Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins to face ANOTHER Canadiens rookie goalie!

Episode Date: December 11, 2025

The Penguins welcome Montreal tonight, and for the fourth time in history, a Habs’ rookie goalie gets his first start. Hunter and Patrick begin the show by taking a look at Jacob Fowler, who joins Carey Price, Patrick Roy, and Ken Dryden as a Canadiens rookie goalie getting his first career start against Pittsburgh (3:15). They also discuss Montreal’s young, exciting lineup and who to keep an eye on. Then, the Penguins didn’t make many changes during morning skate, and that’s probably for the best (13:30). Even with the shootout losses, the Penguins are entirely in trust-the-process mode after intense efforts. Finally, it’s time to take a look down on the farm as both Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are absolutely rolling (25:10).Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.MonarchTake control of your finances with Monarch. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at https://monarch.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. So if you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit FanDuel.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. 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.

Penguins will look to bounce back against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night for Star Wars Night and Pat and I are going to preview that game right after this. Your 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 episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host. Hunt or Hodes. You can follow me on Twitter at Hunser Hodes. Joined by my coast, Patrick Damp, you can follow him on all social media platforms at Sendin Verwet. You can also follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. And you can follow the show's Instagram account at Lockdown underscore Penguins. Of course, thank you all so much

for making this your first lesson slash watch of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. And finally, today's episode is brought to you by Fandul. If you want to be right in the all the action this season, visit fandul.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. Pat, like I said in the intro, it's Star Wars Night at PBG Paints Arena. So, of course, I had to score a last minute ticket to see all these hilarious costumes that are going to be on full display. I'm fully expecting some Darth Vader costumes. Maybe Emperor Palpatine will make an appearance.

Kylo Ren. Who knows? There's going to be, I think, a whole bunch of costumes tonight. But as someone who's a Star Wars nerd, pretty happy. about that. But of course, you all are here because the Penguins are looking to bounce back from that deflating and heartbreaking loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. We already discussed it on Wednesday how they should have easily won that game with a power play with 17 seconds left. Didn't go their way. They then lose in a shootout, but the Penguins will take on a Montreal

Canadians team that is trying to take that next step this year after making the playoffs last year. They lost in the first round to the Washington Capitals and the Canadians. They were hot out of the gate pat but they're five and five in their last 10 games 15 and 14 overall three of those losses are overtime losses they're fourth in the atlantic right now and they are led by nick zizuki and cole coffield zizuki only eight goals but he's been a peer playmaker this year 25 assists for 33 points in 29 games cole coffield he leads the team in goals of 16 also has 31 points in 29 games he's trying to kind of go on a little late run here for making a Roster spot for Team USA. I think he should personally get on Team USA, even as an extra,

but that's just my opinion on that. Ivan Demadov is off to a great start in his first full NHL season, six goals, 23 points in 29 games. He is a strong contender for the Calder Trophy. Lane Hudson, he's doing his usual thing with five goals and 22 points. They also added Noah Dombson of the all season. They saw Mike Matheson. Your Haysts-Kopfsie is still there. So they have a lot of really good young pieces. They still have some veterans here, but their young pieces are a lot of fun to watch. They're also pretty quick, especially in the offensive zone. So the penguins are going to have to be really quick going from defense to offense in their own zone. But one thing I do really want to discuss, Pat, Jacob Fowler starting his first NHL game tonight. And he is now on a long list of

Canadians' goaltenders to start their first NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Carrie Price, also started his first career game against the Penguins. Ken Dryden back in 1971, started his first game against the Penguins. Patrick Blah also did it in 1985. And now Jacob Fowler has been added to that long, illustrious list of outstanding goaltenders from the Montreal Canadians to start against the Penguins.

So Pat, he's basically going to be a Hall of Famer, right? I just want to congratulate Jacob Fowler ahead of time on his induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame. because at this point, it feels like that's about a guarantee when you talk about that list, three of the greatest goaltenders of all time, and the recently, maybe not that recently, but still recent enough passing of Ken Dryden, who just an absolute legend and an absolute giant in hockey. So I hate to see that, hate to hear that. He was one of a kind. You can see it

right behind my shoulder. I have his book, The Game on my bookshelf. He's, I've read that book probably 10 times cover to cover. It's one of the best sports books ever written. So if you haven't read that, go grab it. It's phenomenal. But back to this. I mean, this kid for them is the hope. You talk about how good in young this Canadian's team is.

