Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins to take on the hottest team in the NHL, the St. Louis Blues

Starting point is 00:00:00 Today on Locked-on Penguins, the Penguins are taking on the hottest team in the National Hockey League. We're going to get you set for that game. Talk about the Penguins practice. And could it be a summer full of offer sheets? We'll talk about all of that and more right after this. Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Starting point is 00:00:26 Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome back to another edition of the Locked-on Panthers. Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Patrick Damp. You can follow me across all social media platforms at Synonym 4Wet. Join once again from vacation, but he's back on the show, the one and only Hunter Hodes. You can follow him on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can give our show's Twitter account a follow at LO underscore Penguins. And of course, we appreciate you making us part of your daily routine. Don't forget that we are free and available wherever you get your podcast as well as YouTube and the Roku channel. And if you're following us on YouTube, go ahead and hit that notification button.

Starting point is 00:01:10 That way you can be among the first to know when we drop our daily Monday through Friday episodes. Joining us for this opening segment today from the Locked on Blues podcast, the one and only, Haley Simon, Haley, welcome back. And my God, the Blues are a house on fire right. now 10 straight wins and they're taking on a penguins team that well in two of their last three they were absolutely embarrassed so are you just chalking this one up as win number 11 or what? Not at all actually. So throwing it back a little bit, the last loss the blues had was actually to the penguins before this winning streak. And it was a really bad game for St. Louis.

Starting point is 00:01:54 However, this is a big game for all this blues fans because back in 2019 when we went on to win the cup. We had an 11-win streak win victory. So if we win tonight, the magic is definitely back. But you can count out guys like Sydney Crosby, and I see this all of the time. Even if a team is respectively a bad team, having a bad season, they still can have great players. You see that with the National Predators.

Starting point is 00:02:19 They see even Stamco's and Forsburg. So you can count out the teams just because you're not having the best, like, record per se. But this is a big game for all those blues fans. tonight. Yeah, and Haley, just walk us through, like, what's been working so well throughout this winning streak for the Blues? Yeah, so a lot of people have been saying, you know, due to Colton Pereco being out, they didn't really have a lot of faith in this team. And I would like to say that I completely disagree with that, because the one thing about the Blues' defensive core is, while Perrico has been such a great asset, and there's no denying that, we've had Cam Fowler,

Starting point is 00:02:53 who the Blue is acquired from Anaheim, and he's been lights out, having, honestly, some of the best stretch of hockey that he's ever played. And then you also have Ryan Suter, who's been all around the Central Division, almost every single team. And he's been such a staple, too. But then again, Philip Rauberg is another player that the Blues acquired off of the offer sheets this off season. And he's such a good two-way defenseman.

Starting point is 00:03:14 So I feel like the defense is just clicking. You also have the offense. And you're seeing guys like a Dylan Holloway, again, another offer sheet player who's been lights out, who has surpassed the 20 goals that a lot of people did project. And then, of course, Robert Thomas. Robert Thomas is my guy. Also, Jordan Cairo, 30 plus goals for now three straight seasons. But then in that, you have a rotating Tatum between Bennington and Joel Hofer,

Starting point is 00:03:38 who have both respected, will even play some great hockey. So I feel like what's been worth in to answer your question, hunter, is the fact that all of these players on the blues are now coming together and playing well under Coach Montgomery. Lions haven't changed that often. They gave some of the younger guys like Divorsky and Snuggie a chance. but overall when you have the lines that kind of stay the same, you're going to eventually develop that chemistry.

