Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins keep THREE goalies ahead of potential playoff clincher in New Jersey

Starting point is 00:00:00 Did you come to Locked-on Penguins today for a little bit of clarity on the goaltending situation? Well, too bad because we didn't get any at practice. Hunter and I are going to break that down. Talk about some of the prospects that are heading to Wilkes Bear and hand out our Warrior Helmet on Warrior Helmet Wednesday. You're Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome in to another edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast.

Starting point is 00:00:38 I am one of your hosts, Patrick Damp. You can follow me across all social media platforms at Synonym 4Wet. Joined as always by the one and only Hunter Hodes. You can follow him on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can give our show's account a follow on Twitter at LO underscore Penguins. We've got a lot of social accounts, so stick with me. You can also find us on Instagram at Locked On. underscore penguins and TikTok at Locked-on Penguins.

Starting point is 00:01:07 Of course, as always, we appreciate you making us part of your daily routine. Don't forget, we are free and available wherever you get your podcasts as well as YouTube. And if you follow us on YouTube, which you should be, make sure you've hit the notification button. That way you can be among the first to know when we drop our daily Monday through Friday episodes. As I said in the opening, I may have lied a little bit. We did get some more clarity on the goaltending front, but nothing concrete just yet. But we will talk about that. We're also going to talk about a couple of the Penguins prospects,

Starting point is 00:01:46 getting sent to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins ahead of the Calder Cup playoffs. And of course, it's Wednesday once again. It's time for us to hand out our MVP of the week in Warrior Helmet Wednesday. but first, all three penguins goalies are going to Newark tomorrow. That means Stuart Skinner, Ardushilov, and yes, Sergei Murashov. Now, one of the things that did give us a little bit of clarity of where things are heading is that when the penguins switched rinks at practice today, Skinner and Shilov went with the team.

Starting point is 00:02:24 Sergei Murashov stayed on the other rink and did some work with Andy Keyes. Yodo. So that kind of tells us that Stuart Skinner is making some progress here. It looks like he might be ready. Arder Shilov obviously has taken the last two starts. Sergei Murashav is still here. He will be with the team tomorrow. So it does kind of feel like they're keeping Sergey Murashav as the safety blanket, but it does look like Skinner and Shilov will probably be the tandem. That's the vibe I got after going to practice today. got there right as it was starting and they started on the smaller rank all three goalies were there they were getting reps and then they were only there for about 15 20ish minutes before going

Starting point is 00:03:10 over to the main rank up in cranberry and that's when you saw she loves and skinner get most of the reps where especially during the special teams the power play the penalty kill was both she loves and skinner during a lot of five on five drills it was the same thing skinner and she loves you're right moroshov was on the other rank getting some work in but he did eventually come over to the main rank and get some work in so with Andy Kyoto and then at the very end, there was another small shootout and Marashav was making things look pretty easy against some of the main players. The Latang did roof one right past Marashov, really pretty goal.

Starting point is 00:03:44 But Marashaw did make some nice saves on some of the other veterans. He made a save on Crosby that I saw. But still, I think right now it's probably going to be Skinner and She-Law. dressing on Thursday, we have to see which one gets the start. You know, if they deem that Skinner is good to go, I could see Damien is going right back to him just because she loves started the last two on a back-to-back. And this would continue kind of the rotation a little bit to a degree. But I also could see Muse going to be like, hey, Artie, you played well on Sunday.

Starting point is 00:04:19 I'm going to give you another start here. And, you know, this is their biggest game of the season today just because, you know, they have a chance to clinch a playoff spot. like obviously that game against islanders was massive the ottawa game was huge and then the red wings game was big as well this one pat i think it kind of trumps those three not just because of the opponent they're playing the devils are eliminated the playoff contention they're playing for pride but it's because you win that game you are going officially to the stanly cup playoffs that's why i consider it your biggest game of the season to date but yeah i don't mind them bringing morochev on the trip but as of right now i don't think he's going to address for that game.

Starting point is 00:04:59 Let's also stick with this topic real quick because you brought something up that I kind of wasn't expecting to talk about today, but I do think it's an important point to make is that I actually now thinking about it for for these last, I don't know, let's say 45 seconds to a minute. I don't hate the idea of going back to Shilovs on Thursday because here's what, here's how I'm looking at this. I thought he composed himself really well in the second game against the Panthers. We talked about it on Monday that he was not great on Saturday in the first game.

