Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - One Bryan Rust Trade idea that actually DOES work...

Episode Date: September 23, 2020

A lot of rumors were surrounding the Penguins today and Jeff (LetangCult) from Penguins Twitter joins Hunter to talk all about it, especially about Chris Tanev. The two talk about how bad it would be to sign him, especially with term and for around $5M per season as he's going to be 31 years old and has never played a full season. Jeff also brings up an interesting Bryan Rust trade proposal that would make Penguins fans happy (probably one of the only ones that would regarding the player). Plus, what else could Jeff see the Penguins doing in free agency? 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 $10 off your first order.KeepsIf you’re ready to take action and prevent hair loss, go to Keeps.com/lockedonnhlto receive your first month of treatment for free. 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 edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow this show's Twitter at L-O- underscore Penguins. There is never a dull moment during the Pittsburgh Penguins offseason, as today there's just been a ton of rumors surrounding the team with Krista Anav, to Brian Ross, to Patrick Hork was maybe being on the move, but he may be staying for the season with Matt Murray. Then there's Tristan Jari.

It's just been already a wild ride so far. But coming back onto the podcast is, Jeff from Penn's Twitter, Penn's Twitter, aka Latang Colt, Good Lord, I cannot speak tonight to talk about all of this with you guys. So, Jeff, first and foremost, how are you doing, sir? Excellent, man. How are you? I'm not doing too, too bad, so, I mean, I guess let's just get into this. So, Jeff, are they really, really going to dump Brian Russ contract for a potential

roster player and a top prospect in return and then use that cap space to go out and sign Brandon Tanev's brother who, oh yeah, he's basically almost just Jack Johnson except on the right side. That's a loaded question. I guess my answer to that would be it depends if Montreal is willing to send Domi in a top prospect, maybe Mette or Juleson over to the Penguins in exchange for Brian Ruff. That's the only kind of scenario I could see in which they would trade Rust because it's well known that Jim Rutherford likes Max Domey and Jim Rutherford seems to always pay the price to get his guy, right? As for Kanev, I think I summed it up pretty well earlier when I called him damaged goods.

And while that is a pretty severe thing to call anybody, he's 31. He's never played a single full season, full 82 games in the NHL. He does play with an edge block shots, certainly a old school type of hockey player, and there's absolutely nothing that would convince me that he's worth $5 million, even in his prime. If he was 24 years old, I would not be happy about the time when he's paying $25 million

over five years for a player of this caliber. Yeah, I 100% agree with you. And for those of you that did not see the article, Rob Rossi and Josh Yoey wrote a piece, on the athletic basically saying what they were hearing about the Penguins on season. And it came out that Christopher Tannav is being pursued by Jim Rutherford, but they would have to clear cap space. And then Brian Russ's name came up in trade rumors because apparently teams are calling on him.

And I mean, who wouldn't? He has one of the best contracts in the league. He's an absolute bargain. He's coming off the best season of his career. So, I mean, it's not hard to see why teams are calling up on Russ. But yeah, I agree with you with Chris Tanniv. I mean, Jeff, the last thing this team needs is more of these, quote-unquote, defensive stalwarts. I mean, you're an offensive team. We all know how the penguins are just a

running gun team. You really don't need to add a Chris Tanna to the mix. And I mean, imagine a Jack Johnson and Chris Tann of third pairing, not really that good. And as you tweeted out earlier, that would be what, 8.25 against the cap for next season. It basically just puts you over 10% of what the cap is. Yeah, it just puts you in that same as next situation. Because if I'm not mistaken, Justin Schultz made, I think it was almost $5 million per season or a little over, and then we all know Jack Johnson makes $3.25 million. So you're just in that same exact situation where you're losing over half of your bottom-paring money with Justin Schultz leaving, but then you're bringing it back in a player in Chris Tannib

who really is not that good. So I just don't see the logic in it. Well, in addition to that, what I want to bring up is what if, I think if this happens, it does inevitably crash and burn. I mean, Jack Johnson is horrible in himself. And Justin Schultz was by no means a Norris caliber defenseman this last year and a half here. But if you have two players playing horribly, looking totally out of place, I mean, the Jim Rothford thing to do, what I see them doing, you know, he'll probably blame Latang for it and trade withang and bring in somebody else horrible. But even if you tried to move Jack Johnson or Kristanaev, it's not like it would be any secret.

around the league, which is the worst pairing in hockey. I don't think he'd be able to move either contract. I honestly think $5 million for TANET is worse than $3.25 million for Jack Johnson. When all this free agency stuff started to come out that he wanted a little money to spend in free agency, I was cautiously optimistic because when he was pursuing Good Branson in the trade deadline, there was a lot of high-level insiders who were reporting that he was, being on Cody Cici before Cici was traded to Toronto. And I think that would be another nightmare scenario.

