Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Post Hockey Hall of Fame Thoughts, plus the new "back to the future" themed segment is back!

Episode Date: June 26, 2020

The 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class has been officially announced and Hunter is here to break it all down. He gives his thoughts on why in the world Kevin Lowe got in the hall of fame over Alex Mogilny, Daniel Alfredsson, and Rod Brind'Amour. He also talks about the latest news around the league as the NHL is getting closer to announcing their 2 hub cities with Vancouver now being out. Finally, Hunter continues the "back to the future" themed segment and you won't want to miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello, welcome to this Thursday evening episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Happy Thursday to you all, one day closer to Friday, another day closer to the weekend as we keep chugging along here in the month of June. Before we kick things off for today's episode, I do want to say some good news for, well, for me personally with my family. You know, me and my sister are not particularly close.

You know, she's 20. I'm 22, and, you know, we're very, very different. do very, very different lifestyles. Everyone knows I'm all into sports, a bunch of other stuff. You know, she couldn't be the opposite. We're just basically polar opposites. But she did get into Temple University today, so she'll be attending there in the fall. It's not Virginia Tech, but, you know, it'll do.

And, you know, when we get to go move her up, and I'll just go get myself a cheese steak because I know the best spot in town there for cheese sticks. I think it's like 15 minutes outside where I was born in the city. So, yeah, I just wanted to share that. I'm really, really excited for my sister, even though we're not particularly close as some other siblings are. But with that said, we'll just get into today's episode. We'll have the Back to the Future segment that'll come in the next one or the one after that.

I haven't really decided. You know, we're just going to kind of wing it today. But we will start with the Hall of Fame stuff. You know, congratulations to Penguins legend, Jerome McGinnla. I know he didn't play here for too long, but it was still a lot of fun to watch Jerome McGinnla in a Penguin's jersey, even though they put him on his off wing. I will never forgive Dan Balsma for doing that stupid, stupid thing. I remember that line was Jerome McGinnla of Gennie Malkin and James Neal.

It was like, why? Like, why are you doing this? And on top of it, they just moved James Neal to the right wing when he's a left shot. So I just, Dan Bilesma screwed that over so bad. But anyway, still, graduations, Jerome McGinla, one of the best players I ever grew up watching. He was just magnificent as a flame. Now, I know, of course, he played for a couple other teams, too, besides the Penguins. but, you know, what our career he had.

Very well deserved that he got in. Marion Hosa also got in. Congratulations to him. You know, I said that the other day. I wouldn't be too surprised if Hosa got in. He would have been the guy I think I would have had potentially getting in next year, but still Marion Hosa, one of the more underrated players from the 2010s, from the 2000s, one of the best two-way players.

Honestly, I grew up watching. I know he's going to be mostly known for doing what he did in Chicago, but still, man, And that run that he had with the Penguins was just so much fun. I know exactly where I was. I can still remember it with the overtime goal against the New York Rangers in 2008. I was right next to my mom. And she went crazy because, of course, the Penguins got to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since, I believe it was what?

2000? Excuse me, 2001. That was the year they beat the Sabres with Darius Casperitis as Magic. And then, of course, they lost to the Devils in the conference final four games to one. So still, that was a long time. and my mom. I remember just her going absolutely crazy. So still, congratulations to Mary and Hosa, a job well done. One of my favorite players that were growing up watching.

I still wish we could have gotten one more season with Marion Hosa, but you all got to admit. It was really, really fun to watch him be pissed off and sad when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in next year against his red wings in Detroit. You know, just kind of like a big, fuck you, I guess, to Hosa for not signing that one-year deal that the Penguins offered him. I think it was a one-year deal. I might have been wrong, but I know they offered him a contract, but he took a one-year deal with Detroit before going to Chicago and then spending the rest of his initial career before he had to retire.

Still, I'll always wish that. I know some England's fans still hold Hosa not to a high level, I should say. You know, they still really don't like him, but I'll always love and respect Marion Hosa. I mean, just watching him, that whole playoff run was just spectacular. And like I said, I still wish we could have gotten a little bit more of Marion Hosa. But, you know, he actually thanked the penguins.

He was, apparently Seth Rolba said he, in a conference call yesterday, that Hosa said he was thrilled to play for the penguins because he was a huge fan of Mario Lemieux growing up. So, yep, Pog champ there for Marion Hosa. The big thing is, you know, with this Hall of Fame class, I mean, Kevin Lowe. I mean, really hockey Hall of Fame, all were we really doing this? Guy didn't even have 500 points for his initial career. Oh, and then the people were going to come out.

