Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins First Episode

Episode Date: September 30, 2019

Have a listen to the first episode of Locked On Penguins where Hunter dives into a couple of roster moves made by the Penguins today, including the surprise cut of Casey DeSmith, what could be coming on the horizon for another roster move, etc. He also talks about how Patric Hornqvist will need to have a bounce-back season after concussion issues from last season, as well as the new arrivals Brandon Tanev and Alex Galchenyuk.  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 the first episode for Locked-on Penguins. I'm your host Hunter Hodes. And wow, you know, still feels surreal that I get to do this on a daily basis for you guys. This will be a daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins throughout the season, off-season, whatever. You can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or however you get your podcast. Definitely also tell your friends about it. You know, the more listeners I can get or the better it can be. I'm so happy to do this. The season starts in three days, and today was a big day for the penguins,

actually around the league, I should say, with a lot of cuts being made. I think we should start there for the penguins. A very surprising cut today was Casey DeSmith being put on waivers in favor of Tristan Jari. That was, I believe, one of the big battles throughout training campbellus, who was going to back up Matt Murray going into the season, and Tristan Jari has won the job, and that was a little bit unexpected, especially after Casey DeSmith came off, excuse me, signing a multi-year extension

over this past all season to stay with the penguins. He could have gone into being a UFA through the season to choose his own destination, but he decided to stay with the penguins. And it didn't turn out. It looks like the way he wanted to as he was put on waivers in favor of Tristan Jari. And I do think that there will be teams

for Casey to Smith services. He filled in pretty fine when Matt Murray went down hurt, but, you know, I think people were making this out to be a little too much than some should think it is. I mean, yeah, he won 15 games last year. I mean, he had a 9-16 say percentage. That's about average, wooltending. I mean, you'd take that, especially if you were a backup.

But there's, I mean, I've seen a lot of takes out there today on Twitter, Penn's Twitter, about, oh, well, you know, it's bad asset management. They could have gotten something for it. Well, guys, sometimes the goalie market never really heats up. some general managers evaluate goaltenders it's so random how they do it some will give up a hefty price to get one some will give up nothing some will don't even want to trade for a backup level govotender and now that he gets his chance to go on waivers a team will most certainly claim him you know maybe it's just that oh tristan jari beat him out for the position and the penguins couldn't keep all three because that would be bad that would be bad management honestly because

there's really no need for three goalies, and they just, they cut the one loose that they didn't feel like he was going to be, he didn't win out the job. So, I mean, what can you do? So Trishonjari is going to be Matt Murray's backup, and that's going to be sure to see how he plays over a full season as a backup now. Trish and Jari, his time in the NHL, I'd say, has been limited. I mean, he's really, I mean, you don't, I mean, his 20, in the 2017-18 season, he did play 26 games.

He started 23 games. He won 14 of them. I mean, a same percentage of 908 was actually not too bad, but also very short sample sizes. He only appeared in two games last year that he started. Did not get any wins. Goals allow was over three. But, you know, this will be a good chance to see him as his first full season

as a backup to Matt Murray. And I'm sure the Penguins are obviously going to hope. I mean, everyone should hope that Matt Murray stays healthy, considering he is the league's number one goal. I mean, he is the team's number one goaltender. you don't really want to back up in too often. I mean, Jari will get about 20, 25 starts if Matt Murray is healthy for the whole season. So that was a big piece of news.

Other cuts for the penguins, Adam Johnson was sent down yesterday. That goes down to 25. He'll probably be one of the first call-ups when the penguins inevitably hit the injury bug, which happens every season. I can't really recall ever a season for the penguins in the past, what, five, seven, eight years that, you know, they haven't been hit with the injury bug because it happens. to almost every team, especially to the penguins with some of the injuries they've gone through.

