Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Looking at another right shot defenseman target for the bottom pairing...

Episode Date: October 15, 2020

Another day, another new guest joins Locked On Penguins and this time, it's Doug Glattke (Doug_Glattke) from Penguins Twitter. Hunter has Doug give him his thoughts on the new-look third line and if the Penguins have done enough for their bottom six, plus Doug has a defensive target in mind to challenge Chad Ruhwedel for the number six spot on the depth chart. How has he done throughout his career? Was he misused during his time with his former team? Doug answers those questions, plus gives his thoughts on who should have the last spot on the Penguins top power play unit between Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen. All that, plus much more on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.Door DashRight now, our listeners can get $5 off and zero delivery fees on their first order of $15 or more, when you download the DoorDash app and enter code LOCKEDONNHL.RomanGo to getroman.com/lockedon TODAY. If approved, you’ll get fifteen dollars off your first orderof ED treatment. 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 edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow those shows, Twitter at L-O-U-U-Nusquare Penguins. Today, we have another very special guest joining the podcast. He has not been on the podcast before, but there is Doug Glatky of Penguins' Twitter. He is a great follow for you all. He does a lot of really good Penguins' tweets.

Doug, man, how you doing today? Good, Hunter. How are you doing, buddy? I'm not doing too, too bad. You know, the free agency is starting to die down a little bit. So we're getting, I guess, some slow times here in the annual offseason, but anything can happen at any point. So that's just what I'm remembering.

So, I mean, let's just get on into it with the penguins. They've obviously had a very busy offseason more so than a lot of other teams. Would you say today that the penguins are a better team than they were when they lost to the Canadians with all the roster turnover that's happened? I think that they're way better. it's just the issue is some of the guys that they're going to plug into these roles that were like occupied by like hornquists and other guys they seem very unproven and you know i think the big one for me the big question marks going to be mark jankowski

but i've already talked myself into that uh signing i think i really like it and i think that he could work out but you know the big thing is is they're a better team than they were leaving the bubble because they got, they bought out Jack Johnson. Yeah. You know, and he's, like, we all know, he's horrible. We've been beating the dead horse for two years now. Yeah. It's finally over.

And I think we're going to see a lot better results on the ice since he's gone. Yeah. I agree with you on that. I think the defense is much improved, especially on that third pairing. We can talk forever about Mike Matheson and, you know, the contract that he has for six more years at over four million per and out if he's worth that. That's a discussion for I think another day. The fact of the matter is is that he's an upgrade over Johnson. That's all that matters.

And then Chad Roodle, anyone's an upgrade over how Justin Schultz was playing this past season. I mean, the Penguins bad-mouthed him out the door. And then, of course, he goes to the Washington Capitals. They're going to be playing him in the top four, which is not wise, as I would say. But, you know, to your point about Chankelski, too, I think the big thing with that signing is what version are they going to get of him? Are they going to get the version of him that had five goals and seven points this last season and they didn't really do anything offensively?

Or are they going to get the version of them from the last couple of season before that where he had 14 to 17 goals, almost 30 points in a bottom six roll to Calgary Flames? I mean, obviously you're hoping for the latter and not the former. And if they can get the latter in that 14 to 17 goals while he plays next to Jared McCann, I think Mechanic's center is better than he is on the wing. I think your third line is much improved, but they're really banking on him, just getting that level back that he had in 2017, 18, and 2018-19.

I think I'm willing to bet on him going back to the 14-17 goal form because that year he was playing with James Neal. And, you know, you're just going to get, even though Neil struggled in Calgary, you're going to get more offensive production by default, playing with a good player rather than you are, you know, this past year where he was playing, I think his most common linemates were Zach Ronaldo and Toby Reeder. Jesus Christ.

And yeah, you know, nothing against those guys. But like, when you're playing with those two, there's no potential to produce offense. And I think that that's just as a result, that's going to make him have a better outcome. obviously with McCann. Right now they're San Rodriguez, but I'm telling you, man, I think that Sam Pullen's going to make this roster and he's going to be that third right winger

until, you know, something happens where he can go up with Sid. Yeah, that's the big wild card, I think. You know, a lot of people have Pullen making this team. I wouldn't be surprised if he did. I also wouldn't be surprised if he didn't and they want him to get in the H.L. another year just for his development. I think I've just been seeing some takes on Penguins' Twitter

about, you know, how he can potentially produced really well in his first season. I think those are a little ill-advised just because of, you know, I've seen some stats of some draft picks that high, and they haven't produced as well as some people have hoped for. So, I mean, you're probably looking at a third-line producing rate for pool, and maybe even less for his first year. You know, people want him to play in the top six. Not really sure I would do that right away. You know, I think I agree with you. You can probably play him on the third line. Bump Rodriguez down to the fourth line, because Aston Reese is not going to be available for the start of the season. I think he's not.

