Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Let's talk some more Jared McCann!

Episode Date: September 18, 2020

Jared McCann was the subject of a lot of talk on Penguins Twitter today as Rob Rossi of The Athletic wrote an article looking at if the Penguins should trade or keep him and Hunter gives his thoughts on the article, plus if an upgrade is even out there over McCann. Would a Max Domi for Jared McCann swap work if the team is really interested in him? Hunter answers that, plus much more surrounding that situation. Hunter then talks about the Marc-Andre Fleury rumors as he could be on his way out of Vegas. Does a reunion in Pittsburgh make sense? Hunter ponders that, plus how it could look better if DeSmith is the backup to Jarry. Finally, Hunter touches on the Eric Staal trade from Wednesday and why that was just a very odd trade for the Wild. 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.

Hello, welcome to this Thursday afternoon edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L-O-Hen-Score Penguins. Hope you all are having a wonderful Thursday. We've made it to get almost another weekend. We're just flying through these months now. It's just absolutely crazy that we're almost into October, which is spooky season.

But for today's episode, we're going to talk about Jared McCann again because, you know, when are we not talking about Jared McCann on this podcast? Rob Rossi wrote a piece for the athletic. Like that was a bit interesting, you know, basically examining if the penguin should keep him or trade him. And that, of course, sparked a big debate on Penguins' Twitter. I was part of it a little bit. And I'll just give my thoughts on the situation, the article, and, you know, why it's just basically not a good idea to trade. Jared McCann.

And then we'll also dive into Elliott Friedman's 31 thoughts a little bit. You know, there's one penguin thought in there about Mark Andre Flore. We're going to talk about that in the second segment. And then the third segment, just go over some news from yesterday with the big Eric Stahl trade, because I have no idea what the Minnesota Wild were doing with that. But to get us all started, let's just get into the Jared McCann stuff.

So this morning, you know, getting up and around, what I get up, 8, 30, 9 o'clock. I cannot sleep in anymore. I don't know why that is. You know, I just can't. You know, read that Rob Rossy article, and it was just like, it was really interesting.

If you guys have not read it, you guys have not subscribed to the athletic, please do. It's really worth it. Really good coverage for the penguins. It's just basically for all sports teams. But, you know, the piece was just very, very, odd, I would think. You know, I think overall in summary,

just, he just, like, I'm trying to, like, put it into, like, the best words that I can. He basically looked at how McCann did this season, you know, used some underlying numbers, some advanced stats, looked how he compared to players, such as, you know, Charlie Coyle,

he's been really, really good for Boston. I think he put Wayne Simmons in there. And the comparables were actually pretty, pretty good. But yet, at the end, he basically just says, yeah, they should trade him for just cap reasons, or that he's just not really a good fit. And I just, I don't really understand that.

I mean, I think Jason from Penguins' Twitter put this, you know, in the best words possible. You please follow him if you have not. J underscore A155. You know, basically what he said, you know, we just get analytics that show McCann is an effective but streaky player with value comparable to other good players. But the conclusion is that the Penguins should just trade him to clear out cap space and roster space. I mean, yeah, like that's basically what the article was. And, I mean, let's face it. Jerry McCann, he was a streaky player this past season.

Had a really, really good hot start to the season, was scoring. it well, putting up some really good points. I know some of those goals were empty netters. But then, you know, from January onward, he did not look like the Jerry McCann of old, especially in the playoffs. He was just absolutely awful. But, you know, I mean, it was three,

it was four games of sample size, guys, and they were off since March. So I'm not really going to put a lot of stock into that. But, you know, I just, I really don't see the reason to trade Jared McCann. He's a young, cost-controlled center. You can pay him $3.3 million per season. Give him a three-year deal.

it'll be fine. And it's like, what players on the market will give you that kind of value or just, you know, put up the production that he does right now? If you look at the free agent market, there really is not a lot out there. I know, Eric Stoll just got traded yesterday. You know, I'm going to touch on that later in the podcast. But I mean, like, the market, it's just a barren wasteland. I mean, we talked about it yesterday. If you guys didn't listen yesterday, you know, Matt Venns The Pittsburgh Post Gazette put together some options that were outside the organization that the penguins go out and get. And some of them, it's like Jason, Fetza, 37 years old, hard pass.

Carl Soderberg, 34, 35 years old, mainly a defensively minded center, but hard pass on that one, too. I mean, Brad Richardson, who is Brad Richardson, to be honest with you? I mean, I've heard him a few times, of course, he played with Arizona, but, I mean, he's just, he's not that good either. I mean, maybe you go after Philip Dino, who, and the Montreal Canadians appear to be shopping right now. I mean, that would be a pretty good addition. I mean, you were going to give up Jared McCann in that trade.

