Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Kris Letang’s inconsistencies leave the Penguins with questions

Starting point is 00:00:00 Chris LaTang had another up and down season for the Penguins this year, and Pat and I are going to give our season in review for Latang, plus discuss bills on in lighting the lamp again for Wilkesbury, coming up right after this. You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome back to the Wednesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am one of your host, Hunter Hodes.

Starting point is 00:00:35 You can follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-host, Patrick Damp. You can follow him on all social media platforms at Send him for Wet. You can also follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. And you can find us on Instagram at Lockdown, underscore Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen slash watch of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. To start the show, we're going to continue our season and review series with Penguins, defenseman Chris LaTang before pivoting to Wilkesbury getting a big two to one win on Tuesday night.

Starting point is 00:01:09 They are now one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Final. And then the conference finals in the Stanley Cup playoffs are set to begin tonight. And Pat and I, we both have our picks for you guys for this round. And Pat is going to catch everyone up on our bracket challenge as well. Now, Pat, getting into the next season in review, that is Chris LaTang, one of the best players in franchise history. someone who we have praised so much on the so and rightfully so because of how fantastic he has been throughout his career obviously though it is no secret that his play has taken a beating these last couple of years he just has not been the same player sadly that did continue

Starting point is 00:01:52 this year there were spurts where you and i came on here and talked about how he would play well for you know a week maybe two maybe two and a half weeks before the play would kind of go back again. I don't want to give him an F for this year. I think that's a little too harsh, but I think a C minus to a D is pretty fair for the level of play that we saw from him this year. Wasn't playing well defensively. He lost even more of his foot speed, which that continues to be a concern because of how great of a skater that he has been throughout his career. The offense continued to go down a bit as well. And they just didn't really have outside of Ryan Shea, a reliable partner for him throughout the season.

Starting point is 00:02:35 They tried it multiple times with Sam Gerard. It was too much like oil and water. It didn't work outside of a small stretch to end the regular season. And personally, I think going into next season, just because I don't think Chris Lutang is retiring and I don't think he is going to want to go anywhere. He's still going to be in at least a second to third pair role. You need a legit partner for him for next season. That's not Sam Gerard.

Starting point is 00:03:00 I just think that those two work. better away from one another. That's a discussion, obviously, where we can get into more targets for the offseason. But Pat, I think for me, C minus to a D this year just continues to be unfortunate. But also, the reality is father time comes for everyone. That's the biggest factor here is you look at Chris LaTang. He's 39 years old. If the penguins go kind of deep next year, he'll be 40 by the time the playoffs get here. And I want to preface the season in review with this because it's going to sound like excuse making, but I promise it's not.

Starting point is 00:03:42 It's just context. It's genuinely shocking that he is still playing hockey with everything that he has gone through. Neck surgery, two strokes, had a hole in his heart. he's had various other injuries throughout his career. And the fact that up until basically midway through last year, he's managed to continue to play at a really high level is genuinely impressive. But this year, father time, it appears, has caught up with him.

Starting point is 00:04:18 My grade is right in line with yours. I'm going with a C minus rather than a D. simply because it was inconsistent this season. There would be two to three weeks where you went, looks like he's figuring it out, looks like he's putting it together, looks like we're getting Latang back, and then he'd slump for two weeks.

Starting point is 00:04:41 And then he would have a run of games where maybe he wasn't bad, but you didn't notice him. Or he just was kind of pedestrian. And given the makeup, of the penguin's defensive core, Chris LaTang can't be a passenger. He's either got to be driving it or he has got to be somebody that you can use another defenseman to prop up like he did when he was with Brett Kulak.

