Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Talking about an underrated RFA bottom six target

Episode Date: September 16, 2020

Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had a story about some third line center targets go live today and Hunter breaks down some of the targets in that article, most notably Philip Danault and Chris Tierney. Hunter explains how Danault would be a great fit but the cost to acquire would be too much, while also talking about Tierney and how underrated he is at this point in his career. Tierney is an RFA going into next season so what could the cost to acquire him be? Hunter touches on that, plus how the other targets outside the organization don't seem to make the most sense. He then goes into the Conference Final matchups and how Dallas was able to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, plus how Tampa just needs to finally finish the job and meet them there. Finally, Hunter gives his thoughts on the Peter Laviolette hire in Washington as it's likely he's going to kill their offense.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get $10 off your first order.Door DashRight now, our listeners can get $5 off and zero delivery fees on their first order of $15 or more, when you download the DoorDash app and enter code LOCKEDONNHL.RomanGo to getroman.com/lockedonnhl TODAY. If approved, you’ll get fifteen dollars off your first orderof ED treatment. 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 today's 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. Hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday afternoon. He's getting chilly here in northern Virginia. It's starting to feel finally like fall weather. I'm going to have this hot take here.

I don't really care for fall weather. I am a big summer person. I like the heat. I like when it's the perfect temperatures around 80 to 85 degrees. Sign me up for that all day. I do not like this 60 to 60 to 6. 65 degree nonsense. So yeah, there's my first hot take of the day.

Yeah, fall weather just flat out sucks. But anyway, so today's episode, guys, we're going to be talking about an article that came out from Matt Bensel on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He basically just talked about some third line center options internally and externally if the penguins decided to go a different route from Jared McCann. There are some interesting free agents on that list. We're going to talk about it and break some of those names now.

It's got to get to the article itself. And of course, right as I do that, my dog comes into my room and just starts laying on my bed. So if he makes any noise during this, I absolutely apologize. So let's just get right on to the list. After this segment, we will be talking about the conference finals. We'll talk about how the Dallas Stars are going to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2000. We'll also talk about how in the hell the New York Islanders won that game last night against the Tampa Bay Lightning because I still have absolutely no clue how they went.

And then also we'll make fun of the Washington Capitals and why they, for some reason, and they decide to hire Peter Lobbillette. So without further ado, let's get on to it here. Some of the internal options are very, very obvious Teddy Blugger. We all know Jared McCann. If some of you guys have not listened, if some of you guys have not listened to me blabber about the third line center going into next season,

and I still think it should be Jared McCann's job. He just needs to get over how badly he played down the stretch and in the playoffs, and I think he will be just fine going into the season. But there's another option internally, Sam Lafferty. I mean, that's a hard pass. I know Sam Lafferty has made some strides into growing as an NHL player, but he's not the third line center. He's just,

I wouldn't even have him center the fourth line. I don't know why San Lafferty was mentioned in here. He's just, he's good if he's your 13th for. I don't want him playing every night. I would take a lot of players, I think, over someone like Lafferty. Philip DeNode, that's a really, really good option. I know the Canadians are reportedly open to dealing him,

but, I mean, guys, I really don't think the penguins have the package that Montreal would ask for. in return of Philip Dinole. I mean, if I had to guess, probably you're looking at a first for him, a prospect, maybe a roster play. I mean, I don't think it's going to be like a three-part package, but maybe a first and a prospect. I mean, it would have to be probably next year's first round pick,

of course, because the Penguins don't have one right now since they decided to trade it for the Kisbury-Chappinen. But it would just be, they would have to give up a bunch to get a player of Deno's caliber. I really, really liked how he played against the penguins in that series. You guys remember, he had some little bit of harsh comments for the Canadian coaching staff and management after the season. He just was not happy. And 71 games played this season, 13 goals, 47 points the season before that.

He had 53, 12 of those were goals, had 41 assists. So, I mean, you could honestly plug him in to be the third-line center. I know he's listed as a left wing, but, you know, he's a left-hand shot. He finished seventh in the Selke voting in 2018-19. He's been relatively healthy throughout his tenure. I mean, he drives possession at a very strong rate this past season, guys. 59% was his course he found with percent. His last season was 56%.