And guess who's a free agent? Guess who's a free agent this offseason? Right. Yep. So that would be honestly, yeah, I would feel honestly way worse if Cody Cici was on this team. But still, I mean, it's just, I don't know. Someone just needs to just come take the keys away, I think, from Jim Rutherford at this point. I mean, you're also seeing some of these conflicting reports now right now.

You know, Deion Kovachevich of DK. Pittsburgh Sports is saying that he's not heard. He's heard that Chris Tanov's name has not come up once. So definitely, this is definitely interesting. So people are getting different information. Two and a half weeks away to free agency. We still have not had any more trades surrounding the team. So it's going to be a bumpy ride there.

But I just, I don't trust Jim Rutherford at all going into free agency. You know, I'm going to say what some people are thinking about that report. I have it on pretty good authority that Deon is not a fan of Rob Rossi. In fact, he said a couple of things to me off the record that indicated that he didn't directly come out and say that he didn't like Rob Rossi, but when I asked about the possibility of Rob Rossi joining D.K a number of years ago, his website, Dayon kind of like laughed it off in an as-if type of manner. So I don't think he's the biggest fan of Rob Rossi, and I think this was kind of more of a jab

at Rossi, but D.K. is smart. And one thing that I want to point out that really struck me was that it wasn't, no, Jim Rutherford's not pursuing Chris Tanna. It was, that's not a name I've heard in conversations. So it's possible that he is. D.K. just hasn't heard it. So I think he's going more on the speculative end of that. But one thing that did come out of there that is consistent with what Rob Rossi and Joshi said is Hornquist. has not been asked to move his, or lift his no trade clause. I saw that. If you're going to move a player to clear cap space, I think Hornquist makes the most sense.

I think his perceived value is still high around the league for what he brings to the table. And yes, his net front presence is something the Penguins could use. But Hornquist in 2021 is not the same Hornquist. that was a force in 2016 or 17. And would another team overpay for that? Maybe. But it gets that $5 million off the books. It gets those years of term off the books.

And it opens a lot of doors. With a lot of teams looking to shed cap too, especially, you know, you have players like Linae and Ailers who are supposedly available. And you have a very, very high caliber of player in Brandon Sodd, too, who is reportedly available. And if teams are willing to dump these players, the penguins should try in, even if it takes, you know, I know that spending assets to become a sensitive topic, but if you spend a kick to move Hornquist or to move Johnson out and you free up $8 million between the two, you could bring in a really high caliber of player. Then play use of Rikala. If Rikala doesn't play well, put them back on the bench and trade for another defenseman in season. I mean, I just, it's impossible to figure out what Rutherford's got going in his mind. And it's just not a positive thing most often. Yeah, it's, it's just gotten worse and worse, I would think.

But, I mean, I agree. I do agree there, you know, I mean, honestly, though, that's Hornquist and Johnson are there two best trade chips anyway? You know, that's honestly kind of sad to say, who else do you're going to move on the team? You really want to move Brian Russ? we're going to touch on Ryan Russ I wouldn't call them

the best trade chips I would call them the Penguins would be best served to move their contracts I think that's I don't think teams would be

exceptionally happy about taking them on I think Hornquist does have value to certain teams I think teams like Montreal would love Hornquist

teams who really don't value analytics much but Deion also said he still believes that the Penguins could move