Starting point is 00:05:11 Before the Penguins traded Brett Kulak, that was his best run of games. Those two worked together and played off one another really well. I should have said him because there was a stretch where he did play a little, well with Ryan Shea. Totally my bad on that with Fred Kulak. You are 100% right. Thank you for saying that. And the other thing I'll add is I actually don't dislike Latang and Gerard together,

Starting point is 00:05:38 but that is a band-aid. If you have injuries, if you have call-ups, if it's a temporary solution for a week or two, they found chemistry near the end of the year and started to work together. but then it fell apart again in the playoffs. So that strikes me as a temporary pairing, as a pairing that you put together when you have injuries, when you have call-ups,

Starting point is 00:06:04 when somebody else is not playing well throughout the run of a game and you need to shake things up. But that can't be a permanent pairing. It's not like Carlson and Watherspoon, who you are stapling them together because they work together. So at the end of the day, and this is how I'll end this for, what we got to do moving forward.

Starting point is 00:06:25 This year, according to the NHL website, Le Tang averaged 21 minutes and 41 seconds of ice time per game. That was down from 2332 in 2425. At this point, he's got to see between 18 and 20 minutes a game because you kind of do see this. He starts games pretty hot and then he starts to trail off by the end. If you can get him down to 18 to 20 minutes a game, I do still see an effective defenseman in there. Yeah, and that's in line for pure second pair or even bottom pair.

Starting point is 00:07:05 If you want to cut his minutes, even more, for example, Pat get him down to, you know, 16, 17-ish minutes. I'm sure he'd probably want to fight everyone in the coaching. Just that just because he's so competitive as a player. But even then, I don't think would be a bad idea considering just the way that his play has deteriorated these last couple of years. And again, I'm glad you mentioned Kulak because him and Ryan Shea, like just the way that they played next to him throughout the year, that's the type of partner that I want to see the penguins go out there and try to get for Latang for next season.

Starting point is 00:07:41 Someone that, you know, stay at home defenseman, reliable, can just be comfortable, playing with Chris. I think that's the type of defenseer that you go after. whether it's a debt signing in free agency or someone that you can trade for that can be on this team for the long haul, someone that is still young, early to mid-20s, has a long-term future in the NHL. I'd like to see that just because that's a type of player that really worked next to Tanger this past season.

Starting point is 00:08:13 Hell, you even look at the underlying numbers, and this is a player who, we all know, a lot of his underlying numbers throughout his career when it comes to shot attempts, expected goal share, scoring chance share. They've been well above water. This year, Pat, played 1,300 minutes on 5-on-5 ice time when he was on the ice. The Penguins only had 48.8% of the shot attempts, only 48% of the scoring chances. He was barely above water in terms of the expected goal share, but he was below water in high danger chances with 49.6.

Starting point is 00:08:43 So when you also start to see the underlying numbers cave, as just another thing where I get even more concerned just because again skating is not what it used to be he's not making the right decisions he's not driving play offensively he's getting worse in his own zone and again it really does stink because he's been one of my all-time favorite players i have been in the trenches defending him so much throughout his penguin's tenure especially when he when he was in his prime and you saw people just going at him for the way he plays and stuff i would say no i think he was one of the most underrated defenseman in the nchel when he was in his prime and i think he's going to be a sure fire Hall of Famer once he finishes his career.

Starting point is 00:09:25 But again, just stinks that his game has gone downhill to the point where it is now. But again, if they can get that type of partner like a hybrid Kulak slash Ryan Shea that's a bit younger, but it's also defensively responsible and is more of a stay-at-home defenseman, I do think that could potentially really help him for next season. I mean, glass half full, you look at those numbers, you look at those numbers, you look at his counting stats of 34 points in 74 games, which is not that dramatic of a drop off from where he hovers. He hovers between 40 and 50 points in his career.

Starting point is 00:10:05 That's kind of his sweet spot, especially in the last five or six years. There is still a useful defenseman in there. You've got to find him the right partner. And then you've got to find, or he has to be willing. to work with the coaching staff to either decrease his minutes or make adjustments to his game. Because he is, you look at a lot of the film from this year. He tries to do a lot of things he did 10, 15 years ago and he just does not have the same ability. We said his skating has fallen off.

Starting point is 00:10:43 It's fallen off by Chris LaTang standard. He is not the guy who goes zero to 60 anymore. But he's the guy who still has footspeed. He still has maneuverability. He still has escape ability. He's just got to adapt. This isn't me saying he's going to play another 10 years. This isn't me putting him in the same category as Sid.

