Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - NHL Officiating has reached peak levels of bad

Episode Date: June 21, 2021

We're approaching 300 episodes for the Locked On Penguins podcast and the fun definitely doesn't stop there. Hunter brings the heat to start today's episode with a long rant on NHL Officiating, especially after the gong show we saw last night in Vegas-Montreal. What can the league do moving forward to stop this? Do the officials need to be made available to the media after the game? Will this stop the growth of the sport in a way? Those are all questions Hunter tackles, plus he gives his take on whether it was the right call to go to Robin Lehner in Game 4. After that, he recaps Kasperi Kapanen's season and why some fans need to be wary of him going into next season. Where will the regression likely stem from? Finally, we get to more expansion talk as Hunter brings up who he thinks Penguins management will prioritize for the protected list and how this could open up some interesting cap-related questions this offseason.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you 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.

You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey everyone, welcome to this Monday afternoon episode of the Locked-On Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. In order to follow me on Twitter at Hanna-Hoddy's. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Onus Quanguins, we're back this week with another episode for this podcast. I have a lot to get to for today's episode. a lot of it is going to be talking about the two semi-final series, you know, as both are tied

two games apiece. I am going to have a bit of a rant on an H.L. officiating because it reared its ugly head again last night as it has been virtually all playoffs long, but I think it's really starting to be a main talking point in every single game now. And I think I'm really just sick and tired of it because the scale of the players in the sport is the highest that it's honestly ever been. You know, there's no dead puck era and anything along those lines. And to see it just continually get, you know, creator down to, you know, what's been going on lately.

It's just absolutely ridiculous. We're also going to talk about Kaspari Kaepinianzis and what you can expect from him moving forward. I also wrote an article today for Last World on hockey looking at what I think the organization will do in the expansion draft. So I'll talk about that as well. And we'll also preview game five for both of the series. the Stanley Cup semipaninal series. That is. But, okay, let's get into the playoffs so far.

Just, you know, touch on a little bit of a recap in case you all are not following. I understand that a lot of fans don't really pay attention to hockey once the Pittsburgh Penguins go out. You know, I used to be one of those people. But now, as I've gotten older, and, you know, my love for hockey has grown. I like to watch a lot of different teams that I'm well versed around the league, you know, and not just the Penguins. But Vegas got a big win last night against the Canadians to tie the series of two. It looked like for a while there that,

Montreal was going to go up three games to one, which basically would have been curtains. I think Montreal would have went to the final had they won that game. But Vegas did wake up late in the third period to tie the game with McNabb. And then Nicholas Roy won in overtime just about a minute in to send this series back to Vegas. Tad to two games apiece in case anyone was living under a rock. Mark Andre 3 was benched for game 4 after that horrible gaffe in game 3 where it looked like Vegas was about to go up two games to one.

There was less than two minutes to go. tries to play the puck behind the net and then Josh Anderson has a tap in as he was able to corral the puck and then just put it right into the goal. That was very similar I thought and Chad tweeted us out from the 4-1-2 sports talk and I will also want to say

before I get any further. Congratulations to both him and Eddie. They are now part of DK Pittsburgh Sports or their show is if you are a lover of Pittsburgh Sports not just the Penguins, please listen and subscribe to their podcast. They bring some of the greatest content that this city has to offer

And I've been very fortunate that I've been able to go on their show and they've been able to come on here from some crossover promotions. So there's so much content in the Pittsburgh sports area right now, not just, you know, for the athletic and, you know, DK's site or, you know, other areas. You know, you have, you know, Zach and Tyler do a great job with around the 4-1-2, and, you know, I'm sure I'm forgetting so many others. So, I'm subscribed to their content because this is just the tip of the iceberg. I really think, you know, the Nick and Nick show, et cetera, et cetera. But go back to what I was saying, you know, that is who Mark Andre Fleury is in the playoffs. You know, he's a great goaltender. He's probably better than I give him credit for it.

And I loved Flurry growing up. But he'll have gaffs like that, which, you know, it takes you back to 2010 and 2012. And, you know, the one of that really reminded me of was 2014 game four against the jackets when Columbus stole the puck behind the net. There was less than 30 seconds to go. Dubinsky's able to tie it with 22 to go. And then I think Falino wins the game. only three minutes into overtime on a shot from like almost 50 feet out.