Jared McCann because he doesn't fit with them. And that's an interesting thing that I saw. Yeah, that doesn't make really any sense to me, to be honest with you, because he just signed that two-year contract. And he's on a bargain of a contract, too. He's not even making $3 million per season. I honestly thought for sure that he was going to make $3.5 million. Hell, I was going to get scared that he was going to ask $4 million for a season, but thank God he didn't. So that one just, I don't know. That really

one doesn't really make any sense to me. But, I mean, it's just that they just don't have a lot of trade chips that they can honestly move out besides. I mean, Brian Russ well on that value deal. We're going to touch on Brian Rust in the next segment. And then like you said, Hornquist and Johnson, I mean, those would be the players that they would best serve to move out. Hornquist, no trade clause does come off after this season. I think right in time for the expansion draft,

he's not going to finish his career here anyway. I mean, I think at most he has one season here left, but it would still be nice to get out of that contract. And then, you know, with Jack Johnson, I think everyone just wants him gone regardless. But before we get to the next segment and we talk about Brian rust and why that would be a very, very bad idea. It's time to talk about rockado.com.

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Relatively low prices. all the parts your car will ever need. That's rock auto.com. Okay, Jeff, so help me understand these Brian Rust trade rumors. It sounds like a lot of teams are calling on him. Jim Rutherford is not actively shopping him, but I just, I could totally see him getting an offer for him that he can't refuse. I think other people would probably refuse it.

And then just pulling the trigger on it. I know you said earlier, Max Domey, could definitely see that. But the thing is, like, I see, like, if you kind of want to trade him because he's probably not going to put up those numbers that he did this past season. His shooting percentage was 17% was on pace for 40 goals. But even if you cut that in half, that's still a 20 goal season, what, 40 points on a cap that's not even 4 million per season. And even one of your best right wingers, I really don't see the need to give that kind of player

up, especially with, you know, even with its cap space, you know, going after Christopher Retana, but just the thought process itself, trading Brian Russ honestly just does not make a lot of sense to me. I disagree. And the reason why is, again, Rust is probably going to regress a bit. Okay. He'll probably still be a very good player into the foreseeable future. No, the penguins do not have a lot of right-wind depth down the pipeline as far as

prospects. But again, you have teams who have very, very good players up for trade. Among those names, Johnny Godreau. If you think about the teams who need a goalie and who could use Brian Russ, teams who are, you know, maybe playoff teams, but not quite contenders, I think there could be a hockey deal done there. I think that you trade Murray and Rust for a really good piece. And, I mean, you might have to take on some cap in return.

You know, if we're talking about Alberta, yeah, Goddrow is a player I would consider. and, you know, if they wanted something like P.O. Joseph added to the mix, I don't think P.O. Joseph's going to be a stud. I might be in the minority with that one, but I just don't see it. He didn't seem to have a stellar year in Wilkes-Barre last year. So even if we had to throw in that prospect, I wouldn't throw in, like, Liguerre or Palaine, but P.O. Joseph, absolutely. Biorquist, something like that, to pluck a player of Godrose, caliber out of Calgary. One that really intrigues me for the penguins, especially with their struggle to find

an effective third-line center, Ryan Nugent Hopkins. That would be interesting. I don't know if the Oilers would trade him, considering they just got to the playoffs. I know the loss of the Chicago Blackhawks, but he did have a good season. I think he's been playing more with McDavid now. So, I mean, but also Ken Holland is Ken Holland. So that would be interesting. I mean, I guess like, I can see why they would do it just because he's not going to probably put up the numbers that he put up.

Last season, I know he was playing with Evgeny Malkin, but you know, you just, the big thing with me is, Jeff, you would have to wow me with a return. You got to get a really good player back. Absolutely, and that's why you package him with Murray. Top prospect, yeah, I could see them doing that. That clears more cap space. You probably get a first round pick back in return for that. I know the penguins have been asking for a first round pick in return for Matt Murray. no team has really bought as really um what's the word i'm looking for here they haven't really said

yeah oh it's for yeah yeah they haven't really just said yeah because i think if they don't do that i think you're looking at maybe a second round pick maybe a prospect with that i just don't really see how you're going to get a lot from mowler but you know what it's the goalie market all it takes i keep saying this jeff all it takes is one team to overpay and then boom right yeah well do consider too that ryan nudgeon hopkins makes six million dollars a year if they're taking that off the books and only adding the 3.5 for Brian Rust, then paying Matt Murray a competitive wage, $5, $6 million a year becomes a lot more realistic. Yeah, I hear you on that.