Starting point is 00:04:02 Yeah, it's been really fun to watch the Blues the last month or so. And Hunter, I don't know what we're going to do with players like McGrady and Coivinem, but we got to come up with a nickname as good as Snuggy because that that kicks so much ass. I couldn't help but laugh at that. That was awesome. One player, though, that needs to be mentioned for the St. Louis Blue,

Starting point is 00:04:25 lose and it's going to in everybody stick with me it's going to be a bit of a weird comparison but we'll get there don't worry is jordan binnington there has been exactly two players from team canada at the four nations face off who decided to come back and say forget going on a break forget needing time to ramp back up to the n hl game i'm just going to come back from the four nations and be one of the best players in the world and that's jordan bittington you brought up the 2019 vibes surrounding the St. Louis Blues. Well, if there was one thing that defined the 2019 St. Louis Blues, it was Jordan Bennington turning into a transformer god cyborg of a goalie that could not be beaten. And since his loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins all the way back on March 13th,

Starting point is 00:05:17 he and the team have given up in his starts all of eight goals. How good has he been for the blues lately. Binner's been awesome and I've said this all along that the defense I was in front of him during the beginning and middle of the season just wasn't clicking. The blues had one of the worst penalty kills and it wasn't because of Bittington. It was really because of the defense. You know, it's funny. When the blues went on to have that magical 2019 run, they won the Stanley Cup, he was a rookie that season and replaced essentially Jake Allen, who's now the backup in New Jersey. But kind of going back to what Binner has done is that he makes these huge, huge stuff. in the last game against Detroit when the Blues won in overtime,

Starting point is 00:05:58 there was this awesome save that he made. I want to say probably within the last six minutes of the contest, and he spread like a butterfly, essentially, and he's able to use his big body and his big frame to really make the net look small, and that's the one thing that Jordan Finnington does, that I feel like a lot of other goalies sometimes have a hard time with. They leave open space all the time.

Starting point is 00:06:19 Fittington does such a good job of protecting basically all the aspects and open spaces of the net. And that's something that, and I spoke to Joel Hofer, and he told me that that's what Binnington has been telling him to do, make the net look small with your body. So again, I cannot say enough good things about Jordan Bittington. I call him Bitter to winner because I do believe that he has that mentality. And when I spoke to Bittington and I said, hey, you know,

Starting point is 00:06:42 what is essentially your goal for this season? He decided to get this team back to the playoffs. And they are well on their way, almost to the point where you're looking at the central division. and this is no longer a season where they're hoping to sneak in a wild card. They're starting to make a bit of a move in the central division and it looks like they very well could get into that third spot.

Starting point is 00:07:05 Obviously, we don't, nobody does, not just us. I'm not speaking for our pod. This is a sports fan, sports analyst type thing. Nobody likes to look too far ahead and say things are done. But if this team, let's say they're making their way towards the playoffs, I think it's pretty safe to say they're going to get in. Let's just say it this way, Haley. If they get in, when they get in, however you want to frame it,

Starting point is 00:07:29 who do you want them to see in round one? Winnipeg. And I know that sounds crazy, but this team has played Winnipeg. They beat Winnipeg. I feel like they're going to match up well against Winnipeg. And I know that sounds insane, but I feel like when the Blues succeed the most is when the odds are against them.

Starting point is 00:07:47 Now, I don't want to see a team like Vegas. Okay. Nobody does. I would be afraid to take on the golden night. But I feel like if there is a team that is beatable right now where it looks like they could match up against, I do think it's going to be Winnipeg. Yeah, that would be a solid matchup for them. And I mean, at this point,

Starting point is 00:08:07 it's the oldest cliche in sports and in hockey that you want to be hot at the right time. And the blues certainly are getting hot at the right time. So overall, this is going to be a really challenging matchup for the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. Hunter and I are going to break down that matchup in our second segment. But Haley, we know you got to get going because you are superwoman. I lost count. I think it's 13 million jobs at this point.

Starting point is 00:08:39 Probably. But I'm back to time to watch Blues Hockey. And I actually, I've been doing some post-game shows live now just for fun on a normal episode. I'm going to invite both of you if you want to join on later tonight if you want to hop on. Just a fun way to talk about what happened in the contest. Absolutely. So Haley, thank you so much for taking some time out of your busy day to give our listeners the perspective from the St. Louis Blues eyes. So we appreciate that.