And, you know, that's just, that's what happens with Mark Andre Fleury. You know, he gives up a goal like that. And then in overtime, Montreal wins it because he overplays the puck. And then Anderson has another wide open net. And that's just, like I said, that's who Mark Andre Fleury is. You take the good with the good, obviously, but you also have to take the bad with the bad. He's not going to change. He has not changed at all playing the puck for the last decade.

And, you know, Vegas is going to have to get used to that. I think with regards to benching him, I think it was maybe a bit rash, but it did work with Pete Devor. Robin Linder only allowed one goal last night to Paul Byron, who I can't even believe was not claimed on waivers. It's just ridiculous that he was not. Now they face a really intriguing decision for game five. In my opinion, I think you should keep riding Lennar.

He won you game four. He only gave up one goal in which I think Montreal was the much better team in that game. That was honestly probably their best game of the series, and Vegas survived it. So I still think they should go to Lentner for game five, though. It would not surprise me if they did to go back to Mark Andrefler. I'm still going to stick with Vegas and 6, though. Montreal is definitely giving them all they can handle. I've been definitely really surprised at how Montreal has played in this series.

And before I get into the ref stuff, you know, the Islanders, what a play by Ryan Bullock. That was a full-on Rob Skidari save from Game 6 to 2009 against Detroit. McDonough had a wide open net. That game was probably about to go to overtime, is it's going to be a buzzer beater? Polack says no, and the Islanders continue to have this horseshoe so far up their ass. It's honestly just insane at this point. This series shifts back to Tampa tonight.

That's what in game five will be, as we'll try to see if for the third consecutive series, the Islanders, after going down two games to one, will go up three games to two going back to the Nassau Coliseum. I'm still going to stick with Tampa Bay in six. I do think that they are the better team, but, you know, the Islanders have not given a damn about them the last two series, and especially against the Penguins,

where, you know, they went into Pittsburgh, stole a game, they had no business winning, and then basically did the same thing in games like as Tristanjari obviously vomited all over himself. But to go into this officiating rant a bit, it honestly is just a joke what NHL officiating has become. Watching that game last night between Montreal and Vegas, it was disturbing.

I mean, you had that whole incident with, what, McNabb and Suzuki at the tail end of the period. McNabb's just going after Suzuki, giving him punches to the face, Sizukey's giving him wax and then Chris Lee wants time to roll down to the period doesn't call a penalty. He actually lets play continue for about 20 seconds. And then after that, he didn't call a penalty for the next 35 minutes of the game. And then, you know, even before that, when they did call a penalty, it was this simple little baby slash that, you know, gets ignored. 99 other times during the game, but then the other time it happens, they call it.

And I mean, it's just like, where is the freaking consistency with this? You know, this is so huge for the future of this league. You have two huge TV platforms taking over your TV rights next year. You know, ESPN, obviously, the worldwide leader in sports. They're putting together, it looks like a pretty good broadcasting. You are probably going to have people call out the officiating in that broadcast. You know, Turner Sports, I know they're not putting together, you know, the best beat package, but it's still a pretty big TV service.

I mean, they have that inside the NBA show, which is one of the best things in sports. They have a lot of good caller commentator and play-by-play announcers, and you also have expansion to sell to new fans. And, you know, I don't think a lot of new fans are going to like the way these games are being called. And obviously, this is not on the officials, I would say. It's mainly on the league. This is how they want the games to be called because a lot of the people in the NHL's front office are people, that, you know, there are those grind players that didn't have a lot of skill that hacked and waxed players like Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky and Mike Hubbossie and Bobby Hole and Brett

hole and, you know, et cetera, et cetera. So they like this stuff. They liked, you know, the dead puck era from the 90s and the 2000s where, you know, it was just a slog and, you know, you kind of are seeing this in these two series. You know, you have a Vegas team that, you know, it's a sprint with them and they like to wear you down and it's speed and skill versus a team in Montreal that, you know, it's a slog. Their defense first hockey, they're going to try to win games one-nothing and two-to-one because that's their system and they're going to stick to it. And it's kind of the same way with Tampa versus New York, where the Tampa Bay, you know,

they're that elite skating team. They're fast and skilled. And then the Islanders, they're not that. You know, all their games are a slog. I mean, sure, they forecheck hard and they defend well. But, you know, that's Barry Trots hockey. You know, it's kind of a little bit like a mini version of the devils from the 90s and the 2000s.