There's a lot, very similar to what we said about Anaheim when we preview that game, the HABs have done a really good job of mixing good, good up-and-coming young talent with some solid veterans. You talk about players like our old pal Mike Matheson. He may be an adventure as a defenseman, but he has been around the league long enough, been on good enough teams that he's there to help stabilize these veterans. Brendan Gallagher, he's been around for a long time,

really solid veteran. Josh Anderson, not a hardened vet, but still a veteran. So they're doing a good job of mixing some veteran talent to really show the way for these young players and what do you know going into this season even putting their record aside looking at just pure production Suzuki, Cofield, Demadov, Hudson, Slavkovsky are all leading this team because they're not putting it or at least they didn't initially put it all on their shoulders and say, hey, go out there and figure this out. They had a couple, last couple years, they've had a couple veterans in and out.

and have been able to show these kids the ropes. And what do you know, they are on the rise in the Atlantic division? So a little bit of struggles as of late, but for the penguins, you have to be on high alert because that combination of, some combination of Suzuki, Kauffield, Demadov, in Hudson, and even Slavkovsky, you give them a little bit of time. They are going to make you pay because they are very, very talented. Especially Caulfield.

I love his release. I think it's one of the better ones in the NHL today. I love watching when I get the chance to. So obviously circle him tonight. Suzuki as a playmaker, he's very crafty. Like he finds the tight areas very easily, and he can make you pay with an instant.

So always have those two on your radar, Slavkovsky. He's been really good this year as well. Demadov. I could watch him dangle for days. I mean, his playmaking ability is also absurd. fat like the dangles that he can do with the puck on his stick are outrageous his skating is also beautiful to watch lane hudson the way that he transitions from defense to offense is great the way that he walks the blue line is great he's going to be on team u s a at the olympics

really soon mike matheson i mean we all know the mike math andison experience is hilarious in every single way but you can maybe get him off his game in his own zone just because everything back there for him is an absolute adventure he he still brings the offense a bit But defensively, we all saw it here in Pittsburgh. It can be very much inadvenster. So there's never a middle ground with Matheson. He is either a lock it down. You're not getting through.

You shall not pass defenseman or he is completely unusable. So fingers crossed that the wheel of Matheson this evening lands on borderline unusable. Right. I agree. And as for Jacob Fowler just real quick, he's been really good in the H. all this year for LaValle, 15 games, 2.09 goals against average, 919, 7 percentage, and 3 shutouts. So he's been fantastic.

The Canadians have high hopes for him, and I'm excited to see what he can do in his debut tonight. Just don't shut out the penguins in your debut. In a very similar way, though, I will say this for the Canadians. It is not dissimilar to what is happening with the penguins, because you look at who they have in that otherwise, they've got. Montembeau, who has started to struggle a little bit. Doves has struggled a little bit lately.

And the habs are on their way up. They're not expected to be a contender this year or maybe even really next year, but you expect them to take steps toward that, continue to be a playoff team, continue to be competitive. But they're in a spot right now with a weakened Atlantic division where you can bring him up right now and say, let's see what he's got. let's see how he does is he ready if he is great we have our goaltender if not not a huge deal we can

let him go back to the a hl and we can let him really start to develop very similar to what the penguins are doing with sergey murashov two point it's it it's not the worst thing if sergey murashov has to come up and he plays well great that's a bonus if he comes up and struggles a little bit not that big of a deal you can send him back he can really start to learn So it's a very similar situation in net for the HABs as it is for the Penguins. Right. And they'll have a decision to make on both of their NHL goalies before Jacob Fowler is potentially ready for full-time action. Same with Murashov and the Penguins, Injari, and she loves a lot of a decision to make there.

And speaking of Sergei Murashab, we're going to discuss him a bit later on in the show because he notched another shout out for Wilkesbury on Wednesday night. Another thing I do want to point out that before we had to break, Montreal 10th in the NHL and goals for a game, 3.1. for so again they bring a lot of the offense defensively they do bring some they do give some of the back excuse me they are also really banged up right now kating guli is on i r reinbacher is out i mean pat for patrick lane is out sam montenbo who you just discussed he is out so he's a little banged up kirby doc is out jake evans is day to day Alex new hook so this is a very banged up team right now but they have the stars in the lineup which counts like that's going to be that big thing you got to shut down their stars they also have a top five power play in the