Who knows? I mean, of course, you know, the big player that comes to mind with replacing Jerry McCann of the third line center spot is Max Domi. And I'm going to touch on that right now. And I would prefer McCann over Doney in that role. I know I'm probably in the minority for that. I think Jerry McCann is a better fit. I think he can put up better production in that role than Domi does. But I wouldn't be mad necessarily, well, mad or upset if they did a Domey for McCann swap straight up.

I think the penguins could potentially win that trade. I know Domi had, I think, 17 goals last season for the Canadians, I think 44.71 games, but Nican had 35 points and 60 games. I think McCann is a better finisher than Domi. He's also much better defensively than him. And, I mean, I understand Domi does create a lot more offensive. For God's sakes, he was almost a 20 goal score this season. I believe he's been a 20 goal score in the past before.

But, I mean, it's just like, I don't know. I mean, Domi also struggled down the stretch this season for the Canadians. He wasn't really good in the playoffs, but again, you know, I'm not really going to judge a lot of players during this 2014 format, you know, especially after being off since March and the Canadians probably weren't expecting to play in it after the way they ended their regular season. But, you know, it's just, it all goes back to my overall point. There just are there not a lot of available options out there to upgrade that third line center spot right now. And I mean, would you really pay the assets that are required to get Domi when A, the penguins really don't have a lot of assets in general. And B, oh, yeah, they're probably going to have to sign him to do his next contract,

dude. This guy's only 25 years old, and he's been a 20 goal score in his career before. I mean, he's going to want a raise bigger than what McCann wants right now. McCann probably is asking for, like I said earlier, 3.5 to 4 million before I wouldn't go over 4 million. I would stay in the 3 range. But, I mean, Domi's going to want more than that, especially if he has a pretty good season as the third line center.

Like, again, guys, I would do maybe a 1-for-1 swap. You can maybe convince me on that. But, I mean, if you're going to not do that and pay up way more assets to acquire him, then it needs to be. Then, you know, just say no. And it's what, guys, I mean, like a marginal upgrade over Jared McCann. Eh, eh, I mean, I just, I really, really don't see it. I mean, another player I could see them maybe going after, you know, Chad, of course, and Penguin Swirby's been on the podcast before he alluded to it on Twitter today too.

Nick be, you know, I could definitely see Jim Rutherford, you know, going back to some of his past times and, you know, how the HBK K-line was so great here and being like, hey, Nick Benino, Ron come play for me again, giving up David Poil a call. I think Benino has one year left on that four-year deal that he signed after 2016-17. I'm just trying to figure out the math. Yeah, yeah. So it would be 2017-18 through now.

So, yeah, he has, this would be his last season going into that contract. And, guys, the predators are looking to shake things up. They've been on the down swing for a few years now. They already took out La Jolette. I mean, that was during the regular season, but still, I mean, David Poil promised some changes after the season after they went out to the Arizona Coyotes in the qualifying round. I think that would constitute as one.

And I think Nick Menino is coming off one of his better seasons for his NHL career. I think he had 18 goals somewhere around there, almost like 40 points. I mean, that's kind of comparable to what he did last year. I mean, 17 goals, 35 points. But still, I mean, this would be just a peak Jim Rutherford moved. If you guys want to be really, really scared, guess who popped up on the TSN trade bait board today? That's right, guys. Old pal Brandon Sutter, who Jim Rutherford traded during the, after the 2014-15,

season in exchange for Nick Benino, funny or not. So, yeah, Jim, I'm just, I'm just, I know I'm throwing that name out there. It's probably not going to happen. But, you know, when Jim Rutherford says he wants to make changes and what we've seen so far in this off season and what we've seen throughout Jim Rutherford's tenure going into free agency, I mean, yeah, the guy really, really can't be trusted during free agency. I'm just very, very scared he's going to make a very, very bad panic trade. But still, it all goes back to the overall point.

There are not enough of actual available centers that could be upgrades over Jerry. McCann in the free agent market and at least in the trade market right now. You would have to blow a lot of people away to upgrade that spot. I know they've been looking to upgrade that spot since Nick Beino left. There could be a chance and maybe he comes back and Jim Rutherford circles back to that or he just makes the trade for Max Domi. But I think the wisest move this team could make is bringing back Jared McCann, putting Patrick Hark was on his right wing and maybe Dominic Simone on his left wing.

I saw Jeff from Penn's blog this morning, tweeted out a pretty good lineup. It's mostly the same team from last year, except the changes from Jack Johnson. having Tristan Jari as the starter, maybe Casey DeSmith as the backup, having Ruido or someone like Dylan DeMello on the right side, and just rolling with that third line. Maybe like Simone McCann-Hornquist, see what happens. I think that could be your best bet.

