Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins kick-off a home-and-home against the Philadelphia Flyers!

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

The Penguins are back in action tonight and they'll hit the Pennsylvania Turnpike for another chapter in the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia rivalry! Patrick and Hunter preview the first of two games against the Flyers this week and get you set for the matchup with who to watch, milestone watch for Sidney Crosby, and what they need to do to get their first post-4 Nations Face-Off victory. Next, with just 10 days to go before the trade deadline, they discuss who they could see traded, who might be worth keeping, and what to expect from this upcoming deadline. Finally, the Penguins have been dropping hints at revealing a new alternate jersey for next season. Patrick and Hunter have a spirited debate over a sometimes beloved, sometimes hated throwback jersey. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to Indeed.com/LOCKEDON right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.Trade CoffeeGet 40% off your first order with Trade at drinktrade.com/lockedonnhl. 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 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY 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.

Today on Locked-on Penguins, the Penguins begin a home-at-home with the Philadelphia flyers starting in Philadelphia. The trade deadline is just 10 days away. And we could be seeing some New Jersey's next season. Hunter and I are going to get into all that and more right after this. You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, and welcome back to another edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Patrick Damp. You can follow me across all social media platforms at Synonym 4Wet,

joined as always by my co-host, 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 L0 underscore Penguins, and of course, we appreciate you making us part of your daily routine. We are free and available wherever you get your friends. podcasts as well as the Roku channel and YouTube. Plus, if you follow us on YouTube, go ahead and hit that notification button. So you can be among the first to know when we drop our daily Monday through Friday episodes

or any of our bonus additions, which we might be getting in a couple weeks here because the trade deadline is looming. But Hunter, we'll get into that later on in the show. Let's start with what's right on the horizon for tonight. The penguins are in Philadelphia for the first. game of a home and home against the cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers. This has been an interesting matchup between these two teams this year. Two teams kind of in the same spot in the standings, but two teams organizationally who

are at different points in their existence. We know the penguins, they're trying to do this rebuild, retool on the fly, which is kind of has them stuck in neutral a little bit. They're low in the standings. Hasn't been a great couple of years, but you understand what they're doing. Meanwhile, Philadelphia, kind of on the rise. They're starting to come out of,

but still somewhat in the midst of a rebuild. They've got the ultimate guy in the ground floor for a rebuild as their head coach in John Tortorella. They've got some phenomenal young players, including Matt Vei Michkov, who has been as advertised for them this, season looking every bit like he is going to be the cornerstone of their franchise for years to come. This will be the third meeting between the penguins and flyers this season. Both games, the penguins utterly dominated, but the penguins and flyers split those games.

It started on December 23rd when the penguins blitzed the flyers seven to three. And then just before the break for the four nations face off, the flyers, the Flyers beat the Penguins 3 to 2 in a game that was mostly dominated by the Penguins, but one little oopsie on a partial breakaway by Yoel Blumquist led to, can you call it an own goal? Because it was, but it also wasn't. You guys know what happened in that game. Three to two victory for the Flyers.

So the Penguins and the Flyers are one and one against each other this year. And you let's start here. You kind of want to see more of the. same from the penguins tonight in two matchups against the flyers you've been the better team you've controlled possession you've controlled shots you've controlled shot attempts you've just generally been the better team and while the penguins had a rough weekend mainly because of goaltending you want to see a bounce back tonight against the team that's very beatable because let's also be honest over the weekend they played a bona fide stanley cup contend

tender in the Washington Capitals. And while the Rangers are struggling and not that great, I think we can say between Igor Shasturkin and some of the Rangers' top end talent, they're probably a better team than the Penguins. But tonight, and then again on Thursday, you're playing a team that you're very evenly matched with in a team that you probably should beat when you go to Philadelphia tonight. Yeah, the Penguins, you said it, they blitz them in that first game in Pittsburgh.

Penguins were just all over them. The Flyers made it a bit interesting later on in that game, but once they got that big goal to end the second period, it was really lights out in the third period. I felt the Penguins defended really hard in that third period and continue to play really well. They didn't really turtle in that third period. That second game against the Flyers,

Penguins are really dominated that entire game. The first period, yeah, a little bit of a lull, kind of puts you to sleep, but that's also what John Torrella teams kind of do a lot of times, Pat, like lock a lot of shots. they don't really push the pace too much. They sit back a little bit. That's the way Torts teams like to play. Like, that's how he's coached over the years.