Starting point is 00:11:03 But you can see him playing out the length of his contract in being useful. That's not me saying he's going to be great. It's not going to me saying he's going to have a renaissance. But there are pathways for Chris Latang to still have value for the next. couple of years. He just has to be willing to do it. And the coaching staff has to be willing to do it. I do agree with you on that. And as for his contract, so people are aware, has two more years left. 6.1 million full no move clause. He's not going anywhere unless he goes to management or the coaching staff and says, hey, I want out. So don't think that's happening this all season and potentially even

Starting point is 00:11:44 during the rest of this contract. But that's going to do it for this first segment coming up in the segment, Wilkesbury had a really big response on Tuesday night, winning in Springfield, and is now one win away from advancing to the next round of the Calder Cup playoffs, and Pat and I are going to discuss that coming up right after this. But before we get to that, we have to tell you all about our first sponsor, which is Quo. Miss calls and slow follow-ups are silent killers for businesses. That's how money gets left on the table without people even realizing it. And that's why today's episode is brought to you by Quo, spelled QU-O, the business communication

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Starting point is 00:13:06 All right. We're back here on the Wednesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-est, Patrick Gamp. And Pat, last night's game is exactly what I wanted to see from Wilkesbury after their collapse in game two. They were up three nothing going into the third period, played too much, prevent defense, and they paid the price losing in overtime. But on Tuesday, in my opinion, they were the better team throughout. I actually kind of thought they were kicking Springfield's butts for most of that game. Avery Hayes with a great pass to Rucker McGority, who scores short-handed at the end of the first period.

Starting point is 00:13:42 Great games from both of those players, by the way. There is a real chemistry between those two when you watch those games, and I'm really excited for hopefully both of them to potentially be on the roster for next season. and those two love playing together. There's a bond, kind of like a brotherhood, it feels like, between those two, and it was very much on display in game three on Tuesday night. And then, Pat, it's Bill Zonan's world,

Starting point is 00:14:08 and we're just living in it right now. His third goal in his third game, Voko and Mama, great pass to Bill Zonan, fires a blocker's side, gives Wilkesbury a 2-0 lead in the third. Springfield does fight back late in the third. They make it 2-1, but Sergei Mershov is able to stand tall,

Starting point is 00:14:25 making 27 of 28 saves, closing the door after that lone Springfield goal. And Wilkesbury now on the cusp of winning this series against Thunderbirds. One more note on Mirosha, Pat, before I hand this over. He now has a 9-42 state percentage in seven playoff games this year. Video game stuff. It's incredible how well he's playing. And Jason Spetsa, Penguins Assistant General Manager and General Manager of Wilkespa basically said this to Joshua.

Starting point is 00:14:55 he today where he wouldn't tip his hand on if Murashov was going to be the guy next year, but basically said, hey, this is our latest test for him. We want to see him rise to the occasion on a deep run with the baby penguins. And what do you know, there one win away from going to the Eastern Conference final? And Sergei Murashov is a big reason why. He is just damn near unbeatable in the HL postseason right now. And it's really encouraging to see because he's doing it a lot of different ways. There's the desperation saves.

Starting point is 00:15:35 There's the athletic saves. And most of the time, he's just a sound goaltender. He just reads the play, follows the puck, gets squared up, and doesn't give shooters anything. And then when they do have something, he's athletic enough to take it away. So obviously it's the AHL, a little bit different than the national, but you want to see him continue to pass these tests. You want to see him continue to play really well and prove that he's got nothing left to do at the AHL level. Meanwhile, unfortunately, Spetsa kind of pumped the brakes on Zonan,

Starting point is 00:16:16 basically saying, hey, this guy's going to be a project. He's going to have to take some time to develop. And yes, fans are going to hate it because fans are impatient. But you want Bill Zonan. And I've said this about Murashov. I've said this about a lot of different prospects. You don't want them to be part of the NHL team for three, four years. You want them to be part of the team for six or eight or ten or more years.