Maybe you go out and get a winger for that third line. You bump Hornquist out and you move Hornquist out or something like that. But I will keep saying. I think you make the team worse if you move on from McCann and you bring in a player who is just not as good as in because I really don't think you're going to find an upgrade that can do what McCann do. does currently that is available for what the penguins can acquire for because the penguins just

really don't have a lot of assets to go out and make a move like that. And of course, you know, their salary cap situation. We all know they want to cut back salary. I don't think adding salary will help their causes in this situation. So I just wanted to share my thoughts on the Jared McCann situation in case you guys, some of you guys have not listened before with my takes about Jared McCann. I just saw the article this morning and just wanted to offer out my take for you guys on the podcast. But before we get to a former penguin that could potentially make his return, God willingly know, it is time to talk about rockahoe.com. It's a family business serving auto park customers online for 20 years. You go to rockout.com to shop for auto and body parts from

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Don't forget, guys, that's code Locked on NHL for $5 off your order with DoorDash. All right, guys, welcome back to this episode of Locked on Penguins podcast and let's talk some Mark Andre Fleury. You know, it's been coming up in the last couple of weeks, especially after Mark Andre Fleury was benched during the playoffs in favor of Robin Lennar. I will go on record and saying, I agree with it. I thought Robin Lennar outplayed him while in the short sample that he was there. Pete Dabor agreed. That's why he started him in the playoffs. And it would not shock me if Robin Lennar signs a contract extension. I know it was reported last week from David Pagnada of the fourth period that they were closing in on a contract extension. I think it was going to be

five years, $25 million or something. But Lennar put a little bit of cold. water on that because I mean he probably didn't want to talk about during the playoffs but you know maybe it's getting close to being agreed to and of course if that contract is signed that leaves the question of what's going to happen with mark Andre Fleury because I think he just signed a contract extension there I think he's going to be getting paid seven million per season for the next few years and yeah my thoughts on it guys no leave the pass in the past let the past die it's just it just does not make any sense to bring back mark Andre Fleury to the Pittsburgh Penguins I know there is a weird section of this fan base that just, you know,

that they can't live without Mark Andre Fleury. And, you know, I'm sorry to say, guys, he's not as good of a goaltender as you guys make it out to be. I'm talking to like the Flurry stands who just, you know, they obsess over him. He just, he just isn't. I mean, he really was not good this season. In 49 games played, it had a 905, say percentage, 2.77 goals against average. I mean, even last year, 9.13.

I know in 2017, 18, he was 927, got fifth in the. The Bezna took the Vegas golden nights to the Stanley Cup final. He was outstanding that season. And, you know, he's had seasons like that. But, you know, for the majority of his career, his safe percentage has been around, you know, 915, 916. For his career, he's a 913 goaltender. I mean, that's barely above average to me. I mean, I just, I really don't see the people of bringing that in.

And, oh, yeah, is Vegas going to buy them out? I mean, I really don't think that's going to happen in this economy with the coronavirus going on with money being tight. I just really don't see Vegas doing that. They would probably have to try to find a trade partner for him. And what? The penguins are going to eat half of his salary or more than that. The penguins really don't want to take money on, as I just said, in the last segment, as they're trying to cut costs.

So, I mean, like, that just really wouldn't make any sense. And I know you're going to hear people say, oh, yeah, you bring him in because he's a top 15 goaltender in this league. You bring him in for all the intangibles. His smiles per 60, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And it's just like, stop. I really just do not want to hear about bringing back Mark Andre Fleury. You have Tristan Jari, who I think is more than ready.

I've said it on this podcast before. Yes, I am scared about goaltenders with very short sample sizes because, you know, goaltending is voodoo. You never know what can happen. I mean, Jordan Bennington had a really small sample last season, did very, very well, and then this season kind of scaled back of it. You know, we also saw it with Matt Murray. Stuff like that happens.

It could very well happen with Trish and Jari. But I think at this point right now, I'm going to go on the record again, I think Tristan Jari is ready for the full-time starting job for this team. I mean, you can get a competent backup. I mean, you can put Casey to Smith-McNear and make it a very, very cheap goaltending tandem, which I think would be fine. You really don't want your goaltenders taking up a large portion of your cap guys. Just look at the Montreal Canadiens.

Carrie Priceweight makes, what, $10 million per season? They just added Jake Allen, who I think makes over $4 million per season. So they have $14 million tied up in their goaltending going into the next season. I really don't want the penguins to get anywhere close to that. I think they will. But I mean, are you really going to add a $4 million salary of Mark Andre Fleury if you eat a lot of his cap? And then Tristan Jari is going to make, what, 3 to 4 million per season? And then what?

Your goaltending is $7 million per season and you're just going to split their starts. I just really don't see the appeal in that, especially if you want Tristan Jari to be the full-time starter for this team. And guys, I just think Mark Andre Fleury has moved on. You know, he got out of Pittsburgh. You know, he paid his respects when he came back. He got a very harmful standing ovation. He absolutely deserved it. he was one of my favorite players growing up.