That's what you're, that's what you're getting in this Flyers team. However, there is still some good offensive talent. You mentioned Matt and they meet Schaubb. He's going to be, I think, a thorn on the penguin side for quite a long time. Though I will say in two matchups this year, the penguins have done a really good job on him.

I think the penguins have really been able to shut him down. We'll have to see if that continues tonight. This year, though. He has 17 goals, 39 points in 56 games. They are led, though, course by Travis Kineckney. He's scored a few goals over the years, of course, against the Penguins. He's always been a fun player to see miced up against them with the way that he churper's players. But 22 goals, 62 points in 58 games. You have Owen Tippett. He's having another good year.

Sean Gutier, he's played in 55 games, but a little bit of a down year this year. Only nine goals in 55 games. He's more known for his two-way play, but still, his offense is a little bit down this year compared to other years. You know, you have Travis Sanheim, who was on Team Canada for the Four Nations face office. I think he is still their top defensemen. But I will say this. If you like some goal tending, it might be the game for you.

Well, if Sam Erson doesn't play like the way he did against the Penguins in the last matchup before the Four Nations face off break, he was awesome against the Penguins and that game. I think that might have been his best start of the season. But you look at his overall numbers for this year again, 17 and 10 and 3, 894, say percentage 2.82 goals against Chavage. I think he's going to get the start tonight. Obviously, you know,

they have Colosov, who's playing. played 15 games. Fedatombi's played 17 games, but Erson has played 32 of the games this year. Again, I think he is probably going to get the start tonight. He was at Team Sweden for the Four Nations face-hop. I actually played fairly well for Team Sweden in the minutes that he got, but, you know, he still hasn't had that good of the year for the Flyers this year. And I know, the Penguins goaltending this weekend. We touched on on the Monday show was not pretty. You know, Alex Nadelcovic stunk, Y'el Blumkew, Stunk, whichever of the two goalies gets the start tonight, you want to see a big bounce back performance because, you know, we said it on the show again.

Goaltending, we felt, was the biggest reason why the Penguins lost both those games. Because against Washington, they controlled the game for the first 30 to 35 minutes. Couldn't get the saves after that. Game was out of reach going into the third period against the Rangers. Shots were 29 to 5 and 31 to 8 at some point in the second period. They just could not get the goaltending at all in that game. You obviously, I know, this is very easy analysis here. You need better than 7.3.

5,800 goal tending if you're going to win this game. But I think for the Penguins as well, if they can generate like they did against the Flyers in that second matchup before the break, I will like their chances to win this game. Yeah, I'm right there with you. Samerson is getting the start per Tortorella tonight. So he will be in net for the Flyers. We're recording this around 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning. So the Penguins will take to the ice for morning skate around 1130, probably about the time.

we're wrapping this episode up. So we don't really know what the status of players are like Matt Gryslich. We still don't know what's going on with him after he left the game against the Rangers on Sunday after taking a brutal hit from Matt Rempe. But back to the penguin side of it for tonight. You're absolutely right. You kind of just have to play the same game and hope that you get actual Sam Erson tonight and not the Sam Erson who has shown up. against the penguins in two games because even though the penguins utterly dominated both games and the penguins blitzed them in the first matchup, I really don't think you can

really say it was Erson's fault in the first one. The penguins just were the straight up better team and they're nights where it doesn't matter what position you're playing. You're just, it's not your night. As for the penguins, one thing to keep an eye on tonight, Sidney Crosby once again on milestone watch. He has five goals in his last seven games. His next goal will surpass Bobby Hull for 18th all time on the NHL's goal list. And as I say to my friends who enjoy doing a little sports betting, anytime the penguins and flyers get together,

it is almost an automatic. Go ahead and place a bet on Sidney Crosby anytime goal. because in his career, 56 goals, 77 assists for 133 points in 88 career games against the Flyers. Those 56 goals and 133 points against the Flyers are the most for any player against the Flyers in the history of the National Hockey League. So when you guys decided to boo him his rookie season, you awoke the dragon. And guess what? He has not gone back to sleep. since. But it's so funny that they still boo him to this day. And I'm just like, you know what,

Philly? I respect that you are committed to this bit. Yes, you're going to keep booing him. Yes, he's going to keep producing. But hey, it's still great theater. Heck, sometimes they still do some of these Crosby sucks chance as well. I'd be careful about doing it. But again, I'm, I at least respect the commitment to the bit overall. And one last thing. I want Philip Tomasino to really produce a bit more tonight. I want to say, I want to. see if Mike Sullivan puts him on a beginning Malkin's line. I like Cody Glass's game against the Rangers especially on Sunday.

