Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The boys are back in town! Jake Guentzel is back on the ice with some teammates as phase 2 starts, plus it's fan favorite week!

Episode Date: June 11, 2020

Some of the Penguins players are back on the ice in Pittsburgh as Phase 2 of the NHL's plan is underway. Hunter shares what Jake Guentzel said to the media today regarding his injury, plus his magnificent opening statement on the racial injustice going on in this country. Hunter also touches on this day in Penguins history, plus fan favorite week as fans send in their favorite memories of being a Penguins fan! All that and more 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.

Hello, welcome to this new episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast for Wednesday, June 10th. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L-O-U-U-Nesquare Penguins. Happy Wednesday to you all. We're at the mid part of this week already. These weeks just keep flying and flying almost into mid-June, for God's sakes, before you know, it'll be the 4th of July. Hope you all are doing well.

We have some good stuff to talk about on today's podcast. First off, I will not be posting an episode tomorrow. will be an episode, like I said yesterday, that will be going out across the Holt Network on every show, if it's a football show, baseball, basketball, hockey, or college football, you know, no matter the sport. This show will be going on all the podcasts. And it's a roundtable. It's a Black Lives Matter round table.

A locked-on host discussed life is a black man in America. We got the guy from Ross Jackson from Locked on Saints, Aaron Freeman from Locked on Falcons, Tony Williams, from Locked on Jaguars, John Hickman from Lockedon. Locked-on Texans. Chris Carter from Locked-on Steelers, Keith Pompeii from Locked-on 76ers, Cody Davis from Locked-on Texans, and Your Boy, Q, from Locked-on Raiders. It's a very, very special episode. I was able to actually listen to it earlier today. The stories they tell, it's damn good, it's powerful. It's an incredible episode. I'm really, really excited for you guys to listen to this tomorrow. You know, let me know your thoughts, you know, tweet me at Hunter Hoddes or just, you know, tweet

at any one of the hosts that were on the roundtable to tell them your thoughts as well because I mean I think it's magnificent and I'm just really really excited to post this tomorrow there will not be any ad locators on the show so if you don't have to skip through ads or anything you can just just a straight discussion about you know the Black Lives Matter

protests going on and just a round table with these eight amazing hosts on the network but just wanted to get that out of the way let you guys know what's coming tomorrow we'll have another episode coming on Friday just be a regular log on Penguins episode. But we did have some good news today. The Penguins were back skating today.

Got some really good looks at some of the players. Jake Gensel was back on the ice. And wow, did he grow his hair out? His hair looks like it's just as long as mine is, except, you know, his hair color is really different from mine. It's like a curly blonde. Mine's brown and it's curly. So, yeah, Jake really let his hair grow.

I'm assuming he's probably going to let that really, really grow into the playoffs. He did speak to the media today. We'll have those quotes for you right now. I think the first big quote that he did have to say, you know, he started his media session with a just an outstanding quote, you know, about the death of George Floyd and just what's going on around the country. He basically said, watching the death of George Floyd was pretty disturbing for me. Personally, it was even more disheartening knowing it was pretty close to home for me.

I just wanted to say my heart aches with that. I'm a shame that racism still exists to this day. My eyes have definitely been opened. I'm definitely committed to educating myself. and making a difference out there. Jake Gensel, that's absolutely outstanding. You know, what a statement. You know, he's absolutely correct.

You know, I mean, I think we should honestly all follow this advice. And I mean, apparently from what I read, you know, this wasn't a question asked about to get to Gensel during this media availability. You know, he just actually opened his media availability with this statement, which just goes to show how awesome Jake Gensel is, how much this means to him, like he said, is, you know, it really hits close to hold because, you know, he's from Minnesota. So, you know, it just, it sounded really, really sincere. It was a hell of a statement. And I'm just, I'm so happy that

he was able to just start off his media availability with that. And it wasn't just the question that some of, a media member asked him. Just, what a statement. Otherwise, just cancel his, he had something really, really interesting to say. He says he hopes to be ready if the season restarts. The quote was, I'm getting better every day. Jake, I'm pretty sure you'll mostly, you'll probably, probably be ready. I think the timeline was, what, four to six months for him. Six months will be June 30th, so that's 20 days from now, June 10th, so about three weeks away. Yeah, I think he'll be fine, you know, the little hope to play, you know, that's just him, you know, being coy about and just, I guess, making sure, but, you know, he'll be 100% ready. Apparently, he also said his