Starting point is 00:05:38 Then he gets thrust back into action because of an eye injury to Stuart Skinner. And now all of a sudden he's starting two games in two days. And especially for a goalie, that's a heavy lift. It's difficult for everybody involved. But when you're playing all 60 minutes between the pipes, that's difficult. But I do think this would be a good proving ground on Thursday for Sheloves. And it's also one where the leverage isn't all that high.

Starting point is 00:06:11 Yes, if they get two points, they make the playoffs. But it's not like this is a do or die, win or go home kind of game. It's not like they're going into Newark. And if they don't win, they're out of the playoffs. No. But it's a chance to look at Sheelovs and go, all right, it's our biggest game of the year. We can achieve something that nobody thought we were going to be able to achieve this season. We're going to put you in the spotlight here.

Starting point is 00:06:38 If you can backstop us to a win, it's going to make our decision for game one of the playoffs a lot more difficult. Yeah, that's a great point because right now I still think if I had to guess, it's probably going to lean towards Skinner getting to start. but if they go to Shilov's tomorrow as a reward for how he played on Sunday, giving him his third straight start, and he plays well, shuts the devils down, you know, maybe gives up a goal or two, but the Penguins still win, you know, three, two, four, two. I think that makes that decision more difficult for the coaching staff,

Starting point is 00:07:11 the management staff, and all them involved in it. You know that both golies are, I think, are going to get each start this weekend. They play the Capitals one time here, and then one time in D.C. I would assume that she loves gets one, Skinner gets another, unless they want to throw Murashov in there if they've already clinched. And, you know, we talked about the possibility of Murashov getting the game in St. Louis, if they already have home ice locked up, because again, if the penguins win two games or if they win one and the Flyers lose one in regulation, they lock up the second seat in the metro,

Starting point is 00:07:41 which means home ice. They can't go up or down in the division once they locked that up. Caroline already won the Metropolitan Division last night, by the way, by beating Boston and overtime. But yeah, if Sheelovs does go tomorrow, I think it's a sign of the coaching staff saying, hey, this is another big chance for you. You played well on Sunday. Our final plan is not fully set in stone.

Starting point is 00:08:05 Let's see if you can change it even more potentially for the playoffs. So I am curious to see what they decide for Thursday's game. Could be a big moment for Sheelov. So we'll see what happens. Obviously, we're going to have an episode for you tomorrow afternoon, getting you set for the game in Newark, which, as we said, could be a big one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. But before we head on to talking about the prospects, let's talk a little bit more about practice today. Here were your lines at practice.

Starting point is 00:08:34 First line, Chinikov, Crosby, Rust. Second line, Novak, Raquel, Malkin, Raquel in the middle of that one. Mantha, Kendall, Brzeau, Elmer Soder, Nollichari on the fourth line. Kevin Hayes and Avery Hayes as the extra forwards, and then no change on defense Watherspoon Carlson, Sam Gerard, Chris LaTang, Ryan Shea, Connor Clifton. No real surprises there. Teams been doing pretty well as of late. Don't need to fix what isn't broken, but were there any other observations that you had today at Penguin's practice?

Starting point is 00:09:12 Other than I'm going to give our listeners a little bit of a behind the scenes today. It wasn't a conversation. It was just a quick little moment that Hunter told me happened today. Somebody of importance in the Pittsburgh Penguins said hello to one Hunter Hodes. Pat, we don't need to make it too important here. He was just coming by saying hi to everyone. It was Kyle Dubis. He got a pet in his step today.

Starting point is 00:09:36 He's pretty excited potentially for the playoffs. So it's fine. He said hi to everyone, myself included, who cares, at the end of the day. But anyways, it's just a test to see if he listens to the, show. We'll keep an eye on that. One day, hopefully we'll have him on here. That'd be a fun time to have him as a guest here on the Lockdown Penguins podcast. But no, if everyone was, you know, great spirits today, they know what's at stake.

Starting point is 00:09:59 Ryan Shea spoke to my colleague, Kelsey Cermax after practice today. And he even said, you know, the motivations at an all-time high. I've never been in the playoffs yet, but just, you know, watching it growing up as a little kid. And then now you're right here. He even said, you're so close. I think it's everyone just giving it through all. You always have to have. jump this time of year. He says they're playing with confidence. And he thinks that if they keep

Starting point is 00:10:22 playing the way of them playing heading into tomorrow, that he thinks their work ethic will overcome the devil's skill because, you know, yes, for Brad and Jack Hughes are especially playing well for the devils, even though they have now officially been eliminated from playoff contention. But, you know, everyone's excited. They know the stakes for tomorrow a win, full 60 minutes of good hockey, and they are officially in this daily cup playoffs. It's now going out there and winning that game against a team that really has nothing to play for except pride. Sometimes those games can be a bit tricky just because those teams are trying to play spoiler. And it's up to the Penguins to, you know, match them and then some because you are playing for something more right now.