Oh, my God, he won six Stanley Cups. okay, sure, he did win six Stanley Cups, but I mean, I don't really judge Stanley Cups when I look at Hall of Famers. I also look at what they did individually more than what they did as a team, well, on his team, I should say. And, you know, not even getting 500 points. And he's still getting in over guys like Daniel Alpherson and Ron Prydenmore, both players who had over a thousand points and who I think were better players than him.

And this guy's still getting in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Okay. I mean, that's all I can say. You know, I was tweeting about it a bunch yesterday, but that's just, that's weak, if you ask me. That's stupid. Another one, you know, we had Alexander Mongulny, did not get into the hockey Hall of Fame.

You know, we all had the people come out. Yeah, you know, they're against the Russians. And, you know, I think for a while that they, honestly, that is true. You know, I think for a while that they had this anti-Russian biased or whatever what was going on. I still think maybe that is a little bit today. But I think he should, he should get in pretty soon. know, I said the other day I would probably put him in the Hall of Very Good.

You know, I honestly didn't do a deep dive of his statistics. And then when I did, you know, I could realize that I was an idiot like normal. And, yeah, this guy should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He's been getting snubbed, I think, for a little bit now. But hopefully, he gets in pretty soon. You know, I just, I still can't get over, Kevin Lowe. Doug Wilson got in. I'm not too, like, mad about that one.

He was actually a pretty decent player in his own right. At least he actually produced it well enough to get into the hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. But we will say congratulations to Kim St. Pierre, the goaltender for Hockey Canada. She won three Olympic gold medals, five world championships with the Canadian women's hockey team. Absolutely outstanding. She 100% deserves to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. And she's also the first female goaltender inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. But, I mean, she will not be the last, I assure you that. And also, Rush assured, There will be plenty more women getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the near future.

I believe she was only the 8th women to get inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I can't wait to see so many more of these outstanding players that played internationally and in their other leagues to get inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame because they truly do deserve it. Eight women is just, that's way too low. It has to change. And I really do think moving forward it is going to change. And we're going to get plenty more of all those outstanding women players into the hockey hall. Fame because I remember I was watching the Olympics.

There's that last winter Olympics that that gold medal game between Canada and the United States. That was one of the best hockey games that I have ever watched. It was truly spectacular. Both contenders I remember were making just outstanding saves. I know it went to a shootout and that decided the gold medal, which I know not a lot of people are a fan of, but man, that shootout was just unbelievable.

And, you know, hopefully with King St. Pierre getting into the Hockey Hall of Fame, this just drives more interest into women's hockey as a whole because, like I said, it really is outstanding to watch. But also, I mean, I did forget the last time, of course, for this day in Penguins history. On this day, in 2014, everyone, the penguins named Mike Johnston, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and also Rick Tock, it was named to the assistant coach. We all know how bad. That would go for Mike Johnston as he was fired after only about a season and a half.

Just, he was just absolutely awful in every aspect. I remember, I think it was what Mike Darnay of Pensburg, that. had the article that basically said he was basically tasering people during practice. And I remember people like all these reporters ran with it. They're like, oh my God, like this is true. This is true. This is true. And it was just like, no, Mike just made it up.

But still, that was honestly the best moment that came of the Mike Johnston era. Oh, also when he just had the same face after like every goal that was scored, whether it was for the penguins or against them, he would just stand there with basically a blank face. And it was just like, dude, get the hell out of this city already. But also, this day in 1980, happy birthday to Sebastian Kiran. I remember he was the backup goaltender to Mark Andre Fleury in, I believe, 2009, if I'm not mistaken. Also, Greg Millen, today's his birthday, happy birthday to him. And I think that's basically it for this day in Pittsburgh Penguins history. But I just want you guys to remember, built bars are absolutely awesome.

They're protein bars that taste like a candy bar, 16 amazing flavor. eight chocolate nut flavors, eight chocolate, nut-free flavors. The bars are covered in 100% chocolate. They're soft and easy to chew. My favorite flavor is still the peanut butter roundie, 20 grams of protein, 170 calories, 3 grams of sugar, 3 grams of nut carbs. We still have that offer.

You can go to buildbar.com. He's promote code locked on. You'll get $10 off your first order. That's promo code locked on for $10 off at buildbar.com. Oh, I did forget one person that goes in the hockey golf fame. Ken Holland as a builder, not as a player, as a builder. You know, anytime you can induct a GM of Ken Holland's pedigree, you know, you just got to do. You know, this is the guy that signed, you know, Darren Helm to that really, really bad extension.