soldier's injury was pretty significant, but he would not specify exactly what it was. I mean, you know do the penguins ever really do that with a lot of their injuries no they mostly only really do that if it's like a concussion or if it's like something like a torn ACL or something that penguins will always say oh yeah you know upper body injury you know lower body injury they never released specifics excuse me as some of the other teams do I hope at some point they do though but he also said you know he's been skating for the last three weeks now so absolutely outstanding news you know the prodigal son has returned for Jake Gensel um I saw the clips today where he was practicing with some of the other players. I know Sidney Crosby was

out there. You know, it looked like he was, look like he shaved his beard. So it looks like it's back to square one for Cindy Crosby of Guinea Malkin, I think was also on the ice. Brian Rust was out there. Brian Dumolin. I think I saw Zach Ashton Reese as well. I'm noted great player Jack Johnson was also out there. And I think the goaltender was Casey Dismet. I did not see Matt Murray, but he also could be potentially skating tomorrow. I think these videos came out from yesterday, I think, was when that skate was. But I'm sure most players skated today, too. But from what I saw, you know, they were firing the puck pretty good, especially Jake

Ansel. Wow, you know, that shoulder looks, it looks pretty good. It looked like he was winding up his full speed slap shot, his full speed wrist shot. He looked like he was 100% out there from the video that I watched. But, you know, that's just me speaking. So, you know, I could be also dead wrong on that. One more other thing on Jake Ansel, apparently he said immediately after he got injured he basically said you know i knew something wasn't good i mean you know as a player you know that

plays any sport you know when you get injured like that um you basically know like oh shit you know my season is probably over if it hurts this freaking bad and it sounds like you know he probably knew that the rest of his regular season was over but i'm just really really happy that we can get jake bensel back for this playoff run if it and does indeed happen just makes the penguins top six just that much more disgusting and you know he also really really just helps their power play um we all know the Penguins power play was just not really good this season, kind of middle in the pack. We all know the Penguins power play is used to being in the top 10. Hell, they're used to being in the top three to top five.

Heck, even some years, they were the best power play in hockey. I mean, in other words, you know, we're used to it being a really, really good unit. It was not really good this season, you know. But a lot of that is because Gensel was heard. People, I think, undervalue just how good Gensel is on that main advantage. We all know how good Patrick Hornquist isn't in front of the net, but honestly, Jake Gensel does a really, really good job at it too, and Jake Gensel has better hands than Hortonquist.

I'm not trying to say that Gensel is a better net front presence than Hornquist, but I would rather have his hands there in front of the net compared to Hornquist, who, you know, his finishing ability has kind of just gone down a little bit ever since he's had his injuries. I know he had his rejuvenation this season, but I would rather have Gensel at that spot in Hornquist. I will say that. so he really, really is going to help that unit when he does come back. Really, really exciting.

You know, I think some people are probably going to maybe take a shot for Gensel finally coming back, you know, seeing him on the ice. Well, maybe, you know, I might be exaggerating a bit, but that would be really, really funny if some people did take a couple shots for Jake Gensel coming back. It's just, you know, really, really exciting time to see that, you know, when we really didn't think we were going to see him for the rest of the season, and now we definitely have the chance to see them to see him,

excuse me, if the season does resume, and we'll see him next season as well when he'll be 100% healthy for the team. But with that said, let's talk about rockado.com. It's a family business that serves auto parts, customers online for 20 years. You can go to rock auto.com to shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers.

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You can write locked on in all cops and their how did you hear about us box so that they know we sent you. The amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts of your car will ever need and that's Rock Auto. all right so before we get to the fan favorite um part of this podcast we do have a little bit of penguins history that happened on today june 10th not too much because we all know what happened on june 11th and june 12th those were the big days in penguins history um in 1966 lest binkley became the first penguins player to sign a contract with the team so pog in the chat for that and in 2004 pit former penguin paul coffee and larry mere free were named to the uh pro hockey hall of fame class of thousand four so love to see that paul coffee you know one of the greatest defensemen to ever play

in the league also my mother's favorite player she will never ever ever get enough of him especially after meeting him or take him bribing my uncle to go um take her to meet him that's just that will always be her favorite penguin but with that said um and it's time to get to our fan favorite of the week as it starts to pour here in northern virginia there have been a lot of thunderstorms that have come through today. So I apologize if there's a little bit of noise as it also just thundered. So, yeah, I mean, there's just been storms coming through a lot today. It really kind of started around 5.30, 6 o'clock.