Starting point is 00:09:07 Thank you so much. And Hunter and I will be back to talk about this from the Penguins point of view when we come back. So stick with us. We're going to do some ad reads and we'll be back right after this. All right, we got to tell you about our first sponsor today, and that is Game Time. There's nothing like watching Basketball Live, the energy of the crowd, the sound of the sneakers on the hardwood, and maybe even one of those celebrity sightings at Courtside. If you want to catch a game live in person, Game Time makes getting tickets easier than ever.

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Starting point is 00:10:09 So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with GameTime picks, download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first. purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code L-O-C-K-E-O-N-H-L for $20 off. Download Game Time today. What time is it? It's game time. All right, welcome back to the Thursday edition of Locked-on Penguins. I'm Patrick Damp alongside Hunter Hodes, who's joining me live from DR. And as always, a huge thank you to Haley Simon for joining us. She does such great work over there on Locked on Blues and everything else that she does.

Starting point is 00:10:52 She's absolutely fantastic. But Hunter, we got the view from the St. Louis Blues in the first segment. Now let's talk about the view from the Pittsburgh Penguins. I obviously had Kelsey Surmats of the hockey news on the show yesterday. We kind of did the 10,000 foot view of the organization at this point because penguins on a little bit of a break here. They obviously get back in action tonight against the blues. We got our episode done before the penguins practiced on Wednesday.

Starting point is 00:11:24 So let's talk a little bit about that. Not a lot of changes to the lineup in practice. Yonah Kopanin, excuse me, was recalled on an emergency basis with Mike Sullivan saying, a couple guys are dealing with some bumps and bruises, didn't specify who or what. So we'll see what happens with that. But we look at the lines from practice. yesterday and not a lot of changes overall. A couple of things here and there. Top line remains Rutger Magrorty and Brian Rust with Sidney Crosby.

Starting point is 00:11:56 Ricard Raquel, centering the second line with Billy Coivinen and Connor Dewar. Third line, Noella Chari between Kevin Hayes and Philip Tomasino. And then we had a little bit of a makeshift, fourth line of Danton Heinen with Blake Wazotte, Yona Copan, and Emil Bemstrom. No real changes to the defense. We had Grizzlik with Latang, Timmons with Carlson, Graves, Koya Chonuk, and Ryan Shea rotating. So you get a pretty solid victory over the Ottawa Senators. You don't need to make a whole ton of changes.

Starting point is 00:12:29 But the main thing I'm looking for tonight, if we go talking about this game, I want to see that same kind of energy from Sunday. You've got the young guys up. They're starting to get a little bit more comfortability. They've been around the team now for a few days. They've got a couple of practices under their belt. I'm not saying they need to dominate, obviously, but I would really like to see them take a little bit of another step tonight against the blues.

Starting point is 00:12:57 They were very good against the senators. I want to see that continue tonight against the blues. I agree as well. And hopefully my connection does not go out. It doesn't take me windy out here today, by the way. It's just some really strong winds outside as I am recording today. But when I was looking at the lines from practice this week after I wasn't on yesterday, And I wasn't on people because Pat made me not be on.

Starting point is 00:13:18 I was prepared to get on the show. But Pat's like, you know what? Screw that. Go hang out on the beach and leave your book. And I was like, are you sure? He just, yeah, don't have him. So I tried to fight him on a people. He just kicked me off the show.

Starting point is 00:13:29 It's okay. The one thing I still want to see for this lineup, I want to see Philip Thomasino in the top six. I am great with McGorley playing with Crosby and Rust. I felt he was really good against the audience centers. Again, his skating was a lot better. His decision making was really good. He got a couple of chances.

Starting point is 00:13:46 He did pass up one chance, especially in a crime shooting position, before deferring a clause because I think he got a little bit nervous in that circumstance. You know, Coyvenin, I thought he was also fantastic in that game against Ottawa. And for as much as I respect Carter Dewar, and I think he has been a good fit for the Penguins since coming over from Toronto, I think you can put him in your bottom six and move up Philip Tomasino. You still need to see what you have in this player as you end the season. I think he's been really good throughout the year.