Starting point is 00:16:45 And that takes development because you don't want to have a lot of stops, starts. You're going to have them just because development is not linear, but you don't want them to spend three to four years going up, going back down, going up, going back down, going up, going back down, because that hinders development. You want it to be he comes up, stays for a while, maybe goes back for a little bit just to get his bearings, and then comes up and never goes back. And as good as Bill's on and has been, this is all vibes. It's all, hey, I'm new here. I'm doing my best. I'm going to just come out of the shoot. You want to see when you get into those dog days, December, January, February. Is he still doing this? Because I'm not going to pretend like it's

Starting point is 00:17:35 easy to jump into the playoffs because it's not, but it's a lot easier to lock in when it's the playoffs. Can you play that consistently well when you're in game 41 and it's a dreary day and it's a team that's so far out of the postseason, they're barely trying? Can you lock in on that game? Can you be good in that game? Can you do it for a full season? So not taking away from anything Zonan's doing, he is playing some phenomenal puck. But this is just step one. Right. And I think it kind of goes, back to something that I was talking about on the show last week where what Spetsa said, it feels like he's going to spend most of next season in the HL. And I do think that's the right move. He's played a lot in the queue. His junior creator is done. Now you're getting him

Starting point is 00:18:28 acclimated to professional hockey in the A. He has done a phenomenal job so far. The goal that he scored last night showcased his release, which is really good. Yeah, his net front play is great. his playmaking is great i love the way he foreshacks but i also love the way that he was able to finish that playoff and showcase his release it's now developing the other parts of his game so that when he gets the call to the nchel it's the full-time call and he's going to be there for the long haul now pat he could surprise everyone like ben kendall did and basically get to the point where you can't tell him no because kindle was just that good at camp and in the preseason last year and then just blew away everyone in his nine-game trial, sure, that's the possibility. I'm not going to fully

Starting point is 00:19:13 discount that just because Ben Kindle obviously was so great this past year. But if I had to make a prediction, I do think he is going to spend most of next year in the A. And then I think he's going to be a full-time NHL player for the 27-28 season where he's not going to need to go down to the A anymore. So patience, this is what development looks like. But so far, Pat, he has been phenomenal for Wilkesbury. It's exactly what you want to see from one of your top prospects coming over for his junior team and making an immediate impact in the playoffs. Yeah, and if he's undeniable after camp into the preseason and into the regular season,

Starting point is 00:19:54 you're not going to see me complain. So don't get that twisted. If he shows up and he's great and he's undeniable, put him on the roster. But I just want to make sure it's understood that that's less likely than I think we expect. The other thing is, and I had this thought watching the game last night, watching the highlights. I know this isn't going to happen right away. It might not ever happen at all, but I kind of don't think I would hate seeing a third line in the NHL if they both make their way up of Rutger McGority, Ben Kindle, and Avery Hayes. You have got the chemistry between McGrordy and Hayes that is just electric.

Starting point is 00:20:38 Those two have telekinetic powers in ways to find one another. And Ben Kindle, I joked about it in the season and said he's Mr. Fix It in the sense that when a guy's going through it, you can put him on Kindle's line and he'll figure some stuff out. I mean, you let those two run wild and just have Ben Kindle as basically dad on the line. that might be a fun little line to mess around with at some point this season or next season. But right now, I want to see McGority and Hayes continue to cook at the AHL level because they have been crucial to this team's success. I agree with you. And hell, maybe we could even get it on the fourth line potentially if an injury arises to one of Dewar or Blake Lazotte.

Starting point is 00:21:25 Great when healthy, but we have seen him, Pat, get banged up at times during his penguins tenure. So the possibility there. You brought the third line. I think a lot, and I mean a lot, would have to go right for both of those guys to be on the third line with Ben Kendall when you see some of the other veterans that are said to return for next year, like Justin Brousseau, for example.

Starting point is 00:21:43 Elmer Sotomayn is coming back. I have him on the third line right now. But hey, maybe you're right at some point next year. We do get that on the third line. But your point does stand. They have a great bond, and they weed off one another so well. So Wilkes-Bray, Pat, they win two-one.

