Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 3/12- A hiatus you say?!

Episode Date: March 13, 2020

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter talks about the NHL's suspension of the season today, plus how this could benefit the Penguins in the long run if the season gets back in about a month. He also talks about his plan with the podcast moving forward, plus goes back in time a little bit with a big Penguin goal. 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 and welcome to a Thursday night evening episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Wait, I said Thursday night evening. Okay, Thursday evening episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hoadies. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hoides, follow the show, who's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So, yeah, we missed a lot. I apologize for not having an episode yesterday, but we're back today. Of course, the big news, I'm sure you are all aware.

The NHL has suspended this season because of the coronavirus. as the NBA did, as March Madness is now canceled, the MLS has been suspended. All the conference basketball tournaments have been canceled. I think all of the spring sports for colleges have been canceled. I saw that on one of my friends on Instagram posted that she's basically done with her season. So I think that went for all spring and winter sports. So, yeah, this thing is, if people didn't think it was somehow as big as they thought it would be, Yeah, it's pretty big considering how widespread it's become.

I do want to say, you know, before we kick off, you know, this episode and, you know, what we're going to be bringing to this podcast is it's going to be a bit different going forward. I just want to say, please I'll hope you all just stay safe, wash your hands every day, you know, just limit, I guess, limit your travel a lot, I guess. You know, I'm not going to, you know, I wouldn't be flying a lot of places if I were any of you guys. stock up on all the food you can. I saw some pictures of the grocery stores.

It looked like all the milk was out at some bread, eggs, toilet paper of all things. Of course, that would be a thing. I actually went today to the store and I just stocked it a bunch of pasta because, well, it's my favorite food. And, you know, maybe we'll be doing something about that on the Lockdown Penguins podcast movie before. We'll just rank some foods because that'll pass some time. But anyways, yes, I hope you all stay. safe. I know this definitely sucks that all these

sports are canceled. I mean, canceled, suspended, I should say. But I do think it was the right thing to do. You know, you can't be having players, you know, testing positive with the coronavirus. I know excuse me what happened with the Rudy Gobert

last night of the Utah Jazz. He basically tested positive for the coronavirus and the NBA halted their play. And that was, I think, two days after he basically touched everyone's phone in microphone when I think at the time he had the coronavirus and then after the game he gets tested for it and he actually has it so a lot of people are blaming him for it but you know I mean the thing that sucks about this though is that um we always have sports there as like our just to sidetrack us

I think you know we always our teams always play like every other night sometimes every night um if there are some other sports but mostly for hockey you know every other night every other couple nights where, you know, we can spend two and a half hours of our day after work, school, and whatever, and just watch our team win or lose. And, you know, it's a distraction. It's a great distraction, too, because, you know, it distracts us from our real life priorities, you know, like I just said. And the fact that now we're not going to have that for perhaps three weeks, a month, maybe even longer, it sucks. It really, really does suck. And we're all going to have to come on with new things to do during this. I hope this virus gets this, it just gets more

contained, I should say, though. I think it's going to get worse before it gets better. That's just my opinion for it. It's already become this widespread. I imagine it's probably going to become more widespread as these next couple weeks continue. But, you know, the schools are already out. I saw some public schools are already out for two or three weeks. My college of Virginia Tech, well, they're going to all online classes for the rest of the semester. I don't even really think they want anyone going back for my college because they just don't want anyone getting the coronavirus. And like I said, I understand why all the leagues have done it.

You know, like I said, you can't have a player, staff member, concession stand, GM, owner, coach, just getting this virus. Because it just looks bad on your organization. Yeah, you know, I saw some jokes about the NHL. Oh, my God, you know, they're going to be only league that doesn't suspend. in play. I mean, you know, we all like to harp on Gary Batman, and rightfully so, he's done a lot of weird things, his tenure as commissioner,

but right after the NBA did it, and especially because a lot of the NBA teams share arenas with NHL teams, the NHL was just not going to take that chance, and they acted accordingly. You know, they released the statement last night saying they would have an update tomorrow, which is, of course, today, and then, of course, they met around 1 p.m., and they just suspended it.