But I think put Tomasino up there for a game, see what he can do again. Because I like the chemistry that he and Malkin had. Malkin very much has his legs right now. I would at least experiment with that in my opinion. Yeah, I'm right there with you. I agree. I think realistically, I don't think there's a quote unquote bad decision on this one because Cody Glass played

extremely well against the New York Rangers. I noticed him pretty much every single time he was on the ice. He was doing something positive. In Tomasino, going back to before the Four Nations faceoff, was playing very well. He seemed to rediscover his game. He carried that over to this past weekend against the Capitals and the Rangers, thought he was a very positive player in both games. He's really looking like a smart bet from Kyle Dubus and the Penguins to be a productive player for the foreseeable future in the black and gold. But I would like to see Thomasino at the very least get a couple looks up there. We know Mike Sullivan loves putting lines in the blender, especially when we don't know the

status of a couple players as we go into this game. So it might just be born of necessity that he has to try out some different combinations depending upon who's available and who isn't. But between Glass and Tomasino, those seem to be. be two very strong bets by the penguins. Of course, they're not lighten the world on fire. They're not becoming superstars, but they are seemingly playing a lot better than they have the last couple of seasons elsewhere than they are here this year with the penguins. So I like the look of those two so far. And before I close the segment out, I got to give Hunter some

crap here. It's Penguins Flyers Day. And I know it's Virginia Tech, but you're wearing a shirt that says orange effect. Buddy, did you not look at the calendar before you woke up this morning? Yeah, probably a bad shirt to wear on this episode of Locked on Penguins today. I love reppping Virginia Tech. I hate the Flyers Orange, but I got this shirt my freshman year of college. So you know what? Whatever.

I hate the Flyers still, people. It's okay. It's just like my original IUPI card that I somehow held on to for five years with the original chip in it and everything. So I get it. You can't let go of that. freshman year thing, but that's going to do it for our first segment here on Locked on Penguins. When we come back, the trade deadline is just about 10 days away.

And yes, I know it's been a big focus on this show for the last few months. But in case you have missed some of that, we're going to give you a little bit of a refresher of what we expect to see from Kyle Dubus and the Penguins once the trade deadline gets here and as it approaches. But before we do that, we've got to tell you about today's sponsor and that is Indeed. You just realized your business needs to hire someone yesterday, so how can you find amazing candidates fast? That's easy. Just use Indeed. When it comes to hiring, Indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other sites. Indeed's

sponsored job puts your post at the top of the page and helps you reach the right candidates faster. I have said it before when we have had Indeed as an advertiser. I may not have used it as someone looking to hire, but I have definitely used it as someone on the job hunt. And it helped me connect with my current employer, as well as got me multiple interviews with other companies. So it is a fantastic platform. If you're looking for a job and if you're looking to hire, absolutely love Indeed. I have been in that spot where you need the right hire. No, I haven't. But you know what? Let's continue the ad here. The pressure's on and every day without the right person is a setback. that's exactly what Indeed sponsored's job comes in handy.

They make sure your post is seen by the right candidates right now. Now you can speed up the hiring process with a $75 sponsored job credit. Just go to Indeed.com slash locked on right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms conditions apply, hiring, Indeed is all you need. All right, welcome back. It's the Tuesday edition of Locked on Penguins. I'm Patrick Damp alongside. Hunter Hodes as always. And as I said before, we went to break. The trade deadline is looming.

