Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - It's time for another Penguins-Rangers crossover with Jon Chik!

Episode Date: August 2, 2023

Happy Wednesday! It's just Hunter for this special episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast because Pat had something work-related coming up, but the show must always go on, right? Hunter is joined by Jon Chik of Locked On New York Rangers to discuss Nick Bonino signing with the Rangers and what that means for them going forward. What kind of impact will he have with them this season? Will Hunter ever feel weird about Bonino being a Ranger after everything he accomplished as a Penguin? Is he still someone who can be clutch for you in the playoffs? They discuss that, before looking at how important Bonino was during the 2016 and 2017 runs for the Penguins. Yes, that means a trip down memory lane for the HBK line is in order. They also discuss Bonino's best moment as a Penguin before getting into the state of both teams, including how Jon feels about the Rangers this upcoming season. Also: Are the Rangers the Penguins' biggest rival right now and vice versa? All that, plus much more is on this crossover edition of the Locked On Penguins podcast.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO 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.

It's a crossover Wednesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast, as John Chick of Locked on New York Rangers is here to discuss a multitude of topics, including Nick Benino, signing with the Rangers during free agency, the Penguins Rangers rivalry as we know it right now, plus reliving some of the glory days when Nick Benino was a member of the Penguins. Please note that Patrick Camp is not on this episode. He had some work-related things come up,

but he will be on the next episode on Friday when we discussed the new Joe Connor contract, and what that means going forward. Remember, the Penguins have a second bout window that now opens on Saturday. We'll go through Monday. Overall, really like that O'Connor deal. Falls in line, for what I predicted, 900K to a million. He gets $925,000 per season. So really like that deal for a player who I think can provide some offensive umph to the bottom six. But Pat and I will have more details on that for the Friday edition of the Longtime Penguins podcast. But until then, here is today's episode with John Chang. of Locked on New York Rangers.

Your Locked on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. All right, welcome back Rangers fans and Penguins fans. Like I said, we got a very special crossover edition here today. This is John Check with Lockdown New York Rangers. Joined here by my good friend Hunter Hodes of Locked on Pittsburgh Penguins for once again,

a very fun-filled crossover edition here. And Hunter, we might as well just jump right into it here. Obviously, Nick Bonino, now 35 years old. And he went back to the Penguins for the second time this past season, only played three games there. When he really made his bark with your team, though, was obviously the two Stanley Cups that they won while he was there. And, you know, for Bonino,

somebody that obviously is not, you know, known as a superstar player or anything along those lines, but has a reputation, just being a gritty, hardworking, tone-setting kind of play. good defensive forward, penalty killing the whole nine yards. I mean, is that sound about right? Is that basically Bonino in a nutshell? Would you go along with that assessment there?

Definitely at this point in his career, John. I remember I was decently excited when they got him for a second time at the trade deadline. I was like, oh, well, more help for the bottom six, especially defensively. But then he only plays three games, gets hurt and then misses the rest of the season. Very unfortunate with the injury that he had. but he can still play really well in the defensive zone this past season, ranked in the 84th percentile for a 5-on-5 defensive impact. Overall defensively ranked in the 93rd percentile for 5-on-5 defense

and can also kill you penalties, ranks in the 82nd percentile for a penalty kill for bottom 6 forward. So if you need them to kill penalties, if you need him to go out there in a big-time situation to close down a lead, I think he can definitely do that. He's not going to give the Rangers too much offense. He's just not that kind of player anymore where he's going to give you 15 to 17, 18 goals a season, but I think he'll still give you maybe 8 to 10, maybe upwards of 11 to 12 goals a year at this point.

He's just, you know, he's in his mid-30s now. He's not the same player that he was back when he was with the Penguins in 2016, 2017, when he could score you a good amount of goals. He can still be a little bit clutch for the Rangers in the playoffs, and maybe we'll get to that a little later on. He's always been a pretty clutch player throughout his career. But overall, especially during the regular season for all 82, games, you're really going to get a good shutdown defensive player who can kill penalties.

He can still skate decently well, but not going to give you a lot of offense at least right now. Yeah, I mean, that sounds about right. That's kind of the player that I was kind of envisioning for the Rainier, somebody that can just kind of center the fourth line, you know, go out there and work hard and potentially still be a tone-setting player and somebody that can kill some penalties and, you know, do a lot of the little things to help you win. You know, Hunter, you mentioned a second ago you were excited when the penguins brought him back via a trade this past season.