Greg Wigzynskiy, the.m. I was reading an article basically saying the best case scenario from what one of his sources told him was hopefully two to three weeks and then just resuming the season for a few games and starting the playoffs. I could also see them potentially playing out the season and then after they resumes and then just making maybe the first round of the playoffs a best of five before going back to a best of seven. Excuse me, I'm actually battling a little bit of a cold myself right now. No, I don't have the coronavirus, thank God. But before, you know, like I said, going to the best of seven series.

So could we see some hockey in late June, July? Absolutely. You know, I think I saw Adam Silver went on the NBA's commissioner. He went on, I think, TNT tonight. He said we're looking at least of a 30-day hiatus, and then we're going to reevaluate after that. He said he's hoping to resume the season then and potentially play into late July and mid-July.

As for the Penguins is concerned, this allows some players to get more healthy, like Jake Gensel. There's the chance now that maybe there's a tweet of the size tonight. You know, they're going to suspend the season, which they did, and Jake Gensel is going to come back in May. And then it's going to be all she wrote for the Penguins. You know, the Penguins will be able to roll out a Jason Zarker, Cindy Crosby, Connor, Sherry, Jake Gensel, and beginning Malkin, Brian Russ, top six.

And then, you know, all the league will be taken by storm because the penguins, you know, that's just going to be nice. And, you know, this gives a chance for Dominic Simone to get more healthy. He's outcast and Reese will be ready to play. Whenever this hiatus is up, if it is, you know, we're going to really hope it is. what else what else is there um you know it also just gives other players you know the chance to get more healthy you know stephen stamos of the lightning um you know he's out for a while at least until the first round of the playoffs though i mean potentially could still be the regular season by that

point um so he could be come back doggy hamilton of the hurricanes um Nathan mcannon i think will be back healthy of this hiatus comes back you know miko ranson and hopefully um just a lot of star players will hopefully be back um if this gets, you know, thwarted in the next few weeks, but, you know, we're going to have to hope that the virus just slows down a bit and doesn't get as widespread as it has been,

which, you know, I'm not going to really hold my breath for. You know, as for stuff you guys can do, you know, I'm just going to sound like basically a preacher here. You know, eat sleep. I tweet this day, you know, eat sleep and play video games. Yeah, video games is honestly a really, really big thing you guys can do if you guys are off work. Speaking of that,

I do really feel really, really bad for all the, freelancers and just the people who are being sent home for the next couple weeks without working without pay. That's just, that's terrible. I know a couple people, including my girlfriend who actually would not be able to work for the next couple weeks of her other job and won't even be able to get paychecks out of it, which is just, yeah, for people like that, you know, who don't, just who aren't going to be able to, like, work full time each day for the next couple weeks.

Like, that, that's terrible. And I sympathize with all those people. You know, I'm also one of those people, too. You know, I'm not really going to have basically a job. I'll be at home for the next couple weeks. I don't even think I'm going to be allowed to go into my part-time work job and work there. You know, I just, I really don't think so because the coronavirus. People are just so scared.

And rightfully so, the coronavirus. So, yeah, I just feel really, really bad. You know, a lot of these freelancers, the journalists in the field, they're not going to be getting a lot of work because basically every school, I mean, every sporting event has been canceled or postponed. Um, especially for all of beatwriters too, you know, who do this on a full time basis. Um, you know, that's, it's just, these are, you know, these are real human beings doing this. And it's just, I have a lot of friends in the media and I know how very unhappy they are. Um, and it's just, yeah, it's just, it absolutely sucks. Um, you know, the job hunt for me personally, for getting into this field full time as I graduated. It's just going to be that much tougher now as the sports are on hiatus. And who knows if they'll, um, be off hiatus by, um, by the, by the, time I graduate in a couple months. We just, we really, really don't know at this point. And it sucks. You know, it sucks that this has just become so widespread. But, you know, I'm just, I hope all of you, just please stay safe, you know, wash your hands and everything. Try to limit, you know, your travel and all that, I really wouldn't be going, you know, I know a lot of people are on spring break vacations right now. I'd honestly try to get home as soon as possible. Just don't fly home. I'd honestly, that's, I think that's like one of the biggest ways that you can get it.

