Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - NHL SQUAD SHOW: The Stanley Cup Final Is Here

Episode Date: June 5, 2025

Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings) and David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) are here to talk about the Stanley Cup Final beginning and where Mitch Marner is going to go in free agency, as well as some other key free agents! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.Wonderful PistachiosGet snackin' and get crackin' with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more!FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Stanley Cup final is finally here and underway. We'll talk about our predictions and what we expect to see. Plus, free agency is just around the corner. We'll have that on a deep dive with Mitch Marner and more coming up on this week's NHL squad. You are Talking Puck with the NHL Squad Show, sponsored by game time. From the Oilers to the stars, Golden Knights, and the Panthers, the Rangers, Avalanche, and yes, even the Maple Leafs.

The Lockdown Podcast Network. brings together all its local experts to provide the spooked, breakdowns, and comprehensive looks at all the NHL, with plenty of trash talk to go with it. Don't miss the hard hits and love dropping hot takes on the locked on NHL squad show. It's time to drop the puck. Gilmartin here and welcome everybody to the NHL squad. Sit back, grab your favorite beverage and join us as we get you ready for another wild week across the national hockey league. We are part of the Locked-on podcast network, your team every day.

Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code Locked-on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. We have got a great panel here today. David Morrisuti of Locked-on Leafs and Eddie Garcia of Locked-on L.A. Kings are here with us. And gentlemen, the Stanley Cup final is here. It's a rematch. We are recording this before game one.

Let me hear what you expect to see in this series and maybe eventually who you think is going to win and why. Well, I'm expecting this to be an absolute bloodbath. I think these are two teams that now know each other quite well. And I think if you're the Oilers, sour taste in your mouth, right? Almost made the 3-0 comeback only to losing game 7. The Panthers have been on another impressive run this year, but I think these are two teams that are really pretty much set for a collision course.

It's going to be fascinating to watch. I'm typically not that excited when we see a rematch, you know, over the Super Bowl or whatever. But I also can't really look at these two teams and not say it certainly seems like the two best teams are meeting. And if you're a fan of a sport, how can not not be a compelling matchup? And I do kind of feel like this is a little more interesting than your typical kind of a rematch. There's so many different things that you can point to that make this seem like it's going to be another classic. And certainly last year was a little odd because you got Florida jumping out of the 3-0 lead and everyone saying, oh, it's over. And then here comes Edmonton and forces a game seven.

And now you're like, oh, my God, this is amazing. Is this going to be one of the epic choke jobs of all time? Turns out that doesn't happen, but it's a great game seven, a one goal game could have gone either way. You know, this time around, they're two really similar teams, you know, as far as not only what they were a year ago, you know, some changes, but not huge. I mean, I guess you could point to Marchand being a big name that's now involved, but the core of both teams are pretty much the same. I think there was a stat that each team has had 19 different goal scores so far in the playoffs. the only real kind of big difference is this time the Oilers have home ice. Is that going to be the difference if it does go at game seven?

So I think there's a lot of things that are pretty interesting. You could say on the one side, well, Edmonton's the hungrier team. Well, you can also say, well, but Florida knows how to win the big game, where Edmonton hasn't done that. So the only thing I would really be surprised at is if this series doesn't go at least six. I think it'll go seven. I want it to go seven. But if it's a short series this time around,

that would be the only thing I think I would be pretty surprised at. Yeah, I have to agree. I expect it to go six or seven games. And I think you have a couple of questions that pop into my mind. Let's start with this one. How do the Edmonton Oilers react to the physicality of the Florida Panthers? Yeah, this Oilers team has been banged up. Like you look at, Matthias Ackholm just came back in round two.

he's been dealing with something. Connor Brown, he's been banged up and dealing with, I'm not too sure what he's been dealing with. Like, guys are, this happened to them last year too, right? You just kind of lose steam a bit. That's what the Panthers do, though.

They wear you down. So that's probably the one thing that concerns me a bit about Edmonton is they have found ways to win in these playoffs, but they haven't been going, they haven't gone up against a team. I don't think that's as physically demanding as the Panthers. And I think that's going to, yes, Vegas was physical, but there's like physical and then there's what the Panthers do. It's just a totally different beast altogether.