He kind of just screwed the Red Wings over, especially when he left and kind of many retired before he went to Edmonton. And now Steve Iserman has to dig out of that mess. I think Steve Iserman is going to do a really good job in Detroit. I think he's one of the better GMs in hockey. You know, he needs to fire Jeff Blasheelsvers. I don't know why he's keeping him, but still. Ken Holland, you know, like I said, when you got to induct Ken Holland in the Hall of Fame for kind of screwing over the Red Wings, you just got to do it. And yes, I know he did a bunch of good stuff with the Red Wings before that, but still his latter years with that franchise were, in one word, bad.

Just, just very, very bad. But, okay, moving on now from the Hockey Hall of Fame stuff. We are getting some announcements about some of the Hub Cities pretty soon. It looks like Vancouver is officially out, just according to about 30 minutes ago of this recording. the Canucks basically released a statement and it reads, we sincerely thank Premier Horgan, Minister Bear, Dr. Bonnie Henry and their teams

for their incredible support as we worked through the opportunity to host NHL teams in Vancouver. It has been a collaborative effort from the beginning with the NHL and all parties involved throughout the entire process, said Trent Carroll, who was basically the CFO. From the beginning, our goal was to help the NHL get hockey back on the ice if we could.

Although Vancouver won't be a Hub City, we're still excited to see hockey start up again. Now we look forward and are very excited to welcome our Canucks players back for training camp at Rogers Arena in the coming weeks. An exciting finish of the season is just around the corner and we can't wait to drop a puck. Well, you know, that's if the season is around the corner and if training camp starts on July 10th. Because with the way this coronavirus is spiking across the country, who knows, honestly, what's going to happen.

They could potentially push training camp back. So like I said, Columbus is out, Pittsburgh is out, Vancouver is out. So it's looking like right now, I think definitely Vegas is going to be one. I've talked about that on this podcast many times about how it really doesn't make any sense with how the code. Spikes are really, really happening there. I'm not going to touch on that again since you guys know my thoughts. It looks like it's going to be Vegas. And I think they're really, really trying to get Edmonton in tomorrow, well, one of them,

to host be the other host hub city. I mean, you all know what I would do. I would just do Edmonton for the West teams, Toronto, for the East teams. But, you know, the Anshel might just go full NHL here and be like, hey, guys, have the East teams come to Vegas, but the West teams go to Edmonton. Well, that's just the NHL for you. They don't really know how to make these kind of decisions, so I'm not going to really expect anything different.

But what they also could do, which, you know, I guess makes sense. You know, if they really want to have Las Vegas via Hub City, you know, you can host the West teams there, and then you can host the East teams in Toronto. It's honestly really not that big of a deal. I know the NFL is going to be like, well, you know, we don't want Vegas to play on their home rank or saying with Toronto, we don't want Toronto to play on their home ring,

so let's just flip-flop them. That would be so steep. But I really, really, really do not want to watch games on a Western time zone. I would very much prefer, I mean, if this happens, of course, I would very much prefer if the game started at a Eastern time, which was what Toronto would be. But, yeah, so it looks like we are nearing. We're getting close, I would say, to an announcement for the Hub Cities.

It could come next week. There's also something from Elliott Freeman's Day that actually did find really interesting. He said on Nchon Network today, I was always told to prepare for triple headers on a daily basis for the return to play I've been told that as it stands right now, the last possible day of the Stanley Cup final is October 5th. So, yeah, we're just going to have a game at 12 o'clock,

then we're going to have a game at 3 o'clock, then we're going to have a game at 6 o'clock. Or they could do this at, you know, 1 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 7 o'clock, 3, 6, 9, who knows. But, yeah, so if this happens and we do get the return to play, yeah, guys, get ready for watching games while you're at work. I guess that would be kind of interesting. You know, I was always used to, back when I was in high school,

middle school, I would have the March Madness app on, well, back in middle school, I had my iPod touch when those were a thing. God, that feels like ancient times ago. And then, of course, when I my iPhone in high school, you know, I would just load up the games on there. And we, I would sit around the lunch table with my friends. We would just like watch the games. We would have our brackets out looking, trying to circle to see if we got the ones that we predicted are right or wrong. You know, it's not going to be like that, but I just, I really don't hope like the Antial doesn't trying to make this like March Madness because, you know, it's not March Madness, but still get ready to guys to watch some hockey while you guys are working. That is a perfect opportunity

to use up some sick days for your work, use up some vacation days. If you're not at home, of course, if you're working from home, you know, you can just turn it on while you work, which is, you know, what I would do. But I think for the job that I'm probably going to start in a couple of weeks, that that job won't let me stay at home. It's basically like a like a lifeguarding thing, I think, across the street. So that'll keep me busy for a couple months before I really, really look for a full-time job as sports come back. And also, you know, if this Stanley Cup final is the last possible day for it on October 5th,

you know, that just, I think with that, they're probably trying to start the next season. What, Christmas, January 1st with the Winter Classic, I think that's probably potentially the best way to do it. I really don't think they're going to try to do it around Thanksgiving. That's only a month and a half of an off season, especially after a grueling two-month Stanley Cup playoffs. I think I guess they're looking at January 1st for that. I mean, that's just my guess.

