Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Talking some TSN Trade Bait Board Targets with Jeff (LetangCult on Twitter)

Episode Date: September 4, 2020

With free agency and trade season upon us, the TSN Trade Bait Board is out and Hunter brings Jeff (LetangCult on Twitter) back on to talk about some of the players on that board for the Pittsburgh Pen...guins. Which players could the Penguins realistically go after? What player on the list would be the dream acquisition? (Hint hint, it's a Winnipeg player). What players should they stay away from? They get into all of that, plus what Jeff would want back in a Matt Murray trade and who he'd go after in free agency, on this episode of Locked On Penguins. 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.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello, welcome to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L-O-U-U-U-Skore Penguins. Hope you guys enjoyed the show yesterday with John Jacob, Locked-on Rangers. But today, we have another special guest joining the podcast. Jeff from Penguins, Twitter, last time he was on, I believe, was around the trade deadline, right around the Jason Zucker trade.
Starting point is 00:00:22 But he's back on for the episode here. Jeff, how have you been, man? Really good, have you been? Yeah, I'm not. too too bad, you know, just hanging in now in September somehow. So that's just crazy. But, you know, I really have been looking forward to this TSN Trade Bait List episode that we've been wanting to do. There's a lot of interesting names on here.
Starting point is 00:00:44 So I guess let's just get right into it. I mean, if there's one player on this list that really jumps out at you for the penguins, because, I mean, there are a lot of them out here. I think that really do. Which player is it? One player that I think the penguins could really use, but I don't think it's going to happen, is Ryan Zingle. You know, he's been a top six winger, but he's kind of, he's passed his prime a little bit. He's 28.
Starting point is 00:01:13 He is coming off a $3 million contract. If you get him in the four range, I think that he could give that third line of boost that it hasn't had since the days of Phil Kessel. So De Zingle would be my number one get because I think he would come at a good cost. Obviously, he's not the most talented player on the list, but not the least talented either. Yeah, De Zingle kind of had a down year this past year. I mean, eight goals, 29 points, but still making less than $3.5 million per season. I think he has one more year left on that contract. So I definitely think you could pry him out of there.
Starting point is 00:01:49 I'm not really sure Carolina is looking to make a bunch of changes, though. but they do have to pay Svetnikov going into this offseason. So maybe someone like Dzingo could be a salary dump. That would be pretty cool. He's a left winger, so could be like the Marlowe replacement. I think that would be pretty good. Patrick Marlowe obviously did not fit in with the penguins. He was just absolutely brutal.
Starting point is 00:02:10 So, yeah, I wouldn't mind that. One other player on here, Jeff, that I would really like who could be a good Jack Johnson replacement if they choose to trade Jack Johnson, but it looks like right now he's probably not going to. Vince Dunn from St. Louis, still 23 years old, left shot, had nine goals, 23 points last season. He's going to be an RFA. He really only made, I think, 723K against the cap, so he's going to have to get a big raise.
Starting point is 00:02:38 But still, that's a player I would really like to pry out of St. Louis, but I'm not sure the Blues are going to want to do that, but they do have Petrangelo to pay. But, I mean, I think that's another big one on this list. I think the Penguins could really go after. Yeah, you'd have to get rid of Jack Johnson first, and therein lies the problem. They've tried to trade him twice on the last calendar year that we know of and have been unable to do so. Of course, the first time was beyond his own circumstances because of Phil Kessel.
Starting point is 00:03:03 And the second time, the Penwinds opted to trade Olimata. But, yeah, that's, it's certainly a puzzle. Yeah, it's a take. Jim Rutherford is, I guess, letting his personal feelings cloud his judgment on this. But who knows, maybe he'll get Jack Johnson off the team somehow. Jeff, I think the dream player to get on this list is probably Patrick Lone. He's $6.75 million. He had 28 goals this last season, 63 points.