And then, of course, once again, you know, it doesn't really work out. I mean, he got hurt. There's nothing he can really do about it. But he only played three games for the penguins. When the season ended, did you think the penguins could bring him back, should bring him back? Did you personally want to see him back just any thoughts on a Bonino and potentially him sticking around longer than just the three games this past season? It's funny. I didn't really expect any of their pending unrestricted free agents to come back.

And then they signed Trishinjari when Kyle Dubas took over, funny enough, on July 1. about a month ago. But I never really had a feeling that Benino was going to come back, only played a few games. Kyle Dubas really has no history with Benino. He was not the one that acquired him at the trade deadline. That was Ron Hextal and Brian Burke. And for a player who really doesn't bring that much offense, I just don't think it makes any sense for the Penguins at this point, though.

It is funny because the players that they did bring in to their bottom six, like a Matt Nietto, a Nollachari, Olarz Eller, they're all three. very good defensive players. So he would have fit the bill. They are right. But due to his age, due to him not being maybe as good as some of those other three players in the defensive zone, he's still pretty good. But I think the other players, their numbers are a little bit better. I just don't really think it made that much sense to bring him back.

It would have just really just crowded the forward group even more. I'm more comfortable with the players they brought into the fold, especially defensively, than Nick Pinino. Yeah, that makes sense. And I wanted to mention this as well because, you know, I just did a crossover episode with the guys from Locked on Centers. And we were talking about, among other things, Vladimir Tarasenko leaving the Rangers, heading to Ottawa. And, you know, I never really thought that Tarasenko would be anything more than a rental for the Rangers.

They just don't have the cap space to be able to afford him. But then there were all these rumors that Tarasenko was going to the Canes. It felt like they were maybe the frontrunner there. They end up going to the, he ends up going to the centers instead. And that was kind of a relief for me. because, well, you know what, at least he's not on a rival team in the metro. I realize Nick Bonino is not Vladimir Tarasenko. I get that.

But from your perspective, I mean, is there any like trepidation about, oh, man, this guy's on the Rangers now? Like, could he hurt them in any meaningful way? Or does it just bother you personally to see somebody that won cups with the Penguins now going to the rival Rangers? It may feel a little weird at first, but unless he scores a game-winning goal against them during the regular season or, you know, if these two teams, play again the playoffs and God forbid if that happens with how the rivalry is right now between

these two teams, how with how crazy that last series was. I don't think it's going to make me lose sleep at night. Now, if the Rangers signed someone like a Jason Zucker who just had a career year for the Penguins, I would have definitely been a little bit more worried. He's in Arizona right now. I think he's going to be some trade bait for them. He can potentially go to a contender at the trade deadline. But in terms of Benino, again, unless he scores a game winning goal in a high-stakes situation or just saves a goal on the goal line. I'm not really going to be, you know, again, too upset about it. He obviously was a great player with the Penguins for a few years,

helped them win two Stanley Cups. But, hey, players have to go to rivals of teams that they win with sometimes. That's just how it is. And on a one-year deal worth not even a million dollars, I think that's a pretty good bet for him. And I'm curious to see how he does. But now I'm not really going to get too upset about it, that's for sure. Yeah, that makes sense. And it's funny you mention that because, yeah, I mean, very few players stick with the same team through their entire career. And a lot of times they'll end up on a rival team. And we're going to talk about the HBK line momentarily here. But I think for me and maybe for some other Ranger fans as well, the small little silver lining to watching the penguins win back to back cups not too long ago was, well, at least Carl Hagelin got a Stanley Cup or two there. So that was kind of nice. He is a pretty popular player when he was here in late round traffic and ended up having quite a nice career for himself.

We'll see what the future holds for him. Obviously, he's had the eye injury. So all the best to Carl Hagelin. But whatever thing I want to ask about as it pertains to Bonino here. So like just personality-wise, and again, we're talking more the first run as opposed to this past season where he only played three games with the Penguins. But just like, how does he go about his business? Is he like a rah-rah guy or is he all business? Does he joke around a little bit?

Just kind of give us a feel for, you know, who he is and what kind of personality he brings to the ring. he's definitely, I think, a good mix. You know, he's definitely serious at times, but he'll also joke around in the locker. There are numerous videos that have been posted on social media, either from B reporters or from just the team social media pages where he just joking around in the locker room with his fellow players, whether it was Cindy Crosby, Evgeny Malk and Crystal Tang,

Patrick Hornquist, Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin, Ian Cole, the list goes on and on. But he was also a underrated leader, I thought, for the Penguins during those years. Obviously, you have the, the core leadership group, Cindy Cronosby, of Guinea, Malcolm, Crystal Tang, Mark Andre Fleury was there at the time. Patrick Hornquist was kind of like in that next in line for leaders.