It's just continued. You know, that's what happens when it's humid outside, when it's 90, 90, 50 degrees. Kind of feels like 100. You know, welcome to summer weather in northern Virginia, where it can change drastically. This part of the country always has the weirdest freaking weather. I swear to God, but, okay, before I get really, really off track. Let's just get to our fan favorite. Today, it was Alan T. Yoder.

Thank you so much for sending in some of your favorite moments as a Penguins fan. He also has sent in mailbag questions. Alan, I really appreciate you listening to the podcast, as I appreciate everyone listening to the podcast. So one of his first memories, you know, January 4th of 2018, it was a 4-0 lost to Carolina, he said, but he said he got to sit by the glass for his 21st birthday. He got a whole new perspective and appreciation for the sport.

Alan, that is truly awesome. I wish, I've gotten to sit by the glass one time. I think it was actually when I was around nine years old. I think it was for a Capitals game. Yeah, I know, pretty gross. This was really, I wasn't as, what's the word I'm looking for here? I mean, I was a penguin stand, but I wasn't the biggest diehard that I should have been at that point. I think my dad got free tickets from someone and he just decided to take me since he knew I liked the sport.

I think the Caps also lost that game. I think they've played the Tampa Bay Lightning, if I'm not mistaken, but still sitting right by the glass, I was able to bang on the glass like a complete idiot. So that was a lot of fun. So yeah, sitting glass seats are fun. I've only done it one time. But I do agree, you know, just the whole new perspective

and appreciation of the sport. It just looks a lot different when you're just that much closer. And I'm glad you got to do that, even though the team lost. His second favorite one, December 30th, 2019 versus Ottawa. in February 18th, 2020 versus Toronto, when the Penguins took first in the Metro. Funny thing, Alan, I was there for the December 30th game versus Ottawa.

Of course, that was when Jake Gensel got hurt. So bad luck for both of us on that one. But he says those were his two favorite games that he's attended. Loud, a lot of goals, free Big Macs, thanks to Brian Russ. Physical games, just awesome environment. Yeah, absolutely. That Ottawa game was really fun because the Penguins just took it to them, even though Jake got hurt

and I think of course it was right after the goal and the arena kind of like they were celebrating but like the arena just went silent I would say but you know also you know the February 18th game versus Toronto I think that was what a 5-2-5-3 final yeah the penguins they were blitzing Toronto right out of the gate then Toronto kind of had some pushback

the penguins really didn't look as good as they did in that first period and a half I would say but still that's awesome that you got to go to that game like you said free Big Macs that's always nice thanks to Ryan Russ. We all know how good Brian Russell was this season. Just absolutely spectacular. His third memory round one, game two versus Philadelphia

in 2018, despite the loss. The playoff atmosphere was absolutely incredible. Yeah, yeah. I mean, just hearing it on TV, hearing how wild PPG paints arena was getting during that run, I wish I was able to go to PPG

Paints Arena for a playoff game. I was supposed to go in 2013 versus Boston in game five but we all know the penguins got swept out of the playoffs that season we absolutely hated to see it but i really really have liked how the what's the word i'm looking for here i guess the playoff atmosphere has really grown at pbg paints arena since it took over for melan arena because remember those early years you know just the crowd wasn't as nearly into it as it seemed it didn't even sound like noan arena the crowd was always it just it seemed like the crowd was just so quiet and i don't know what

it was but you know when 2015-16 happened and then 2016-17-17 happened and then 2017-18 of course you know with the penguins losing in the second round of the capitals you know the arena that's when it really just started to sound like melan arena forming you know with the white outs that they had there and you know it took a little while but you know we were able to get back to a little bit um of melan arena and then of course his fourth biggest memory you know the 2009 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cups he's It's basically hard to choose just one moment. So, Alan, thank you so much for sharing those moments. I'm glad you got to go to those games.