Starting point is 00:03:36 I'd move a lot of players to get someone like Lone. I think I'd say the same about Nikolai Eilers. What do you think about that? I think Lain would be excellent. He's only 22. You know, he had a really, really good start into the Lain. league, but his last couple of years have kind of tapered off a little bit. Is that a product of playing with subpar players, you know, now that Boblin's not playing
Starting point is 00:04:02 and the defense in Winnipeg is abysmal, or is it just, you know, he's kind of plateaued? Either way, he's still a very good player. I don't know if that's a contract that the Penguins can take on without moving out some serious salary. I know that Winnipeg could use defensemen. I think we have one spare defenseman that we could move out. I don't know if they will or not, but Linae is definitely a name to keep an eye on. I think other teams will outbid the penguins if the penguins are even interested.
Starting point is 00:04:35 But yeah, he's definitely probably the most talented on the list. Yeah, definitely the dream one too. If the penguins were to somehow get him, I mean, that's a hell of a good problem to have in your top six. you know, Jake Gensel, Cindy Crosby, I mean, you can probably maybe move Casparri Cappan down, then you have Jason Zucker and Brian Rust. That would just be a really, really good problem to have, and that would just make the lineup that much more disgusting, I would say.
Starting point is 00:05:02 But, you know, however unlikely it is, it's still fun to dream about them getting Lundy and the top six, and we're honestly the top nine just being nasty. Yeah, I can't imagine without a first rounder this year. You know, it's not just the first. rounder that we're missing. I know that we're missing a significant amount of picks in the next few drafts. I just don't know what Winnipeg would want in replacement for a player of that caliber. And I don't think the Penguins can match it. Yeah, there's, I would agree with you. I don't
Starting point is 00:05:35 really think that they could match him at all. Going down this list as well, I mean, the one player that is probably the most likely that they would acquire that I think a lot of fans, you know, myself included in who would not really want. Max Domi, Jeff, he made $3.15 million against the cap. He's a restricted free agent. We all know the ties to tie Domi and Mario Lemieux. We've seen Jim Ruther be interested in the past. I don't really want Max Domi, though I can just totally see that being the move that
Starting point is 00:06:04 Jim Ruther wants to make to change up the culture or whatever. He's still a young player at 25 years old. He wanted to get younger going into this season. So it seems like a slam dunk to happen, even though I really don't want it to happen. Yeah, I could hear the presser playing in my mind already. Oh, you know, we've had our eye on Max for a while and we think he's a really good player and he could be a really good player for us. And it just, it screams a GMGR desperation move overvaluing the player, just like he did with Casperi Kappan. Not that Kaspian is a bad player or even that Domey's a bad player.
Starting point is 00:06:43 I just don't want to give up a king's ransom for a player of that caliber. Yeah, I would neither. I mean, his value is not even that high right now, but I could see Mark I version and just still asking for a good chunk for him and Jim Ruther for being like, okay, yeah, he's the guy I want, I'm going to go out and get him. He said the same thing about Kisbury Kappen when he gave up the first round pick and Philip Hollander, you know, when I want my guy, I'm going to go get him,
Starting point is 00:07:11 you know, without even waiting for like the market to set. So, yeah, that would just be. That's, go ahead. Yeah, that's my fear is that whatever, you know, Rutherford inevitably gets for Matt Murray. And I don't know what you can get for them, but if they get picks, I'm worried that those picks will be parlayed right over to Montreal for Domi.
Starting point is 00:07:29 And I don't think it'll be terrible, but I think there are a lot better options if Rutherford is viewing Domi as a center. Yeah, exactly. I 100% agree with you. Another name, I think, is a little underrated on this list, Jeff. Kyle Palmary, I know he's getting up there at any age. He's going to be 30 soon, but has a year left on his contract. The Devils are coming off another disappointing season.
Starting point is 00:07:53 Had 25 goals, 45 points. You know, he's been a good goal score. He's always, like I say, he's always been underrated throughout his career ever since he was traded from Anaheim to New Jersey. He's another right winger. The Penguins have, of course, a lot of right-winger's on the team. But I would just, he would be a really good addition. the Penguins and Devils wanted to do business.