Starting point is 00:14:17 But when I look at this lineup right now, Pat, in practice, he was with Kevin Hayes and Noah Char. What are you deploying him for in that circumstance? Achari, he's not really going to give you a lot of offense. Kevin Hayes, he's giving you some throughout the year. I've respected his game throughout the season. But you need to put Tomasino with a player that can create. Achari's not going to do that.

Starting point is 00:14:42 Hayes will at least do it sometimes, but you still need to put him in a better circumstance to succeed. So if I were Mike Sullivan, I would work to work on that. Again, maybe put Tomasino with Coyvna and Raquel on the second line, at least until Evgeny Malkin is ready to come back. We'll have to see if he returns at some point that season. He did come on the road trip, according to Mike Sullivan, which is pretty important.

Starting point is 00:15:05 Hopefully he's able to play at some point over the next three games or some point over the next several games back because there's less than 10 games left in the season. I'd like for him to come back at some point. And so maybe you can put poison in with, you know, Malkin and Tomasino when that's ready. But still, even right now, I do want to see Thomasino in the top six. I think you're kind of doing him a disservice by putting him offline with someone like a Sharpe. He's not going to give you a lot off.

Starting point is 00:15:29 And so just looking at the lines, that's what I would do. I agree to an extent, but I want to add a couple thoughts to that. One, I do think there has, and we've discussed it before, I do think there is a lot of chemistry there. between Tomasino and of Genni Malkin and with him out, we know that Mike Sullivan really is more of a fan of duos than he is trios. He likes to put two players together and then see what he can find on a third line, a third member of the line. So with Malkin out, it kind of feels like Tomasino's on a little bit of an island.

Starting point is 00:16:04 I also think this is not so much a demotion or an indictment on Philip Tomasino. I think one Conner Dewar has earned a little bit of a not extended, but at least a chance in the top six just for how well he's played. I think they're trying to really see what they have in Conner Dewer rather than just saying, okay, we acquired this guy for next to nothing. He's an RFA at the end of the year. We can just put him on the fourth line and whatever happens happens. They kind of want to get an extended look at him to see what he brings to the table. and see what kind of value he has, whether they should bring him back,

Starting point is 00:16:45 and if they do for how much. Then the last point I want to make is I also think we're looking at maybe not a mandate, but at the very least, Sullivan and Dubus want to see what they have in Rutger McGrody and Billy Coivinen. So rather than do what we were all terrified was going to happen with those two, where they get eased in, you put them on the third or fourth line. You limit their minutes. You shelter their deployments.

Starting point is 00:17:15 They're getting thrown right into the fire. So where you can do that happen, you can throw them into the fire, but also I think putting Tomasina on one of those lines to have him help out maybe one of those kids. I think you can do both at the same time, in my opinion. I think you can too. And then that's the, now that I think of it, the last thing that I want to add about that. You know, you and I texted about this during the game on Sunday against the senators,

Starting point is 00:17:39 where we were kind of miffed it like, wait, he's putting this player with that player. It took all of 10 minutes against Ottawa for lines to get put into a blender. He was trying a lot of different things. So I do want to caution Penguins fans and listeners about freaking out in game about who gets deployed with who. Because I do think with the Penguins not going to the playoffs, with Coivin and McGority up on the big club, them trying to see what they have with Connor Dewer. I think that we're going to see Mike Sullivan go full mad scientist the rest of the way.

Starting point is 00:18:18 There's going to be lines that you're going to go, what in the hell is this line? And it's not going to stick unless it really goes off. He is going to move people up and down and around all game long, because now they're planning for next season. They're planning for two seasons from now. They want to see who plays well with who, what might work, what doesn't. Because right now, that's really all you're playing for.

Starting point is 00:18:45 You're playing for the future. So you want to see who plays well with who, what line combinations work, what don't. So you have to kind of approach it with that mindset rather than, hey, this is the optimal lineup for winning. And this is us planning towards next year. And I do think that's fair. I understand what you're saying. but I also do think that is part of the future because like, Thomasino, he's making 825K this year.