NHL right now. So that is going to be another big test for the penguins too. Huge. And like you said, this is a team that they're 10th in the NHL and goals for per game. So you know that they can score the fourth ranked power play at 25.6%. So your fourth ranked penalty kill for the penguins has to come up big in this one. But then as you said, 30th in the league and goals against per game at 3.5. So the opportunities to score. will be there. You're just going to have to do, and I know everyone's going to cringe for a second here, but just stay with me. You have to do what you did the last two games for the most part. You have to play strong defensively, but it's got to be for a full 60, because for the majority

of those two games against Dallas and Anaheim, you played really well defensively, and no offense to our friends over on locked on Canadians and Laura and Ian, but the habs are not quite the stars or the ducks. So you really can't, you have an opportunity to beat a very getable HAB's team. Right. And the Penguins just have to keep trusting the process. It's very much been there these last two games. They probably should have won both in regulation. It's just about working on those fine point details, closing out these games, not gripping your stick so hard, not getting so nervous in these situations. If they're able to do that, plus keep trusting the process and out playing these type of teams, the results are going to follow.

But that's going to do it for this first segment. Coming up in the second segment, Pat and I are going to discuss what the lineup is going to look like tonight, who's the starting goaltender is going to be, and all of that. So stick around. That's coming up right after this. But before we get to that, we have to tell you all about our first sponsor, which is Fandle, NFL Sundays move fast, one big play, and suddenly everything feels different.

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It's basically going to be the same lineup tonight. Excuse me. Ricardo Raquel was at the morning skate, was a full participant. He has been cleared for contact. Not going to play just yet. I got to think they're going to have them do at least a couple, if not a few full practices before he returns to game action. That's why I think maybe even this weekend could be some wishful thinking for Raquel. Obviously, anything is possible, but I think it's more likely that he comes back next week, potentially. But he's getting closer, which is huge because the Penguins could really use him back, not just for the power play, but five on five, too.

He's one of their top goal scores. So he's getting closer, but that means the lines are going to be the same. So you're going to have Tommy Novak with Sidney Crosby and Brian Rush on the top line. You will have Kevin Hayes, a center-rank, Anthony Mantha, and Justin Broseau. Remember people of Guinea-Malkin was not at the morning skate today, so he's out once again. He is week to week right now with the injury. You will have the kid line with Kendall McGorrie and Coimbin. And then the fourth line of Connor Dewar, Noel Chari, and Dayton Heinen. Defensively, same head ranks. Parker Watherston with Eric Carlson. You also have Ryan

Shay with Crystal Tang. And then Connor Clifton and Ryan Graves. The only change the Penguins will be making Pat is Tristan Jari starts in net for Archer Shilovs. Very much the right call. It's time to go back to Jari with the way that he's been playing as of late. You know, Shilovs, he wasn't awful, per se, against the ducks. There was definitely at least one goal that I know he would want back, the one that gave the ducks a two, one lead. And then I know you disagree. That's fine.

First one, I think you probably shouldn't be giving that one up either, even though it was a hell of a shot. I still think you should be able to close off that angle, though. But totally good with giving Shalov's a night off and giving Jari a chance to continue his hot stretch of play here. Oh, I agree. It's Jari's job for now. For now, he has earned that starting job.

And we already recapped and went deep on the Anaheim loss, but I didn't get a chance to say this about the second goal. While I am 100% still in the camp for Shilov's needs to stop it, I do think he got fooled in the sense that he thought a pass was coming. So he was getting ready to close off the passing lane as the goaltender and shut down that middle. And he just saw that the entire top of the net was open. So at the same time, though, got to have that save. But yeah, I mean, for the Raquel part of it, I'll say this about it, you're right, that he, you want to give him more of a runway to get up to speed.

You have a broken hand and you really need to get that strength back up, get that timing back up. And then you also look at the way the division is right now. They're right now, as we record this pregame, four points off the division lead. Granted, the Columbus Blue Jackets are three points behind them and they're in the basement of the Metro. So it's still a total log jam, but with where they are and how the division is, you've bought yourself time to let him recover. You don't need to panic and throw him back in the lineup when he's not 100%. And even the shootout losses aside,

they've played well enough over the past week that you can live with waiting another game or two to let him get back up to speed. And overall, looking at the lineup at Morning Skate and what we're likely to see tonight. I'm fine with this. I mean, the effort for the most part has been there and you said it already. The Penguins very much are in a trust the process moment. The things that they need to clean up are a lot easier to clean up than having to overhaul the entire operation. They just have to clean up some defensive issues. They maybe have to try to finish every now and then a little bit more. But there are no real big structural, structural problems with this team right now.