And the fact that the NHL lets some of these teams, get away with it, you know, to create this parody and, you know, to keep the games closer than what they should be. It's just a joke. And there honestly just needs to continue to be more consistency with these calls. You know, as the game goes on, the rules should not all of a sudden tighten, you know, if you're calling something in the first period, you need to call it in the second period, you need to call it in the second period, you need to call it in overtime. You just need to call the frickin rule book. You saw, you saw Gordon Miller last night tweeting this out, and I completely agree with this. You know, he's one of the best announcers for TSN. He says,

it's time for reset. Call the rulebook. A penalty in the first minute of the first period is a penalty in the last minute of their overtime. Expecting officials to manage the game does not work. Call the penalties, the players will adjust. I agree with Gord on that. The players will adjust.

Sir some people in NHL front offices are not going to like it, but you know what? Who gives a shit at this point? I'm sorry for my language, but I'm tired of seeing this every single game and seeing this talked about after every single game when, you know, there's two really good series going on right now.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champions, trying to do something that only one team has done in the last 20 years in the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that is repeat. I mean, that is very freaking hard to do. You have the New York Islanders giving them everything they can handle and have a coach in Barry Trots who's trying to get back to the Stanley Cup final for the second time in what? Four seasons? You have a great underdog story in the Montreal Canadiens. No one expected them to be within two wins of going to the Stanley Cup final. And then you have an expansion team from just three to 40 years ago and is trying to win their first. first Stanley Cup and not even five years in the existence. And that's not, and those are not even

the main, you know, talking points about these series. It's just been the officiating. And I'm tired of it. I know a lot of other people are tired of it as well, especially with people I talk to. And, you know, I obviously I saw Brian Boucher's, you know, tweet last night, go, stop crying about officiating, bro, stop crying about, you know. Okay, like, I'd give it some credit as Pat Damp says from KDCA, even if you were an outlier, but, you know, this is every single game that we're talking about the officiating and with it being so bad. And I always, I always, also do want to say this before I move on. There is no bias against one team and, you know, the refs aren't out to get you.

They are just bad at their jobs. This happens to every team, every single night. There's no, you know, the refs wanting another certain team to lose or a certain team to win. It's never been like that. But again, I would understand Brian Boucher's tweet from NBC if this were, you know, an outlier, you know, we're talking about this, you know, once a week or, you know, once every couple weeks or, you know, maybe even once a month. but the fact that we're having this discussion every single freaking day during the playoffs, it's tiring.

The league needs to get this under control going into next season because, again, as I've said, a lot of people, myself included, are tired of it and they can't think that this status quo is okay. Again, an idea that I floated around a few weeks ago, make the officials available to the media after the games. I mean, this is not hard. You know, make them answer questions from the media about why they're not calling stuff. make them answer questions about why they made this call or, you know, etc, etc. That is what they need to do, but the NHL, they are a bunch of cowards, and they're not going to do that because they don't think the officials should answer

for what they did or did not do. But this is just a tirefire. I'm tired of talking about it. I'm sorry I went on a long rant here, but it's just, I'm sick of this, and they need to get this under control going in next season because they will lose fans if this continues to happen on a nightly basis, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I understand that the games get tighter, you know,

They're more contested than games in the regular season, but if you're calling a penalty during the early portions of the regular season, you need to call that penalty during any time in the Stanley Cup playoffs or any time during a game in the playoffs. At least that's just how I look at it. But, okay, before we do get to the next segment, it's time to talk about Billapar, they have nine delicious flavors plus the occasional limited time flavor. When you talk to a Bilpar friend, they're definitely passionate about their favorites.

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I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. 100 score penguins. Let's get into the season review of Kaspian. So this was definitely an interesting season for him. Obviously, you know, if you look at his stats, you know, the biggest thing that jumps out with you.

Shot at 16.2% at all situations this year. That is a career high from him. He never even got to above 13% for his career coming into this season. So definitely a bit of an outlier. 10 of his 11 goals were at 5. 85 had 30 points in 40 games. So average, what, you know, almost a point per game this year for, this was the closest he had been to a point per game player throughout his career.