Ian Cole was there at the time too before he moved on to play for other teams. But Benino was right there with them. And when something needed to be said, when the core players didn't want to do it, Benino was there to do it. So he can be a good voice for the locker room. He can also joke around. Again, he's not a locker room cancer. That's for sure.

He is definitely someone that you would want to have in your role. locker room, especially when it comes to maybe helping out some younger players, I think that could be also a big underrated aspect for him for the Rangers as well. I think so too. You know, one of those guys that just kind of has the respect of all his peers around the league. And, you know, he will certainly be one of the veterans on this Ranger team that, you know, he's gotten a little bit older. You know, people look at the median age and all the Rangers, they got old. It's like, well, not really. I mean, the old guys are all there for like one year. It's like Bonino and Blake Wheeler and Jonathan Quick, that pulls the average age up quite a bit there. But it's a

It is good to know that, you know, he can come in and, you know, obviously they're not going to make him the captain or anything like that. But just to kind of be that elder statesman and somebody obviously who's done some winning and played in a lot of playoff games, you know, I think it's for what the price was. It's a solid addition for the Rangers. And Hunter, I definitely want to ask you about the HBK line, which obviously Bonino was a part of for the two most recent Stanley Cup championship runs for the penguins and some other things as well, you know, just how he, how his skill set translates to the playoffs. And we'll get to that in just a second, but first, we do have to let everybody know. Today's episode of Locked on New York Rangers and Locked on Pittsburgh Penguins is brought to you by Fandual. Take your first swing at betting MLB on Fandual and get 10 times your first bet amount in bonus bets up to $200. That's right.

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Fan dual official partner of Major League Baseball. All right. And so Hunter and I would just like to thank everybody for making Locked on Rangers and Locked on Penguins your first list. And both shows free and available on all platforms, including YouTube and Hunter to just kind of go into the time machine here back into, I guess the mid-2010s or whatever we want to call it. The Penguins, you know, they win the two Stanley Cups there back to back. And one of the driving forces for both of those runs, I think especially the first one, but you can elaborate on this more. But it was the HBK line, the third line for the Penguins. It was Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Pessel, two out of three of whom have now played for the New York Rangers are about to play for the New York Ranger.

But, yeah, just talk a little bit about what that line brought to the table and how important were they in those runs for the Penguins and specifically Bonino, if you could. It was the biggest X factor for the Penguins in both 2016, 2017, especially 2016, though. You had the Crosby line in 2016, which was blitzing opponents. You have the Evgeny Malkin line, which was also really good. But when Mike Sullivan needed another line to really provide offense, he would send out that third line. And Carl Haglund, he can be someone that can go for-check, aggressively use his blazing speed because he's one of the fastest players in the league

when he is playing. Hopefully he can come back soon, John. I think we both can say that just because of his eye issue. Nick Benino, he was both an offensive good player and a defensive specialist was very good on face off with the Penguins. numerous times during those runs, Mike Sullivan would put Benino out there for big time draws in the defensive zone. Heck, if I actually recall correctly in Game 7 against the Lightning,

he was the one that took the draw with 6.5, yeah, I think it was six seconds left to win the game to send the Penguins to the final cross. We believe was on the ice at this time as well. But that's just how much Sullivan trusted Benino in that situation. And when you combine that also with Phil Kessel, who is an electric goal score still, you have the makings of a line that can just kick everyone's butt. And that's exactly what it did in both runs, especially 2016. Benino, very clutched player in the playoffs, eliminated the Washington Capitals in game

six of that second round series in 2016, also scored the game winner for the Penguins in game one of the Stanley Cup final against the San Jose Sharks, had numerous other goals in the 2017 run to the Stanley Cup. that line in particular was just so good for them. Heck, there's a reason why Sean Michaels was at game five of the Penn's Lightning Series. I know they lost that game, but the fact that they brought him there, just go show how much that line really just went around hockey. I mean, I'm trying to find a better way to say that.

I guess went viral around hockey, if that's how you want to say it to. But it was one of the best lines in the league for a couple months. and all three players were a big part of it, especially Nick Benino. Yeah, it was cool to see Sean Michaels get involved with that. And for anybody that might not be familiar with that name, Sean Michael is one of the greatest WW superstars of all time and was known as the Heartbreak Kids. So the HBK line, Haglin Bonino Kessel, that's where that name comes from.