And for these Pittsburgh Penguins, for us Pittsburgh Penguins fans, this is basically our playoffs because this is what we have had to look forward to this year because we know this team is looking to retool on the fly. They're looking for younger talent. They're looking to increase their prospect pool. And as we have seen from the last year, year or so of Kyle Dubus. He's looking to get all of the draft picks if he can. If it was up to him, he'd have every pick in the next few drafts. But he's done a very good job, I would say, since the Jake Gensel trade of putting the wheels in motion of his plan of wanting to retool this entire organization on the fly. We saw it with Gensel trade. As I said, we have seen it in the

move since a lot of low risk, high reward one year deals, a lot of second chance players. We talked about two of them in the first segment in Cody Glass and Philip Thomasino, who have started to look like very good bets. But let's run down a couple of the players that we expect to see moved at or around the deadline. And let's start with one who we thought was a guarantee to be moved, but we have to wait and see what his injury status is. And that's defenseman Matt Grizzlick.

we will see what happens with his injury status. Again, we're recording this before the Penguins take the ice in Philadelphia for morning skates. So we have not heard any updates since he was basically just being evaluated post game after the Rangers. We don't know if he's going to be out for any extended period of time. But this seemed like a no-brainer and probably still could be assuming he's healthy because it's a very easy deal to move, not making a lot of money, expiring deal. and after his rough start at the beginning of the season, he's really turned it around and been a consistent presence for the penguins,

both at 5 on 5 and more so on the power play. He's been an absolute consistent on the power play, which has been very good this year. He's shown he can run the top unit. He's shown he can be a stabilizing presence when they need it on that power play. So Hunter, I look at Matt Griswick, and while I don't have any designs on where he, he could go. I do think second round pick is probably the bottom asking price for him because

if you're a contender looking for someone to run your second unit, a fifth or six defenseman that you can get reliable minutes out of, Grizzlick's your guy. See, I actually disagree a little bit with you there. I do not think he would get a second back. I think it's probably a third is what you're looking at. If they got a second back from Matt Grisly, Pat, I will come on this show. and never doubt you again, honestly. But I think you're probably looking at a third or a fourth, in my opinion, I just, I put it, I put it this way, Hunter. I think that you can ask for a second because they were able to get a first for

Marcus Pedersen. And no disrespect to Marcus Pedersen or Drew O'Connor. I had absolutely zero expectation for them to be able to get a first for Marcus Pedersen. Now, some of that is the Jim Rutherford effect. He's known to, I don't want to quite say overpay, but that is probably the word. He's not a general manager who tries to fleece other general managers.

He's an old school GM in a new school world where he makes deals that make you scratch your head. But at the end of the day, he's trying to do right by the person he's trading with. Yes, that is always how he's been. He always has a big appreciation for Kyle Dubus. He's spoken glowingly about him to members of the Penguins, media in the past. And when he sees one of his guys out there, he is going to do whatever it takes to get that said player, even if it means overpaying.

But again, I would be a bit surprised if you get a second for Grizzlick. I think it's somewhere in the third or fourth round pick range. I think Florida could make some sense for him, especially to run maybe their second unit. You know, you never, there's never enough defense to go around. You know, you could always use another defenseman to help your team push another stand. up and in Florida's case, you know, they're trying to get back to their third straight Stanley Cup final and potentially win their second straight Stanley Cup. So I could see Florida in on him. I could see a couple other contenders in on him as well.

If his injury isn't too serious, I still expect him to be dealt now. If it's like way, way longer term, Pat, that potentially changes the story a little bit. But right now, I am still under the assumption that he is going to get dealt by next Friday's trade deadline. same with Anthony Bavillier. He has double-digit goals this year. I think you're looking at a mid-round pick. You're not going to be getting a second round pick or anything like that for him.

I think, again, kind of same thing as Matt Grisly. You're looking at a third or a fourth round pick. You know, if you don't get that, maybe it's a fifth. Again, somewhere in that range, I don't think you're going to get two assets back. It's probably just going to be a pick for him. And then, you know, other players we've already discussed for Kurt McHale. Only do that if you can get a King's ransom back. there were stuff on 32 thoughts on Monday with Elliot Freeman,

just putting a theory out there about the Dallas stars. Again, people, I think if there's an Eric Carlson trade to be made, I think it potentially happens in the summer when there's more cap space, teams can take on that contract, all that good stuff. I am curious to see, though, if Kyle Dubas potentially moves that extra first, though, by the deadline to try and get that younger player right then. Because remember a couple years ago when the capels were doing a sell-off as well before, you know, they got to this point where they're now arguably the best team in hockey,

they traded a first to go get Rasmus Sandin from Toronto. And that trade has worked out beautifully for them. They mortgage that extra first that they got to go and get a younger player that could help them well into the future. I know the Penguins won't fully know what that pick will be at the time, whether it's going to be in this year's draft or next year's draft, but I am still fascinated to see if Kyle Dubus is going to move that pick by the deadline, or if he's going to wait until this year's draft to potentially move it. It's going to be an interesting story to follow.