Woof. And then, Zach Trotman is going to be placed on the long-term IR. I remember Mike Sullivan said he is out long-term, so that's down to 24. So there's basically one cut to be made now. Or if they really want to, they can keep John Reno,

and the nine defenseman put Brian Rust on the long-term IR, which is what Jim Rutherford. It sounds like he's going to do today, according to multiple reports out of Pittsburgh. Brian, that would mean Brian Rust, I believe, would have to miss. the first 10 games, if I'm not mistaken. I can look that up right now.

Yes, he would have to miss the first handful. Yeah, the first 9, 10 games before he can be activated. So it looks like that injury where he blocked a shot. Yeah, not good. Yeah, there it is. Yeah, he will not be available for at least 10 games in 24 days, and it will give the Penguins a short-term cap. Salad Relief, according to Dave Molinari of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports.

But also, they also could not. if he is not, you know, hurt too bad, and they could still trade Jack Johnson, which we still don't know if that's going to happen. It would make sense to still trade him, I think. It sounds like, according to Seth Rorbaugh, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, they're going to be keeping John Reno on the roster.

Jim Rutherford has been very pleased with them. It looks like all coaching staff has been pleased that fans have. And if that's the case, they're going to keep nine defensemen unless Jack Johnson is not traded, which I think it would be kind of foolish to keep nine defensemen on the team, two goalies,

and then, of course, you know, I think it would be 12 forwards. Yeah, so Jim Rutherford did say in the article to separate by that they may have to do some more cap relief somewhere. So, you know, it's still not out of the woods yet, people, you know. The Jack Johnson trade could still happen at some point throughout the season, if not before the first game. It just may not happen right now. It's still like, you know, like all everyone has been saying, I agree, does not make any sense. for him to be in the press box every night while making $3.25 million per year for the next four years, which is just a stupid contract that Jim Rutherford sign,

and now that he's trying to get out of it, and now that John Reno has basically made the team, they're kind of in a big crunch here to do something before the season, if that involves whatever that happens. So that's the news around the Penguins world today. Again, only real surprise. I think to me at least was Casey DeSmithkin. cut in favor of Tristan Jari. And yeah, we will see what happens with Jack Johnson over the next

24 hours. The penguins have to set the roster by around, I believe, 3 to 5 p.m. tomorrow. So in the next set, next handful of hours, look for something to potentially happen with that. Moving forward, I think one of the big things I would like to talk about for this coming season is the play of Patrick Cornquist. And he is going to be so important to the Penguins this season, especially after coming off, like just such a down year for his standards. And for, I think, a lot of the fan base expected, of course, a lot more of him. He only appeared in 69 games. He went through a lot of concussion issues, put up 18 goals, 37 points.

That is his lowest total of points and goals that he's had in the five seasons that he's been in Pittsburgh. Every other year, he's had 21 goals or more, 44 points or more. He's been super reliable. And the Penguins are going to hope that he can get back. to that 2016-2017 level that he showed. I mean, even 2017-18, he had 29 goals and 49 points. I mean, all those seasons where he showed that he's one of the most important players.

But, you know, of course, questions come. You know, what about his contract? You know, he's making over $5 million per year for the next handful of season. He just signed that extension. And a lot, those kinds of players, they break down a lot quicker than some of the other players in this league. And, you know, look more forward. I'm mixing up my words here, of course, but look no further than Wayne Simmons of the Philadelphia Flyers. He was one of the best net front presences in the league as well. And the last couple of seasons, after hitting 20,

20 or more goals in five straight seasons, he only had 17, he only had 17 goals last season. And after he was traded to Nashville for a pretty hefty price, only had one goal in three-point. in 17 games. I mean, he's also 31. He's very close and similar age. To Patrick Cornquist, he's only a year younger, and his play has already deteriorated. Deterated.