I'm glad you've also got to see those championships along with me and everyone else who listens to this podcast and hell every penguin fan in the world, I honestly should say. But again, Alan, thank you so much for sending in those favorite moments. If you guys would like to send some of your favorite moments, you know, tweet me at Hunter Hode, send me a DM through my regular Twitter account or the Locked on Penguins' Twitter account at L0 underscore Penguins, and we'll put those moments on. on the show or you know you can just respond to the tweet at hello underscore penguins from this morning where i basically asked for some of your guys's favorite moments i'll also tweet that on my regular

account as well when this episode is posted so um alan like i said again really really appreciate that that was awesome to hear some of your favorite moments from as long as you've been a penguins fan but you know let's also talk about bill bar there are tasty protein bars that taste like a candy bar you can get 16 amazing flavors they're covered in 100% chocolate they're soft and easy to chew. Favorite flavor is still, well, one of them is still the mint brownie. You get 15 grams of protein, 110 calories, 4 grams of sugar, 5 grams of net carbs. We saw that offer.

You can go to bilbar.com. Use promo code locked on, and you'll get $10 off your first order. That's promo code locked on for $10 off at billbar.com. All right, so for this last little segment of this episode, I figured we would go through the amazing and wonderful Joshi's mailbag for the athletic that where he wrote a shit ton of word just, you know, answering a lot of questions for his mailback. Just wanted to touch on some interesting things that I saw out of it.

One of these, one of the interesting questions someone asked was, are there any prospects who can make the playoff roster and possibly debut in the playoffs? I mean, when I first read that question, I was like, wait, that's actually getting into because I really don't think that any of the Penguins prospects would be playing in. But, you know, Josh basically said, you know, anything is possible, but I really wouldn't bend on it. We'll see how rosters are going to unfold in regards to how players are allowed who can be signed. But the Penguins are already a really deep team already, so I wouldn't expect to add. So, yeah, you know, that's what I figured.

You know, the Penguins forwards are so deep that you know what defensemen are going to be in. You know the two goalies that are going to be in. Maybe they could be, the prospects could be extras, but I really wouldn't expect any prospects to make their debut during the Stanley Cup playoffs, such as, you know, Cal McCar doing that for the Colorado Avalanche. let's see here where is the other one that I thought was interesting oh here it is

someone asked about what the penguins are going to do about the goaltender situation after this season you know Josh basically say you know he spoke to Jim Rutherford about this numerous times you know his sense that you know one of the Penguins goaltenders will be traded and he thinks it's going to be Matt Murray is the one to go um here's what I will say

about this situation you know the penguins are going to have to tread very very carefully here with this goal-tending situation. You know, I do agree with Josh as well. I think that one of them will probably be traded after this season. I don't think the penguins are going to be able to afford both of them. The money that they're going to command, especially Matt Murray. He's probably going to ask for like $6 million per season, which he really shouldn't get.

And Tristan Jari is going to command a hefty raise as well after some of the numbers he put up in the early portions of the season before his numbers came back down a little bit. But the reality is this. you know, if Matt Murray goes on a massive tear in the playoffs, which, you know, he could, you know, he could go back to that 2015-16, 2016, run where he's just a monster, I think they would keep him. But, you know, of course, it would probably have to be a short-term contract. You do not pay a goaltenders long-term. That is one of the biggest mistakes you could make.

It has to be a long-term deal, so you have a chance to get out of it. But if, say, Matt Murray starts in game one, which he will, I think some people are kind of kidding themselves if they think Trishanjari is going to start game one. It's going to be Matt Murray. And if I'm wrong, you know it. It won't be the first time I'm wrong. It won't be the last time I'm wrong.

But Matt Murray starts game one and he struggles. And Tristan Jari comes in and shits on everyone he plays. It's going to be Tristan Jari that gets the contract. And it's going to be Matt Murray that gets moved. There could also be other situations. You know, what if Matt Marie is just average in the playoffs? Don't really know in that situation. But, you know, like I said,

the Penguins are going to have to tread very, very carefully with this. Like I've said, you know, you can't pay a goaltender long term, can't give them that much money. You know, I know the comparisons people have said, you know, they're like the running back to the NFL. You don't want to pay a running back so much money. You know, I see the comparison. It holds true with the goaltending. You know, you can replace it pretty easily just like you can or running back. I mean, God's sakes, you know, you guys are probably a lot of Steelers fans.

We all know what happened with Levy on Bell. He leaves, he goes to the Jets where he doesn't do as good in his first season. James Connor did really, really well in his first season without Levy on Bell. we all know he's had injury problems a couple of times, but still, Connor is the real deal, I think, when he's healthy. But I'll also defer to Chris Carter with that from Locked-on Steelers. Please go check out that outstanding podcast that he has. He also has asked who his two biggest sleeper teams were. He had the Rangers as a sleeper team.