Starting point is 00:08:13 What do you think about that one? I don't think necessarily that Palmerie is known for his speed, and I think that's kind of the angle that Rutherford's going for, youth in speed. And that's another concern of mine about Linae. But I think if I think about any other player that I can compare Palmeri too, in terms of being underrated, I might compare him to Lee Stepniak in terms of he always produced pretty well,
Starting point is 00:08:40 but I guess Lee Steppeniac never had a brilliant career, but there were a couple of teams he scored over 20 goals for. And I don't know. Does Palmyra have enough left in the tank? Is he the type of player of the penguin's knee? I mean, a lot of these names on the list are top pairing defensemen or top six players. And I think Rutherford believes that his top six is rounded out with Casperi Cappan. I think he's more interested in carving out the third line.
Starting point is 00:09:10 and I don't know necessarily that Palmary fits that bill. I guess if you're considering the same reasoning that Dzingle would, Palmary would, but I feel like Dzingle is a little bit speedier of a player. Yeah, I think whenever I watch, you know, De Zingle, I've always marveled just how quick he is. And I think he would be the much better option. Then Palmary, I know Paul Mary is the better goal score,
Starting point is 00:09:33 but still I would sell, I would think De Zingle honestly could outproduce him here. That's just me speaking. Jeff, is there anyone else on this list that you could see the penguins maybe taking a run at or that could be a dream acquisition for Jim Rutherford? Someone of the penguins could be taking a run at? Yeah. How about worries? Yeah, that's a good one too.
Starting point is 00:09:55 Worries you. What about number 18 on the list? Rasmus Rist the line. That's just such a hard pass. He's 25 years old. Yeah. It's like the boogeyman under my bed worrying about Rutherford thinking that awful. defensemen have some kind of redeeming quality.
Starting point is 00:10:17 And, you know, I think there's an agenda with Jack Johnson where, okay, Rutherford drafted him. And when they said they were going to sign him before the 2018 free agency day, everybody's like, no, that's terrible. And Rutherford's like, oh, I know why he got benched. And Columbus Blue Jackets were all like, dude, no, we bench him because he's bad. And Rutherford's like, oh, nonsense. And so, now his pride is hurt. It's all about ego.
Starting point is 00:10:50 And he's holding on to Jack Johnson, hoping Jack Johnson does one damn thing right so that he could go, ha, told you so after two bad years of essentially tanking the Penguins. Yeah. You know, I keep on having flashbacks in 2015 when Rob Skidari got traded for Trevor Daly. and the team just absolutely rocketed off. Yeah, that was the move that really just kickstarted everything. I honestly feel like that would be the same thing that would happen here. You trade Jack Johnson for someone like Trevor Daly coming in return.
Starting point is 00:11:27 That's just really quick and is good offensively, and the team just takes off. I don't really know if that's going to happen. It would be awesome if it did. But Rastafos Ristadam is just, he's just not good. And, you know, the underlying numbers say he's not good. If you watch him on the ice, it says he's not good. He also, Jeff, he makes $5.4 million for the next two years.
Starting point is 00:11:47 So, I mean. But he's a nice guy. Yeah. He helps little old ladies across the street. You guys are just giving him a hard time. He's a good team player, Jeff. You know, you don't, I know he gave him a hard time, but he wasn't like, he wasn't the worst on the ice as a couple other people were, you know, as Jim Rutherford tried to do when he was talking about Justin Schultz when Jack Johnson came up.
Starting point is 00:12:09 So, yeah, I mean, it's just. just please do not go after Rastman Dr. Dr. Lina, Jim Rutherford, for God, so help me God. But now is a good time as Eddard to talk about. Bopar, there's 18 amazing flavors, six new of them with cookies and cream, carrot cake, alpha almond crisp, or three of them. The bars are covered in 100% chocolate. They're soft and easy to chew.