It gives the Oilers a replacement for the goals they expected out of James Neal. I think that, you know, Brian Rusty's worked very well with Havgeny Malkin and with Sidney Crosby for periods of time. it was to say he wouldn't work equally as well for uh connor mac david or leon dry settle yeah that would be a pretty interesting line especially with you know rust on the top line next to mac david i would honestly probably tune into the oilers a lot more than i have been i mean i should be tuning him to them more to watch connor mac david because he's just awesome but i think i'd be tuning into them a little bit more for that but i mean i just jim rutherford right now is just he's treaded it's i think

it's thin ice for him at this point. He's just been very, very stubborn. I think arrogance is a big part of this. Honestly, I was thinking about this today, too. I wonder if more people in the fan base are just going to just not watch the team as much if they do go down this dark path of trading Russ and then using that cap space for Chris Tenev and doing a bunch of other garbage and keeping Jack Johnson and all that, just because, I mean, we're at the end now of the Crosby, Malkin, Aaron.

We all know that's true. There's probably two years left, max, of them to win a fourth Stanley Cup with them. But, I mean, you're just, this is the stuff that just sends the franchise further into the void and sooner rather than it should be a lot later. And we all know the team is going to suck when they even, that Cosby Malkin eventually decline. It's just, I don't know, man. Drap lottery, maybe. Yeah, they got to hit, they got to hit a number one. pick at some point. I'm just, I'm very, very nervous for what Jim is going to do. Free agency has never

been his strength. I trust him way more in a trade than free agency. I honestly don't even trust him that much in trades anymore, to be honest with you. But I mean, I don't know, man. Maybe, I mean, if you even clear out Rust and Murray, that's a lot of caps race right there and you move out Patrick Hornquist, you want some more silly season stuff, Jeff. You can maybe make a run at Alex Petrangelo. Now we're cooking I like the Translo I think I don't

I don't know how he's going to age I would rather take on younger players and older players of this rate I don't think the penguins will have the cap to sign them Yeah there's honestly there's probably no way that they can do that I think Yeah he's going to get a lot of money

Vegas is definitely in on him That would be a freaky defense defense of Toronto for obvious reasons because, you know, they want all the star players. You know, another option I'd love, but probably not going to happen. Tori Krue, I like him on the power play. I think he's a good offensive defenseman, but I think he's going to want too much term and too much money. But, you know, just going back to Christana of a bit because, you know, I can't stop talking

about Chris Tanov. I don't mind the player as much as I like, I guess I hate Jack Johnson, but like, why would you give that kind of player so much term? Like, has Jim Rutherford not learned from his previous mistakes? Or, Jeff, does he just not care about it, I guess? Why do you need to care about it when your championship window is only two years wide? Yeah, I guess. I guess that's a...

I think when everybody hated the Hornquist deal and the Brandon Tanna deal, my whole thought was by time this deal is over, Crosby and Malkin are going to be aged out of a championship window anyway. So you might as well give it the player the term that they want and the security to have a job they want because by time they're done with their deals, the penguins are probably going to suck. Yeah, I hear you on that.

I definitely see that logic. And also, Jim Rutherford's probably not going to be here in five to six years. I would hope that he would be retired by then. Honestly, a lot of people are just wanting him to return. He's not that old. He's not going to die. Oh, yeah.

I didn't mean it like that, of course. But, you know, hopefully he can be retired and just maybe moved up to a front office role and they can get someone in here with fresh ideas. and it's just not like arrogant and just being stubborn with stuff. But, you know, I feel like that contract might be one of the worst contracts signed this summer. And it's not just for like for the payments. It's any team that signs him.

I mean, I was reading a tweet from Drag Like Pool, who does a lot of Maple Leaf stuff. I mean, good player at one point is defensive metrics were really, really good. But I mean, we've said it all this podcast into his 30s now. He's going to be 31 in December. Hasn't ever played a full season. I know he played in 69 games. games this season, which is very nice. And I guess that qualifies as a full season with the shortened season.

But, I mean, other than that, has played in, what, 65% of the games throughout his career each season. That's not someone I'm giving five years, five million per four. That's just, that's ridiculous to me. So one thing that I want to bring up is that Vancouver is still remains interested in signing Tenev. Thank God. according to several reputable media outlets.