Starting point is 00:19:10 He's an RFA at the end of this season too. So he's also playing for another contract. He's going to get a decent raise. I would think I don't think it's going to be anything ginormous, but it's going to be a pretty decent raise from 825, considering the season that he's had. So that's why I want the penguins to give him those top six minutes, even with him walking out,

Starting point is 00:19:31 get him in those circumstances, have him played with one of the kids, having played with Ricardo and Tom getting Walkins ready to go. And then you can do both at the same time. See what these kids are made up down the stretch. Give them a lot of minutes. Put them in high-stakes situations or high-lever situations, I should say, in the top six while doing the same thing for Thomas.

Starting point is 00:19:52 I think there's a role where you can do both because I get it. You know, they're not making the playoffs, but this is also pretty big about the future as well. Again, because Thomas, you know, he's an RFA after this year. And I'd like to think the penguins want to keep him for next season. I know I would. That's for sure. I think they do. And I think they will. It feels like to me, I don't, this is going to sound like I'm being dismissive of him,

Starting point is 00:20:15 which I absolutely am not. I think they know what they have in him. I think they understand the value. He brings what his potential is. So that's going to kind of screw him a little bit down the stretch because now they need to see what they have in Conor Dewar, what they have with Rutger McGrody, what they have with Billy Coivinen. You're obviously not going to put Brian Rust and Ricard Raquel in the bottom six, even in a lost season.

Starting point is 00:20:41 So you're kind of talking about three spots for four to five guys. So there's going to be a little bit of guys left behind. But I think they like Thomasino enough. They know they're going to bring him back. They don't need to highlight them in a top six role anymore. He's shown he can hang. So when this team gets to full strength and we go into next year, he'll probably be on the on the dry race board in that top six.

Starting point is 00:21:07 So that'll do it for that. But real quick, before we had to break, we talked about it with Haley. This is the hottest team in the NHL right now. Ten game win streak. They are not just finding their way back into the playoff picture. They're trying to find a way into the top three in the central. So real quick here, Hunter, 30 to 60 seconds,

Starting point is 00:21:27 what are the penguins got to do to get a win against the blues tonight? I will say, I'm going to caution you on the top three in a seven. right now average they have 96 points I know they played 76 games so the blues they are still seven points back of the avalanche pad they only have six games left i would be pretty surprised if the blues caught the avalanche for top being essential i think the blues if anything they can avoid win a peg but if they do you get Vegas in the first round it's really tough because those two teams to me are the two best teams in the western conference this year it's going to be a tough series either way It's interesting that Haley would rather to play Winnipeg.

Starting point is 00:22:05 I can see her point of view just when you've looked at how the Jets have played in the playoffs these last few years, how Hullabuck has played in the playoffs, even though he's been one of the best schooltenders in the league in the last couple regular seasons, and we don't know how insane day gets when the playoffs started how tough they are to play. So I understand that. But for the Blues, man, they are so stingy. Six unexpected goals against for 60 minutes, fourth, and actual goals against for 60. at five on five this year.

Starting point is 00:22:34 This is a textbook, Jim Montgomery team. They don't give you a lot in their own zone. You have to work for your offense against the scene. Penguins, they did a great job of that in the first meeting. Were they outplayed? Sure, but they were able to finish their chances and force the Blues to have really off night in terms of their goal tipping.

Starting point is 00:22:52 So if you can really, you know, get the PDO back, especially for this game about the Penguins played against the moves in the first one. I like your chances here. but again, man, you really, and I mean really have to work for your offense against those blues team. They're great defensively. They have players that can really finish.

Starting point is 00:23:11 I mean, Holloway has been fantastic for them this year. Robert Thomas has been great. Jordan Kairu, Philip Broberger on their back end. And the crazy thing is, man, they have done all of this without Paul and Preyker, who I think is their best on this roster. It goes to show how great of a coach Montgomery is. I'm not going to sit here and say, I have 2019 vibes, because the conference at that point was not as good as it is now,

Starting point is 00:23:35 but they are going into playoffs, playing like one of the top teams in the league. And while I would not pick them to beat either Vegas or Winnipeg, I think they would give those two teams one heck of a fight. You look at the standings right now, they're pretty much in. I don't think Vancouver is going to catch fire here down the stretch. Calgary, they've been a great story.