Starting point is 00:12:31 The bars are low calorie, low sugar, high protein, and high fiber. The favorite flavor is still the peanut butter brownie, 19 grams of protein, 180 calories, 5 grams of sugar, 5 grams of net carbs. we still have the free cooler with the purchase while surprised last. You can go to builtbar.com. Use promo code locked on. You'll get $10 off your next order. That's promo code locked on for $10 off at builtbar.com.
Starting point is 00:12:56 All right, Jeff. So, I mean, I guess we'll take a break here from the trade bait board. Let's talk about Matt Murray and the Jared McCann stuff. There's been rumors circling around that, you know, they've been talking with Buffalo. They've been talking with Toronto. Just a bunch of teams. It sounds like it. there's almost like a bidding war for Matt Murray, which I didn't really expect, but, you know, I guess when a goal, he's won two Stanley Cups and he's still only 26 teams are going to want him.
Starting point is 00:13:20 I'm seeing a lot of chatter with this, the Maple Leafs as an option when the Penguins, of course, just traded with them. And I don't really know what I would want from Toronto in a Matt Murray trade. I mean, I know Andreas Yonson is on the trade bait list, had eight goals and 21 points. But, I mean, I don't really want him to be honest. It's just, I don't think there's a match there. What do you think? I wonder, I wonder if it's Duvoss doing the penguins a favor for the Casperi Capitan deal, you know, saying, hey, we're interested in Matt Murray.
Starting point is 00:13:58 We just got to find somebody to take Anderson trying to pump up the value of Murray because that's the way that it seems, just the way that it came out. You know, suddenly there's this. huge outpouring of information, Frank Saravali. Oh, yeah, all these teams, Edmonton, and they're all contacting the Penguins about Matt Murt. It sounds like, you know, somebody's trying to promote the market for the player. And I wonder if that's the case in Toronto, because, I mean, with the season is still going on, it's kind of hard to execute a three-way trade.
Starting point is 00:14:37 but you know I wonder if one of the active teams if they're really trying to trade for Matt Murray I wonder if one of the active teams is one of the ones who are interested in Freddie Anderson and that's why Toronto can't make that trade yet and that's why Matt Murray couldn't have been part of the Caspari Capitan trade Yeah that's an interesting theory that you have there
Starting point is 00:15:00 I mean we know the hurried it sounds like the hurricanes have been interested in Frederick Anderson But you know I've also read that they don't want to just deal Anderson for the sake of dealing him. They actually want a good return for him, and rightfully so, he's a pretty good goalie. But, I mean, it's just, I don't know about, like, the Toronto thing, like, is, I mean, Alex Kerfoot. I mean, that's also if they package Jared McCann there, and they bring Alex Kerfut in return, though I don't really think that's a good trade for Pittsburgh at all. I think I would take Jared McCann over Alexander Kerfoot. I know they're both
Starting point is 00:15:31 centers, but I trust McCann to bounce back from the season more than I would trust Kerfoot. in the third line center role here. So I would honestly stick with McCann for that. But another thing I've been thinking about, Jeff, with the Matt Murray thing, I wonder if the Penguins try to do a sign and trade because the least didn't want, what I was reading in the report,
Starting point is 00:15:52 they didn't want Matt Murray to take them to arbitration, right? He could ask for $5.75, $6 million per, we all know. I don't think he's worth that. So I wonder if the Penguins could orchestrate signing him and then trading him to Toronto or another team for, a return. That's my thing with that.