I mean, they could potentially do it for early December. But I think starting it off with the Winter Classic, if that would happen with the Stanley Cup final ending on October 5th, I think that would make a lot of sense in my opinion. I think that's it today for news around the league. Oh, well, one more thing. So NHL Seattle, so they have their arena. So it's called the Climate Pledge Arena. So very, very interesting name.

Apparently Amazon actually purchased the naming rights to it. so, you know, they just felt like calling it whatever the hell they wanted. Well, because, you know, it's Amazon. And I think I did see an announcement. I think it was either today or the other day that I think they're potentially going to be announcing the name of the Seattle franchise in potentially the next couple of weeks, which would be absolutely outstanding. I've been wanting to see what the name for that franchise is going to be for a long time.

I really hope it's something along the lines of the Cracken. I was seeing a couple of jokes when they renamed this arena for the NHL Seattle team. Oh, this is why the Supersonics left Seattle from a long time ago. I thought that was really, really funny to read, but still a very, very interesting name to name the arena. I guess Amazon is, you know, like I said, Amazon's being Amazon, they can do what they're how they want if they purchase the naming rights to it because they're such a monster company. But with that said, the Lockdown Podcast Network stands against racism and social injustice. That's why we, the host, are making personal donations to local and national organizations that are fighting for change. and in the month of June, Lockdown is matching the total of all host donations up to an additional $10,000.

To make your own donation along with us, please visit Lockdown Podcasts.com slash Black Lives Matter. All right, so we're back here for this episode of Lockdown Penguins. We'll just do a quick little segment here on our Back to the Future theme for this week. Had some interesting ideas that popped into my head as I was doing this and, well, before I started recording. So here's a good one. So in the next five, well, five to ten years from now, will the Penguins, goal song be different um yes i really do think it will be the jump around is just i'm not i'm honestly i'm not too big of a fan and i think they're going to change it at some point you know maybe they'll go back to

party hard you know i like party hard everyone loves party hard if you don't love party hard i think you're just not human to be honest with you or you know they could go back to the one that they did during the 2008 runs for the penguins 2009 2010 the goal song that they had for that i'm not going to repeat it because I know it's going to sound really, really bad. Well, honestly, I can just find one on YouTube right now real quick. Okay, here we go. I guess I'll just play this for about a few seconds. If it's loud, I apologize, but this is the goal song that I would really like them to go back to

because I just remember doing this as a kid so often. Okay, yeah, I guess we're done with that. But yeah, that was honestly my favorite one. I honestly prefer that over Party Hard, and I love Party Hard, but still, I think they are going to have a different goal song party on fifth avenue i know a lot of people have petitioned for that you know mac miller we love you rest in peace man that would that would be an awesome goal song trying to think of more other good goalsongs that the penguins could use um you know they're not i i do like the i like it i love it i think that um Nashville does with tim McRaw but you know that's a country song so

that really doesn't fit the penguins but yeah you know honestly i should i should just do like a whole episode uh of this well not a whole episode maybe like a segment where I think of like actual goal songs that the penguins could use, maybe before the season starts up, and maybe I can bring on camera someone like that, or Jeff or Chad, or maybe John to see what they would think. But yeah, five years from now,

I don't think jumping around is going to be the Penguins. Goal song, absolutely not. Now, will they have the same goal horn five to ten years from now? Yes, that thing is not going away anytime soon. That has been the Penguins goal horn for. As long as I can remember, I absolutely love it. I do wish they would use the jam siren more. That's, of course, what people call.

on penguins Twitter, the siren that they play to get everyone, you know, revved up. And that was, I think, the, is that the penguins goal horn back in the 90s or was that their goal song? It was one of the two. But, you know, they used to play it a lot more back then either way. And I wish they would play it more now. But still, I do like that they play it to get the crowd revved up. It will be pretty cool if they brought that back as the horn one day.

