM there, if I'm not mistaken.

Jason Bottswell, of course left. Bill Yarran, of course, left. Bill Yarran is still in Minnesota. Jason Botryl left to go to Buffalo until he was fired. He brought in Peter Cameranos. He's still there, but he also got an interview. with the Arizona Coyotes, though I don't really think that Arizona is going to hire him, but still, he wants to hire another assistant general manager.

And basically, the summary of the article was, is that it sounds like Jason Boschow could be brought back here sooner rather than later. And I honestly wouldn't mind it. I think he was a fine assistant general manager. He's not cut out to be a general manager. I don't think in this league full-time. I know he had a really, really bad situation with the Buffalo Savers, and the Savers were just a absolute disaster. They bungled that Ryan O'Reilly trade just really, really badly.

But, you know, some other moves that, you know, he brought Palm and Ville back. I mean, the Cahoon trade, I thought, was fine for him. Wayne Simmons, though, no. I mean, he was always hit or miss, but, you know, he was very, very good with the salary cap, with the penguins. And I think at times he kind of saved Jim Rutherford from doing other stupid shit. And, I mean, it could be a coincidence that since he left, you know, Jim Rutherford has been more stupid with his move. So maybe bringing him back will not have Jim Rutherford do a lot of dumb shit because he's just, Jim Rutherford, it almost just seems like at times that he doesn't really give a crap about the salary cap.

And Jason Botrol, like I just said, was really, really good at managing the salary cap for the Penguins. So, I mean, I could definitely see them bringing back Botrol and the same assistant general manager. I think he was actually the associate general manager for the penguins. You know, they already brought back a familiar face in Tar Reardon to be on the coaching staff. Yeah, I'm just, I'm waiting for the announcement at this point that Jason Bodge. was going to come back. I'm pretty sure that Jim Rutherford has already called him. He's maybe made him an offer.

And, you know, Bachelo could just be mulling in, you know, since he was just freshly fired out of Buffalo. I mean, he, thank God he got out of there. I mean, he may deserve to get another shot at a GM job for a different team. But Buffalo was just such a shitty situation.

I mean, the peulas are just terrible owners. They're very cheap. They're just, they basically command everything with that team. And it sounds like they had, a change of vision or something when they were talking about it during the off season. So it was so funny because they were so hell-bent on keeping him.

And then like a month later when they were having discussions about the team, they just decided to fire him because they just didn't, their views didn't line up. And I also think the Pee-Gulus were like forcing Botrol to like cut ties with like a lot of staff and all that, which I think they ended up doing anyway. So, yeah, Jason, thank God you got out of there. and, you know, there could be a reunion in the cards here for the penguins. And, like I said, I would like to move, you know, hopefully it would make Jim Rutherford less stupid. I'm not on that train that people were used to have, like, oh, well, you know, you should have made Jason Bontrell, the general manager. Because, I mean, who knows how that would have paned out. He could have made the same dumb mistakes that he made in Buffalo that he made here in Pittsburgh.

I mean, obviously, he probably wouldn't have to do a trade like the Ryan O'Reilly trade here in Pittsburgh. But still, you know, he could have screwed up a couple other signings. we have no idea. So I don't really know why people still like to talk about Jason Boucher with that. But, you know, I think that's basically all my thoughts on that, you know, I would be very much in favor of it. You know, it's a new, fresh voice in the room, someone that Jim Rutherford has been with before. And, you know, hopefully that could lead to good moves coming from Jim Rutherford. I think, I don't think I talked about this article on Friday on the Friday's episode.

But, so Jim had a whole big interview with Josh Joey. This was Josh posted this. I think right after I posted the episode. and basically, you know, with free agency being less than four weeks away, you know, he was basically telling Josh. He goes, I want, if there are some quotes in this story, I'm not going to spoil the whole thing, but he was like, I want to be able to be active on free agency day, but it's going to be difficult to get to that point.

So, I mean, I think that should scare most of this fan base. We all know what he's done on free agent day, free agent frenzy day. Good Lord, I cannot speak today. I mean, we've seen, you know, of course, the Jack Johnson signing. I mean, Matt Hanwicky and Timie Emmy. Brandon Tano, I know that one has panned out so far, but still. in six years, I still feel like is a little bit too long, but the team is going to suck in six years anyway. But, I mean, that should, like I said, that should terrify a lot of Penguins fans because I just don't really have any faith in Jim Rutherford at this point to go out into the free agency and actually make smart signings.

I mean, he said he wants to open up more cap space to do it. We all know the Matt Murray trade is going to happen. He basically said he does have to make another trade for the Penguins to be active on October 9th. I think that has to be despite trading Matt Murray. So I think it might have to be a couple trades for the penguins. A couple more quotes from Jim here. We need to get to a point where we are comfortable that we'll be able to be complying with a cap. We will see what happens between then and now.