So you just have to clean things up a little bit, continue the same effort level, and get a win against a Habs team that is very getable right now. That and also the Penguins have played really well against the Canadians these last couple of years. The Penguins swept the season series last year outscoring the Canadians 18 to 6 in the three games. So a lot of success against them last year. I will say they played them. In the first half of the year, when the Canadians were really figuring everything out, it was before the Canadians got really hot in the second half. So a little different.

So tonight's game should also be a bit different, considering that this is a different Habs team. It's going to be more competitive, I think. But again, recent history has been on the penguin side, at least for this one. I agree with you, though, especially on Raquel. I mean, last week, Kyle Dubas said on the GM show, three to four more weeks, I know he's already been clear for contact, he's been participating in morning skates.

I don't know if it's going to be the full three to four weeks, but I also don't think it's going to be again this weekend. I think at the earliest it's going to be next week. And then when he's ready to come back, I imagine he's going to go up on the top line. Though I will say, I wrote about this for the hockey news today. Tommy Novak has been really good next to Sidney Crosby. The underlying numbers are very seller.

If you want to go check some of that out, you can go to the hockey news and see it. But that's also, I think, a key for tonight. Novak is on a four-game point streak for the penguins. He has been fantastic, both as a great. goal score and a playmaker, and I want to see if he continues it tonight because he's a player that, you know, even though he's been hot as of late, I don't see him getting talked about enough among the fan base. So I think this could also potentially be another big game for him if he keeps up his strong play over the last couple of weeks. This is exactly what they were hoping for

out of Tommy Novak when they acquired him. And this is what they're going to hope for for at least another year or two as they continue to go through this rebuild retool on the fly is you get these guys who kind of fall out of favor or get squeezed out by the numbers game on better rosters even though Nashville is putrid you look at that roster on paper and you kind of go all right where exactly does Tommy Novak fit and he didn't really have a role there so you're able to go get him and he finds a fit here. and he's producing. He's on a four-game point streak with getting five points in his last four.

He looks really comfortable on Sidney Crosby's line, which is nothing but good news because we kind of talked about this yesterday. With the potential return of Ricard Raquel, you can make Ricard Raquel your second line center while Evgeny Malkin is out because Mews has even hinted at that in the lead up to the season where they tried him quite a few times throughout camp as a center. and he's played center in the past. So you don't want Raquel to be your full-time 2C,

but while Evgeny Malkin is out and recovering, you have that option there, and you can keep Tommy Novak with Crosby and Rust where he seems really, really comfortable. I'm going to reiterate it again. I hope I see this tonight. The kid line, for all intents and purposes, should be the second line.

They should get the second most minutes behind the Crosby line tonight because once again, even with the loss in Anaheim, they were arguably the penguin's best line. And here's the thing. You're in a good spot, as I've said about the goaltending and everything else to where and the standings and everything else where if this doesn't work out, if you give them elevated minutes in they kind of regress, no problem. You're going to have reinforcements coming. and you can take them back to that third line status,

produce their minutes, shelter them a little more, and it just increases your depth. But at some point over the next however many games, you got to push them a little bit further and see what more they can do because so far they have been really, really good. And I think they're going to get some good matchups tonight.

I wouldn't be surprised if Dan Mused threw them out there, potentially against the Canadian top line. I mean, he was doing it with Kindle against Carrillo Caprisoff again earlier this season. The results are really good. So I wouldn't be surprised if he did that here. I agree with you. They got about a minute less ice time than the Hayes-Brizo-Mantha line on Tuesday. That has to change.

You need to make this your de facto second line until Gennie Malkin is ready to return, especially when you look at the underlying numbers, you watch the games with your own eyes. They have been an outstanding line since they were formed. and the process has been there and the results are going to follow. I really believe that. So I agree with you there. I totally honestly forgot, Pat, about Raquel potentially being an option for 2C. If Malkin is still out, I know he was, they've experimented with that a little bit

kind of this season during training camp during the preseason, but I still think when it's all said and done, once everyone is fully healthy, he is going to be on the top line with Crosby and Rust, but maybe I could see it for a game or two if Malkin hasn't returned yet. and maybe he does anchor the second line and Kevin Hayes potentially get scratched. Something like that, I don't know, but I'm glad that you brought that up as an option because I kind of low-key forgot about it. And then one less thing when you look at the standings, points percentage is a big one right now. Penguins, 625 points percentage.