But still career high this season at 59%. That's just ridiculous. That's just absolutely insane. He would make the Penguins an even better team. He's a player that I would be fine with upgrading over Jared McCann. There's not many players I would be fine with that are on the market right

now, free agency, trade market, whatever, but he is one of them. He is the real deal. He's a Selky trophy candidate. Really good responsibly in his defensive zone. You can put up offensive numbers as well. He would be someone that I would love for the penguins to go after, but I mean, it's just probably not going to happen. Also, Max Domey is listed in here. I mean, look, you know, that's just a hard pass for me. I know he's not that bad of a player, but I feel

like Jim Rutherford really overpaid to get him, and he just, he would not be worth what Jim Rutherford would give up to get him. It's just, I know the family history is there with Ty Domi and Mary Lumil being best friends, but, you know, just I would pass on Max Domey. Carl Soderberg, Again, he's 35 next month. I mean, I know he's a two-way player, had 35 points this past season, but he's 35. I mean, he's going to be 35. Just pass on that. That's just a hard pass.

Brad Richardson, honestly, guys, I really did not know that much about Brad Richardson. I had probably heard his name only two or three times as an NHL player. That just goes to show how much attention that I pay to the Arizona Coyotes. But like Soderberg, guys, he's in his mid-30s. In 59 games played this season, he had six. goals and 11 points. I mean, I know the season before that he had 19 goals and 27 points, but the guy's 35. I mean, if Jim Rutherford is trying to get younger and my own indications are with his comments to the media and everything he wants to, this would just make no sense to go

after Brad Richardson. So I really wouldn't want to do that. Thomas No Sick, he's 28 years old. I mean, we all know he's been a bottom six regular with the Vegas Golden Knights. I mean, but as this article says, guys, his career high for points is 17. I mean, that's just, no. I would really, you can do better than Thomas Noose. Jared McCann would be a much better option. Jason Spetsa, 37 years old. We've already seen Dan Kinkirskia, Pittsburgh Hockey now, write about it in his article. No thanks.

I do not want Jason Spetsa as a third or four-point center for those teams. And last but not least, Chris Tierney. So this is an interesting option here. This is the one that I think intrigues me the most outside of Philip to know. I mean, the rest of this list is just honestly pure dog shape. But Chris Tierney really, really intrigues me. He's only 26 years old in 71 games played last season, 11 goals, 37 points. I mean, this was with the Ottawa senators, mind you, who are one of the worst teams in hockey.

He's a season before that with Ottawa, nine goals, 48 points. I mean, before that with San Jose, he was putting up 11 goals, 17 goals. Possession-wise, I mean, he's never been over 50 percent. His best season was 2016-17, 49.4%. But he is good in his defensive zone, and he can put up offense. and he's young enough where it would actually make some sense to go after him. But the kicker is with him. He's not an unrestricted free agent.

He is a restricted free agent. He also had a 1.60.5 on 5 points for 60s last season. I know that's like nothing to like scream about or go crazy about, but still like for a bottom six center. I mean, that's that's not bad. You could honestly get him for not too many assets, I would think. Maybe like two assets, a prospect and a pick. Or honestly, guys, you may be able to just. just get him for a draft pick, like a third round pick or something like that.

Or do you give up your second round pick in next year's draft? I really don't think Chris Tierney would go. For a second round pick, I was just spitthalling out there. But like I said, a pick, maybe a pick and a prospect. It's 26 years old. You can sign him to maybe like a three-year contract. You don't have to give him a bunch of money and a bunch of term. But he could fill out in your third-line center pretty nicely.

Again, guys, I still would prefer Jared McCann there. But, you know, if they do decide to move on for him, I think someone that Christina could come in here and honestly be fine in a third-line center role here for the penguin. So I think that basically does it for this article of third line center options. I mean, Teddy Blue is going to be the fourth line center. I mean, just like the rest of the options on the year besides Philip did know and Chris Tierney are just like, they're just not good options.

And of course, Jared McCann. But he put Jared McCann on there just because he's on the team. So yeah, besides McCann is already on the team. The two guys that are not on the team that would be fine coming in or Chris Tierney and Philip did know the rest of these players are just, they don't make a lot of sense. And to be quite frankly with you guys, they're just. not good at all either. But that will basically wrap up this segment of the Locked on Penguins podcast for today's

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I picked Vegas in seven games. I thought that was a lock. Seeing Dallas win that series in five games just has me stunned a lot. But you know what? When you get 950 goal tending, it's hard to lose. I've been seeing takes on Twitter. Oh, yeah, Anton Kudobin didn't really have to do a lot. He made the series he was supposed to make.