You know, they're an interesting one for me. I think the Rangers, their biggest thing is, what are they going to do with their goaltending? Are you going to start Igor? You're going to start Yorgyeb? going to go with the veteran and start old Henrich Lungquist who is just not nearly as good as it used to be I mean he's still good but you know I think

the Rangers are better than what people give them credit for I think Artemmy Panerian had a heart trophy caliber season it would not surprise me if he is a finalist for the hard trophy hell it would not surprise me if Artemey Paneran wins the hard trophy I'm seeing a lot of love for Panierin for it I agree though I think me

personally my ballot would honestly go Nathan McKinnon Artemey Paneran And honestly Conn McDavid David That's my top three

You know you want to fight me on that Please please please tell me what you think What's your guys is top three Just tell me But yeah that's my top three right there His other sleeper team apparently Columbus I'm not really too sure about coming

If I honestly had a sleeper team I don't want to know if this classifies As a sleeper team I think the Dallas stars I know they're a good team but I really think they can make some noise. I remember, I mean, they were a goal away from knocking out the St. Louis Blues

in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last year. I think it was, I think the stars had a wrap-around in that game seven. It was Game Six or Game Seven, where it just missed going in the Blues were like an inch away from being eliminated and not winning that Stanley Cup. But you know, you need a little bit of luck on your side

and the stars did not get the luck that season. But I really think the stars can make some noise. Sagan is just absolutely incredible. We all know how good Jamie Ben is. Maybe not so good at going down. And, okay, there's my Jamie Ben joke for the day. Alexander Radulad is still awesome. John Clingbird, one of the best

defensemen in the league. Heiskenan is just absolutely incredible. Ben Bishop, one of the best goaltenders in hockey. When he's on, there are not many goaltenders that are better than him. I think Rodic Foxa, I know Rodd is not as good as he used to be, but still he's not bad either. John's, of course, coming off injury.

I really like him as well. You have Joe Pavalski down there. I think that Stars team can really, really make some noise. It would not surprise me if the Stars go pretty far in the playoffs. If they do happen, those would be a couple of my sleeper teams. Oh, well, that's one of my sleeper teams. In the East, okay, let's just think of one here. I honestly just so tempted to say the Penguins because I think a lot of people are sleeping on them.

But, you know, I'll be curious to see what the Panthers can do. I think people are sleeping on them a little bit. You all know, how good Trocheque is. Huberto, Barco is outstanding. You know, their biggest things, though, is how does Sergei Bavrovsky play? Does he turn back into a pumpkin like he usually does in the playoffs, or does he turn into God for a series and helps the Panthers get into the round of 16th. And you'll always remember Joel Quindwell was their coach.

He's one of the best coaches in hockey, one of the best playoff coaches. I'd be curious to see how the Panthers do. So one more question from the mailbag. before we'll call it. Someone asked, who's the best Penguins bromance you've covered? And he said it was Hornquist and Carl Hagglin. Apparently, I did not know this either. Hornquist cried when Haglin was traded.

So, yeah, that just goes to show how much that was a bromance. Yeah, definitely not one of Jim Rutherford's finest hours when he decided to trade Carl Hagelin. You know, Josh even says in his answer, you know, how much loved Carl Haglin was in that locker room. So seeing that, well, the team seeing that Jim Rutherford betrayed him, you know, that definitely stung a lot of the plan. players, and, of course, including Patrick Flunquist, too, was his best friend.

You know, he also went on to say Malkin and Kessel were pretty tight, you know, until, of course, last year where we had those articles come out, Flurry and Murray, Fleury Latang, Flory Crosby, you know, just, you know, Mark Andre Fleury with any teammate, I guess, is just very, very tight, considering how great he was in the locker room as well. But I think that will do it for this episode of Locked on Penguins. I really appreciate you guys listening to this episode. Please listen to the episode that's coming tomorrow across the network

with the Black Lives Matter roundtable. It is absolutely outstanding. Really hope you guys get something out of it. And I will be back with that episode on Friday to finish off this week as, wow, it is just really pouring now. And I'm just, yeah, I'm ready to stop recording. So, yeah, we'll be back on Friday on June 12th. We'll talk about some of the Stanley Cup memories from that day for me. And maybe we'll have a couple people on just talk about what they did on June 12, 2009, and perhaps 2016.

So thank you guys so much for listening. We will talk to you all then.