And he actually did end up going to a couple of those penguin playoff games there. And, you know, to your point, Hunter, they did lose the one that he was at, but he seemed to be having fun with it. with it nevertheless. And something else I wanted to ask about here, you've kind of already answered this, but Nick Bonino, you know, playoff style hockey, it just feels like it kind of fits his skill set

where, you know, he is this gritty player, and we know the intensity gets ratcheted up a whole bunch in the playoffs and somebody that can go out there. And, you know, again, not like a prolific goal score, but you're not shocked when he comes up with a clutch goal. We've seen him do it in the past. Is he somebody that, you know, just in general, his style just fits playoff hockey.

I mean, would you agree with that? I agree with that for sure. You know, he's also a very tough customer. He'll play through a lot of pain in the playoffs. He'll just give you these clutch moments. He did it so many times for the Penguins. Maybe not as much now for the Rangers, considering that he's just older

and his offense has kind of left him a little bit. But hey, never say never. Maybe he does give them a clutch goal when the Rangers likely make the playoffs this upcoming season. And I did just want to correct myself a little bit. I believe it was between six to ten seconds left in that game seven against the light. I don't think it was six seconds exactly, but it was in that time frame.

But, yeah, I mean, again, like, anytime you need him for a big draw in a big moment late in the third period, he will be there for that, especially in the playoff game. If you need him for potentially a clutch goal, if he can still do it, that will be huge as well. But, yeah, I mean, he's, he's a playoff style player. That's what he is. That's what he's always been. He's been a clutch player even before when he was, you know, a member of, for example, the Vancouver Canucks earlier in his career.

I kind of look at it as, I guess, a better version of Jeff, Carter in the playoffs. You know, Carter when he came over to the Penguins, he was great in that 2021 series against Alleners. Another Penguins lost, but he was great. Showed that he was a clutch player. Last year against the Rangers, he played pretty well there too. I know they didn't make the playoffs this past year, and he's definitely trended down. But if you can get that kind of value in a series from Benino, the Rangers will be doing A-OK, I think, in a series. I would have to agree there. And, you know, another question about him. And you've kind of hit on this too.

But, you know, going by, you know, everything that, what I know about Nick Bonino, you know, not watching him all that closely since he's never been on the Rainers. But obviously, I've seen him in the playoffs and whatnot. And one of the things that stands out is, you know, he's a good defensive forward. Is he somebody that, you know, say you're in a spot where, I don't know, there's a minute left and you're up by a goal? Do you want him on the ice? You know, first of all, taking the face off. And then secondly, just playing defense, defending, trying to do everything that you can to hang on to that. one goal lead in the final seconds there?

Yeah, again, even though he's not at 2016 level of Nick Benino or 2017 level Nick Benino, he is still a player that you can put out there in a lake game situation to win you face off. He's still very good in the defensive zone. As we talked about, John, ranked in the 84th percentile for defensive impact at five on five this past season at someone who is 35. Peter Lavillette, he likes to lean on veterans throughout his career. Sometimes he's a little bit with younger players, but I'm sure that can change at any point.

But for someone who is big on veterans, I definitely think he's going to use Benino in that role when the ringers are up a goal with maybe a minute left, 25, 30, 35 seconds. Any time during that final minute, I think he will definitely put him out there because, again, he's very good defensively. He can win you draws. Good on the PK. So even though that's not a penalty case situation, say six on five situation there, he can definitely get the job done. That's for sure. Yeah, for sure. And it's funny you mentioned Laviolet.

You know, now that you say that, he just kind of seems like a Peter Lavillette, type player. Yes. What he brings to the rank. It just feels like that is a good, a good match there. And I mean, who knows? You know, jury obviously is the one making all the moves and everything. But I'd like to think that there's at least some communication there.