Only the capitals and the hurricanes have a higher point percentage in the metro than the penguins do. The flyers are tied, 625. So look at that, the penguins, they have games in hand on all these teams. They have three games in hand on the Islanders, a game in hand on the Hurricanes, a game in hand on the hurricanes, two games in hand on the capitals, they also have two games in hand on the Devils and four games in hand on the New York Rangers. Of course, all that matters is that you win those games, but that's big right now, because if you win those, you're going to shoot up pretty high in the standings because these other teams have played more games than you right

now. So keep an eye on the points percentage. That's definitely big right now, even though the penguins are in that first wildcard spot in the overall Eastern Conference standings. But that's going to do it for this second segment coming up to end the show we haven't done this on a while pad but it's time to check in on wheeling in the echel and wilksbury and a hl and both teams down on the farm have been damn good this year we're going to discuss that right after this but before we get to that we have to tell you all about our final sponsor which is monarch the holidays are amazing but they can also get overwhelming fast travel gifts parties year and expenses it's really

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contributions before deadlines. Monarch makes money check-in simple, just a minute or two each week, and you're completely up to speed. Don't let financial opportunities slip through the cracks. Use code locked on NHL at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year at monarch.com with the code locked on NHL. all right we're back here on this episode of the locked on penguins podcast i'm one of your host hunter hodies joined by my host patchdamp and pat wilkesbury continues to be an absolute wagon they shut out the

hartford wolf pack on wednesday night and now wilkesbury 18 and 1 through 24 games 37 points that leads the atlantic division one point better than the providence bruins sergey muroshov once again just lights out in that. The save that he made on the breakaway with that poke check, he just continues to make it look so easy. His stats continue to be very elite in the age. I'll pet, I'm going to let you get into those in a second. But Wilkesbury, man, they are firing on all cylinders. Avery Hayes was once again good in that game. Aidan McDonough continues to produce as well. That team, man, they are, they potentially can make a run to the Calder Cup here.

They're really good. And it just continues. to validate a little bit of what I have said about I understand everybody really wanting to play with the new toys. I understand you want these young players to come up together or you want them to come up now. You want them to be in the NHL now. But when you look back at the early to mid 2000s when the Crosby and Malkin era began, a lot of the secondary. players who helped you win a championship in 2009, played together for a long time, maybe not a long time, but for a little bit with Wilkes-Bair. They lived together, they played together, traveled together, they became a team down

there. And by the time they were ready to come up to the NHL, it was a very smooth transition. And then the same thing in 16 and 17, when a lot of those secondary pieces, you're Connor Sherry's, Brian Rust, Tom Cunachle, even Matt Murray. and those guys came up there was a level of familiarity they they understood what it took to play together and we're starting to see some of that now now obviously you're going to have to find your next top of the lineup guys here over the next couple of years but keeping a lot of these players together at the a hl level in letting them win and learn together will help in the long

term but back to murashov good lord it is video game level stats he is is 8 and 2, like you said, two shutouts, 1.56 goals against average in a 943 save percentage in the HL. It's just unfair. And I know a lot of people are going to want to say, hey, it's, it's time for him to graduate and come up. Listen, we're still only in December. We need to find out, can he do this for an entire year. Can he have the saddle on and be the starting goalie for Wilkes Bear for a full season? Hasn't shown any signs that he can't, but this is a big part of development. You have to make sure he can handle the workload. And when we get into September of next year, the door is probably going to be open for him to take over should he continue this level of play. Right. And I wanted him

to get that full year. Yes, it was cool to see him get a taste of initial action. He got his first win. and a shutout, which was awesome, and he was great in that game. And, you know, for the most part, in the games that he played, I thought he was fairly good. Yeah, I think he wanted a goal or two back against Seattle, but it's still very early in his professional career, only played a few games. They sent him back down when Jari got healthy, which was the right move.