However, the way that it was phrased that what I saw earlier was they want to sign to Foley first, Markstrom 2nd, and TANF 3rd. Likewise, TNF also has interest in going back to Vancouver. In an article, Vancouver is awesome. The quote is from TANF at the end of the year. I'd love to stay with a team. He said, I love the organization. I love all the guys.

I love the city. The fans are great. So that's obviously the goal to be able to stay at Canuck as long as I can. I haven't thought of the possibility of playing my last game for the Canucks, to be honest. Now he could be doing lip service as most players do. But hopefully the Canucks can pony up the money he wants to stay with the team he's been with his entire career. Yeah, I would. It could be just, you know, him talking to the place up, but we have no idea what's going to happen.

Obviously, they're going to want to sign To Foley first just because of how great he was a fit up in Vancouver. Markstrom, I really don't think they're going to have to sign him. We all know how good Demko was in the playoffs. So hopefully we can bump up Chris Tanna to second on that list for getting re-signed. That can save Jim Rutherford from himself. So, I mean, at least those quotes are promising. At least the reputable sources up in Vancouver were saying stuff that, you know, makes me a little bit happy. Like I said, Jeff, hopefully that can save Jim Rutherford from himself and just barfing all over himself

because he's just done this every single offseason. Before we end this podcast, though, Jeff, is there anything that outside of what we've talked about tonight that you want to see Jim Ruther for doing this on season, whether it's a bottom six forward, anything for the goaltenders, maybe a different defenseman on the right side? I mean, as I've said on Twitter,

I like Kevin Chatton Kirk. I know that he played poorly against the Penguins in the series of the Capitals, but you have to consider he was just traded from the Blues. He didn't probably know the system that well, and he really hasn't had a chance to settle in. He's played well for Tampa. I mean, no complaints there.

So if the Penguins were able to get Chattonkirk on the cheap, I mean, I see way more benefit from that than from a long-term Tanna deal where nothing offensively is brought to the table. Yeah, and he didn't even make $2 million per season for this contract. I think it was a one-year deal. He's definitely probably going to be looking at $3 to $4 million per season because he was been really, really good for Tampa Bay this season. probably won't ask for five to six years on term.

He's getting up there in age. So you could probably get him for a three to four year deal, $4 million against the cap. If he's willing to take less for term, I would absolutely give him term because, again, the penguin's window is not that long. And I'm sure he would, you know, after bouncing from,

what was it, Washington to New York to Tampa Bay, I'm sure he'd like to be somewhere solid. And I don't know what Tampa's cap situation is like, but with playing in the Stanley Cup final and foreseeably, God willing, winning the Stanley Cup, I'm sure they'll have a little bit of a fun time trying to manage their cap.

Yeah, they're going to be doing for a rude awakening after this season. They still have to pay. I think Sergachev is up. Sorrelli is coming up soon. I've talked about it on the podcast before. They might have to potentially look at trading Stephen Stamco's, but I don't really know if they're going to do that. They only have three defensemen signed next year,

headman, McDonough and Coburn. Oh, Jesus. McDonough is signed forever. Yeah,

they have some contracts that they're going to have to move. Tyler Johnson is probably one of them, I would say.

He's, and he's signed for a long time at a pretty higher cap hit than I thought he was. So, $5 million and he's 30

and he has four years left. Yikes. Someone will take him there. Someone will save Tampa Bay just because, you know,

that's what people do around the league. But Jeff, Thank you so much for coming on this episode of Locked on Penguins. A lot of very interesting ideas for the Penguins, especially that Brian Russ won to Alberta for potentially Ryan Nugia Hopkins. That one is a pretty badass idea. And that is one trade proposal out of probably only a few that I would take

if Brian Russ is indeed going to be traded. So thank you for that. And thank you for coming on to give up some insight on Chris Tanna and everything else. Of course. All right. So that will do it for this episode of the Lockedon. Penguins podcast. We're going to have another Jeff on Locked on Penguins

Tomorrow, Jeff from Penn's blog, who runs it is going to come on, talk about Chris Tanna and a bunch of other stuff surrounding the Penguins. So look for that then. Like I said, thank you guys so much for listening, and I will talk to you all tomorrow.