And it's like, do people just see what they want to see in games? Or do they just, like, not watch the games or something like that? Because Anton Kudeman, I'm pretty sure, still one or two of those games because Vegas was out shooting them and outchancing them every single night. And you couple Anton Hu Dobin going 950 with Vegas not being able to finish their chances and just not score, of course. And this is what you get. You get Dallas beating them four games to one. And that's not to take away credit from Dallas.

I mean, for God's sakes, they're in the Stanley Cup final. They just took out true juggernauts and they deserve to be there. But still, I mean, when you get 950 goaltending, it's hard to lose. And, you know, I kept seeing a few takes as well. Like, oh, yeah, Dallas has the better high-end talent. Like, you know, that's why they're there. And I'm like, really don't see it. like that way either. I mean, Mark Stone is a top 10 player in the league. Max

Patsuretti's awesome. Shea Theodore is spectacular. I mean, to say that Dallas's high-end talent is better than Vegas is just simply not true. But did Dallas's high-end talent outperform Vegas is in that in that seven-game series? They absolutely did. I know Tyler Sagan's been a ghost town, but Jamie Bannon has really turned back the clock these playoffs. He's been really, really good. Mero Haskinen is just turning into a star right before our very eyes. He's going to win plenty of Norris is, I think, throughout his career. Alexander Radulov was awesome. You guys remember he had that overtime winner for Dallas during the series.

I mean, we could not forget about Joe Padowski. He looked like a passenger during the early season, but now in the playoffs, I mean, he's just scoring it well. And being the player that we all saw with the San Jose Sharks years prior to this, because he's just been on another level these playoffs. And, you know, John Klingberg, he's just been absolutely awesome, too. It's awesome when you can have two number one defensemen on your team, and you can split them on different pairings. You can put Heiskenen on your first pairing, and then you can just have John Kleenberg on your second pairing.

So yeah, it's just, it's crazy how Dallas is able to do that. But yeah, I'm very excited to watch Dallas in the Stanley Cup final. I've said it before. I know they don't play the most exciting brand of hockey. Having a star's Islander's final would just be awful. It would set the league back a long time, though I don't really think the Islanders are going to win two more games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. but still, it's great that we have a new blood team in the final from the West. I mean, the stars have not been to the finals since 2000.

They lost that year to the New Jersey Devils, and then they won in 99 against the Buffalo Sabres. So it's just, it's going to be a lot of fun to watch them. I'm really, really hoping Tyler Sagan comes alive. I already said it on this episode. He's just been a ghost, these entire playoffs. I have no idea what's going on with him. And, you know, if Ben Bishop somehow gets healthy, I don't really see how you put him in. Anton Hu Dobin just went 950 against the Vegas Gold Knights.

So, I mean, like, there's no way you're taking out Antah Hu Dobin at this point. There's just no way. And, oh, yeah, guys, he's going to be making a lot of money after this season. I believe he is a unrestricted free agent. If my memory serves me correct, I can actually double check this right now. And yes, he is. Hey, guys, his cap hit $2.5 million per year for a one big old tender. Someone is going to be paying him a lot of cash after this season.

I can't wait to see what team just gives him way. way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, too much money. But yeah, Dallas isn't in the Stanley Cup final. Awesome story. So let's shift our gears now to the Easter conference final. Tampa's up three games to two. I mean, it was just watching that game last night. It was just watching Pink Drive.

The Islanders, I cannot watch another game of them. They are just so boring. And you can feel the fever with Barry Trots hockey, everyone. Having 20 shots through not only three periods, guys, but a whole overtime period. So 20 shots in four periods, I mean, that's just, that's embarrassing. All they were doing when they would get the puck, just dumping it out, dumping it in the zone. And then when the lightning would come in, they would just skyhook it. And then it would just be a rinse and repeat and rinse and repeat.

And it's just like, oh, my God, Tampa, can you guys finally just end this series? But nope, Jordan Everly got the winner last night on a two-on-one, Kevin Chatton Kirk, looked pretty bad on that play. He looked like how he did when he was defending Matt Cullen in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. with the Washington Capitals. I will never get tired of watching that goal because Matt Collin just turned Kevin Shattonk into a complete corpse there.

I mean, he looked like that corpse last night. But 2-1 final, Tampa is still up three games to two. Game 6 will be tomorrow night. Allenders will be the designated home team, in quotation marks. I'm going to stick with my Tampa Bay and 6th prediction. I'm hoping I can go at least one-in-one for the conference finals. If Tampa Bay does close this out and I do get to the Stanley Cup final, I'm probably going to take Tampa in seven against the stars.