Starting point is 00:16:10 I think the idea of signing trades are, I don't think we're going to see a lot of them in the future. It just doesn't seem like, you know, why sign a player if they're just going to sign with the next team? You know what I mean? If there is a verbal agreement in place that, hey, you know, if I play for this team, I'll sign this much. With Matt Murray, I do think you're going to get a goalie that's coming in at around $6 million. And I think a lot of people, you know, teams are like, you know, keeping that factor into consideration. And I saw somebody on Twitter say tonight, you know, outside of Pittsburgh, Matt Murray's value is higher because they see a young goalie who's won two cups, a team who has struggled
Starting point is 00:16:51 with the last two years. And granted, you know, not all of it's on Murray, but with Tristan Jari lying in weight, Murray is kind of a little bit of a luxury that, you know, we can afford to move. So that being said, I don't think. you're going to see a sign and trade, but I don't know, it's so hard to calculate what Murray's trade value is. Is Murray worth, you know, Kerfoot one for one? I mean, what team's going to pay the most? And who's to say that Rutherford's even going to take the highest payment? Because as we saw with Casperi Capon, Rutherford is more of a, you know, whatever it takes to get my guy, rather than,
Starting point is 00:17:32 you know, okay, wait a little while. And then maybe you could throw that same package for Patrick line A and get a far better player for your money. Yeah. Now, I agree with you with that. And the goalie market is always just so odd, I guess, is the word to use. You know, I mean, I was reading an article today from Dan Hopper, who's a great
Starting point is 00:17:51 follow for Pittsburgh Sports Twitter. He was talking about how Frederick Anderson when he was traded from the ducks to the lease, he fetched a first round pick. Martin Jones fetched a first round pick. I think they even got, Boston, even got Sean Corallie in that deal, who's turned out to be a good bottom six-winger. And a
Starting point is 00:18:07 Martin Jones could fetch her basically a first-round pick and so good Frederick Anderson. I feel like a team could give up a first-round pick in return for the Penguins, but I mean, I hope Jim Rutherford could potentially ask for that. But I just don't know if I trust Rutherford enough to do that, to be honest with you. But, I mean, if you had to guess, what do you think a team would give up for Matt Murray, I guess, is my question. well i don't know i that's so difficult to say because there are so many factors depending on what team's strengths are what they have you know excesses of uh but you know a team's definitely going to use the rfa status as a negotiation point well you know we don't know what this
Starting point is 00:18:53 the player's going to ask and you know if rutherford says hey the players already said he's accepted or he'll accept six million dollars and you know the other GM can bulk of that and say oh well we don't want to pay goalie more than five million a year what uh what have you but you know I I think I think there's a higher likelihood we're going to see a restricted free agent for restricted free agent trade um if there's a pick I I mean I guess it might be pessimistic to say I don't know that we would get a first but hopefully second certainly would positive positively surprised me if we did.
Starting point is 00:19:33 I don't know. What are you thinking? I'm hoping maybe a second round pick at the least if we're talking draft picks. I really, he would definitely pitch a second. If he can get a first, you know, I would think cool down some people that have been low on Jim Rutherford this offseason, but I mean, rightfully so. He's been talking out of his ass for a couple things. But, I mean, I would bring people back on the Jim Rutherford. I guess height train just a little bit.
Starting point is 00:19:58 I mean, I would love if he would get her first, and then maybe a roster player. Prospect, you know, first in the prospect, second in the prospect. I would prefer a roster player, though, in return plus a pick for Matt Murray. I just, I think that would just, you know, help the team a lot more for now. The prospect really probably wouldn't help them for a couple more seasons after, you know, Sidney Crosby and I'm getting Malkin are into probably like 35 to 36. But, you know, one more should be a free agent, Jeff, before we switch gears to free agency, before we call it a day.
Starting point is 00:20:29 Jared McCann, Jeff, sign him or do you trade him? I'd sign him. I mean, depending on what he wants, obviously coming off this season, I don't think he can, you know, ask for a blank check by any means. But if you can get him for a good price, he's young, he's good.
Starting point is 00:20:48 You know, I've heard him described as a straight line player who has a, you know, good shot. But I think if you put him with somebody like Casperi Capitan who can use his speed to create space, you're putting Jerry McCann in a far better position to succeed than you were with the corpse of Patrick Marlowe and the corpse of Patrick Cornquist. Yeah, exactly.