He's not going to be back until February, March, if I'm not mistaken, with that surgery that he had. So it is going to be interesting to see if he does make this team, like I said, it wouldn't surprise me one way or the other. I just, I hope he has a really good camp and that he impresses the coaching staff because he is the one big wild card for this team going into the season. And if he does have good production and he's a boom this season, that's good production on an ELC. And that's exactly what this team needs, especially with the emergence of John Marino. He's still on a very cheap contract right now. And I think after this year, he's going to be getting all the money, too. So, I mean, the more players on the ELC, the better with the penguins just because of how much they spend up to the salary cap.

Yeah, and I think it's something that you try and gamble with, just throwing him in a third-line role and see how he does. Like, I think that you take the 10-game tryout route, and if he blows it out of the water in those 10-game, you make the decision to keep them up there because I like Evan Rodriguez but I don't like him in a third line capacity I think that he's one of those guys like he's a perfect filler guy for if somebody's injured on that

blue girl acid Rys Tanev line and you know the same goes for Sam Lafferty I don't like him in a third line rule either I think that you know if Poland can come up and produce in a third line capacity that just gives them another weapon in their top nine. And when I say move up with Crosby,

I mean like, say we're getting towards like the stretch run going into March going into potentially like playoff mode here. I think you switch him in Cappy if Cappy isn't so hot. And you make your top line better by putting pulling there.

And then I just think a line of McCann, Jan Calski and Cappin would absolutely just destroy people. Yeah. I think that you make a good point there with Capon and potentially moving down and pool and moving up if he's producing well. I know some people are not that high on Capitan in the top six. I know he struggled this past season with Tavares and Nylander and Marner and Matthews. I think he rotated between those two lines and his production wasn't as good.

And, you know, if you can't produce with Sidney Crosby, you're going to be moved down the lineup. You saw players over the years that have done that. I mean, Dominic Simone was moved up and down the lineup at will. You know, he would produce and then not. So, I mean, I agree. I think McCann with Caputon on the third line would be absolutely lethal. Will they do that?

I'm not sure. It's just, there's a lot of interesting, you know, wild cards at play here for the Penguins. They can do a lot with this lineup. Obviously, you're not going to really touch the Zucker with Malkin and Rust Line. Jake Gensel is going to be stapled next to Crosby. But, you know, that right wing spot, it's open for grabs. And I'm going to be curious to see who can get it. And, you know, I was going to ask you your thoughts on Evan Rodriguez on the third line,

but you already said that before I could ask. I'm not really too big of a third line of Jenkowski, McKinan, and Rodriguez. I think that's just too, like, there's not a lot of offense that's going to come from that line. And I think McCann needs more players that are just have high upside offensively next to him than players such as Jenkowski or Rodriguez who are mostly just defense first, which is why I honestly wanted them to go out and target Yesper Foss, who, of course, signed three years for two million. per. I wish the Penguins would have done that.

And then, you know, Craig Smith goes out and signs a contract for barely even $3 million per season. So I'm still a little bit jammed about that, too. So, I mean, that's not to say that these signings are bad. I think they're perfectly fine. I just think, you know, when you have an opportunity to update over those and you really didn't have to do those two splashes right away, I think John Rutherford kind of should have waited to see how the market played out because it did not play out. I think the way some people thought it would. Yeah, there's been a lot of surprising really cheap deals,

you know, especially with like right-handed defensemen. Like, we could have filled that third pairing role and put Ruiedel back into a seven or eight capacity and let that be like a luxury to the team, you know, because Trevor Van Riemsley only got like 800,000 by the capitals.

And the treasel Troy Stetcher contract just kills me with him going to Detroit for two years at 1.7. That would have been perfect for them. And, you know, I think a big thing that, like, kind of strapped them down a little bit was needing to retain on Nick Bukstad. That extra $2 million could have really, really helped them in this market. And then, you know, Colton Severe as well, you know, that, that extra. $3.3 million could have really went a long way in this free agency. Yeah, I'm not really sure what to make of Steve here on the team, to be honest.