Starting point is 00:10:58 You're trying to get in the playoffs. They are not. But, you know, just, you know, good vibes overall at this practice. They had a little bit of a huddle slash meeting at the end. Damme used talk to them. They're ready to go. So nothing else really, a lot of power play work, a lot of penalty kill work. talked about the shootout at the end with Sergey Mureshov.

Starting point is 00:11:16 Lions were the same, no surprise as there. Blake Lazot has not rejoined the team yet for practice. Honestly, Pat, right now, I don't expect him back before the end of the regular season, especially if they do clinch on Thursday. I think the penguins will want to play it a bit safe, let him rest those final few games, and then have him come back for the Stanley Cup playoffs if he is healthy coming off that. I believe it's a hand injury. Yeah, that would be smart to just let him recover, especially because,

Starting point is 00:11:43 because the timeline does kind of line up to where his expected return date or reevaluation date the day before the Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin. So not the worst idea if they're in on Thursday going into Friday, let him heal up, let him rest, get him ready to go when you really need them. But that is going to do it for our opening segment. When we come back with the Calder Cup playoffs looming, Wilkesbury Scrant Penguins got some really nice reinforcements this week. We're going to talk about that and who it is when we come back right after this.

Starting point is 00:12:21 But we got to tell you about our first sponsor, and that is game time. There is nothing like being in the arena for NHL games, especially with the Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner. The crowd, the energy, the moment, but getting tickets, that part hasn't always been so simple. That's why GameTime has become the go-to app for scoring tickets fast without all of the hassle. It puts the advantage back where it belongs with us, the fans. You guys know how much I love GameTime. Come on.

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Starting point is 00:13:21 I click on a seat. I know what I'm paying right there. I'm not going to check out and getting hit with any of those weird fees. What I see is what I'm paying. And speaking about what I see, there's also the seat view feature. I may have been to PPG a million times, but still like knowing what my view is going to look like before I walk in the door. So as you know, I am a massive, massive fan of game time.

Starting point is 00:13:42 So take the guesswork, out of buying tickets with GameTime, download the GameTime app, create an account, and use the code locked on for $20 off your first purchase. That's code L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today, and remember, it's gamedime.com. We're back here on the Wednesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm Patrick Damp.

Starting point is 00:14:13 That's Hunter Hodes. And something we haven't done in far too long, and we should apologize for this because it was a hectic month of March. The Penguins had a whole lot going on, injuries, suspensions, playoff chases. We neglected for a little bit to look down at the farm. But we got some big news from the farm today. Three big prospects are heading to the HL, and they include forward Ryan Miller, defenseman Quinn Boucher.

Starting point is 00:14:44 in Ford, Mikhail, I believe I said that right. I'm not great with the Russian names. I'm probably butering it, but those three, now that they're seasons in juniors and the KHL have come to an end, they have all been sent on ATOs, with the exception of Ileon who did sign his ELC earlier this year. So Bouchain and Miller, they are on amateur tryout deals. Ilyan already on his ELC,

Starting point is 00:15:14 but these three Hunter lit up their respective leagues this year. So this is going to be a big boost for the baby pens going into the Calder Cup playoffs. Yeah, I'm especially excited for Mikhail Ilien coming over from the KHL. He was on loan for this year. He signed his ELC. It's funny at the end of the season last year. Actually, it was after the season ended. I believe it was at the end of May when he signed it.

Starting point is 00:15:38 But then it was confirmed that he was going to go back to Russia. on loan had 14 goals, 44 points in 68 games, was about a point per game in five playoff games before his season ended. And now he has been reassigned to the Wilkesbury's Grand Penguins to end the regular season and then help them potentially go deep into the Calder Cup playoffs. And I would expect him to be here full time now going forward. I don't think he's going to go back to the KHL for next season. I think he's going to be at least in Wilkesburg for next year. This is a player who he's a lot of fun when he has the puck on his stick. He can make plays out of nowhere.