Just from what I've read, you know, I'm no medical expert. here, but yeah, just please it, please everyone, just stay safe. All right, so for this segment, you know, so what is the podcast going to look like now that the Penguins are on hiatus? Well, it's going to be a bit of everything. I think some days I'm going to be maybe playing you guys some playoff clips, some old Penguin playoff games from the past decade. Yes, we may watch the 10 to 3 game that the Penguins beat up the Flyers in 2012

even though the Penguins got their butts whooped in that series. But, you know, I also made play stuff from the 2016 playoff run, 2017 playoff run. Just some really, really cool playoff moments. And, you know, just give my thoughts on it and all that. Maybe explain where I was in that moment, you know, what my family was doing, you know, how this played a big, this was a big moment in my life of Penguins fan. I think that would be a lot of fun.

I'm trying to have some more guests on here and maybe talk about the team. and you know where we could see them going if this hiatus comes off in the next couple weeks and potentially a month. I'm going to try to do that. Me and Cam, hashtag, you know, his Twitter app not that fair. I think we're going to have like a sound configuration episode where I'm sure you guys are where he plays all these sounds basically on his PC, you know, where maybe we'll just fool around with that, you know, maybe he can get some Penguins ones on there. And we can just talk about that.

I think that would be cool. I've seen some people potentially on the network that's going to do Hockey Jeopardy. You know, I may go on that, you know, maybe put that episode on locked on for this. You know, just I think that would be a lot of fun. I'd actually probably have to really study for that, to be honest with you guys. I'd probably get my butt-wooked if I didn't. But let's see other things here. You know, maybe we can talk about, you know, if the playoffs started today, what would it look like?

Obviously, the Penguins will play the Philadelphia Flyers in the Battle of Pennsylvania. it would be the second time in three years. We would see the capitals against the hurricanes. I believe we would see the Bruins versus the islanders, I think it would be. That would probably be a very, very quick four to five games series there. And then the other series, it would be Tampa versus Toronto. And I think Tampa would probably wipe the floor with them. But yeah, a second battle of Pennsylvania in three years for the penguins and flyers.

It would be really cool if this hiatus came up. And, oh, yeah, it would be awesome. Jake Gensel came back, I think that would be just absolutely outstanding. I think, you know, this break will also really, really help. Like I said, Cindy Crosby, I don't really think he's 100%. At this point, you know, coming off those herni injuries, I said on my last episode with Cam, those injuries are no joke. It does not look like that he's just 100%.

Like, he's not shooting in prime scoring chances. He's overpassing. Skating looks to be a little off, I think, with him. I mean, I could be maybe a little wrong with that, but it's just, he doesn't have that same burst that I'm used to seeing with Cindy Crosby. So, yeah, hopefully this break gives him, you know, more rest. Like I said, with Simone and Ashton Reese. Also, I think Chris LaTang could also really, really use this break. His play has been treading a little down the last five or six games, though.

I know I think he had a goal in an assist in the Penguins win over in New Jersey, especially when he basically yeaded that empty-net goal on that. was just really, really awesome by Lattang to do. I absolutely loved that. But, yeah, defensively, though, he's been kind of all over the place, which is not ideal. You know, we want to see Chris Lattang get back to the level that we know he can play at. Just like I said, you know, the Penguins are not going to go anywhere in the Stanley Cup playoffs, you know, if they happen, of course. If Chris Lattang is playing the way that he's been playing the last five to six to seven games, they just won't. Because, you know, he's just, he's not playing the same brand of hockey that we're used to him.