And what do you think about Nick Bonino? And maybe La Villette was on board with it. Who knows? Impossible to know everything that goes on behind the scenes. But, yeah, one more Bonino question. And then, Hunter, I figure we can turn our attention to just general fun Ranger, Penguin, offseason, storylines. And, you know, what we're excited about going into the season and all that fun stuff.

but I'll let you go ahead and pick your favorite Bonino moment as a member of the Penguins. I'm going to imagine it probably comes from that first run as opposed to this last run when he only played three games. But I figure it's got to either be game one against the sharks in the finals where he scored with two or three minutes left, whatever it was to give them the lead. Or, and I think you're going to go with this, eliminating the capitals, excuse me, in overtime, game six in the second round in whatever year that was. You would be correct that winner against the capitals in game six of the second

round in 2016 is my favorite Nick Benino moment of all time. Remember, that game was absolutely crazy. The Penguins go up to a 3-0 lead. It looks like it's basically over heading into the third period. But then the Penguins take all these delay of game penalties. They look stunned heading into the locker room for overtime. The fans are nervous. But Benino comes out there, ends it in OT, sends the Penguins at the Eastern Conference final. I'm only, I believe at that time, I was, yeah, I was 18 at the time. I was going to turn 19 that year. And this was towards the end of my senior year in high school.

I grew up most of my childhood life in Northern Virginia outside of Pittsburgh. And so I was surrounded by a lot of Washington Capitals fans. And all throughout the spring, you keep hearing, oh, we're still going to kick your butt, even though how good you were down the stretch, all that good stuff. But I was like, okay, we'll see. But when I went into school the next day, just wearing my jersey, just smiling at all the people who talk crap it was the vast just seeing how mad they were but just the moment overall the goal call there was legendary same with the game one game winner with against the sharks when benino's worth

a few minutes left that call was also amazing but i do have to go with game six against the capitals with how much it meant with just just so important to get to the stanley cup yeah i mean and i know i was speaking personally there with how much it meant for me just going and talking a bunch of crap to capitals fans, but it electrified this city in a way that we honestly haven't seen since that run, to be honest, overall. Yeah, for sure. And I mean, it's cool hearing those stories. I mean, obviously, listen, I mean, we're not fans of each other's teams.

I think that's probably fair to say. But it is just cool hearing, you know, hockey fans share their stories of, you know, who they were with and how they reacted and how it impacted them when, you know, this team, you know, scored in overtime to not to bring up bad memories, Hunter, but I actually did an episode last offseason where it's honestly the easiest episode I've ever done, because all I did was I asked the loyal listeners of Lockdown Rangers to send me their stories of where they were and how they reacted when Panarin scored in overtime in Game 7. So I just sat there and read all those stories. You can check out that episode if you want to. I'm sure you want to. But no, no,

it was a good time, man. But like I said, it really is cool to hear those stories. And yeah, you get a goal like that. You win a play-out series like that. And you don't forget, you know, where you were and how you felt when it happened. And, you know, there's moments. moments. You know, they're few and far between for a lot of teams. And obviously the penguins, you've seen them win some Stanley Cups. So it's just cool to hear those stories for sure. I mean, I was watching with my stepdad. He's a massive Capitals fan to this day, too. And I remember when the goal was scored at that exact moment, I remember seeing him do this. He just phased palms right in front of me. And I started my mom is the reason why, you know, I grew up watching the

penguins, why I do this show. She's everything to me with how great she is. And we were just celebrating so much and he was just there almost in tears he was just absolutely beside himself yeah i was actually with my mom uh she was visiting um because uh my daughter had just been born i i i'm trying to remember now i guess that would have only been like a month she's only a month or two old but we're watching game seven together rangers and penguins and when that ended like i'd love to tell you i was like screaming and like yelling dancing around i we both just kind of collapsed and just just like hugged each other that was like it wasn't years before that when the rangers beat the capitals in game seven, that's when I went nuts and run around the whole house and everything. But this was just like,

oh my God, it's over. That series needed to end. We talked about that, how the fans from both sides were at each other's throats and just, just relief when it finally did end. And of course, it went into overtime, you know. Yeah, I mean, you know it. I know it. Both fan bases know it. That series was absolutely ridiculous on so many levels. And it really has just catapulted the rivalry very high. I would say right now, John, the Rangers might be the top rival of. the penguins. And it didn't used to be that way for several years. I would say the capitals were up there, along with the Flyers. But with how those rivalries have kind of gone downhill a little bit in recent years, I would say the Rangers have definitely taken that top spot,

at least for right now, in my opinion. I feel the same way. And then there's Ranger fans that are kind of old school and they'll tell me, no, man, it's always Rangers Islanders. Nothing will ever top that. And I'm like, look, I wasn't really around when the Islanders were winning all those Stanley Cups. So I don't see, like for me, the Islanders, like ever since I've been watching hockey, like they're not really much of a threat. I know a couple of Eastern Conference finals appearances and somewhat recent history, but to me, man, it's Rangers Penguins. The Penguins have always been that team that, man, we got to find a way to beat these guys.