Starting point is 00:16:11 And I know it was only development camp, but he, especially during the scrimmages, he stood out compared to some of the other prospects in the system. It felt like at times it was almost men against boys. I know you can't glean too much from there. But just when you see the way he plays with the puck, he's very,

Starting point is 00:16:30 I wouldn't say calculated sometimes he can be, but he can dance through guys like it's nothing. So I really like this kid. I'm hopeful that he can be a player in the NHL for the long term for this organization. Quinn Bouchain defensively, you know, seven goals, 35 points, and 56 games for the Guelph Storm. Now he's on the 8thio for Wilkesbury. He only had one assistant for playoff games.

Starting point is 00:16:53 He's also someone that I liked during development camp, also during the Prospects Challenge. He's someone that, you know, can get a bit feisty. He can get a bit physical, but he skates beautifully, has a nice first pass. He's good at exiting the zone. You know, this is someone who, you know, just don't sleep on him overall in the system. Again, the jury saw on whether he's going to be, you know, solid in the NHL, but I think he's off to a good start for his junior career ever since he was drafted by the Penguins, and now he'll get a little bit of a taste of what it's like going up against professionals in the NHL.

Starting point is 00:17:28 You can say the same thing for Ryan Miller, who had a great year for the Portland Winter Hawks, 30 goals, 75 points, and 65 games. he's going to the University of Denver for next year. He got two points in four games in the playoffs. This is a player who he plays like a rat. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. I wouldn't say it's so much like Sam Bennett, but just he'll get to the dirty areas.

Starting point is 00:17:50 He also plays well with the puck. He has an underrated release that I do like. Kind of feels like he has eyes in the back of his head. At times he's solid defensively from what I have watched this season. I like this kid. And, you know, again, he was picked, you know, in the fifth round of the 2025 initial draft. So now we're going to see if he can take the success that he had this year in junior and also now apply it to going up against professionals. So the three players that are now joining Wilkesbury, definitely keep your eye on these three, especially McKalee.

Starting point is 00:18:21 And I am really excited for his Wilkesbury debut is they're also closing in on a first round by in the HL playoffs back. Yeah, they are playing a lot better as of late. and getting these three is going to be a big deal. They're also going to get Harrison Brunick as well. He's already there. He's going to be up. Well, yeah, you're right. They already got him.

Starting point is 00:18:42 But this is a team that's loading up ahead of the Calder Cup playoffs. And I know that especially with the penguins in the NHL being as surprising as they are, a lot of people are kind of getting back to that point of saying, Who cares about, you know, what's going on in Wilkes? Who cares about those guys doing well down there? I will reiterate, this is also part of this team's rebuild and retool on the fly. You want some of these younger prospects, these B and C tier prospects, not just to develop and play well in the HL,

Starting point is 00:19:23 but you want them to win together. You want them to bond as a group together because one of the underrated parts of going all the way back to 2016 and 2017, when those young guys came up, yeah, they didn't do a ton of winning in Wilkeshire. It wasn't like they were going on Calder Cup championship runs together, but they were together for a while. They bonded as teammates.

Starting point is 00:19:49 So when they came up to Pittsburgh, they were able to make a difference. They were able to be there for one another, which helped them fit into the overall culture of the Pittsburgh Penguins. So now I want to see. some of these guys stick around in the AHL. Yeah, it's nice if we could get them now. Some of them aren't ready yet.

Starting point is 00:20:08 Some of them might be knocking at the door, but with how good the penguins have been playing in the NHL, they're not ready to be brought up yet just because how well the team's playing. So this is a really big thing for the future of the penguins. And it's another aspect of the organization getting this part right. Obviously, it won't be entirely right until we put another banner. up at PPG Paints Arena. But the early steps in the early returns of what Kyle Dubus has wanted to do is going the

Starting point is 00:20:41 way that we want it to go. Yeah, that's fair. And Gabriel Day, just adding on, I think we touched on it a little earlier this week. He is in Wheeling now after his junior season ended. Excuse me, he was on that poor team in the Q pat that was just giving up too many high danger chances. It was a miracle that, you know, he was just standing on his head virtually. every game are trying his best too.