Starting point is 00:21:59 they're up in the series 2-1. They'll have a chance to close out this series on Thursday in Springfield and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. But that's going to do it for this second segment. Coming up to end the show, the Western Conference Final and the Eastern Conference Final matchups are set in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. And Pat and I are going to make our picks. Plus update everyone on the Bracket Challenge. That's coming up right after this. But before we get to that, we have to tell you all about another sponsor, which is Kalshi.

Starting point is 00:22:30 The Hunt for the Stanley Cup has a show. on and now you can trade every game on cali on cali you can trade every single playoff game every series the conference finals and the stanley cup final game one of the vegas golden nights and carlo avalanche is set for tonight and you look at our probabilities Vegas only at about 37% right now Colorado at 63 payout would be two hundred seventy one dollars on calci you're trading against peers in a live market meaning there's no house and its probability changes you can buy in and out of your position for a limited time down the Calci app and use code locked on to get $10 when you trade 10 that's Calci trade on anything all right or back here on the wednesday edition of the locked on

Starting point is 00:23:16 penguins podcast i'm one of your host hunter hoodies joined by my host patrick damp and pat before we get into our picks for the conference final i'm actually going to hand this over to you what is the update on our bracket challenge who is in first second and third right now well the most impressive is our first place person right now and that is the bracket of cake eater k who has 179 points and get this their bracket is 92% accurate the only series they got incorrect was penguins and flyers in the first round they had the penins. penguins moving on, but every other series since they have been correct. It is not a perfect bracket, obviously, but the final four still intact.

Starting point is 00:24:16 They got the west right. They got the east right. They have the abs beating the Canadians in the finals. So we will see what happens on that one. In second place, with 137 points and a 67. percent correct rate is D.E. Fisher 95. And then in third, we've got pit pens 22, also 67% accuracy with 134 points. As for us, Hunter, we're stinking up the joint. You are tied for 22nd, and I am tied for 43rd. So our brackets ain't looking too hot in the Lockton Penguin's bracket challenge.

Starting point is 00:25:00 Yeah, don't think either of us are going to win this one. But as Pat said, when we first made this, whoever wins, we're cooking up a special prize for whoever gets first place. And we'll see, 92%. That is something else. Congratulations to you for getting all those picks right so far. And we're out to see if the Stanley Cup final matchup is right for you. And then obviously the Stanley Cup winner. Now, Pat, getting into our conference final picks, let's start with the West Final pick as that begins tonight.

Starting point is 00:25:29 Colorado versus Vegas. Kelmikar is out for game one. He's day to day. That guy must have something really bad. If he's missing game one of the Western Conference final, considering how banged up he has looked in the playoffs, this injury must be something else. And it probably is considering how much crap a lot of players play through

Starting point is 00:25:49 when you see some of the injuries that come out at the end of seasons. Even with that, with that, though, excuse me, give me the avalanche in six here. I really just don't see any team beating them at this point. Their depth has been fantastic. Their big guns have been great. Their goaltending is really stabilized. The only thing that's really still lacking is their power play.

Starting point is 00:26:12 And that was a thing during the regular season as well. So in the end, just with the way that Colorado can attack you in so many ways, the way they can roll four lines at you, their three pairings are strong. Their goaltending has been solid. I understand that Mitch Marner has had an unbelievable playoff run. I compared to like the 2016 Phil Kessel playoff run with the Penguins. I love Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, assuming that he's good to go for this series. Shea Theodore, I think they're going to give Colorado a decent fight.

Starting point is 00:26:45 But in the end, I think the abs are going to win this. Give me the Abelanchin six. The biggest X factor for me going into this series is the availability of Kail McCar. If this is a one-off and he's back for game two, that changes a lot of things for me. Either way, I got to take Colorado. It's not, I know it's a chalk pick, but my God, they're just, they're just, they look undeniable at this point. And they're just that good. Vegas has been better, but there are a lot of variables going against Vegas and there are not a lot of short things.