But yeah, again, Raquel Carlson, you know, Michael Bunting is another player. I could see potentially getting called on. He has a year left on his contract. Though if he doesn't get moved by this deadline, I could see maybe over the summer or even by next trade deadline. I don't think he's going to finish his contract here in Pittsburgh with where they are right now. You know, Noah Chari, that might be a summer thing. one of the two goalies, but I know some people want there to be a fire sale,

or it's not going to be a fire sale here, people. Kyle Dubas is going to be busy, but I don't think he's going to be making, you know, six to eight trades in the next 10 days or anything like that. Hey, it'll be good for content purposes for our show. And we would love to give our trade analysis for every single one. But I think he's probably going to make a few moves here and then the bigger stuff this summer. That's kind of where I am going back to your first point about the Vivalia.

that was the next guy I was going to go to in my list. And I'm with you on that. I think 12 goals, expiring contract. Second would be the ideal. I don't think you get it. But when you have a guy who's making less than $2 million has double-digit goals, has shown that he has a place in a middle six role on a team that could contend, that could get you a nice little price back.

Overall, though, if I can put my Kyle Dubus general manager hat on here in my my in my little office here. I do think you're right. I think that a lot of people are going to want to see the sell off at the deadline. And it very well could happen because we know that NHL general managers simply cannot help themselves. They love to make panic moves. They love to make reactionary moves.

And they oftentimes blow up in their face. But that said, when you look at where the Penguins organization is and you look at, like you said, Ricard Raquel, you look at Eric Carlson and guys like that, the time to move them is going to be the summer. Because I brought this up with Josh Yohe when we had him last week. The position of strength the Penguins will be in this summer is when the cap goes up. because one, you have a pretty solid UFA class this summer if some of those guys make it to market. And if you're a team that is wanting to go get a big time goal score, would you rather get Ricard Raquel for a couple more years at $5 million and all you have to do is spend some assets on it? Or do you have to go out on the open market and spend $7, $8, $9 million with the rising cap for multiple years?

that puts Dubus in a very advantageous situation. Same thing with Carlson. Only a couple more years left at 10 million. And he also controls where he wants to go. So you can really kick the tires on that if he does want to go. So again, that puts you in an advantageous situation. Then I agree that the first round pick could come into play at this deadline to go get a younger player. I also think they probably would want to wait and see where this pick is going to be.

Because for the plot, I would love the Rangers to get the 14th overall pick. This coming draft, it goes to the Penguins, and then they've got two firsts. And then that also gives you a little bit more leverage because you can maybe find someone who wants a top half of the first round pick, and then they use the first round. and then they use that pick for whatever you can get a young player, you can get something else, who knows. But I also think the other reason you might want to trade it in the summer is if it moves to next year, next year's draft is much deeper.

So I think you could really entice a GM to part with a younger player for that first round pick. I almost said first overall. It's not going to be the first overall pick. Let's all relax. But yeah, I mean, I think if you're looking at this trade deadline, you're probably going to see one or two moves, maybe three, if some team comes calling about Ricard Raquel, who again, I think would be better served to move in the off season

because you'll have much more leverage. But if a team calls with an offer you can't refuse, you've got to take the call. I think you'll see those two trades, Bavillier, Grizzlic, maybe some tinkering around the margins, maybe he moves something for a pick here and there, moves an AHL guy for some picks, a guy who's not really going to be anything.

There is one player, though, that I got a little bit of pushback on social media about when I said this. A player I wouldn't mind them holding on to going into this deadline and maybe holding on to him until next deadline is Kevin Hayes. It reminds me a lot of when Boyle was a penguin, I've said that multiple times. There's no logical reason that he should be this effective with the penguins, but he has been.