How do we stop Crosby? How do we stop Malkin? How do we stop Latang? How do we get over the hump here? And, yeah, man, it's just been a great rivalry over the past. I mean, it's really reignited recently, but really the last five, 10, 15 years as far as you want to go back. It's been just great hockey for sure.

Oh, no, absolutely. And I know, you know, again, yeah, the Flyers, the Capitals, the Islanders have always been a thorn in the Penguins sign. Every time something bad happens to the Penguins, it's usually because of the Islanders, though, that rivalry, it's not as high as the Rangers, but again, right now, especially going into this season, those games are going to be must watch, those Penn's Rangers games. I agree, I agree. I'm already looking forward to it and already getting excited just talking to you about this. But I figure we'll keep everything rolling in just a second. I do want to ask you, Hunter, about a couple of the penguins offseason moves. I think maybe most notably the extension for Kristen Jerry, which was my understanding somewhat polarizing among penguin fans. But we will get to that in just a second.

All right. And so let's just go ahead and keep everything rolling here. Going to continue our discussion with Hunter Hodes of Locked on Penguins, a special crossover episode here and just basically discuss the off seasons for both teams. And Hunter, you know, obviously before this past season, Penguin shows some loyalty. They keep Latang and Malkin, obviously the three cups there, while they've been members of the penguins.

And the other big move that they made this offseason is the extension to Tristan Jerry. And Jerry, he's been a good goalie for the penguins, but he ends up getting five years, $5.375 million. And it feels to me, you know, just going by social media, and you'll know this better than me, but it feels like penguin fans in general, and maybe even you yourself, Hunter, a little bit, you know, on the fence about this. You know, he's a good goalie, but is he worth that much? Just kind of give me a feel for how you felt about that extension, if you could.

The biggest thing is it carries a lot of risk, five years for someone who has not been able to stay healthy these past couple of seasons. It's a big one. It's a big gamble to take. But you said it, John, when Jari is healthy, I think he's one of the better goalies in the league. I personally think he's in that maybe 9 to 12 range of goalies when he's healthy, you know, right? Fiddling on that top 10 range. He wasn't 921 for no reason just a couple of seasons ago. He was very good during that 20-21.

in 2020 season. Heck, I mean, again, I mean, I'll keep saying this. I know Rangers fans would probably hate it. I think if Tristan Jolly was healthy for that series, I think the Penguins win it. Yes, it's probably some copium for me. I get it. But I will continue to say that they probably win that series

unless he just plays like he did against the Islanders, which, hey, that could happen. But I think he was on, what's the word I'm looking for here? Just a path to redeeming himself after that. But, you know, Anders Lee ran into his leg. And the rest was history after that. He didn't play until game seven this year. battled numerous injuries. He says he's healthy now. He just has to go out and prove it.

I think Kyle Dubus was getting a little bit nervous as the goal he started coming off the board in free agency. I don't really think he wanted to do with trade, even though there were quite a few good trade candidates out there, like someone like of the Melka, I wasn't too big on John Gibson, for example. I don't think his numbers are any good anymore, even though he plays on a bad team, but someone like of the Melka was good. He had Conor Helibuck out there, UC Soros, but those were just big blockbuster additions that I don't really think. think they were going to do. But once you saw the goal, he started to come off. I think Kyle was like, okay, I got to do something here. So he took the risk, sign Jari, and we're going to see what he's

made of throughout this contract. They are betting on him to stay healthy and to give them adequate goaltending. I'll keep saying it. If this team just gets average goaltending, I think they're a playoff team this season. And that's how it's been throughout the 10 years of Sidney Crosby, of Guinea-Malk and Chris Teng, just get average goaltending. And the team should be. fine. The big question will be who plays instead of Jari during games. You still have Casey to Smith on the team. They signed Alex Nelkevich. They signed a couple other goalies. It's even really, really interesting to see, excuse me, what happens with that rotation when Jari is not playing. But those are really my main thoughts on it overall. Yeah, for sure. And, you know, another free agent pickup

for the Penguins. This is actually somebody going into free agency. I did a couple episodes where I'm spotlighting a couple of different players and what do the Rangers need. Who can they afford? And a name that I came up with was actually Nola Chari. Again, just kind of a gritty, a little bit like Bonino, you know, just kind of a gritty defensive forward. Somebody that, you know, goes out there, plays every shift very hard. And the Penguins end up signing him three years at $2 million a pop.