Mixing up my words so badly again. My apologies, but, yeah, it's just he can, I think they're going to put Hornquist on the third line to start the season. It looks like on camp, they've been experimenting him with Nick Bukstad, but honestly, Hornquist can play all around the line up any right wing spot first line second line third line fourth line obviously he's not a left winger

he's a pure right winger cindy crosbie it looks like loves playing with him um he's had good chemistry with effiggeny malkin him and buxstack did have good chemistry down the stretch um especially in the playoffs even though penguins were embarrassed and um i just i think they're going to want to experiment that a lot more this upcoming season um to see what they're going to do that they're going to want to experiment that a lot more this upcoming season um to have there because it was a limited time last season with Hornquist on the third line. He wasn't himself. Now that he's back to being himself, they can see what they have there and adjust accordingly. And, you know, I still think he will be on the top power play unless Jake Gensel replaces him,

which, I mean, that would not be a bad idea at all. Jake Gensel is lethal on the power play. I mean, for God's sake, he had 40 goals last year, and honestly, not even two. A lot of them were on the power play. He's just also a very good net front presence. Obviously not at the level that Patrick Hornquist is at, but you really can't go wrong with either one of those guys. There's been a lot of, you know, people,

some people like a hit on Hornquist, oh, well, you know, he doesn't have the zone entries per 60 or whatever, but it's like, I mean, he does so much more than that. He just, he just does so much for the penguins that, like, you just, you can't, like, I don't even sound like an old timer here that you just, you don't, like, you can't see, I guess. And, you know, everyone knows, I mean, I love looking at advanced stats. I know some of them are not kind to Patrick Cornquist, but, I mean, he's a top six, top nine winger.

He's very important to the team. He's a better, that the team is a lot better when he's in the lineup playing on his A game. And they're going to need him if they want to make the playoffs this season, especially and go deep in the Stanley Count playoffs, especially if they make it. And yeah, I think that's really, I really hit on Patrick Cornquist. Next up I think will be Matt Murray. I think obviously the big question, you know, with Matt Murray, you know, is his health. Obviously, you know, he hasn't played a full season yet for the Penguins last season.

He only played in 50 games, season before that 49, 49. So he's hovering around that 50 game mark for the regular season. But when he's on, I just, I can't think of just. too many goalies in my head. I mean, there obviously are some that are better when Murray is on his A game. And look no further. I mean, last season started off disastrous. He did not look like himself.

At a below 890 save percentage for the first couple months of the season. Went on the injured reserve with an injury. Got his way back in mid-December. And from there on out, it was lightning in the bottle for Matt Murray. He's even straight state percentage last year was actually 930 for the over. for overall, which, considering where it was at the beginning, that's nothing short of a miracle. Same for his regular state percentage, too. 919 all situations.

That's, I mean, that's awesome. I mean, I don't know what else more you can say about that. This was Murray's best say percentage since 2016, 2017, where he was 932. And he was one of the biggest reasons why the Penguins, despite faltering a little bit down the stretch with losing some games in overtime regulation, that they kept chugging along. got that playoff spot. And, you know, this is a contract year for Murray. He's going to, I think if he has the season that he had from December to the end of last season, if he does that for a whole season, we're going to be talking about $7 million per year here, folks. I don't really, I can't really

sugarcoat that. I can't really say that enough. He's going to want bank. And with the penguin's salary cap situation going into next. year. You guys think this is bad. It is way worse next season. It is not good. If you, if I pull up my cat, the cat friendly here, they have, they have a ton of UFA's RFAs to think about for next off season. I don't know why cat friendly is just being, okay, got it up. So going in the next season, Alex Galchanyuk, he will be a UFA. That's 4.9 coming off the books. Jared McCann, he will be an RFA, Dominic Cahoon, Dominic Simone, uh, just Justin Schultz, Marcus Pedersen and Yuso Ricola, along with Tristan Jari and Malmary.