I was talking about this the other day on the podcast by myself. He's just kind of there. I compared him to the Knicks falling in the return for the Hornquist and Neil Trade. You know, he came back, but like where are you going to play him? And then I honestly just see them dumping him after like a year if he doesn't grow. I know he has good, I think, expected goals numbers and his possession's not bad. So they're obviously going to play him in a lineup with Aston viz hurt on the third or fourth line. It's just like, I don't know if he's going to be here this whole season.

That's the thing. I think he could be potentially dumped at some point this next season if the penguins go out and make another trade, which I'm sure Jim Rutherford will do. But before we do get to the next segment, Doug, it's time to talk about rockadole.com. It's a friendly business serving auto park customers online for 20 years. You can go to rockahill.com to shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers. The catalog is unique and remarkably easy to navigate. You can quickly see all the parts of the bill for your vehicle and use the brands. specifications and prices you prefer. You can go to rockadoad.com right now

and see all the parts available for your car or truck and you can ride locked on in their How Did You Hear About Us Box to the new we sent you. Amazing selection, regular low prices. All the parts you cover will ever need. That is rock auto.com. Okay, Doug, so there's obviously another big storyline that was

going around the penguins this off season and you have to bring it up just because it's been going around the last couple weeks. The Mark Andre Fleury Circus, of course, Vegas signed Leonard to a five-year deal, 25 million, he's going to be getting 5 million per season. Look at those awesome first grade math skills by yours truly. And, you know, all the talk about Flurry, you know, where's it going to go? You know, he wants to start. Is there going to be a return to Pittsburgh? We've

seen Rob Ross, he talked about it a lot on his Twitter. We've seen a few others in the Pittsburgh Sports Media talk about it on their Twitter, too. Where were you in that camp? And because, and I asked this just because I just didn't see a need for it, and why would you move assets to get someone like that who really is not an upgrade to your backup position. I honestly would die on that hill until whenever. Yeah, my thing is with all of this is why would you do that to Tristan Jari? If you're Jim Rutherford. Like, why would you put him in that position where he's going to be overshadowed by Flurry

and, you know, his band of fans? You know, like, the only thing that Tristan Jari has going for himself with like, a fan-likeness perspective is the fact that he isn't Matt Murray. Yeah. So that's basically the best way to put it. Yeah. Like, you know, yeah, he made the All-Star game. Yeah, he had a nice 25, 30 game stretch there.

But, you know, and he's cheaper. Like, he's not going to make $6.25 million against the cap next year, which is big. I mean, shout out to Murray for getting his, for getting the bag there. He's set for life now. Yeah, man, he's set. And I think, you know, as that contract's getting ready to end, Ottawa's going to be starting to get a lot better. And they'll probably end up paying them even more money to set.

Yeah, I agree. And, you know, I just don't want them to treat Jolly the same way they treated Murray, especially when Murray took Flurry's job, you know, just all the garbage takes. Oh, my God, why is Flurry out? Put him back in. Matt Murray stinks. His glove hand stinks. He doesn't smile a lot.

He doesn't prank. anyone. Just all that narrative garbage takes that we saw on Penguin's Twitter. Just, you know, I honestly compared it. I said this on my Twitter. You know, just a bunch of 16-year-olds that started watching the team when they were bored in like 2003 or something like that. You know, they got into the team when they were young in 2009 when they were six years old or something. And it's just like, I've had enough of it. I really don't need to see any more of these takes. And, you know, and that's the last thing Jari needs. He lets in a bad goal. He has one bad start.

Oh my God, Stark Mark Andre Fleury. Oh, he needs to start for the rest of the season. And it's just like, yeah, no thanks. I'm perfectly fine with running Casey to Smith. And I talked about this too, you know, a lot this last week. Your go-tending tandem with Jari and to Smith, it's really cheap, which is what a cap, what team that spends up to the salary cap needs, I think. Yeah, I think that, you know, tying up 4.75 between the two of them is really good

because that year that DeSmith was in the NHL, the full year, he had really good numbers. And he was getting a lot of, I feel like he took a lot of opportunities away from Matt Murray just because of how good his play was in that season. And then, you know, the Penguins really lucked out with nobody claiming him on waivers at the end of training camp last year. And it's kind of set us up to be able to be in this position that we are right now. now. Yeah, I 100% agree. And you can just lift him up to the NHL squad and it's perfectly fine. And I think they just signed another goalie to play in the NHL alongside with Larmi, I think, is down in Workfare. I think he's the starter right now when to Smith that's going to be called up. So, I mean, that's your tandem down there. They're obviously going to promote

to Smith. There's just no need to go out and get Mark Andre Florey. So, you know, I had to ask about that. Also, you know, before we do get to our next commercial break in the next couple of minutes. Do you see the team doing anything else in free agency or trades? I mean, I know Jim Rutherford said to the media the last couple of days, yeah, we're going to just lay it out the next couple days, see what comes along. And if something does come along during that time or during any time to upgrade our team, we're obviously going to do it. I mean, I would believe that just because he makes trades out of his ass. But do you see them doing anything else, adding a defenseman or adding a four or anything.