And I know that this is an older team, but you know that going into post-trade deadline most likely, you're going to get some of the younger guys up. Definitely next season, you're going to get some of the younger guys up. I think he's a good stabilizing presence to have in your locker room as a veteran. And obviously this team has Crosby, Malkin, Letang, maybe still Carlson, and a couple other guys like Brian Rust, who are good,

veteran presence, but those guys, maybe not so much rust, no offense to him, I love them, but you're talking about legends of this current generation, guys who their name and reputation supersedes them. Again, no offense to a guy like Kevin Hayes, but it's a lot more relatable of a guy to have in the room with you who can give you a tap on the shin pads and go, come on, kid, you got this or teaches you a thing here and there about being a pro because it's really easy to be starstruck by the big three. But if you have Kevin Hayes, who's a very effective NHL player, has carved out a nice career, that could be a good resource for some of the younger players.

Yeah, I think with Hayes, like that veteran leadership is, I think really important, especially after the deadline because, you know, he's been through something like that before. Now, I think if they do get an offer, they can't refuse on Hayes. I would do it, especially since, you know, they took draft picks to take on Hayes' contract over the summer and he has been a really nice fit in the lineup. You know, he's really strong with the puck on his stick. He's had a really nice release throughout the year. He's been playing on the top power play unit recently.

Maybe Penguins are kind of showcasing him a little bit on that unit. They're splitting up still Crosby and Malkins' separate powerplay units. But still, I think Hayes has fit like a glove on that top power play unit. And also, you know, he may be able to help some of these younger players on the team that have never really been through a trade deadline before to try and ease them in for the rest of this season. We also have to see how many younger players. come up from Wilkesbury.

You know, Jason Spetsa did a really good interview with Matt Venzel, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette this week where he kind of basically said it's on a case-by-case basis. And also that, you know, Wilkesbury is playing really well right now. And I don't think they want to fully mess up the chemistry that some of these guys have, you know, formed down there. So, again, I've made my thoughts perfectly clear on who I want to come up from Wilkes-by at the deadline. I'm still going to stand by that take.

But I will still understand if they decide to do a little bit of the opposite it and maybe keep a lot of those guys down there for a good chunk of the rest of the regular season just because they're potentially building towards a run in the Calder Cup playoffs. But I think with Kevin Hayes, again, I would sell as high as you can. If someone doesn't meet that price, I would consider keeping him. But if someone wants to give you a decent package in return, and I'm not talking to anything. Big here, people, I know it's Kevin Hayes. But if someone wants to give you at least something, I would very much consider it,

considering how he has helped the Penguins this year. Yeah, that kind of puts it a little bit better than I was trying to go. If you get a good deal for him, you should take it. By no means, do I think he's untouchable. But I do think at the end of the day, he does have some value for this, for this team and this franchise overall. But that'll do it for this second segment. When we come back, some new alternate jerseys could be on the way next season for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

We'll tell you why and probably have it. a little bit of an old Penguins fan debate about jerseys and logos when we come back and we will do that right after this. Welcome back to the Tuesday edition of Locked-on Penguins. I'm Patrick Damp alongside Hunter Hodes and according to our good friends at Pensburg who in a world where we've got Twitter hot takes, TikTok hot takes, YouTube channels, these guys are still doing the blog game and they are out. absolutely crushing it.

You got to follow their work. Friends with a lot of their staff, I'm telling you they do awesome work. If you're not already following them, get off your butt and go do that. But from them, they had a story yesterday about what will the Penguins next alternate jersey be?

Obviously, we know this year, they're doing the Rangers rip off the diagonal Pittsburgh jerseys. Don't give me that look, Hunter. You know it is a direct ripoff of the New York Rangers. It always has been. We like the, them, but we have to call them what they are.

They're great jerseys. Be quiet. And we're going to have a debate about another certain jersey coming up here in a few seconds, people. But essentially, they have begun kind of hinting to season ticket holders. They also had a post on their Instagram page, polling fans of which throwback jerseys do you like the most. It included the 21 reverse retroes, which were the white version of the diagonal Pittsburgh

jerseys, the 2019 third jerseys. that held on for quite a while. That's the all yellow jersey with the skating penguin with no golden triangle. Pass on that. The 2012 winter classic dark blue jerseys absolute pass on that. 2004, the early penguins, the early Crosby year throwback jerseys, and then the 2000s Road jersey, the robo penguin with the stripe across the middle and the gray gradient.