Starting point is 00:21:14 I mean, he just, he needs two competent line mates. That's the big thing. And I know who's shooting percentage really tanked in the second half of the season. I think that was honestly the biggest reason as to why he was struggling. He was still shooting the puck, but it just wasn't going in. he had that really bad series against the Canadians. I mean, almost every penguin did. But, you know, he was on a line with Patrick Marlow, who was basically a corpse, like you said.
Starting point is 00:21:35 You know, Patrick Hornquist, who also did not really look that good during that series. So I think two new linemates for him, keep him at center. I wouldn't go $4 million per for McCann. I'd probably max out at about $3.5 million per. Or I don't really do that. I think that's fair. Yeah, I really don't think he should ask for more than that. Four million is just too much, especially since we really haven't.
Starting point is 00:21:57 seen enough for him to like ask for four million per in my opinion but you know i could totally see jim martha for dealing him too and trying to replace um the third line center position but i really really hope he doesn't um but jeff lastly um for free agency any free agents that you're looking at for the penguins to bring in you know i'm i'm all aboard the dylan de mello hype trained to replace justin solts um i'm not really sold on chabroodoo weedle doing an 82 game season for the penguins I think DeMello could come in pretty cheap, play that right hand shot well on the third pairing, even if it's next to Jack Johnson, who just brings everyone down. But who are you hoping that they could bring in free agency?
Starting point is 00:22:38 Okay, I'm going to bring up a big name that I don't think many people have mentioned that I really think would help the penguins on defense, and you're not going to have to pay them a gigantic amount to play for you. finished player Yusa Rikla I'm serious that's your guy that's your guy right there
Starting point is 00:22:58 it is I've always been a fan of Rikla I you know he's made one or two mistakes but you know he hasn't had half the playing time that Johnson has and Johnson you know
Starting point is 00:23:10 flops the puck over left and right and he be Johnson plays the body constantly over the puck and Mike Sullivan's tongue is on the floor watching Johnson and you know Usa Ricola plays excellent defense,
Starting point is 00:23:23 this almost lights out, you know, one mistake every 10 games or whatever, and Johnson, or I'm sorry, Sullivan throws him in the doghouse. Like, what the hell? Yeah, he's been in his doghouse virtually the entire time he's been here. And, yeah, I just, I've never understood it. You know, you deserve to play in the playoff series. I don't know why they continue to play Jack Johnson. Trapper Wheatles deserve to play over Justin Shultz.
Starting point is 00:23:46 But, I mean, I just, the weird thing is they're probably not even going to sign him just because he's barely played. That's going to be the weird thing about it, man. There were rumors during the season that Montreal wanted him, so who knows. Yeah, I wouldn't be signed elsewhere. I have no idea where he's going to go.
Starting point is 00:24:04 They're probably not going to resign him for reasons that, you know, I can't comprehend. But anyone from the UFA market that you're looking at? I would stay away from Trevor Daly based on age. I think he's going to be losing. If he hasn't already lost the step, I haven't watched a lot of Detroit hockey. lately because I don't like self-imposed torture.
Starting point is 00:24:24 But there's the only thing about this UFA market is it's pretty damn old, if I might say so. One name that really, really intrigues me for that third line is out of Florida, Eric Halle. Interesting. I have been, man, I just, his name slipped my mind. It really, really did, especially after he was traded there. He scored 12 goals, 12 points over the course of 48 games this year. He made a shade under $3 million. You know, if you could sign him to a similar contract, no, he's not that young.
Starting point is 00:25:02 He's 29, but I think that he would be an excellent player for that position. He's always just been a really solid player. And, you know, it's like, if you think about the third line role, how much success Nick Benino had. was Nick Benino a lights out star? No. Well, until that Benino, Benino thing came along. But it just, it was a matter of finding the right thing. I mean, Benino wasn't great for Vancouver either.