Like they love when a series goes along too because they feel like that they can just, as the series goes along, they just continue to wear players down. I think back to that clip of Paul Maurice last year in the playoffs, right? He demands it out of his players. And the players know that that's how they play. It's drilled into them. if you're Edmonton you're not going to be able to match i don't think they're going to be able to match that physicality but they got to be ready for it they got to be ready for whatever floor uh flor's going to throw their way i think that's fair i also think they certainly are going to be surprised by it

they know exactly what they're in for um pretty healthy both teams pretty healthy considering and i would say for edmonton as far as being worn down you know their path to this final not all that grueling, right? They didn't have a game seven in any of the three previous rounds. Their toughest test was probably in round one against the Kings. So they've really impressed me of how they've taken care of their business, moved on, you know, especially, I mean, just like, you know, Toronto, or should say, not Toronto, sorry, Florida, they went down to nothing, right? Came back to win. Sorry, David. But it happened to my team, too. The Oilers were down

two nothing in L.A. And they came back and went. So those are the two defining moments, I think, for both teams, was falling behind two nothing and then storming back to be able to win those two series. I'm going to mention two players. I'd like your take. We have Brad Marchand and Corey Perry, one from each team. Yeah, Eddie and I have great admiration for these two players.

Yeah, it's a good call, man. It's a real good call. Yeah, Corey Perry is definitely top. three of all-time hated players for me, being a mighty duck of Anaheim from back in the day, but still finding a way to hurt the Kings. But he's been, I have to admit, he's been amazing. He's been a marvel. I mean, you could say, well, he just goes to the front of the net and good things happen.

But if it was that easy, everybody would do it, right? So he certainly has made a very, very good career of being that kind of a player. And obviously, you know, well, I mean, Perry's a former MVP, some people might forget. So it wasn't just that kind of a guy his entire career. But Marchand does seem to be the guy that comes up with the bigger goals and the bigger moments, it seems to me. So, but they're certainly two sides of a different coin, but guys that can play that role, try and get you off your game, laughing your face as they score, you know, a

power play goal because they've drawn a penalty, something like that. But yeah, it's amazing. and Corey Perry, I'd much like hate him. He certainly has been, had an amazing career. Still going. You know, the Leafs thought this year

with Boston way out of the picture that that whole thing was going to be in the past from him. What did that team have to do? They traded Brad Marshall to the Florida Panthers. And I said to myself, I know exactly what's going to happen. Leaves are going to play

the Panthers in the playoffs. And Brian Marchon is going to find some way, to get one last laugh at the Leafs. And he did exactly that. Like, it was a, at the time, it was a conditional second round pick that's now become a first round pick. By the time, I'm like, there's collusion.

There's collusion going on right here because this is exactly what the Panthers and Bruins were cooking up. But Brian Marchant, I'll give him credit, did not have the greatest regular season. He dealt with injuries. It just not as productive the last couple of years. And then come playoff time, it's been a totally different story for him.

He is really excelled with the Panthers. He fits that team to a T. He's a pain in the rear. He's very productive. And he just, he just, he's, he, the moment doesn't seem too big for him. Like they asked him about playing in game seven and how a high stakes game. He's like, these guys went to the cup final last year. why are we talking about game seven of a round two being high stakes for this team like just the confidence in the way that he

his aura is exactly what this panthers team is all about it was like a match made in heaven vomiting like like it's a virtual vomit from myself actually talking about this but yeah he's been he's like he's the he's the corey perry for this year's panthers team right in a lot of ways I think Perry has been a little more surprising, especially in the moments that he has really thrived and how obviously his age. But Marchand's not too far behind. All right. So we're recording this before game one.

By the time it airs, we'll be after game one. But guys, let me hear your prediction. Who wins in how many games and why? Oh, you go first, Eddie. Well, I've got a couple of reasons. behind my madness. I'm picking the Oilers

and seven. Part of it is because they have Home Ice advantage this time. I think they're six and one at home going into the finals on Home Ice. I think maybe it's a little better than that. But anyway, and then also I have picked against them the entire postseason. So I'm hoping that my

mojo will flip this and that the Panthers will win. But yeah, I'm picking the Oilers in seven. Like I said, in all seriousness, I have, I've doubted them, they've answered my skepticism every time. So I wouldn't be shocked or surprised that they did it once again.

And I think there is something to the focus they have this time around. They're not just happy to be there, getting so close and not getting it a year ago. And I just think that's going to be a little bit of an edge for them. But I mean, it's a toss up almost to me. But I'll pick Edmonton and seven. I'm going Oilers in six. I don't think they want a game seven against this Panthers team. They,

and they know they don't want a game seven against his Panthers team. The only reason I'm still iffy on the Oilers, like Stuart Skinner was excellent in round two, but we have also seen him look like an HL goalie in these playoffs. And the Panthers took Frederick Anderson, who had incredible numbers in rounds one and two, and made him look like an H.L. Gold Tender in round three.