Starting point is 00:23:55 Dustin Wolf has been so good for them in net. I don't think they're going to catch them at this point. they're going to get in. It's just a matter of who they play. But again, man, working for your offense, not giving as much back in your own zone, keeping that same fire that I saw against Ottawa on Sunday. And if Tristan Jari starts, see if he can build off of that star against Ottawa. For sure, going to be a real tough test for the Penguins. That's 8 o'clock tonight at the Enterprise Center.

Starting point is 00:24:19 I believe it's called the Enterprise Center. I forget arena names at this point. They all change so often. Who really knows? But 8 o'clock in St. Louis, you can catch that game on Sports Net Pittsburgh. When we come back, really fun article in the athletic this morning calling it the potential summer of offer sheets. And as we know, the penguins are in pretty good position if they want to become one of those teams taking part in the summer of offer sheets. We'll talk about that really

Starting point is 00:24:47 quickly to end the show when we come back. But first, we got to tell you about the last sponsor of the day. And that is Fandul. The NCAA tournament is here. And Fandul is giving you the chance to get in on the action like never before. before. Right now new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when their first $5 bet wins. That's $200 extra bucks to use on everything from buzzer beaters to Cinderella stories and even who is cutting down the nets. If you've got one of those busted brackets, you can stay in on the action with tournament games happening nearly every single day and there's always something to bet on. So go to fandual.com and get in on the college hoops action all tournament long.

Starting point is 00:25:27 that's Fandul, America's number one sports book. All right, welcome back. It's the Thursday edition of Locked on Penguins. I'm Patrick Damp. That's Hunter Hodes. And really fun story in the athletic this morning calling it what could be the summer of offer sheets. And when you look at the Pittsburgh Penguins right now,

Starting point is 00:25:49 when you figure out what their stated goal is, they want to get younger, they want to get back to contention. And that's going to be really, difficult for them to do the traditional ways. You have Sidney Crosby, you have of Genni Malkin, Brian Rust, Ricard Raquel, a couple other guys who, when you have them on your roster, tanking isn't going to happen. You might not be good enough to be a contender, but you're certainly not going to be bad enough to bottom out. So you look at what Kyle Dubus

Starting point is 00:26:18 has done thus far. He's leveraged some of his best assets to get younger players, to get other assets involved, including around 30 draft picks over the next three years. If I'm reading some tea leaves here, it tells me that he might be trying to make a few offer sheets this summer. And when you look at the landscape right now between a UFA market that's really not that strong this summer, and then you compare it to how, you compare it to how, many RFAs there will be available for offer sheets this summer and some of the names. You look at the amount of draft picks the penguins have. You look at how much cap space they're going to have with just about everybody they need locked up.

Starting point is 00:27:12 Caldubis could be making some moves this summer. It would make sense. They have the picks to make a medium offer sheet. You're not going to see them offer sheet selling for, you know, five, six, seven, eight million dollars. but I think in the range, you know, of 1.5 million to 2.5 million, 3 million. I think you can see that. Someone like a Maverick Fort from the Dallas Stars makes a lot of sense to me.

Starting point is 00:27:36 And I know I was meeting earlier this week. Josh Yoey had an algorithm of the athletic talking about potential offersheets and how he was saying, oh, well, you know, I don't get the sense that the penguins are going to be doing that this offseason. See, I don't know because like a move like this makes, a lot of sense for where they are it's it's an easy way to go get younger talent hang on i don't like the way i was talking about that let me pull oh my god can my is my connection working or are you there oh my god just need to end the show hello you're good

Starting point is 00:28:13 all right i can't even hear you five four three to one yeah man offer sheets i would be in favor of the penguins doing one over the all season here i i i don't know say you would have to give up a third round pick if it's between 1.5 million and 2.29 million. Someone like a Maverick Fork, I think, makes a lot of sense for me from the Dallas Barnes. The Sars are going to have a little bit of some trouble over the offseason. So that's someone, dumb player, can fit in your lineup right away. I would circle his name, the Summer Pack. I don't think they're going to be in the range, though, to do something like a 2.29 million

Starting point is 00:28:48 to 4.58 million. That would cost a second round pick. I don't think the Penguins want to do that. But I think they would be in the discussion is to give up a third round pick for an ownership. I think with how many picks they have accumulated over the next few drafts, I think they would be totally. Yeah, but a hit here for an offer sheet.