reached him playing and it just needs to fix. You know, if he could get back to that 2015-16 level where he was one of the top five best defensemen in hockey, that would be very, very prudent, that would be big for the penguins. And like I said, you know, hopefully that by this point we can get Jake Gensel back and then the penguins can just push all the chips in the basket. For those I think they're concerned about cap restrictions, I don't think it matters, to be honest. I don't think he'll be ready by the end of the regular season anyway, so the playoffs, I know it won't

manner. I don't really think it matters, though. After the deadline, I could be wrong. I'm going to have to double-check that because they're not making any more trades for Ford, so I don't really think it matters. But, I mean, that's for regular season. I know for the playoffs, it doesn't matter. I mean, I remember the one of the Blackhawks plays Patrick Kane on long-term I-R with a broken collar row. They went out and got what, Antoine Vermet? And Kane came back, and I think the second rounder conference final, and his cap hit,

it didn't matter because it's the playoffs. I'd have to check to see if it matters for the regular season. I don't think it does. Anyways, back for stuff on the podcast. Maybe we'll do some food topics for some episodes, maybe ranking some of the best fast food restaurants. You know, I'm just grasping for straws here. There's just not going to be a lot of hockey content to talk about.

Like I said, I'll probably go back and rewatch some games live with you guys, you know, pull some clips off on YouTube, play them on the podcast, you know, pause it, give my thoughts. I think that will be really, really cool. you just to hear like the announcers you know call those goals back like maybe they have getting malcolm hatchet from 2009 against carolina that would be really really cool um the hatcher against columbus in 2014 that would be really really really cool um the three nothing come back against the flyers in game six of

2009 excuse me uh that would be really really cool to do um i just you know i i have a lot of these games in mind that would really like to do and um yeah i think that would be cool like I said for food, you know, best fast food restaurants would be cool. I already kind of have my take on that, but I'm not going to share it until maybe a future episode. What else could I rank? I could honestly, even rank like some of the best wings I've gotten from places. I do like wings, just not spicy wings. I'm sorry if that pisses off a lot of people.

I just, I can't do like spicy buffalo wings. I just, I can't. I truly cannot. Hell, I don't even like most spicy food. So there's a big hot take for you all. If you all did not know that about me and you want to stop listening to the podcast, you know what? I won't blame you.

You know, I just hate spicy food. And you know what? That's that. That's basically that. Hell, you know, maybe I'll just do an episode where I'm just playing a video game and talking to you guys at the same time. Those I don't know, I play a lot of Fortnite. I know it's probably been, what, three years now? And yes, I know that's a game for a lot of 10-year-olds and 12-year-olds because that's Cartoon Valens.

but yes, I'm 22. I play Fortnite. I think it's still a very, very good game. And that's that. You know, I think that would be a really cool episode to do. I think a couple of my friends have honestly wanted me to do that. So I think I might do that. I'm trying to think of other episodes, like, other, like, creative things that I could do.

And now I think I'm on, I think for the last episode, we'll probably go through, like, an old penguin game, you know, like a really, like, awesome performance from, like, the last decade. And, you know, I'm just going to play it, you know, from YouTube. So, just, you know, comment, commentate on it. Because, you know, I miss Penguins Hockey a lot right now. And, you know, they were supposed to be playing a game tonight against the Blue Jackets. And they were supposed to be really big game. And now that's not happening. You know, I'm missing.

I'm probably going to be missing it every day that they're not playing. So, yeah, like, yeah, this podcast is going to be a lot. Interesting moving forward. Like I said, I have a lot of cool ideas I'm going to be doing for the episodes. I think tomorrow we're going to have a mailbag for it. You know, see if you guys want to ask them any questions. But yeah, so I think for this next segment, I'm going to play a little bit of a game, big performance from the last couple years. And, you know, we're just going to talk about it because just how awesome performance it was.

All right, so for this little segment, you know, I know it's only in the video, it's only about a minute long, but, you know, game one, 2017 Stanley Cup final. You know, I know I talked about this in my first segment that I was going to do this for a lot of future episodes, but I really can't think of a lot to talk about for this last segment. So we're going to do one of these big moments now for the SACS segment because you know what? It was really one of my favorite moments. So here it goes. Game one, 2017 is the only got final. Tide game with the Predators 3-3. The Penguins were just getting virtually.