So if Stewart Skinner's not up to his game, this is going to be a tough one for the others, but I just think this year, they have found, they just hit, I'm sorry Eddie, but after they got that, after they were down against LA and they just, a switch flipped. And they just found a way to go on this impressive run.

I give them a lot of credit for it because they beat some really good teams along the way, right? they beat L.A. Really good defensive team. Probably a close comparable to what the Panthers are. Vegas, we know that's a cup contending team every year. Dallas, who was supposed to be the team in this series, they found a way and they'd be one of the better goleys in the playoffs.

So I think they know, they went through a tougher journey this year, in my opinion, than last year. I think that has them ready for this year. All right. We shall see. I'm going with Panthers in seven because I think, Bobrovsky gives them a slight edge between two very evenly matched teams, but we'll see how this all plays out. I think we all agree it's going to be one heck of the series. We've got a lot more

to discuss on this week's squad show. Free agency is less than a month away, and the big name in free agency is Mitch Marner. David, I know you'll have some insight into that. We'll have that, and a lot more next on the squad show. Today's episode is brought to you by Monarch. money ever check your bank account and wonder where did all my money go between dining out online shopping and entertainment it's easy to lose track that's where monarch money comes in it's your personal cfo giving you full visibility and control over your finances monarch money isn't just a budgeting app it's a complete financial command center you could track all your accounts investments and spending in one place so you stop just managing your money and start building wealth when i started using monarch i realized just

much money I was spending on food delivery. Now I budget smarter and save more. I mean, I love eating out, but not at the expense of my financial well-being. And instead of juggling multiple apps, you could use Monarch to check your finances, track spending, and even plan long-term goals. So take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code locked on NHL at Monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That's Monarchmoney.com code locked on NHL for half off. your first year. So free agency is approaching the biggest name out there, according to everybody, Mitch Marner, formerly of your Toronto Maple Leafs, David. First of all, how much money do you think Marner's going to get as an AAV? And what do you think he's going to look for in a team to go to?

Yeah, that's, that's the big one for me is what does this? he really want. Does he want to go to a contending team? Does he want to go to the team that's going to offer him the best deal or the best environment for himself? I think like, yeah, is there a chance he can come back to Toronto? There's always a chance. But the thing is, I think he wants, he wants to change in scenery. He wants to go somewhere. Maybe he's not going to get as scrutinized as he has been in Toronto. The guy put up 102 points and people are kicking him out the door in Toronto, right? So I think he just, personally, he just has had enough of it.

So in terms of a contract, well, everyone brings up the Miko Ranton deal as like no one could go about Miko Rantanin. Well, Miko Ranton didn't go to free agency. Miko Rancetton is not going to have teams courting him, throwing a lot of money at him. If he was in, if Miko Ranton went to free agency, he probably would be commanding a pretty decent deal. I think Marner with Marna that number is going to start with the 12

Now how close it gets to 13 I don't know if a team's going to give him 13 I think that's a little too rich But he's going to be in the 12s I think the athletic had it projected at like 12.9 Which God just make it 13 Why are you doing a 12.9 But I think he's in the 12 to 12 and a half range

It's not that much more than what Rantan got And let's not forget the Ransan did also get the extra year he got the eight years. Marner's only could get a max of seven on the free agent market. So that's where I think the extra cap, the extra money goes into making up for that eighth year he would not get in free agency. I'm really fascinated about the Mitch Marner thing. I think he's done a great job of not tipping his hand in any way about where he might be leaning. Let those teams negotiate against each other, get that price up as high.

is who can go. But I'm really curious what he wants. And I don't know that he has really revealed anything. And, you know, how does he, what happens when he gets to a place where it's about him? But the pressure is not the same, right? Can he thrive in that kind of environment? Does he take a step back under that kind of a pressure being the guy? Or is he just the same guy that we've seen so far?

So I don't have an answer for any of that, but I'm really fascinated to see where he goes, how high the price is, and how he responds to that change of scenery. I'm really interested to see what that looks like. David, do you think he can be the guy on a team? I mean, he was one of the big four in Toronto. So the pressure wasn't, yeah,

there's a lot of pressure in Toronto in general, but the pressure wasn't just on him. if he has to carry a team offensively, do you think he takes a step back, as Eddie was saying? Or do you think he handles that in stride? I think part of him wants to be known as the guy. You don't go to free agency and ask for a boatload of money if you don't want to be the guy as well, right?