Starting point is 00:29:07 Again, you know, $1 to $1.5 million, you don't have to give up any compensation. But as the money gets bigger, again, the draft pick compensation gets bigger. You're not going to be in a situation where you give up a first-on pick and a third-round pick from 4.5 million to 6.8 million. Again, if they're doing one, I think you've got to circle that third round pick wins. With $1.5 million to $2.29 million. But I hope we get more offerships this year, man.

Starting point is 00:29:32 I really do. I think it's a great way to get young talent, especially with the cap going up. You get to see some GMs piss each other off, which I love. I know it was pretty civil last year with the Oilers and the Blues. I love John Garmstrong saying,

Starting point is 00:29:45 if my mom was the opposing GM, I still would have done it. Great folk. The NHEL needs more of these, man. It's been a while since we've gotten, you know, a lot of them in an offseason. And I really hope that we get quite a few during this, especially with the capital going up. And I think it would make for some fun new little rivalries in the league, especially between GMs. Like that's the main thing I always look for.

Starting point is 00:30:09 So hopefully we get some. I'm always here for some extra drama and some extra mess in the national hockey league. But the one thing I can't get it out of my head. And I want to specify to the listeners that I don't have sources on this. I'm not basing it off of any sort of reporting. It's just something that has been, it's that thing in my head. I just can't get rid of it. You look at the draft compensation for these offer sheets.

Starting point is 00:30:40 And the third level is 2.29 to 4.58 million. It's a 2026 second round pick. If the Buffalo Sabres can't figure it out with J.J. Paterka, and you can get him at just around 4.5 million for a few years because you look at his stats. And he has only played 69 games this year, 23 goals, 60 points. He's 23 years old. And if you give a player like that who has that upside, 4.5 million. for four to five years, you're hitting them at the right time.

Starting point is 00:31:23 And it does feel like the sabers are willing to maybe let him go. Maybe not voluntarily. They're not going to let them walk, but it does feel like you could probably talk Buffalo into here's a second round pick. You guys are going to be rebuilding again. So here's more draft capital. We'll take this off your hands. Maybe they match it.

Starting point is 00:31:45 Maybe they don't. Again, not based off of anything. It wouldn't shock me either if the penguins tried it. Pitzerka signs the offer sheet and then the Sabres match and he stays a saber. But it's a guy I could see them taking a run at. He fits a Kyle Dubus mold. To kind of push back on what Yohe said, it may not feel like they're going to do offer sheets, but you don't want to tip your hand.

Starting point is 00:32:11 I mean, general managers might as well pull out a bullhorn when it comes to trades and go, we're targeting this guy. Because it's a negotiation between general managers and you're going to try to leverage yourself through the media. When it comes to offer sheets, you're kind of trying to hit them by surprise. You're going through an agent. You're not going through the other general manager. So again, while I don't think that it's imminent, I'm not basing it off any sources. It fits the mold of a guy that Kyle Dubus would want to get.

Starting point is 00:32:43 So we will see what happens. but Hunter, I know you want to get down to that windy beach and enjoy your vacation. I again tried to tell you, don't come on the show, but I only have so much power over you. And you're just so dedicated to this program that you were going to be here anyway, but that'll do it for the Thursday edition of Locked on Penguins for Hunter Hodes. I'm Patrick Dam. Thank you again to Haley Simon for joining us in the first segment to give us a look at the blues. We will be back with a recap episode for you.

Starting point is 00:33:14 tomorrow looking back at this game and getting you set for the weekend back to back against the Dallas stars and the Chicago Blackhawks. But for now, thank you as always for tuning in. We will be back on Friday.

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