And Matt Murray is making $3.75 million per year right now. Yeah, with that big increase coming, the Penguins are going to be also be, of course, be tempted to keep Justin Schultz. He makes $5.5.5 million per Alex Gautenio. There's going to be some serious implications going into next season for that contract. But, you know, I'm sure the Penguins will worry about that when it comes. All right, of course, I did forget that Dominic Simone. who is a pretty polarizing figure in the Penguins fan base. You know, you either love Maria Hatham.

Personally, I love him. He drives possession. The only thing about him that is just not that good so far is that he doesn't score. You know, even though he does get his chances, I think it's a lot of it is bad luck. I think he's going to capitalize on his chances this year playing with whoever he plays with Cindy Crosby, of Gennie Malk, and Nick Bukstad, whoever. But anyways, yeah, this will be a very interesting situation to watch. for the Penguins with Matt Murray and how he plays especially is going to see what his contract

happens next season. And yeah, I mean, that's really, I mean, that's really all I need to say on that. I think another big key this off season is, of course, you know, the Penguins are placing Phil Kessel. They did get Alex Gowchenyuk in return for him as the main piece. And Chucky, the Penguins are hoping that he can rediscover that goal-scoring touch that he had in Montreal. They like him better on the wing, though he is a pure center.

So I'm sure at times if they want to this season, if there's injuries that come up, which of course I said inevitably will be, he can move to center. But preferably they want him on the wing next to a Guine Malkin, who has had chemistry with him in the preseason so far. In two seasons with Montreal, he played there for six seasons. To those seasons, he had 20 or more goals, 46 to 56 points, and the penguins are hoping that he can get back to there, especially with being, this is,

if he any Malkin will be the best center that he's played with throughout his career. And I know last season, like, it wasn't too good for a Gat Chenyuk, 19 goals, 41 points. I mean, it was on Arizona. They don't have a ton of high-end talent like Pittsburgh does. So, and also, I think the penguins are going to be hoping a little bit, that they can re-sign him. And the only way I think that they're going to resign him, though, is that Gauchena kind of has like a down year, I'd say.

Like, well, not a down year, but like similar to what he's done the past couple seasons. You know, 40, 50 points, 19 goals. Not like a 25 to 30 goal season that he did a couple times in Montreal when he was like a little bit younger. But this is a okay possession player last couple years, though, in Arizona, Montreal. He's been below 50%. But he should be getting a lot more playing time, I would say, with Penguins. I think they're going to use him on the power play. It'll be the second power play.

I don't know if there's room for him on that top power play. There could be. They want Jake Gensel and Patrick Hornquist on there with, of course, Malkin, Latang, with Malkin, Latang, and Crosby when all they're healthy. Or they could also just put Patrick Hornquist on the second one and put Alpherson. Calh Chalcena's on their first one. They're going to flip-flop, I think, throughout the season. You know, Mike Sullivan loves to experiment sometimes when the power play is inevitably

hits a little bit of a rut. Usually, of course, the famous power play is among one of the top five best units in the league. It'll hit a rut at some point. It always does throughout the season. That's when Mike Sullivan will start to tinker with it. Would not be surprised if Al-Kau-Chemnik is on there for a little bit or for a while, and they try to get him more production that way.

But, yeah, they're hoping that he can. you know, discover that touch again, but with that, he would also outpriced himself out of Pittsburgh, I would say. He makes a little below $5 million, like I said earlier, and if he has a big season, he's going to get paid, and he will get paid very handsomely. He's only 25. He'll turn 26 this season, and some team will want to pencil him in for a six-to-eight-year contract to go into his early to mid-30s.