He's been stuck in a way in Austin Matthews Shadow, right? He was drafted before Austin Matthews, but he came in at the same time as Austin Matthews and Austin Matthews had the aura being the first no first overall pick and all that he was never going he at times there was a bit of a care there was a bit of back and forth of who was the franchise guy and all this

but at the end of day it has always been Austin Matthews elites had always prioritized him especially when it comes to contracts and all those things he's now they made awesome Matthews the captain I think that pretty much tells you how much they viewed Austin Matthews as the guy over Mitch Marner. So I think wherever Mitch Marner goes, he's either going to be the guy

or he is going to be pretty close to whoever he is the guy in the team he's going to. I think that it all depends on where he goes. If he goes to a team that doesn't have that established star, he goes right in him. He is the head honcho. Eddie, how much does it concern you? If you were an NHL general manager,

how much does the playoff struggles that Marner has had concern you? It's legit, but I think you also have to balance out the fact that how many players like him really become available. It's so rare, especially at his age. It's worth the risk. And, you know, I get that he has not scored the big goal for Toronto. He did have the game winning goal, right? And the Four Nations, I do believe, was that, that was the case. That's a pretty big goal in a big moment.

Not saying he was the star of that team, but you know what I'm saying. So I think he was a point per game player in the playoffs this year is too. So it's not, it's not as quite as bad as I think it's being portrayed, although I do get what people are saying. If you are going to make him the highest paid player in the game or if you're going to put him in that category, couldn't that guy be that type of a guy that's going to get you at least one game winning goal in a key series, something like that. But I think it's worth the risk. Like I said, I just don't think players like him become available that often. Is he going to be another 100 point player in a different situation?

I don't know. But he's certainly going to still command, you know, around 90 points, I would think, even if he goes to, I don't know, Carolina or something like that. So does it concern me? yes because I'm going to be paying a lot of money for that guy but but do I go into it with my eyes open as far as what he's done in his past I'm willing to to make the the assumption that he's going to make our team better even if he isn't the guy where do you think are some of the better places for him to end up or where he's more likely to end up oh I I hate to say this I just I could see him going to Vegas. I just, they're so aggressive the things they do. I don't know how they'll make it work,

but I just, I could see them doing something to land a big player like him and, and change their fortunes. I don't see them as a team or an organization that stands Pat very often. And I just, I just would not be surprised at all to see the Vegas Golden Knights go out there, be aggressive like they always are, make it work somehow and get a player like him. And he would be so embraced in a place like Vegas where they love the Golden Knights so much. That's their team. You know, it's not a team coming from somewhere else. That's their team and they've embraced that team that way.

And look, you know, Jack Eichol was a guy who needed a change of scenery. He goes there, is embraced, has the best years of his career. I could see Mitch Martyr being that kind of a guy too. Yeah, I mean, they could just tell Mark Stone, hey, can you just take a few, just take September to June, or Mayoff? They have done that before, I think. Hoover has it, yeah. They're not afraid to swing big. I think there's one place that intrigues me.

They're kind of the frontrunner on Fandle right now. That's Chicago. That's a team that craves a superstar to go along. It's like Connor Bardard has not had. anyone to support him. Imagine Mitch Marner feeding Connor Bedard pucks. Like Chicago will load up the bring truck

and go right to Mitch Marr's house to have him play with Bedard. So like if that's one scenario I could see. Vegas is just the intriguing one because it seems like the right situation for Marner.

He doesn't have to be the guy, but he will be one of the guys. and they embrace like I think was it Eichel when he came to Vegas they had the the marching band come and meet him at the airport

Mitch Marno will love that like I think I think that's the sort of thing he crazed like they don't turn on their players there they don't and he can kind of he can kind of go a little under the radar in Vegas in a way I think I'm sure players get a notice

around town and stuff So, yeah, Vegas. Vegas is not afraid to make those moves. And they'll trade a couple of players to going out of Mitch Marner. They're not afraid to do that. So I always say Chicago and Vegas would be my two teams. All right. We'll see how this plays out.