Starting point is 00:27:23 They've got good center depth, but realistically. they're hoping Carter Hart continues this strong play. They're hoping that some of these guys stay hot. But then you compare it to Colorado's roster just so much deeper. I'm going to say Colorado and six as well, but I reserve the right to change it to five if Kail McCar comes back for game two. That's fair. And moving on to the East Final before we wrap up today,

Starting point is 00:27:51 I'm going to probably put a pick out there, Pat. That's going to stun you and probably a whole bunch of the audience. give me the habs in seven here over the hurricanes it's going to be weird you might you know say oh my god hunter what are you talking about the vibes in montreal right now are just crazy and yes i understand they have played 14 games and two rounds that has a lot of hockey i also understand that the hurricanes have just put belt to ass on their first two opponents they have only played eight games in the first two rounds and they're looking like a pure juggernaut. But Dobish, he has been fantastic.

Starting point is 00:28:32 Montreal, even though they have been outplayed in both of their game sevens, they have found a way to win both of those series against two very, and I mean very quality opponents. I like their depth. I love the way Lane Hudson is going. I can easily see Carolina winning this series. I would not be surprised at all. And they're the favorite and rightfully.

Starting point is 00:28:55 so but i feel like montreal has like a mini team of destiny vibe going right now at least in the eastern conference give me the canadians in seven to set up a matchup between montreal and carado in the final i know people may say i'm an idiot for that pick and i very well could look like a moron by the end of this series but i'm feeling the vibes with the habs man uh here's why the habs aren't going to win because the habs have been the team this postseason that has won a lot of games. They had no business winning. They're going up against the kings of winning games they're not supposed to win in the Carolina hurricanes in the postseason.

Starting point is 00:29:36 Now, the difference is when Carolina gets to this round, they turn into a pumpkin. Yeah. But I don't want this to look like I'm trying to hedge here. I want to see how game one. goes tomorrow night. That is going to tell me just about everything I need to know about this series. If Carolina comes out with some rust from all this time off, I'm going to feel a lot better about Montreal's chances. But if Carolina comes out and looks like Carolina, they've been in the first two rounds, sorry, Habs, your time's not here yet. But overall at the end of the day,

Starting point is 00:30:14 Carolina just looks like a wagon. I know it's been a long time since we've seen them, but when they were playing, holy crap, they looked really good. I am going to take Carolina in six, and we are going to get a Colorado, Carolina Stanley Cup final.

Starting point is 00:30:30 Totally fair. I can easily see them, honestly winning that series in five, if their first two rounds versions show up here, and Montreal just gets absolutely obliterated. But I don't know, man. Like, there's something special going on. I don't disagree with you.

Starting point is 00:30:48 Montreal does have that feel of a team that just has it. But in a much smaller way, the same thing is happening in the east that's happening in the west. Colorado just feels like the team that is determined and is not going to be beaten. Carolina has that same feel as well. And that is fair. I just also, I got to see it from the Keynes in the Eastern Conference final before I kind of fully picked them to go to the final. It may sound weird, but we've seen them here plenty of times,

Starting point is 00:31:19 and they've gotten embarrassed each time by the team that they have played. So kind of also need to see it for them in the Eastern Conference final so that they can get to the final. I still, even if Carolina wins the series and they do get Colorado, for example, I'm going to take the avalanche to win the cup. Now, if it's Vegas versus Carolina, I actually might take Carolina there. I'll have to think about it, but I still think no matter what Colorado is probably going

Starting point is 00:31:43 to win it all this year just with the way that they've also been even more of a wagon than Carolina has been so far. But that's going to do it for the Wednesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. Thank you all so much for taking the time to listen to slash watch this one. Pat and I will be back with a fresh episode of you all on Thursday, continuing our season and review series and other topics relating to the Pittsburgh Penguins as well. So for Patrick Damp, I am Hunter Hodes. Thank you all so much for tuning in. We'll be back on Thursday.

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Kris Letang’s inconsistencies leave the Penguins with questions

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