So again, that makes sense. Josh also reports in the article they do want to go out and get a right-handed defenseman for the third pairing. There's not too many of those options right now in free agency, but you know one of them that I'll just keep stressing to you guys. I've said this a thousand times, Dylan DeMello, go out and do it. He'll take a short-term deal at maybe around a couple million per season. It makes a lot of sense. Apparently, they also want to get another bottom six forward. So, yeah, that one is scary right there just because of the turn they gave Brandon Tannib and the

cap hit. But I really don't see them giving out another six-year term to a player. But, you know, John Rutherford is a wild card. So, you know, he can, he just does whatever he pleases, I think, at this point. You know, we're just working. We're kind of just starting to see what he did towards his late stages of his tenure in Carolina where he's just burning through assets like it's no tomorrow. So I'm hoping that kind of dies down.

As the off-season goes on, I mean, I'll just repeat it again, that Nick Bukestead trade, I know the return was pretty dog-shit on it, but that trade had to happen. You know, now they have opened up a little bit of cap space. I know they retained 50% salary, so they only opened up a couple million. They really only have two restricted free agents to sign in Tristan Jari and Jared McCann. I mean, Sam Lafferty will be cheap. Dominic Simone, they can bring back if they want to. I mean, he probably won't count too much against the cap.

Maybe just a couple million per season. but, I mean, the big decision is going to be on Jared McCann. We all know Trish and Jari's going to get their contract, but will they keep Jared McCann or will they just dump them and go out and get a new third-line center, which I'm really hoping they do not do. The third-line center market, the free agency market for the third-line centers, it's pretty bad this year. There was an article I think they came on in Pittsburgh Hockey Now from a certain report.

I'm sure you guys all know who it is. You know, he just basically said, oh, yeah, a great option would be like Jason Spets. and it's like Jason Spetsa In what universe, in what economy? The guy's like 40 years old And he really can't skate anymore I mean, Eric Halla I mean, he's good defensively

But I want more offense On the third line, I want a more offensively-minded third line center I want someone who of course is good defensively But more so I would lean towards offense You know Nick Pinino I think Was really good defensively But he provided some good offense And then Jordan Stahl was just a mammoth

Defensively and Offensively But you know you're probably not going to find a defense. Jordan's still out there for the agency or on the trade market right now. And then a couple others. I mean, Cody Eakin, I mean, Carl Soderberg, he's getting old. That's a hard pass. I mean, the only one that, I mean, really makes sense that's on the market right now that hasn't played Center in a while.

I mean, I've talked about him on the podcast. You know, that's Craig Smith. I know he's played a lot at right wing for his career in Nashville, but I think if you can move him back to Center, he would make a lot of sense. He has double-digit goals and a lot of his seasons in Nashville, puts up some good points, drives possession very, very well. he's a player I would like for them to go after. That's if they want to move McCann,

but I would still roll with McCann at third line center, but who knows what Chimuthbert is going to do. But yeah, the options that Pittsburgh Hockey now listed in their article, they were pretty bleak. And, you know, the center market for the third line centers is just, it's pretty shitty. So, I mean, yeah, just roll with McCann and just do what you can with them and get a better competent line mates.

I think that's basically it for this segment and just Penguins News and Articles that came out over the week. weekend. I'm sure there's going to be much more stuff to come this week with Penguins' articles and just news hopefully as the conference finals are wrapping up. But before we get to our next segment and it's time to talk about Roman, talking about erectile dysfunction isn't easy. Usually we just brush it off and blame ourselves saying things like I lost my vojo or we avoid it all together with its uses like I had a long day at work. But with Roman, it is easy to talk about it. With a real healthcare professional who can prescribe real medication, it's simple, safe and totally discreet. With Roman, you can get a free online

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and the Eastern Conference Final matchup. I guess we'll just start with the West. I'm pretty, pretty surprised that Vegas is down 3 to 1 in this one. I think they've been the better team, but Anton Houdobin is on Bath salts right now. Dimitri Filippevich had a great tweet from the other day. I think it was from Saturday night. I can actually go to his Twitter right now.

Just to show you guys just how good Houdobin is playing. 944 say percentage in this conference final. He leads the league in shots-faced, high-danger shots-faced. And I love the next part of this week. His hilarious content featured in because he had the three pictures when he was playing, well, he was in that against the flames where he just looks like he's like seeing things. He's just, he saw an alien or something like that. But other than that, I mean, he's faced 40 plus shots six times,

8.1 goal save above expected via Evolving Wild. He had 17 games in 35 games, and he's never played in the playoffs. for this. So, yeah, this is what happens in the playoffs, guys. All you need is a hot goalie. I know the Dallas Stars are known for being damn good defensively. I thought they were really, really good against Vegas in the third period, especially in that final minute. I was watching that final minute of that game four, and Vegas just could not get in Dallas's zone. Dallas was just locking them down defensively, stacking three to four players at the blue line. They just kept clearing the puck and they didn't get the MD net goal, but I mean, Mark Stone couldn't gain the zone.