I know everyone wants to see him right now with these video game like numbers, the way that he's tearing up the H.L. I'm going to stress again, patience, because Tristan Jari is, doing his thing right now. Archer Shilovs, he was better in his last start, not nearly as bad in his previous two starts, but he was at least better in this one, even though I think he would want one of those goals or two back, but they're not just going to move away from this plan for the sake of it. You have to keep giving Marasov starts down there, see how he does for the full year. I imagine he's going to be the starter in the Calder Cup playoffs, which will also

be big, high stakes games for him. How does he fare in those games? And then, once this season is over with, I think we can have a really big conversation about just how big of a role he's going to have for the 26, 27 Penguins, because I think he can at least be the backup, but maybe there's an outside shot that he is the full-time starter next year. We'll have to see. But again, the early returns this season, and just in general for his career so far, have been great. I mentioned Aidan McDonough, Pat. He's been awesome at another goal last night. Six goals, 16 points in 23 games. He was brought over during the off season. It was a bit banged up last year. I liked his game during training camp. I was like, oh, that's someone who

I think can really help Wilkesbury. He was really quick on the ice. He made it towards the late stages of training camp. So I'm liking how he's playing. Avery Hayes. He's been limited to 18 games a season, but has seven goals and 14 points. I still think we're going to see him a bit later on this season. So he continues his strong play. And also, Philip Tomasino added a goal. He has two goals and 10 points in six games. He's doing what you want him to do in the HAL, which is dominated. and he's going to try to earn his way back to the NHL at some point this season. If not, I'm sure the Penguins will try to accommodate him and maybe send him to another team just because, you know, I don't think he's going to be in the HL for his entire career

or something like that. As for a wheeling pet, they have also been a wagon this year. 18 and 4 and 1 through 23 games, 37 points, 5 points clear of the Florida Everblades. Pat, both teams in the ECHL and the HL are lighting it up. A plus 32 goal differential for the Wheeling Nailers through 23 games. That is absolutely absurd. Like you said, they're five points clear overall in the ECHL and the Eastern Conference of the Florida Everblades. But when you go to their division, the North Division, there is no one close to them.

They have first place in the North over the Maine Mariners. who have simply 24 points. So again, I'll keep reiterating this point on the show. The penguins are putting an emphasis on their minor league system like they haven't in quite a while. It's no longer just an incubator for guys to take a quick stop and work on a few things. They want you there.

They want you to win. They want you to learn how to win at the professional level. And right now, both wheeling and will, Wilkes-Bare are doing just that. And I think that is overall good for the culture of the organization. You don't want to look at your minor league teams as a place where, okay, I'll come down here for 15, 20 games, put up a pile of points, who cares what happens, and then I'll get my promotion.

You want it to be, when you're with Wheeling, you're working to win the Kelly Cup. When you're with the Wilkes-Berry Scranton Penguins, you're working to win the Calder Cup. And you want to learn and put together a culture that puts an emphasis on winning. So as soon as you step into Pittsburgh, your emphasis is on winning. And I know that these levels are very different than the NHL, but winning breeds winning. And if you have these good talents working in your minor league system, they will be ready to come up and play in the NHL. The winning culture is the most important part. Like, if you have it down in Wheeling, you see it in Wilkesbury, you can bring those skills up to the big club, even though they've missed the playoffs,

these last few seasons, there are still players in the locker room who have won a ton. And I do think that is helping some of these younger players graduate to the NHL and they're learning from some of these veterans who have been here for a while and have experienced these winning cultures. And I will say this. I know it's going to be a silly example to make on a penguins podcast because there are rival and everything that has gone on between the two franchises. But you know who is a really good example of that? The Washington Capitals.

The Hershey Bears are always a really good HL team. In low key, the South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL are also usually a pretty good team. I know that we have our memes about the caps and never getting past the penguins and never getting past a second round. But a lot of the players that they bring through their system, they are damn near plug and play. And it's because they have a very smart front office that has an ownership that puts together an organization that says every level here matters. Every place you go matters. You're not there because you're the biggest fish in the pond. You're there because you're part of the entire organization.

And look at the way that they have graduated players from Hershey up to the NHL. there's some good contributors there and they've been learning from that's like Alexoveskin for example John Carlson you know I can keep going down the list if you want me to but they've had that winning culture in Washington for a long time I know we can make the memes they've only gotten out of

the second round ones during the OV era but hey the one time they did they won the Stanley Cup so they have that culture they've made the playoffs a lot and you're seeing these young players really develop into solid contributors for the cap rules and I make the Penguins with both leagues here in the East Hitch on the AHL, they kind of want the same thing.

So both teams are off to great starts, and we'll have to see if they can go deep in their respective playoffs later on this season. But that's going to do it for the Thursday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. Thank you all so much for take the time to listen to slash watch this one. Pat and I

will be back with a fresh episode for you guys on Friday, recapping this game against the Canadians and getting you all set for the weekend back-to-back, a home back-to-back against the San Jose sharks and the Utah Mammoth. So for Patrick Damp, I'm Hunter Hodes. Thank you all so much for tuning in.

We will be back on Friday.