There's going to be a lot of talk between now and July 1st when we most likely find out where Mitch Monter is going. There are a lot of other big names in free agency. We're going to go over some of those coming up next on the squad. So gentlemen, there are a lot of other big name free agents out there. Anybody in particular catching your eye, Eddie, let's start with you. Well, I think it's also fascinating to see what Sam Bennett might command in free agency. There's that report that there's some team out there that claims they're going to give him

$10 million a year. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. But he is, you know, if you are a team that feels like you are some sort of a key piece away, there's no question that in the, in the biggest games, he always seems to find a way to be a factor in it, whether it's a goal, whether it's running into a goalie or whatever the situation might be. You know, he, he always shows up those big games. Of course, you have to get to those big games for him to be a factor. And you want to pay all that money for a guy that if you don't get to those big games, it kind of is a waste of money. So I'm, I'm fascinated to see that. But

there's no question that you know in the big games in the big moments he is a guy that seems to always be able to come up with a impact play whether it's a hit whether it's drawing a penalty whether it's scoring a goal that can can make a difference and if you're really looking for that kind of a guy and if you think that's the most important thing that helps you to you know be a contender for a stanley cup maybe he is worth of money remember when sanbadik couldn't do a pull-up at the n-h-l scouting combine and now he's going to be a top, top, uh, attracted free agent. It's, it's kind of crazy how those things always turn out. But yeah, he, he's going to be one of those players that necessarily, um, doesn't necessarily

put up a lot of points, but he does the other intangible things. And intangibles always get a little bit of a bump on the pay, right? So I, if a team wants to overpay him, good on Sam Bennett. Um, part of me still wonders if he's still holding on. for Florida to give him to bring him back because I think sometimes a player just likes the situation, don't want to give it up. I mean, it's a good situation there too. I mean, they win. You know, he can just go there, do his thing.

They've got nice weather, no state income tax. I mean, there's a lot of attractive things about being in Florida. So I get it. No doubt about that. How about Aaron Eckblad, right shot defenseman? When he's healthy, we know what he can do. right shot defensemen are tough to come by. How do you think he'll do in the open market?

I mean, those players are, like, you look at the market, it stinks for defensemen. There aren't many top pair of defensemen, especially right shot defensemen out there. That's why I think like a team, the only thing you got to be concerned about, Aaronack Vlad, I mean, this year he had the suspension for the performing enhancing substance.

That's everything. He has had a hard time staying healthy in his career. You've got to be very careful when you go and get a player like that. Like to me, I can't see him getting more than when he's currently getting. He's getting seven and a half, maybe eight.

I don't think a team was more than eight mil per year for him. But I think there will be quite a few teams that will want his style. you watch him in these playoffs you talk about players that are just a pain in the rear to go up against Aaron Actblatt is one of those players he you know he's he's not afraid to get his nose dirty he might cross the line a little bit but you know he brings that stability they that teams crave on the on the back end so he's going to be one of those players where it's a bit of buyer beware but you also don't want to miss the opportunity to go and get someone like him two more names

want to throw out as we are starting to run low on time. Brock Besser, Nikolai Eelers. Eelers is going, oh, sorry, you'll go off first Eddie. No, I was, I was maybe say the same thing. I think Eilers is going to stay in Winnipeg. Things that I've heard is that he's close to, uh, a deal to resign there. And I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case for Brock Besser. I know there's, there's a fit in L.A. for him.

Uh, they're looking for a right shot, uh, right winger that can help out on the power play be a little bit more consistent than what they've had in that situation. So there is an opportunity there. I think L.A. is very interested. So, yeah, I think he's going to be definitely in demand. Yeah, I think Eilers would be, if he were to hold out, he'd probably be the second option for a lot of teams that missed out on Mitch Marner. but if Winnipeg Offs him exactly what he wants

I mean that's a team that's still contending right they won the they won the President's trophy it's a situation that sometimes it's hard to leave it but Brock Bester's a very fascinating one because yeah I think a lot of teams that are looking for goal scoring he he's in my opinion

he's probably the best goal score available on the market like pure goal score and you know he's he's at 20 he's 28 so he's in the prime of his career right now. If a team is struggling on the pari player, it just needs someone with a good shot. Brock Bess is the guy. I think L.A., yeah, they're always starving for goals.

There's a lot of teams, I think, that would love to add a Brock Besser. I'm trying to think, like, I don't know how much cap space Nashville has, but they struggle to score, and they're not afraid to go out to guys in free agency. I think they would be a team. At one point, I thought about Minnesota, because that's his home state, right?

Maybe he wants to go closer to home and they're always looking for goals, someone to pair with Caprisoff too. So it's kind of like the three teams I would look at for Brock Besser. It will be interesting to see where both of those players go. I want to thank everyone for making the squad show your first listen today for your second listen. Check out the all new locked on NHL game night. Every game, every night until a Stanley Cup champion is crowned. Get local analysis on a national scale.

You could find NHL game night on Lockdown NHL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. It's part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. I want to thank David Morrisuti of Lockdown Leafs, Eddie Garcia of Lockdown, L.A. Kings for joining me today. Have a great day, everybody. We'll be back next week with another exciting episode of the NHL Squad Show.