Max Pettyty couldn't game the zone. Schmidt couldn't gain the zone. Shea Theodore, who's a consmate candidate right now, couldn't gain the zone. I mean, it was just, there was nothing going on for Vegas. And, I mean, I know, I did say that Vegas has been out playing, but the big thing that drove them in is that they can't finish. They're always one of the worst teams in cashing in rebound chances.

I think it's been that way, honestly, for like the last couple of years. But, I mean, they're just, they're not finishing their chances. I mean, their expected goals, I mean, their expected goals percentage is pretty freaking good, but like I said, they just, they're not hitting the net. And I know Anzano Hu Dobin is on Bath Salt. He's playing out of his mind. But, I mean, Vegas, I only having, I think it's like six goals on 125 shots in four games. That's just unacceptable with the talent that they have. Patcher Reddy needs to wake up. Mark Stone has really been a sleeping giant this series. He really hasn't done anything. William Carlson needs to wait. Honestly, all their

top players need to wake up. Shade Theodore can't do it by himself. And I know Mark Stone has been an absolute menace. And for most of these playoffs, he was outstanding in those first two series. I mean, the time is now for him to get out this little funk that he's in and help carry Vegas to a game six.

I do think they are going to win to force a game six. I really don't think Dallas can beat Vegas four out of five times, but you know, I've been wrong about a lot of things for this year. But it's just been fun seeing a new team,

having a lot of success deep in the playoffs for change. I mean, the Dallas stars, they haven't been into a conference final since 2008. I mean, if they win this game, honestly, if they just win one, yeah, one out of their next three games, they'll be in the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 20 years. I mean, everyone remembers them winning the Cup in 1999, but not everyone remembers that they lost the next year in 2000 against,

I believe it was the New Jersey Devils. I think in 99 they beat the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup final. I'm not to have to double check on that, but I mean, I know they lost the next year against New Jersey. So yeah, going back, way back to the Mike Madonna Day. of the Dallas stars. So, yeah, seeing them in the final would be pretty good. I mean, I know they don't play

the most exciting brand of hockey. I mean, they're way more of a defensively-minded team, but I would rather watch them a hundred times out of a hundred than rather watching the frickin New York Islanders who trap it down even worse. And, you know, I guess we'll just talk about

that conference final now. Tampa being up three games to one is not surprising. I did pick Tampa in six games for that series. But, I mean, it's just, I mean, I wonder fans, beating the Capitals is one thing. overrated going into this. Being the Flyers, you know, that's one thing as well.

I didn't really think the Flyers were worthy of a number one C. You know, they played well in the round Robin, which was kind of pointless anyway. And then Montreal, of course, gave them a hell of a fight. That series should have won seven games. And then we all know what happened as Carter Hart tried to drive them to the Eastern Conference final. But, I mean, going up against Tampa Bay is just a whole different beast. I mean, you can just see just how good Tampa Bay is. They're deep at every position.

I mean, they don't even need Stevens'Amcoast right now. That's the thing. Hell, you can make the case, guys, that they should trade Stevens-Tamcoast at the end of this season going into the Osses. Just because, I mean, they have to pay Sergeyev soon. I think they have to pay Sorrelli soon. I think, does Braden Point have a new long-term contract? I'm trying to make sure on Cap Friendly right now. And, okay, yeah, he has two more years left at 6.75 per season.

Then, guys, he's going to be an RFA in 22, 22, 2023. But still, Mitchell Stevens needs a contract, Anthony Sorrelli. Eric Chernak, Mikhail Surgachev, I mean, they have a couple of UFAs. But, I mean, yeah, this is where I think be the perfect time to trade Stamco's. And it's not because his play is dipped. It's just that he's so banged up. And they're able to offset his loss so good. And, you know, people could say to me, oh, why, this sounds like the Chris Lattang situation.

Yeah, in a way, it kind of does. But there's a big difference with this one, guys. If you trade Chris Lattang, you really have no one to replace him with. If you trade Stevens Damcoast, you kind of do because you have another superstar in waiting with Nikita Kuthorov who always stays healthy. Braden Pointe who's going to be a superstar. You have Andre Palat who's really, really good. Yanni Gord, Tyler Johnson could get down on. I know he has four years left.

Alex Colorn is pretty good. I mean, Blake Coleman, hell only has one year left on his deal at 1.8 per season. He's a UFA in 2021, 2022. He's going to get a big raise. Barkley Goodrow. I mean, y'all know Headman, McDonough. So, I mean, yeah, like, they actually have the talent to replace him, and people are ready to step in right now. With Chris LaTang, I know John Marino is being groomed for that role, but, I mean, other than that, they have no one that can actually take Chris La Tang's minutes and just, you know, for one, eat them and provide the offense that Chris Lattang provides through the Penguins.