I would say even with a chari, maybe some somewhat underrated, you know, offensive skill as well, not a superstar, but he'll get you some points. And I thought he would have been a great fit for the Rangers, but he ends up going to the Penguins. how do you feel about that signing, Nolachari to the Penguins? I think he's going to give them like a Brandon Tanev-type game for each game this upcoming season. If I said that weird, I apologize. But I think he's going to be more of that Tanev replacement that McGinn was not when he was a penguin. And just because, you know, he's a very physical player.

He'll definitely lay the body. But he's also very good defensively ranked in the 90th percent high-five-on-five this past season when it comes to defensive impacts. Also, very good on the PK, ranked in the 87th percentile. It's funny, John, you can ask me that same question about Matt Nietto and Lars Eller, and I would have the same question. I would have the same answer I would have for you right now about them, except that I don't think they're going to be brain and tannive type replacements. I think Achari is going to because he's just going to be a lot of fun to watch.

He can lay the boom, the defensively. I think of those three, he will give the penguins the most offense. I'm actually more bullish on him, maybe 12, 13, maybe upwards of 14 goals with Nieeto and Eller, I think it's going to be a bit less than that. But with Achari, I like the fit. He can play either wing spawn. He can play center if you need him to.

But honestly, the theme for all of the bottom six signings for the penguins was just getting better defensively in their own zone because the penguins were horrendous in their own zone this past season. The bottom six in general was an absolute tire fire. When the top six was on the ice, they were, A, not scoring, and B, letting in a lot of goals in their net. I understand the plan. It's a bit risky because the top six isn't have to be really healthy.

But if the bottom six can just pull their weight and not allow as many goals as last year's unit did, I'm going to be, I think, a bit more bullish on the team heading into this season than I originally was maybe on July 1 where I was like, I'm not really, don't think it's going to move the needle that much. but hey, there's still a little bit of time where it's the first or second day of August here. There's still a little bit of time heading into training camp. But overall, I do like the Achari signing. And I think of the players that Kyle Dubas brought in to help out the foregroup, I think he's going to be the best one.

Yeah, I would agree with that. You know, just kind of looking at everything the Penguins have done between trades and free agency and whatnot. I figure, you know, Hunter, we can pretty much call it there. I mean, it's been fun as always doing this crossover addition. I wasn't going to ask you, John, what do you think of all the Rangers moves this offseason. They bring in Nick Benino, Tyler Pitlick, Blake Wheeler. That was the big one coming over from Winnipeg after they bought him out. Jonathan Quick is the new backup to Shusirkin. How bullish are you on the Rangers heading into the year? No, I feel good. I mean, you got the core back in place.

You know, they didn't lose anybody of, I mean, of course, you lost the rentals, but you knew that was going to happen. You knew Teresenko in all likelihood wasn't going to be back. Tyler Maude is still out there, although at this point, seems like he might be playing somewhere else next season and Patrick Kane. I mean, I don't expect him to sign with anybody anytime soon. As far as, you know, what they did in free agency, yeah, overall, I thought it was good. I mean, you got to create great on a little bit of a curve because, you know, they didn't have a ton of cap space. There's not a whole lot of maneuverability. So you're looking at a situation where, you know, you'll sign a sixth defense. And they did that with Eric Gustafson, who I think that's,

you know, a solid signing for your sixth defenseman. You need a new backup goalie. You get a legend in Jonathan Quick. I realize he's not primed Jonathan Quick, but I think, you know, him being in a clear-cut backup role could be good for him. And also, the Rainers have a goalie coach who's been there forever, Benoit Lair. And obviously, you know, his two most notable success stories are clearly Lundquist and Chasturkin. But even guys like Ranta and like Camp Talbot when he was there and, you know, Yaroslav Halak had a nice season last year as the backup. All these guys pretty much swear by him. It seems like they always benefit from working. with him. And look, Jonathan Quick obviously knows his stuff, but I do, I'm interested to see

what happens here because now this goalie coach, this goalie guru, has a situation where, you know, it's kind of a reclamation project. He's not helping somebody early in his career. He's trying to get somebody somewhat back on track. And I think Quick with less wear and tear could be a good backup. And the big one for me was Blake Wheeler. And, you know, Quick Story Hunter. So I'm doing a live show for the start of an HL free agency. I'm thinking, this could be fun, you know. And that was the day, if you remember, that Twitter was all wonky and nothing was working right. And you're over your tweet limit or whatever that was. And nothing's loading.