So I'm very well-versed in, like, the Maple Leafs as well. And if they need to keep shedding salary cap to sign a couple of their guys, I know they still have to sign Dermit, Nileya McKeough, they need to try and look into Justin Hall. You know, I think that that would be a really solid acquisition because he only makes $2 million. The penguins have the cap space to handle it. I think that that could easily be the trade that you move Colton Severe out in as well. And it's one of those things where it's like if you can get somebody who's a right-hand shot

who defensively might possibly be on the same level as Pedersen and Dumlin, you have to do it. Yeah. That is honestly a name that I had not considered yet. I'm glad you brought that up. I honestly came out of left field. 28 years old. 68 games. So he basically played a full season before the pause.

18 points. His possession is around 51% overall for his career, almost 52%, which is pretty awesome. And that was his first full season in the league, as I'm looking at this right now. I honestly don't know a lot about him, but it looks like he can move the puck up the ice well. Him and Ruudel would battle for that sixth spot. I mean, I agree with you. I think that would be a really interesting battle in training camp. and if he can move the pocket and put up those possession numbers again for another full season, you can get them for cheap, I would guess. So that would be, I think, a slam dunk for the penguins if they can do it.

Yeah, and I think that his possession numbers would get better because the sample size would be much smaller because he'd be playing in a third pairing capacity. Because last year, a lot of his time, he was spent on the second pair playing with Jake Muzon. So I think that if you play him with whether it be Mathsenter play, or POJ, I think that that's just going to be a home run. And especially if you're playing with Matheson, it would be like he'd be the yin to Mike Matheson gang in terms of

Matheson can just go and take chances offensively with Hall just being back there, playing center field and, you know, making sure that everything's okay back there. Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't mind that at all, especially because I think Matheson and him would be a common interpairing. It would be a hell of a lot better than Johnson and Schultz, but I mean, how can you get worse from that? To be honest, when that pairing was on the ice for like 80% of the goals

during the series against Montreal. I mean, especially Johnson. I think he was on the ice for five of six, even strength goals. So I wouldn't mind that at all. I think Ruido could potentially beat him out. I think people are sleeping on Ruudel a bit. It still wouldn't surprise me if he was the number six defenseman next season. But bringing in some competition for him, you know,

especially a player that had almost 20 points last season in his first full season in the league with Toronto. That would be prudent. You get him for cheap. like what a million or something, if that, and the Penguins still has some salary cap space, I would be definitely all for that. But before we do get to our next segment,

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That's promote code locked for $20 off at Bilko.com. Let's go. Okay, so we only have a few more minutes left for this show. I just wanted to just get your take on a couple things. You know, I've been seeing, you know, Danny Shire Irving, who I've had on this podcast before. He's been tweeting out a lot of these underlying number charts, which are just awesome.

I love looking at them. And, you know, a player that, you know, I think not a lot of people are talking about enough that's in the top six next season is Jason Zucker. It was basically a point per game player. He was lethal next to Crosby. He was lethal next to Malkin. I think of all the players in that top six outside of Crosby and Malkin, he's the one I'm most excited for just because he was also one of their best players, if not their best player in the bubble in that series against Montreal. Yeah, I totally agree.

and I'm looking at the visual from Danny right now where with and without Jack Johnson, the CF percentage goes up 16%, which means we're going to get a lot more offensive output from Jason Zucker. I wouldn't be surprised if that is if we play a full season. Like say we play a full 82 gamer, I would not be surprised if he scores between 30 and 35 goals. that would that would be obviously the best case scenario i'm definitely penciling him in for 20 to 25

but if he can go 30 35 get like 65 70 point season i mean i think that's best case scenario that would just be meant on many levels i would absolutely love that yeah i think that him and malkin could easily get a connection going where it was uh where where it used to be like with malkin and neal where they were both just automatic. I think that they can... I think Zoker plays very well off of Malkins game and it's a good compliment to his playing style. And having Russ there, too,

I mean, he scored like 60-something points last year, had a great breakout season. I just think that this top six is going to be really talented. And if we can figure out the third line, we're going to be a good shape. Yeah, it's one of the best top six in the league. You probably can't name

five better, to be honest. I mean, Tampa Bay, Boston, obviously. But I mean, outside of that, I mean, Vegas, I think, too, even though they lost Dastony. But there's not many top sixes that are better than this unit. So, yeah, I'm just really stoked to see Zucker in a full season here.