So I just wanted to share my thoughts on that. I know a couple of people were, you know, tweeting not me that it sounded like the Crystal Tang situation, but, you know, there is a really big difference. if you compare the two. But yeah, guys, right now it's looking like it's going to be a Tampa Bay Dallas final. I mean, I'm still going to say it still. I think this is Tampa Bay's year. They're going to close out the Islanders. I'm not going to say game five.

I'm going to stick to Tampa and 6, and I would be pretty surprised if Vegas comes back in their series. Beating Dallas three times in a row is going to be pretty difficult, especially with how Anton Fudobin is playing right now. But they have a chance to do it tonight. Eight o'clock star, I'm recording this at 5.30 right now. We're getting close to the Steyore game. So, yeah, I'll definitely. be checking in on the score of that game. I'm honestly not going to be watching it a lot just because I'm going to be watching the Steelers game. So I'm going to be looking to see if

Dallas can close out Vegas tonight and get to their first Stanley Cup final for the first time in 20 years. All right guys, welcome back to this episode of Lockdown Penguins. And for this last Logan, we'll just talk for about three minutes. Just going to talk about some NHL awards. You know, they're starting to be announced. And we have the GM of the year announced this last weekend. And, you know, I'm just going to do a little rant about that. Lou Lamarillo won of the New York Islanders And I really don't know What the GMs saw in his body of work from this last year

He literally won an award because he hired a good coach I mean yeah the JG Paggio trade was pretty good But this is also the guy that brought in Leo Kamarov I mean he even signed Pajou Was it like a five year term no six year term for five million per year Before he had played a single second with the owners I mean that couldn't have turned out pretty shitty if Padjo just played like absolute ass.

And I mean, it's just like, the Islander's success has way more to do with Barry Trots than Lou Lemurro. And I mean, guys, there's probably a, there's a non-zero chance, you know, as Baltimore Davies was talking about on his Twitter, you know, great follow for anyone on hockey Twitter, by the way, even though he's a Capitals fan, just great stuff on his Twitter, you know.

They could honestly lose one of Barzell or Pollock because Andrew Ladd, Calcutterbuck, and Leo Kamrov have a combined 11.5. million cap hit for next season. And oh yeah, Lou Lamarillo signed two of those deals, just so everyone knows. So, yeah, the fact that Lou Lamarillo won the GM of the Year award was just pretty stupid. I mean, I think Julian Brisbane definitely deserved it more over him. I know Tampa is a juggernaut, but still, brought in Blake Coleman.

He also brought in Barclay Goodrow. I mean, they're going to sign Coleman new extension, but still, Barclay Goodro came on a $925,000 cap hit. He's only 2070s at a really, really good season. brought in Patrick Maroon. I know he's 32, but he's had a pretty good season. He's going to be a UFA. I mean, there's a lot of players that are just on cheap contracts right now. I mean, Braden Coburn's a UFA, but he's not really that good. Sharnak has been awesome since coming up. We all know how good Mikhail Surgachev is. He's just been really, really good and he was just really, really good this season. I mean, Jim Nile of Dallas, getting Joe Pavalski

sign has just been really, really big for them. I know he kind of underachieved a bit during the regular season, but, I mean, during the full season. playoffs he has just been lights out i know playoff voting i mean the playoffs aren't like taking into account with voting but still joe pevelsky has been pretty pretty good i think since coming over from the sharks so yeah i mean the the gym of the year award is just pretty stupid i mean you you really honestly can't judge most of a gm's like moves in just one calendar year i mean like i just really don't know why they even need to have an award for this just because like say like lou lou glomerolo so he wins it this year and then he comes out and then flat out stinks next season and somehow

loses Matthew Barzell. Then that award looks pretty pretty shitty for Lou La Merello. So yeah, I just, I really don't understand why he won it. I'll just say it again. Barry Trots deserves basically all the praise for the Islander's success and just how the players have just bought into his system. He's just been an outstanding coach since going to the Islanders and he's going to be, continue to be an outstanding coach who are the Islanders as well.

But I just wanted to rant about that award to you guys a bit on. know we're going to have the Calder, I think, coming up. I think the heart is also coming up as well as a bunch of other awards, too. But that'll do it for this episode of Locked-on Penguins. Here we go, Stewards tonight. You know, you know this, this thing goes when you play Pittsburgh, you play the whole city. Please check out Locked-on Steelers tomorrow for a, you know, full recap of the game. They do a great job over there. So, you know, here we go, Steelers. Hope you guys watch the game tonight. Well, if you guys are Steelers fans as well, then listen to this podcast. And I will be back with another episode of Locked on Penguins for you all tomorrow. So I'll talk to you all there. Thank you.