I honestly, that would be absolutely hysterical. But I don't really think they were. I think the penguins will still have the same goal horn as they have for a very long. very long, a long time. What else? Will Iceberg still be the mascot in five to ten years? Yeah,

I don't really think the penguins are going to change that mascot any time. So, so he's also been there for as long as I can remember. Yeah, he's not going anywhere. He's loved by a lot of people. You know, we love iceberg.

Also, just for, you know, for shits and giggles, is Jack Johnson going to be here in five years? No, Jack Johnson will not be a penguin in five years. You know, he probably will not be a penguin in three years. He probably will not be a penguin next season.

So, yeah. We won't have to worry about John Mc Johnson, hopefully for too much longer. Hopefully we don't have to worry about him after the season. I wish that, you know, he wouldn't play in the return to play 2014 playoff. We all know he's going to play over you, Sylvie Gila, for whatever reason. But that's a discussion for another day. Oh, here's a good one. In five years is Jim Rutherford still the GM of the Penguins?

I'm going to go no. I think he's going to retire in the next five years. I know he loves doing this. He doesn't really put an expiration date on anything. You know, I read all the articles from Josh. Joey and Seth Rourbaugh and all the other Penguin Beat writers that write about Jim Rutherford. And, you know, he just, he seems to be having the time of his life here. And, but, you know, I think there will be a time that comes in the next five years where he calls it quits.

Um, and someone will take over. Probably not Jason Botterall, but it'll be hopefully someone out, potentially outside the organization that comes in. Also in five years, will the Penguins fan base get any smarter when it comes to goaltenders. Uh, no, they really, really will not because I'm sure a bunch of them will continue to ride Mark Andre Fleury and you know all these past accomplishments and all that while not giving Matt Murray any credit. You know, it was just yesterday. This just really honestly pisses me off. You know, the Penguins tweet out a picture from Matt Murray on Instagram saying, oh yeah, like him and his wife are expecting a kid.

And we got his people from this fan base. Now start Tristan Jari in the playoffs. Oh, like, can Matt Murray make a save? And it's just like, you people are honestly miserable freaking humans. And it's disgusting. Please don't be an asshole for the sake of being a. asshole. I'm tired of reading those posts under the Penguins' Twitter. Anytime something Matt Murray related comes up. The way this fan base treats Matt Murray is honestly just gross. And it's just like,

it really pisses me off. You know, there's a reason why people, you know, that are not Penguins fans say, oh yeah, like the Penguins fan base is pretty bad for a bunch of it. Well, you know, I mean, they're not wrong when people, you have people like that, just being idiots. But for those that listen to this podcast, you are the good portion of the Penguins fan base. I absolutely love you all. But we'll have one more here for the next five years far back to the future theme before we call it a night and we'll get back on this tomorrow. And that is, will the sale out streak still be alive for PPG paints arena in the next five years? For those that do not know, the Penguins have had a saleout streak ever since PPG paints arena opened in 2011. Actually, pardon me, it was 2010 because it was the fall of 2010 going into 2011.

I'm a complete moron. But ever since that first game there, I believe that was against the Philadelphia Flyers or the Flyers beat them. The inaugural opening for the arena. And ever since then, you know, the Penguins have had a monster sellout streak. If I can actually find the sellout streak of what it is right now, I think it's online at that Pittsburghhockey.comnet where I actually just visited. Is it going to announce? Okay, so, 609 consecutive sellouts the Penguins have had at PPG Paints Arena. then that's since of course like I said 2010.

Will this be going on in five more years for now? Hell, even 10 more years for now. You know, I'm going to say yes. I really think that sellout streak is going to go on for a long time. Honestly, until probably Sydney Crosby, you have getting Malk and retired. Then the streak may break and, of course, Chris LaTang as well. Then, you know, like I said,

it's probably when it's going to go. But I think that will do it for this episode of Locked-on Penguins. I hope you guys enjoyed this one. We got to talk about the Hockey Hall of Fame. And, you know, this Back to the Future theme is really fun. I like coming up with these new ideas. And of course, you know, we're getting closer to the Hub Cities. But I will leave you at this.

You know, for next year for the Hockey Hall of Fame vote and docked more outstanding women players into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Please, please, please, a thousand times over. And hopefully with more coming in next year, they can also go in with Yarramir Gagher, who will be eligible next year for the Hockey Hall of Fame. But will he still be playing? Stay tuned.

If he's not playing, he's 100% getting in. And there will also be a Jersey retirement. in PBJ Paints Arena if he does announce his retirement. So Penguins fans have that to look forward to as well for Yarmieryager. But, you know, like I said, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Locked On Penguins. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode. And I will talk to you all then.