And I'm like trying to watch NHL network and look at social media. And people in the chat are telling me, oh, we got Blake Wheeler. I'm like, wow, because I didn't think the Rangers could afford him. I like the fit, but I didn't think they could afford him. And people are telling me Blake Wheeler for 800K. And I'm like, you guys better not be messing with me, you know? And I realized, you know, Wheeler not in his prime anymore. he's going to be 37 before the season starts.

But to get somebody like that at a position right wing, which is probably your biggest weakness, and to get him at just a shade over the league minimum, I mean, I get that he's older again, but I don't see how anyone can be upset about that. Even last year in what was, you know, one of his not great seasons compared to what he did early in his career, he ended up with like 53 or 55 points.

It was a solid season. And now to play in the middle six on the Rangers, you know, I think it's a good landing spot for him. And I think the Rangers are going to be. benefit from having him in the fold next season. Yeah, I mean, I don't think he can skate as well anymore. That's for sure. I think that's part of his game has definitely gone down a little bit.

But I think he'll still be good for, what, at least 15, 17 goals, probably more than that at this point. And maybe he even scores 20 to 22 goals in the third line role. But curious to see how that goes. But, I mean, I still have the Rangers as a playoff team heading into this season. I don't think they're just going to fall off pretty hard or anything like that. I just, I'm curious to see because I have the top two teams in the Metro as Carolina and New Jersey.

that's just me personally, but after I have the Rangers, then the Penguins and Islanders, obviously, I think those spots, those three to five spots in general, are going to be highly contested this upcoming season in general. Yeah, the Metro is always crazy. And right when you think, you know, what's going to happen next or, you know, this team is on the rise or this team isn't any good at all, you know, the whole thing gets flipped around. I mean, I know the Keynes tend to, they've won the last couple of years in a row. And obviously the penguins for so many years were in the playoffs and they could be back in the mix.

and the Rangers and Devils have really reemerged the last couple of seasons here. It's crazy, man, you know, and who's to say what's going to happen this upcoming season? Maybe the Blue Jackets surprise everybody and they're right in the, you never know. You never know, right? So it's definitely a fun division to watch. And honestly, man, you put any two of those teams in that division together and put them on the rink together and you're going to be entertained more often than not. I agree.

I think it's, in my opinion, the most competitive division heading into this season. I can see right now six teams out of there being in a play. spot or just potentially making the playoffs. Not being in a playoff spot, obviously, since, you know, the max can be five, five, three at least from the two divisions. But I can see as many as six being involved in getting a playoff spot. And heck, you're right, John, maybe the blue jackets make it seven because I think the flyers are probably going to be the worst team in that division this upcoming season

with their rebuild. But the jackets, hey, maybe they do surprise us. And Johnny Goodro goes off and the additions they made, the draft they had. I'll be curious to see how they do, especially also with Mike Babcock as their head coach now. Yeah, you just never know. I mean, there's always a couple of surprises and a couple of disappointments every season. And, man, I just can't wait. It was great talking hockey with you here, Hunter. And I don't know about you, man, but I'm just so excited for this upcoming season. Obviously, neither one of our teams ended up where they wanted to be this past year.

And I think in a lot of ways, whether it's you and me or just fans of the team in general, I think that makes you look forward to the next season just that much more. And I think I can speak for both of us when I say we are definitely looking forward to this next season. These two months can't go by soon enough, I think is how I want to end this show. It's that August, we are truly now in the dog days of summer. The arbitration is finishing up. You're not going to see many trades. Maybe outside of, I don't know, Connor Hellebuck, Noah Hannan. They have the whole Eric Carlson situation to deal with at some point.

But there's just not a lot of action right now, and the league likes it that way. So hopefully these next two months speed by pretty quick. I'm with you there. And listen, Ranger fans, Penguin fans, thank you guys as always for tuning in. And Hunter, man, if you want to do this during the regular season, we got some matchups. We'll do a pregame show here, a post game show there, whatever you want to do. I'm up for it as long as you are. Yeah, that sounds good.

And Pat will be there for this one. He has a work thing come up. My new co-host, Patrick Damp, but he will be back for the next episode on Friday and moving forward. But we will definitely have a new phase for those crossovers as well. Looking forward to that. Looking forward to meeting Pat and talking hockey with both you guys. So, yeah, once again, Ranger fans, Penguin fans. Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

and we will see you guys next time.