I will say this, Hunter, because I know you're going to battle. me on this. I do love the 2000's gray gradient Robo Penguin jersey. However, I think it's the only good iteration of the Robo Penguin. I don't like the Robo Penguin, and here's why. They win back to back Stanley Cups in 91 and 92. They changed their entire team branding after doing that. And then what happens in that following season? Mario Lemieux gets actual literal cancer. Kevin Stevens breaks his face. And then the Penguins lose in their quest for a three-peat

in what was probably their best team of that run to the New York Islanders. It is a cursed logo and I don't like it. I understand your gripes about it. I do. It is still a beautiful jersey. And I want another version of it, ASAP, hopefully next season. I just, I love the look of it, man. I love the Robo Penguin.

It is such a classic jersey in this franchise's history. I will say this, though. There are going to be people that will clamor for a blue jersey to return. Absolutely not, people. I hate the blue jerseys. I think those jerseys are also very cursed. Like, I understand what you are saying, got another Robo Penguin.

one. But the blue jerseys, I think, I think they are also very cursed. And they're just ugly, I think the dark blue ones, the dark blue. Yes. The, the 08 winter classic powder blue, I wouldn't be upset about. I like those a lot because they just, they're aesthetically pleasing. Again, it's a time of the Pittsburgh Penguins when there was absolutely nothing to celebrate or remember, but they look good. But we had too much of a good thing in the late 2000s, early 2010. with blue jerseys. We just, they tried to do it too much. And let's be honest, it's Pittsburgh.

It's black and gold. The blue's a nice homage to the old days. But come on, it's Pittsburgh. You got the pirates. You got the Steelers. You have the penguins. Stop trying to make blue a thing. Yeah, I don't need another blue jersey.

I understand that some fans may clamor for some to come back. I don't need another one. But I will very much disagree on Pat. I would like another variant of the robo-penged. went back and that is all I have spoken. I mean, I'll say this much, as much as I don't like the logo, if you kind of, I also didn't hate the reverse retro with the robo penguin. Yes, that was awesome.

Because they tried to do something new. That if they failed with the dark blue penguins jerseys when they just tried to do something new and just button mashed a bunch of stuff together and they're like, it's blue and it's the penguin's logo and it's something we never wore but it's kind of cool if you can find a way like you did with the robopengland reverse retro to kind of try something new but keep it at least somewhat in concert with what you're wearing now like if they were to do some like whether they do the the 2000s gradient which i love i love that jersey i would be down for that like another variant of that i think i would sell

immediately. But if you can find a way to kind of marry that early 2000s gradient look with the modern also throwback because let's be honest, the Penguins current jerseys are the 80s and 90s jerseys. But if you can find a way to marry those two together and make it work, that would be cool to me. But I don't want it just to be a copy paste or some weird, we tried to mash it all together and we just threw a bunch of colors and logos and fonts together and this is our jersey, I'll hear you out on it. But overall, I think they're probably leaning towards the gradient jersey

because the Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate did a version of it. For the Mario Lemieux Fantasy Camp, those were the jerseys they wore. So we've also, if you haven't noticed over the past like 15 years, watch what jerseys the Lomew Fantasy Camp. of the Lemieux fantasy camp wears because occasionally that will give you a hint at what jersey is

coming next. So the fact that they were wearing those at the fantasy camp kind of tells me that's where the organization is leaning. Hey, I'm down for it, man. I really am. And I guess we'll see once this gets officially announced, probably going to be over the summer, if I had to guess, or maybe even right before training camp in September. That's usually about the time when they drop the jersey. But hey, we'll at least agree on that variant of the robo penguin, even though all the robo penguin jerseys that they've worn are gorgeous, Pat. Sorry, you're fired. Terrible. But that is going to do it for the Tuesday edition of Locked-on Penguins.

Hunter and I will be back with a brand new episode on Wednesday, recapping the first of the home at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, as well as breaking down any kind of news that might happen between now and then. But for Hunter Hodes, I'm Patrick Dammit. Thank you, as always, for tuning in, and we will return on Wednesday.