Starting point is 00:21:03 But now he's with Wheeling. That's good news. I also want to shut out. Kale Dock of the Calgary Hitman, seventh round pick for the Penguins at this past year's draft, finished the year with 34 goals and 75 points in 63 games. He was going to be Ben Kindle's line mate probably this year until Ben Kendall just lit up training camp, lit up the preseason, and just said,

Starting point is 00:21:22 hey, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay here for the entire season. And then obviously, hopefully, into the playoffs of the Penguins can finish us off. Point per game in the playoffs and the WHL. he did this after coming over from the BCHL, which was a league. It's a little below the Canadian junior hockey. He was well over a point per game there,

Starting point is 00:21:40 did the same thing here. Now he's going to Penn State for next season. He plays well there. I can see him getting a look in Wheeling slash Wilkesbury pretty quickly after that. So keep an eye out on Kaldok again. Long way to go in terms of someone who could potentially get to the NHL. He's a seventh round pick after all,

Starting point is 00:21:58 but early returns with him are really not. Nice. A lot of good things in the prospect pipeline right now. I continue to say, I know that we all get hype about our own team's prospects. We all think they're going to be the next Hall of Famer. They're going to be the next 20-year winger who puts up 30, 40 goals, whatever. But you read a lot of the experts, you read a lot of the people who dedicate their time to scouting prospects. And you keep seeing the same thing.

Starting point is 00:22:31 about what is in the penguin system right now. There are a lot of guys who are projects, but there are a lot of guys who these professional prospect watchers go, this goes right, they got something here. So really exciting times with what is happening with the Pittsburgh Penguins. But we are not done yet. It's one of our favorite days of the week. Ladies and gentlemen, it is Wednesday.

Starting point is 00:22:58 that means it is time for us to hand out our MVP's of the week as part of Warrior Helmet Wednesday. Bet you can guess who it is, but if not, stick with us and find out who's getting a Warrior Helmet this week right after this. Closing out the Wednesday edition of Locked On Penguins, I'm Patrick Damp right alongside Hunter Hodes. And like I said before the break, it is Wednesday, my dudes, that means it is time for us to. hand out our MVP of the week in Warrior Helmet Wednesday. If you are new here, we do this every single Wednesday during the season. We hand out our MVP of the week. And it is us paying homage to the 2016 Stanley Cup winning Penguins wear from the start of the season,

Starting point is 00:23:51 all the way through their Stanley Cup victory after wins in the locker room. They'd give out their player of the game with a cool little warrior helmet. So that's what we do here. In Hunter, I think this week's is pretty easy because, well, he already got himself an award this week. He was named the NHL's first star of the week. He had seven goals and eight points in five games in the last week. Ricard Raquel. He has been an absolute force.

Starting point is 00:24:30 this past week. And we talked about it yesterday. He has been a force since this team returned from the Olympics. Yeah, 11 goals in his last 10 games. If you want to take it back a little bit further, 14 goals since NHL came back from the Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. If you want, just want to say for the last three games, that because we hand up a helmet every Wednesday. So new week started last Thursday. So Tampa Bay, Florida, and then Florida, four goals and five points in those three games. Two of those goals came against the Panthers on Sunday and a five to win that has the Penguins on the verge of clinging a playoffs spot for the first time since the 21, 22 season. 24 goals, 48 points in 57 games.

Starting point is 00:25:19 I talked about it on Tuesday. If he had not missed a good chunk of time earlier in the season with that, you know, hands-slash-risk. injury, he'd be at over 30 goals right now, I think. And he's been doing this, going back and forth between wing and center. He's played a lot on the top line with Crosby and Rust. He's also centered quite a lot of players this year. And lately, he has been playing at center and he's been getting more comfortable at it too. There are more times where I was like, okay, we can kind of go away from this just because he was losing a lot of draws. But Pat, he's been getting more comfortable.

Starting point is 00:25:53 He's actually been winning a few more draws as of late, and he's just had more chemistry with his line mates overall. He's playing better on the PK, on the top power play. He's honestly been a jack of all trades this year. Any position, any situation, especially lately, he's been excelling. So can't say enough good things about the way Ricardo Raquel is playing. I also don't know where they would be right now if he had not gotten that hot in the month of March, especially without Crosby and Malkin for a good chunk of that.

Starting point is 00:26:24 I guess I'll throw Eric Carlson in there as we have been doing for a lot of this year, excuse me, but Ricard Raquel was awesome in that month. Absolutely marvelous. We raved about him yesterday. So let's run through this real quick because we got one more thing we need to get to before we close out the show. If you're watching us on YouTube, there it is the graphic for the week, both of us picking Ricard Raquel.

Starting point is 00:26:49 and let's move on to our tracker for Warrior Helmet Wednesday this season. Leading the pack with five is Captain Sidney Crosby, Eric Carlson, Evgeny Malkin, and Anthony Mantha each with four. Justin Brzeau has three on the season. Kyle Dubus, Avery Hayes, Ben Kindle, Dan Mews, Sergey Murashov, Ricard Raquel, and Archer's Shilovs have two each. And Noel Achari, Igor Chinikov, Connor Dewar, the Special Teams units, Stuart Skinner and Elmer Sauterblom all have won a piece.