You know, last season, 36 points and 69 games with the Leafs. The season before that, which was probably his best season, 20 goals, 44 points in 78 games. If you look at his on-a-stats starting with the playoffs, it was on the ice for 53% of the Sean attempts. His expected goal score was not good, around 41%. So the biggest thing with Kavis stats, starting with Kavis, happened, I think, this season was that he was capitalizing on the chances that he was getting,

even though some of the underlying numbers were not that good. You know, if you look at scoring chances for in the playoffs, it was only on the ice for 49.3%. And if you look at high danger, it was way worse, was only on the ice for 11 high danger chances for 22 high danger chances against. Now, if we go to the regular season in the 40 games that he played this year, only was on the ice for 50% of the shot attempts, was on the ice for 64.7 of the actual goals for, you know, let me rephrase that. When Capitan was on the East of Pittsburgh at 64.7% of the actual goals. But if you look at his expected goals, only at 47.5% this year.

He actually conceded more chances against than he did for 211, 4, 230 against, for 47.8 scoring chances for percentage. And he also lost the battle for high danger as well at 46.3% high danger chances for when he was on the ice. But again, you know, the actual high danger goals for when he was on the ice, 20 goals for, nine against for almost 69%. But, you know, if you just look at the chances for 46.3%. So what is this saying for those that don't understand me?

It's basically that, you know, again, he was capitalizing on the chances that he did get, even though he was conceding a lot the other way. And he also banked on a very high shooting percentage here. Yes, he did live up to being traded for a top 15 pick, definitely eat some crow on that, but should we expect him to do that again next season? I'm not sure. I mean, 30 points and 40 games. I mean, over an 82 game season, that's what, you know, a 60 points, basically 61 points in 82 games. I'm not sure that Kaepinan is a 30 goal, you know, 30 assist player, you know, or even, you know, 20 goals, 40 assists kind of player in this league.

I think what you're more looking at next year is probably around 40 to 45 points, maybe averaging half a point per game as he goes into his contract here. and he's definitely not going to shoot 16% next year. I mean, he definitely, I think, will capitalize on some chances, but it's not going to be basically every chance he gets going into the offensive zone. And he also does need to do a better job of not getting caved in on a nightly basis. I know playing with Evgeny Malkin, he's not the best defensive player on the team, even though he is a world-class player,

but he does need to do a better job defensively in his own zone and not getting caved in almost every shift, even though, you know, he did balance it out with getting quite a big, of chances in finishing those chances throughout the season. But I think that's why I think is going to happen with Caputin next year, mainly looking at maybe I think many goals, 20 assists around 40 points, 2025 maybe. I guess that's around 45 points.

That's just my guess, I think, for him next season. I don't think that he will be back after next season. I think he's going to price himself out from Pittsburgh, especially because they're not going to have enough cap space to sign him, I don't think. But he had a marvelous season for Pittsburgh. It was also pretty decent, I think, in the playoffs. Don't expect him to shoot over 16% next season. I also don't think you'll see 10 of 11 goals next season being at 5E5.

I mean, there is a good amount of luck factor into that. But before we do get to our next topic, which will be some expansion stuff. Let's talk about bed online, the fastest and easiest way to bed on your sports action. Baseball season is in full swing. You can track all the action at Bet Online, get all the latest news, odds and info for sporting means, including MLB, NBA, and then showling on your UFC action. Before the next pitch, head over to Bed Online on your last night. top of her phone and check out all the great spoying news.

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Follow the show's Twitter at L.O.1Ns for Penguins. So let's continue to chat about some expansion stuff. So today I wrote for Last World on Hockey, one of the sites that I write for, just to know what I think the Penguins management will do going into the expansion trap with the Seattle Crack and not what I would do. You all know my thoughts on that if you've been listening to the podcast last couple of weeks. But what I think they will do for forwards, obviously the big four of Crossey, Malk, and Gensel and Rust. I think McCann definitely gets protected. I think Caponin does get protected.

I think that they will look at this past season for him and think that he can replicate that next season, even though I may be a bit more skittish on it. And then I do think they will protect Jeff Carter. Again, it is not what I would do. I understand the reasoning behind it, especially with Evgeny Malkin. They don't know when he's going to be back, especially after that major knee surgery that he had. It looks like it was confirmed a torn MCL. At least that's what Jesse Marshall is saying on Twitter after he kind of clowns someone for going at Malkin a little bit.