So I'll play. And then, of course, this... Yeah, so three minutes left. I just... Wow. I remember just watching that game and just sitting there, you know, what was I, 20, 19. So this was freshman year of college. I still can't believe I was a freshman in college then.

These years just go by so fast. These playoff runs go by so fast. I remember going up three nothing. You're like, okay, you know, games basically almost over. You know, then all of a sudden, three one. And then the quick goal is three, two, three, three. And then the penguins were just, you know, no shots. And they just kept going another minute.

you know, no shots. And then it gets to 30 minutes, no shots. And it's like, are you freaking kidding me? And then it gets to 35 minutes. And then the predators were just probably putting everything they could on Matt Murray. Matt Murray was shutting the door. And the 37 minutes gone, it was just a beautiful play. What was there?

For Mac, that beautiful touch pass from who else? You know, team dad, Matt Cullen. And then Jake Gensel just wrists it, you know, right over Pecoranese glove. You know, I remember the tweets in that game. Like, you'd be like, because of course the peccas. Penguins would score a goal 37 minutes after 90 of you have been registering a shot. And now, where, of course, proved to be the game winner. I think Benino had the MTN goal to make it 353 to go up 1-0 in the Stanley Cup final.

And, yeah, man, that was, you know, like I said, the legend of Jake Ensel was born in that playoff run. You know, the hat trick he had against the Blue Jackets especially. I think we're going to have highlights of that game coming. I'm in a future segment for Lockdown Penguins where he just torched Sergei Barovsky. but you know what? Honestly, everyone torched Sergei Brabowski when Bobovsky was on the blue jacket stuff for a penguin. He just,

he had a case, I think, of penguinitis. But yeah, just wanted to play you guys that clip. That game was just awesome in so many ways, you know, also irritating in so many ways.

And of course, you know, Jake Gensel was Jake Gensel. Also, you know, I think we all miss Jake Gensel. We all hope that he can somehow come back this season. We all know he's going to be back definitely next season. But if they can get him back,

perhaps at the late of the regular season, if this hiatus gets thwarted or sometime in the playoffs if they extend the playoffs into July or something yeah we can hopefully really get Jake Gensel back but I think they might do it for this episode of Lockdown Penguins like I said I appreciate all you guys supporting and listening to the podcast

please keep liking and subscribing to it you know please like I said everyone please stay safe with the coronavirus wash your hands a lot you know probably you know don't try to you know do a lot of airfare travel and if you do, you know, just make sure you wash your hands a little, just a bit extra. You know, I don't want you guys to get sick.

And, you know, for everyone, that's home from work for the next couple weeks, home from school. You know, I know it sucks that there's not a lot of sports in our lives, you know, of course with March Madness getting canceled as that was going to start next week, that was just a massive blow because that's one of everyone's, a lot of people's favorite things to watch during the day when they're at work or at school.

Major League Baseball is delaying their opening day the season at least two weeks. Yeah, the NBA and the show. So, yeah, I mean, I know sports is not there right now for our distraction of two and a half hours, basically every day for our teams, but you know what? Eventually

these will come back and they're going to be better than ever. Right now, you know, just probably, you know, just like I said, just spend time with your families, you know, keep listening to Lockton Penguins each day. I'm going to try to get you guys with really good creative content. You know, I try to pride myself on being more

creative than other people, but, you know, sometimes I'm not the best at being creative. But you know what? That's all going to be put to the test for, you know, the coming weeks. Tomorrow, please send them in your mailbag questions to L.O. underscore penguins or Hunter Hodes on Twitter. I really do appreciate all you guys listening. And we will have another episode tomorrow. Hopefully I do feel a bit better as my sinuses are just absolutely killing me. So, yeah, we'll talk to you guys tomorrow, well, AKA Friday.

you know, just yeah, like I say, I'm probably rambling on you know, we'll talk to you guys tomorrow.