I know betting against Dallas has not been good. I guess, I mean, you know, fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice. Shame on me because I bet against them twice now. And then, you know, for me three times. Well, I guess we would just have to see what happens. But yeah, guys, I'm expecting Tampa Bay to go through against the Islanders.

I'm just, I cannot watch the Allenders play hockey anymore. It is just a total slop fest watching them. And I think overall for the game last night, the game ended in double overtime. They barely, I don't even think they got to 30 shots. So it's just like, you know, Feel the fever, guys, with Barry Trots Hockey. It is just absolutely terrible. But that'll do it for this segment.

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He will be coaching the power play as well as the defensive corps. But according to Pierre LeBron this morning, apparently the Capitals only interviewed Gerard Garland, Mike Babcock, and Peter LaVuette. I wanted the Capitals to hire Mike Babcock to just, I wanted that injected it into my veins. It would just been hilarious. You would have seen Capitals fans just basically abandoning ship going to route for other teams. I would have just loved it. I think the whole Hockeyer will honestly would have loved it outside of Capitals fans, but they did not.

They went out and hired Peter Lobulet, and I know a lot of Capitals fans are pretty happy with that hire. I mean, of course, he has a lot of experience. he's gone to the Stanley Cup final three times in his career. He's won the Stanley Cup, it was with the Carolina Hurricanes. But, you know, he's just, he's not that good of a coach. And I'm all for him making the Capitol's offense just that much worse. And yesterday it was actually posted by Brian Baston, who does, covers the Predators for a few websites, basically looked at isolated five-on-five impact, Peter Lobilette.

I think this comes from Micah, who just does all these amazing charts for looking at underlying numbers in the Atlantic. So basically, so for offense, you want to be in the positive, not the negative. And he's been positive. I'm looking at this right now in only one of his seasons as NHL head coach. The last few seasons with the national predators, so an isolated 5V5 impact for the offense minus 13.4. So I retweeted it yesterday, but basically to explain it, it's the isolated impact on offense and then it's isolated impact on defense. It's just he's just been in the negative on offense. like I said, his entire tenure.

In 2016-17, when the Preders actually went to the Stanley Cup final, he was minus 14.3%. The next year, minus 12, 2018-19, minus 13.4%. And then this last year, minus 13.4%. And then for defense, you do want to be negative. But, you know, it's getting closer to positive. I mean, it might have been minus 2.8, minus 2.9 in the last couple of seasons. But, you know, you want to be as far negative as you can for defense.

So, yeah, I mean, he just, everywhere he goes. the team's offense just really, really struggles. The underlying numbers just for his team just flat out stink. But, you know, I see why the capitals decided to do this. You know, they have two to three years to the left of a contention, just like the Pittsburgh Penguins. The good thing about Lobbit let has been where everywhere he's gone, he's won his first couple of years.

For whatever reason, even though his isolated impacts on offense at 5B5, have been really, really bad, he's just, he's still won. You know, he took the flyers since Stanley Cup final one of the first years he was there. He took the National Predators, so they seemed like a final one in the first year. he was there, but it's just, it's after that first season or two, it just goes downhill, really, really fast. And they only gave him a three-year deal. It makes sense.

I mean, Ovechkin's going to be, what, 35, 36 by the time that deal is up, he's going to be starting to decline. I mean, maybe he'll be still putting up 50 goal seasons. Who knows, the guy's just an absolute tank. But, I mean, the Calvary's window will be mostly shut, I think, by the time that contract is up. And Ted Leonez, this guy's finally paid up for coach. apparently a Lovulet's going to be making over $4 million per season.

I think he's going to be one of the five highest paid coaches in the league. So yeah, congratulations to Ted Leones as he finally stops being cheap and decides to pay a coach for a change. But, you know, I am glad they did not get Gaur Goulon. I would not have wanted to face Gerard Goulon for, you know, four to five games every season for the next three years and potentially more in the playoffs. You know, if they go seven-game series in the second round or whatever. But, yeah, Penguins fans should be happy about that. Lovulet's probably going to kill the caper.

Offense and, you know, just they have a lot of decisions to make on that team roster-wise as well. But that'll do it, I think, for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I really enjoy talking some more Third Line Center stuff with you guys, some Western Conference final stuff. And, of course, talking on the Washington Capitals anytime we can. So we'll have another episode coming tomorrow. And I hope you all have a great day. And I will talk to you all then.