I think they also trust Carter Moore in a two-see role, especially offensively. I mean, you obviously saw what he did when he came over from the Kings. 13 goals, 16 points in those 20 games. I know Teddy Blugher, his offense came about this year, but I just don't know if Penguins management trust him in a 2C role more than Jeff Carter. Again, everyone. If this were up to me, I would protect Teddy Blugher over Jeff Carter. I think he has a bit more upside, and I really don't think that the Cracken would take Carter as just a one-year rental, though. Dan Hopper made a great point with his article last week.

Carter only counts for $2.6 million of the salary cap. if the Cracken do take him and he puts up okay numbers and then they're bad by the deadline, they could just flip him for 50% salary retained and then the other team is only taking on $1.3 million for Jeff Carter and then he'll probably just call it a career. So there's definitely logic to the Penguins protecting Carter, but again, I think with all the other options out there,

you know, with Aston Reese, Bluger, Tanev, or heck even Jason Zucker, I don't think that they would bite on Carter, even though it does make some sense, as Dan wrote about in his article last week. And then, you know, as for the defense, obviously they are going to protect Dumlin and Latang. That's a no-brainer. I think management will protect Pedersen.

I know what Rob Rossi said in his article last week about them protecting Freeman. It makes sense because there's history there with Ron Hextall, but I do think he will protect Pedersen. You know, maybe they could try to think that Seattle would take Matheson. However, that's very unlikely if you just look at his contract, five more years at, what, almost $5 million per? that's just not going to happen, though.

Again, it would not surprise me if Hextall did leave both Pedersen and Matheson unprotected. Again, he has no loyalty to those players. This also could show, as Rob Rossi mentioned in his article last week, that they would be willing to move on from one, if not both of these players, during this on-season to create more cap flexibility, so they can go out into free agency and maybe go after someone like a Blake Coleman who makes a lot of sense to get bigger and tougher, as Brian Burke has been talking about that. Ron Hextall also said they want to get more size.

Again, Blake Coleman makes a lot of sense. Chucks all the boxes, I think, for what the penguins are looking for. I touched on Yuel or Mia last week. That makes sense, too, if they're looking for someone with size to fill in the bottom six. I think that would be my Aston Reese replacement if he gets picked in the expansion draft or even someone like Brandon Tanef. I don't expect Seattle to take Tanev. It actually would help the Penguins.

I know it would not be a popular decision of the Penguins fan base if Seattle did take Brandon Tannib with everything that he has done the last couple of years. and you know with his hair and you know how likable he is and all that. But he does have four more years at $3.5 million per. That would help their salary cap situation, not just for next season, but long term as well. And for the goalie, I really do think they are going to protect Casey DeSmith. I sense it.

I don't think that they're happy with Tristan Jari, especially after what happened in the playoffs. You're already reading from Rossi that they're looking at veteran goalie options for next season. I think that they will protect DeSmith and dare Seattle to take Tristan Jari. There's obviously going to be better goals available to them. But I think I would agree with Hextall if they did decide to expose Jari. Dare the Cracken to take him. That's $3.5 million off your cap.

And then you can go after a full-fledged starter in free agency. Or if you want, you want to go after someone on the trademark. Hint, hint, John Gibson, if you want to pay a hefty price to get him out of Anaheim and bring him home. That is what I think the Penguins will do in the expansion draft. Obviously, it also helps if Seattle takes a chance on Jason Zolk. Zulker, that's $5.5 million off your cap next season, which will go a long way for this on season. They can also create more cap flexibility as I talked about a few minutes ago, but getting Zulker off your cap, even though he did have a hard season, that would be one of

the best case scenarios for Pittsburgh. Also, if Zulker plays well with the Cracken, they could probably get a decent return from him at the deadline if they're bad and still eat half his salary. I mean, what's that? $2.75 million. You know, Zulker on $2.75 million for a contending team. can put him on the second or third line with how he potentially does next season. That will be pretty good. So it would not surprise me if Seattle takes him, but I also don't expect that to happen. Again, everyone, to summarize, the Penguins are going to lose a very good player. I've been talking about that the last few weeks.

And this really can't come soon enough so I really just can stop talking about it and then just move on to the next big topic for the off season, which of course is the free agency and potential trade stuff. But hope you all liked this episode of Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm working on a few things, some potentially new guests coming on to the show as we speak. So look for that in the near future. I appreciate you all listening to this one, and we'll do another one of these tomorrow. So I'll talk to you all that.