Starting point is 00:25:33 Yeah, no, I agree with that too. And he is not far off, Jeff. He had that almost 30-goal season, I think, with, I think it was Vegas when he was in the expansion draft. So, I mean, I could definitely see the pain. That would be honestly a really good target. I mean, he's a left-hand shot. I mean, he said 29. Probably would only sign him to just a short-term deal, maybe three years, but still
Starting point is 00:25:57 12 goals, 24 points this past season. He's been a 20-goal score in the past, the season before that. I think he had 12 goals as well. I mean, he's scored consistently 12 to 15 goals throughout his career. So I feel like he would be a good spot. He would be a good fit for. to the third line center spot. He could probably kill penalties,
Starting point is 00:26:19 but, you know, I'm also the opinion that most players can kill penalties. So, yeah, that's definitely a name that, you know, I had not thought of, so I'm glad you brought that up.
Starting point is 00:26:28 Yeah. One more name, if they do, happen to move Jack Johnson, I know that Rutherford has said he likes Jack Johnson, hoax he ends his career here, but he's really been hesitant to say,
Starting point is 00:26:40 he's staying. So if he does move Jack Johnson, one free agent, that I think the penguins might be able to get cheap because his stock has fallen so hard so quickly but he's still a good player, Kevin Shattankirk. Yeah, that's a good one too. I mean, would you play on his offside though
Starting point is 00:26:57 because he's a right-hand shot? So, I mean, I guess you could maybe? Both spots would be open if Johnson's gone. Yeah, yeah, I mean, you could do maybe like a Shattonkirk almost de Mello thing. I mean, that's if they have the cap space to do it if they dumped some salary. I also, I thought Shattenkirk was signed for one more season,
Starting point is 00:27:18 so it was interesting that he's up after the season. He signed one year with Tampa, I think. Okay, gotcha. So, yeah, I mean, he definitely did ever rejuvenated season. I mean, he's obviously not as good as it used to be, but, you know, Tampa's gotten a good bit out of them, and I think Tampa's going to be in a cap crunch pretty soon because they have a couple players to pay.
Starting point is 00:27:36 So, yeah, that option wouldn't be too, too bad. If he comes cheap, you know, maybe signs a couple-year deal for, I'll know, three to four million per, I think you'd be fine there. And if somebody gets hurt, he could jump into the second pairing really easily. Yeah. Yeah, I can play with John Marino. I think that would be fine, Marcus Pedersen, though I do want to see more of him on that pairing with Marino. But, Jeff, unless you have any more other players from Free Agency, I guess we can call this an episode.
Starting point is 00:28:07 You know, I don't even know that they're going to fill the defensive position because they They signed Shadder Wiedel to an extension a year before his contract was up. Yep. And they have Manuscalco coming up from the college ranks to help out. And I've heard some comparisons to Marino already. And while I don't think he has the ceiling the Marino has, if he comes in to training camp and has a strong training camp,
Starting point is 00:28:34 pay all the better. That would be awesome. Entry-level contract that opens up some money. Exactly. Yeah, I was just about to say that. It's another contract on an ELC, saves you cap room to go out and sign someone. So, yeah, we can definitely see if he makes the team out of camp.
Starting point is 00:28:48 I mean, I don't expect it, but, you know, we didn't expect John Marino to make the team out of camp, and now he's going to be probably the number one defenseman whenever Chris LaTang either leaves or just retires a member of the Penguins. But, Jeff, thank you so much for coming on this episode. I've locked on Penguins. Hey, no problem. This was a lot of fun.
Starting point is 00:29:06 We definitely got to do this, you know, after free agency to see what they do. Absolutely. I hope it's a good situation and not like the Casperi Capitan trade, where one second it's like, yeah, we got Capon and the next minute it's like, oh shit, we paid that for Capitin? Yeah, exactly, yeah. Hopefully there's not too many bad, more asset management from Jim Rutherford. He just continues to just mismanaged.
Starting point is 00:29:30 So thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Lockdown Penguins, and we'll be back with more episodes starting next Monday.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.