And lastly, before we have this episode, end, what do you think this ceiling is for this team next season? I've been seeing a lot of takes on Penguins' Twitter the last couple of days. You know, they had some smart editions. You know, with the captain in one, but they could be just a second round exit

just because Boston, Tampa Bay are still really freaking good. Tampa Bay, obviously, the defending champions, they're going to be loaded at every position, even though they're going to have to deal potentially Coulorn, Yanni Gord, Andre Palat, just to sign their RFAs. I'm hoping still a team offer sheets, one of their

RFAs, but it looks like that's probably not going to happen at this point. And Boston, of course, is just awesome, too. But what do you think the ceiling is for this team? Do you think they're in the elite for contention? I think that they're going to be a legitimate

cup contender. It reminds me a lot of this reminds me a lot of the offseason between the 16 cup run where you know there's a lot of unpopular moves going on but they're better for it.

Like for instance people weren't completely sold on Nick Benina when he first got here. I think that Jan Kalkowski is very much in the same boat as that where he could have a nice little offensive uptick and be a great player, especially in the playoffs. And I think that this is one of those teams where

it's going to get to a point in the year where you think they're done and then it's like holy hell they finished like second or third in their division. They have homies. I think they're definitely a contender to win the Metro next season. I mean, everyone says that, but then the Washington Capitals, usually just run away with it

where they just get it at the end. I mean, the Metro is getting better. I think Philly is still a good team, but, I mean, I don't know if they're at the contender status yet. The Islanders are still the Islanders. Barry Trotz is still the top five coach in the league, even though they just traded

Devon Taves. They still have the talent. They buy into his boring system. I mean, that's what it is. It's a boring system, but, you know, it's very effective. The Devils have made some fine moves, Columbus, I'm not really sure what to make of them, but it's going to be a very competitive

division. I sold the Penguins making the playoffs. I mean, the good thing is, though, man, like, the fact that they got rid of Johnson, if they would have had Johnson going on to the team next season, I think you would have seen a lot of people saying that they would have missed the playoffs just because of him on the roster. And honestly, I wouldn't have blamed people for that, just because I really drags everyone down. But thank God that's not the case, and Jane Rutherford finally came to his senses.

But, oh, one more question actually popped in before I did let you go. It was about the Zucker thing. You know, for the Penguins power play next season, you're obviously going to have Crosby, Malkin, Latang, and Gensel. Would you have Zucker as the fifth guy on that unit, or would you potentially put someone on there, like Cappin or a second defenseman? So I would like them to put Zooker there. I think that him and Jake can kind of piggyback the net front role.

But also, I think that they're just going to throw Cappin in there. you know, this remind, Capitan reminds me of one of those moves that Jim makes where he's gonna, him and Sully are gonna work together and give Capitan every chance he needs to succeed. So

I wouldn't be surprised if we see him getting top power play minutes. He's obviously going to be penciled in on the top line with Crosby and Gensel. And I think he's a good P.K. or two, so he's probably gonna get some PK time. but if it were up to me

I would have Zooker there as the fifth guy maybe being a trigger man in the slot and just let him rip it Yeah And I agree with you on that He was good on the power play In the series against Montreal

I think both of his goals No I know one of them definitely came on the power I think that was the game three Where they got it two to one I think that was the second unit was on the ace When he was C score the power play goal And he's just He's just everywhere on that unit

It almost feels like the unit goes through him when he's on the ice when Marino didn't have the puck. And I would definitely like to see him promoted to that top half-play unit. But, Doug, thanks for all the insight to coming on this podcast. This was a ton of fun. I'm definitely going to have you on in the future as we get closer to the start of the season. It looks like it's going to be January. But if the penguins do make some more moves this offseason, I'm definitely going to have you on as well. So thank you so much for coming on.

Oh, yeah, man. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. Yeah, absolutely. There will be another episode coming tomorrow. That'll be Friday for the for the Locked on Penguins podcast. So I will talk to you all then. Help you all have a great rest of your day.