I'm sure he was one of your guys' favorite players going up as well. But there's just no need to do it. I really just don't see the appeal to it. And you know what would be awesome? So Jeff LaTang Colt, who has been in this podcast before, he had a really funny tweet. He was talking about Elliot Freeman and his 31 thoughts

because he basically did say, you know, would anyone really be surprised to see a Flurry Jari Tanem in Pittsburgh? Which, like I said, hopefully doesn't happen. And Jeff tweeted, I want one of those things where the penguins offered Flurry like $3 million per season. The Flyers are Capitals, offer him a stupid contract that he can't refuse.

He'll be average for them and it would make his little fan club hashtag rage. Yeah, that would be hilarious. Honestly, Jeff, I think that should happen for any team that like if that situation comes up. The Penguins maybe offer him a couple million per season on a short term deal. But then a team like, you know, Ottawa or like Buffalo makes him an offer. He can't refuses and he goes there and that just pisses off like the flurry stands of the Penguins fan base. I think that would just be absolutely hilarious, you know, inject that stuff into my vein. But yeah, I just really wanted to bring that up and just go on and just a little mini-ran about why Mark Andre Florey should not come back to Pittsburgh.

Like I said, let the pass die. You really don't need to bring him back. Mark Andre Fleury is honestly one of the most, I don't really care if I get heat for this. He's one of the most overrated athletes in the city of Pittsburgh history. I will die on that hill. People just overrate him like hell. And it's just really, really weird how people treat him versus how people have treated other players. have played for any of the three major sports teams in the city of Pittsburgh, it just really, really boggles my mind. I see takes on Twitter all the time where it's just like, wow, like,

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just listening to me too long here but so we had a very odd trade yesterday that happened around the NHL so round was about 5.30 6 o'clock word comes out from Darren oh Marcus Johansson has been traded to the wild I'm like Marcus Johansson that's a weird trade for

the wild to make. And then it comes back just a couple of seconds later, oh, Eric Stahl's going the other way. I'm like, Eric Stahl's going to Buffalo for Marcus Johansson. And then it was just, oh, yeah, the trade is a one for one. And I'm just like, oh, Billy G. Billy Garron, what are you doing there, man? What is you doing? I just, I really didn't understand that trade for the wild. I guess they're just trying to make changes after they lost to the Canucks. I mean, no player, I guess, should feel safe on the wild, especially, you know, Billy Garron, had a very, Interesting quote yesterday, basically saying like, yeah, you know, I just, I'm making trades because I'm bored. I mean, you didn't really say that.

I'm just kind of like paraphrasing it. But, you know, the statement that he made in my eye was that, you know, I'm just going to make trades because, you know, I can. And it's just, you know, it's better than not doing anything. But, I mean, if you're telling me that Eric Stahl went for just Marcus Johansson, why wasn't Jim Rutherford in on that? It just does not make any sense to me. You went out and get Kisperi Kappen, who you trade a first round pick, a prospect and a roster player in a little. bit more just for Caspari Caput. But Eric Stahl, who was just a 30 goal score a couple seasons ago, goes for Marcus Johansson,

who's been very injury-plagued these last couple of seasons and was just not a fit in Buffalo. I just really do not understand that trade at all for Minnesota. And I wish your mother would have called Billy Gairn and just say, hey, you know, we could use Eric Stahl, you know, for our third-line center option. And, you know, I say that because Eric Stahl would be the big, big upgrade at that spot over Jared McCann. Like I said earlier in this podcast, guys, there's barely anyone that I would take over Jared

McCann right now, but Eric Stahl is one of the event. If you said Eric Stahl for Jared McCann, that's a slam dunk deal. Or, you know, Eric Stahl for someone else on a team that's like a bottom six board like Marcus Johansson was. That is a slam dunk trade for me. I really do not understand, like I said, what the hell Minnesota is trying to do there. I guess they're going to trade MacDumbuk coming up. I've seen reports that Winnipeg is interested in him.

That makes a lot of sense. Winnipeg needs defense. Pretty, pretty badly. Vancouver, I've seen this interested, but, you know, they're not going to trade Buck, Brock Bess, or anything like that for him. So, I mean, it's just things are interesting right now in Minnesota. I mean, will they trade Zat Prisei this long season? That's going to be interesting.

Remember, the Islanders almost had a deal to acquire Parise. So that was very, very close. So, but I think that will do it for this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I know also Joel Edmondson got a lot of money yesterday. Four years, $3.5 million per, also a 10-team-mo trade clause. So congratulations to Mark Bergevin. He has his Jack Johnson contract. That is just a awful contract.

But that'll do it for today's episode of Lockdown Penguins. Hope you all enjoyed it. We'll have another episode coming tomorrow where we'll just touch on some other things regarding the Penguins. So we'll talk to you all then. Have a great rest of your day.