But we'll see what happens with guys. Cheneyuk. He's one of the players that are very intrigued to see how he transitions over to Pittsburgh, how he looks with Evgeny Malkin. Malkin looks like he's raved about him a lot in camp and vice versa with Gautchia and without Gauchenyuk raving about Malkin. So it's going to, I think it's going to be interesting. I think, you know, also I'll be curious to see who plays next to those two. It looks like the Penguins, like they have their top two lines in duo so far. Like obviously Jake Ensign and Cindy Crosby

They're going to be playing together Throughout the whole season I'd be shocked if they were Honestly ever split up Unless one obviously gets hurt And then I think Gautchenyuk and Malkin I think they're going to be together

Throughout the whole season But The right wing spot is pretty open up for grabs And I think you'll see a multitude of players rotating there You know Brian Ross when he's healthy Patrick Hornquist like I said earlier

Brandon Tanna You know, he's been getting a bit of time on Cindy Crosby's wing, though I could definitely see him moving down the lineup if it doesn't work there. Also, Jared McCann. I would like to see potentially him in the top stakes. He played a bit with Cindy Crosby and Jake Gensel last season for a little bit. They looked really good together. I would also not be surprised to see them on a line together for a lot of the season if they choose to,

if Brandon Tannum does not work on the top line. And, you know, speaking of Brandon Tanniv, I like the player. He was obviously the big contract that Jim Rutherford signed this offseason. He signed Ptana to a six-year deal worth over $3 million per year. The cap hit is, you know, it's not that bad. He's a good player. That's my opinion on it.

He's a good player. They kind of think he can resemble that Carl Hagelin-ish game, good on the penalty kill, fast, tenacious to the puck, gets puck steep, first to get. get there, create the cycle it up. But I also think, you know, they just, and if Jim Rutherford, obviously, you know, his reasoning was, well, you know, if we didn't feel so good about the player, we wouldn't have done it. Well, a six-year term for that kind of player is too much.

And that can be a contract that potentially backfires in the long haul, especially with next off season with the Penguins Cab Crunch that's going to be, like I said, not pretty. That's one word to describe it with some of the, the cap. casualties that will likely come out of it. But he can play up and down the lineup. He looks like he's going to start in Sidney Crosby's wing, as I said, a little bit ago. And I think he's up to a kind of player that's going to, he's probably going to be penciled in for about maybe, probably 15 goals this year last season in Winnipeg. He had 14 goals, 29 points and 80 games.

That's the best that he's done so far in his three-year career. He's still, he's 27. So he's out of those peak years. You know what you're kind of going to get out of them, which is, like I said, that 15 goal range. He's going to play on the penalty kill. I mean, that's what they want out of him. He can maybe play on the second power play.

Though, I doubt it. That's most likely not going to happen. I mean, the Penguins have two good players, I think, to put on the second power play with him on it. But I think most of his time, obviously, will be even strength. But I'm just, I'm just, I'm curious. to give this player a shot, I think, for the Penguins. And I think he can work

with any player, any line, and he's just, he's going to be like one of those fast players that the Penguins, I think, were missing last season. The Penguins were just a lot slower than normal, I thought, last season, especially in the playoffs. They looked slow against the Islanders. It was embarrassing to watch. They looked slow during the regular season. And I think TAN that helps in that regard. And that's how the Penguins

won those two cups in 2016, 2017, speed and scale. And with him and the bottom six and the forwards that the penguins had, this is one of the deepest groups of forwards that the penguins have had since they won the cup, those couple seasons ago.

There's not really any dead weight on the forwards. I'd probably put it up there as one of the top five best forward groups in the league. And it'll be curious to see how much depth scoring the penguins can get. Sometimes it's plagued them in the past,

especially in playoff series, where Cindy Karanzi of Guinea-Malkin have gone silent and when your star players go silent you need those depth lines and those depth scores to step up and pick up the slack and help them out and last season it didn't happen as much as they hope so this season they're hoping that they are all right i think that wraps up this first episode of locked on penguins as i said please subscribe to it on iTunes spotify however you get this podcast and we'll have another episode coming up soon um one of my very very good friends jeff kemovich is going to be coming on the podcast in the next couple of days to offer his insight on what he thinks the team is going to do

this season um jack johnson talk potat probably some trade talk all that good stuff so just keep it right here here on lockdown penguins talk to you guys soon