Starting point is 00:27:24 Keeping track of that this year because when the season comes to an end, whether it be after a playoff series, maybe a Stanley Cup victory who knows, we'll give out some end of the year awards, including a season long Warrior Helmet Wednesday award. But somebody on that list we got to touch on real quick. And that is Anthony Mantha. He was officially named the team.

Starting point is 00:27:49 team's Masterton nominee for this year. And I understand everyone will laugh at this because the Masterton is often a goofy, a bit of a goofy award sometimes because every team has to nominate someone. And a lot of the times it's, hey, you're the old guy who played well, or you're the guy who got injured and came back. And then there's always one or two really good stories of perseverance. Wow, Manthas is more just, hey, you got hurt last year. He got hurt in his 13th game, had a knee injury, missed the rest of the year after getting surgery. But there was a quote from Mantha that stood out to me. And I do think this does put him in the category of someone who can at least be considered for the award. He says, there were some

Starting point is 00:28:43 doubts that I could get back. I was kind of mentally preparing myself for a PTO. because what happens with me when you play 13 games, Calgary was already a prove it deal. That was where my head went to. I knew I still had some in me. I knew I was going to have to work to get back. And here we are. And he has been an absolute revelation this year.

Starting point is 00:29:05 And whether it's here or somewhere else, he has earned himself a payday and some job security for the next few years. Yes, he is going to get a nice. chunk of change this off season and rightfully so what how much term he gets pat that's still up for debate whether it's a short term whether a team gives him you know four or five plus year or something like that but coming off a torn ACL he has been everything for the penguins this year has scored a lot of big goals and they're not just all you know from the perimeter or anything like that he's been going to the net he has shown his patented man the move as i call you know going from forehand backhand

Starting point is 00:29:46 five hole he has scored for those. slot. He has scored from 25, 30 plus feet out. He's been solid on the power play at times, but you know, he's also scored a lot of his goals, Pat, away from Crosby and Malkin. Yeah, he started the season with Malkin. We called that the big line with him Malkin Brazoe. But Damues went away from that. He has put both of them on a line for a good chunk of the year with Ben Kendall. And, you know, Mamptha, even on a third line roll pat, he's been awesome. this year. Again, it goes to show just how consistent he has been overall, even outside of playing at times a little bit with Havkenny Malk. He doesn't have a lot of minutes with Crosby,

Starting point is 00:30:30 but both of those haven't matter. He's still producing and having the best season of his career. So deserving nominee from the Penguins, I think if you were to look at everyone from the Penguins, he was the most obvious nominee. Now, Pat, whether he's going to be a finalist, I don't know. I feel like Gabe Landisog is probably going to be one of them. I'd kind of be surprised if he doesn't win it. Like, if we're being real here, just considering everything, he has been through getting back to playing hockey. That one feels like a slam dunk. The other finalists, maybe Rasmus Dahlene.

Starting point is 00:31:02 I'm trying to think of maybe another one. Could see maybe Jonathan Taves just because he'd been out of the NHL for a while, comes back, plays for Winnipeg. Again, I'm a spitballing, maybe Charlie McAvoy. but, you know, do I think Mamba is going to be a finalist? I lean towards no, Pat, but in terms of being a nominee, very deserving, at least from the Penguins. 100%, especially with the way everything went for him in Calgary. Because it's like he said, he was already on a prove-it deal in Calgary. And then 13 games in, you tear your knee up, you're done for the year.

Starting point is 00:31:38 That's the kind of thing where regardless of what your pedigree is, regardless of how good you were, it makes you wonder how much longer your time is going to be in the national hockey league. And lo and behold, here he is leading the penguins in goals. And he has done it in pretty spectacular fashion. And it's part of the reason the penguins are knocking on the door of a playoff spot for the first time in a couple of years. But that is going to do it for our Wednesday edition of Locked-on Penguins. Hunter and I will be back on Thursday with a brand new episode, getting you set for Thursday's game. the New Jersey Devils where the penguins can clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Starting point is 00:32:19 But until then, for Hunter Hodes, I am Patrick Damp. Thank you as always for tuning in. And we will be back on Thursday.

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins keep THREE goalies ahead of potential playoff clincher in New Jersey

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