Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The crossover of the century!

Episode Date: June 28, 2021

We finally have the crossover that I'm sure many of you are waiting for. Zachary Smith and Tyler Weeks of AroundThe412 join Hunter in this very special episode of Locked On Penguins and they talk about everything regarding the team at this moment. They first start out with Marc-Andre Fleury and how those talks have ramped up the last few days in the fanbase. Does it make sense to bring MAF back? How would it even happen? They then get into a big talk about expansion as Tyler and Zach share their lists on the show, and yes they're different. They also touch on free agency and which goalie they'd go after to help Tristan Jarry, plus who do they think is picked in expansion? And is Tyler really expecting Montreal to win the Stanley Cup?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you 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.

Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello, welcome to this Monday evening episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins.

This has been a crossover episode today that has been probably a long time the making. You know, I probably should have had these boys on about five, six months ago, but I'm glad that I'm having them on now. I'm the Tyler and Zach from around the 4-1-2, just do outstanding work. I'm so happy that they can join me today. I mean, they've had a ton of players on their show. I'm still trying to hopefully get my first one on Locked on Penguins at some point. But these two just do some of the best work in the city that, you know, even though they're not, you know, full-time for, you know, a big network. This is still. a podcast that you should be listening to a hundred times out of a hundred.

How are both of y'all doing today? Man, what an introduction. We appreciate that. Thank you so much. I mean, now that you gave us that introduction, we got to hit up our boy Brian Russ to make sure he comes on. Yeah, I mean, I'm excited to talk anything, Penguins, so we're happy to have on a show. And, yeah, like Smitty, that was a great introduction. And we've got a couple of those, I think the past couple weeks been doing on other people's shows. People have been flattering us a lot. This is what we need to start doing.

Once a week at least is go on to other people's shows and they can compliment us. It's been great. Just do a podcast tour. Yeah, I mean, yeah, Brian Rust on yours. Maybe I'll try to one-up you and have the great flow Brandon Tanna have come on my show. There you go.

That'd be great. I know he's been hanging out with Kappi down in Charleston, South Carolina, it looks like, with all those Instagram stories. So maybe- Oh, they're enjoying their summer. Oh, yeah. I just have to make sure he doesn't cut his hair. but obviously, you know, we are going to talk a lot about the Penguins on this episode.

Well, it is a Penguins podcast after all. The first topic I wanted to touch on with you guys, been a lot of Mark Andre Fleury talk these last couple days. Obviously, Vegas is out of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They lost in six to the Montreal Canadiens, which is one of the bigger upsets I think we've seen in the last five to six years. I think if they were going to win the Stanley Cup, it would be probably the funniest championship I've ever seen from a sports team.

but you know obviously all the yinzers are talking it up you know bring mark andre flurry back you know you make even though he make seven million per what are your thoughts on that and do you think it makes sense to bring him back even though it would probably have to come at a big cap reduction for next season it's so funny to me like because this is a penguin show but you can't get away from mark andre flurry talk when you do it a penguin show i think that this goes to speak to how polarizing of a figure that he was and still is in pitts Like anytime you bring that guy's name up, there's two extreme sides of the debate and people, very few people in the middle that are so level-headed about it. So I'm glad that the three of us that fit right in that middle are here to talk about it.

As far as that, man, I don't know because, like, I would have said that I felt pretty comfortable about the Penguins go-intending situation going into this previous season that just passed us. Going into next season, I don't feel that exact same way after the platform we saw from Tristan Jari. So I think that they have to do something. And whether that's Mark Andre Fleury or somebody else, the thing is it's going to be Mark Andreick Fleury. What's the asset that you're giving up? And maybe it's more than one. And also, you would have to think that Vegas retains some salary on that as well.

Because there's just no way to make it work otherwise. Yeah, that's my biggest problem is all of the stuff that comes with acquiring Mark Andrele. If it was just you take all the assets of a trade or the cap hits out of it, what I want Mark Andre Fleury back on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sure, I'd be comfortable with that. But when you actually start breaking it down to look at what it's going to take to give up assets to get Mark Andre Fleury, and then you take into account the cap hit that he's

going to bring on. I mean, what's he making in Vegas? 7 or 7.25? It's 7. 7. And so when you're looking at that, you would expect Vegas to take on some of the cap hit to alleviate that, but how much would they actually take on? I just think it becomes too big of a head.

for the penguins and something that they could probably find a goaltending help elsewhere that is less of a headache. And I mean, it's not that Mark Andre Fleury himself is a headache. I would love to have Florey back. Flurry was one of my favorite players. I think he still has a lot of talent left. He could help Trish and Drury. I mean, he's used to being in a 1A, 1B scenario if that's what the penguins wanted

to go for because that's what they did with Matt Murray. However, I just think there's a lot going on when it comes to trade assets and cap hit that the penguins, that's, that's what they're going to go for. just too much to figure out for them. Yeah, and I really think it's just, you know, this is now four out of six years that he's been benched in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And, you know, obviously he came out of his net in game three. I thought it was game four. I just made a stupid mistake on my Twitter account.

But, you know, if he doesn't come out of the net there, they're up two games to one. And they honestly, I think, win that series. I don't know if Montreal beats them three times in a row. But, I mean, it's just, I feel like it's a lot of nostalgia. Like, yes, I get it. He had a really great year for them. is a Vesna finalist. If it weren't for Andre Vasselowski, I think I would have him as my number one if I had a Vesna ballot.

But, you know, he is getting older. Do you expect him to repeat this again next season? No, I don't think so. And why would you give up prime assets for that, you know, Vegas is not going to take some cheap return for him? I mean, you know, I don't think they're going to run it back with the same goalie tandem next year because Robin Lanner, I think, is the long-term starter there, especially with, I think, having four more years left on that contract. I think it's around $5 million per season. if that's around correct.

And, you know, the other big of the thing is, you know, there's so many other cheaper options on the free agent market. You know, if you want to go for an actual big trade for a goalie, just bring John Gibson back to the city. I mean, everyone's been talking about that with Anaheim just trying to maybe blow things up or just make a major shake up there. I mean, you want to go get a Vezna goli who's in the prime of his career. Go try to a bunch of assets for him. again, probably equally unlikely, but it would still be, I think, better than trading for Flurry. And then, you know, you have Peter Marazic, minus Allmark, I think is a really good option from Buffalo. There's just a bunch of other options out there that make more sense.

I mean, they have to go get a goalie. I'm sure you both agree on that. I mean, we're not going to bring Casey to Smith and Tristan Jari back and think that all is right in the world next season. But I just don't think the answer is Lurray. I mean, what I love having him back on the team, sure. You know, he was one of my favorite players growing up. But I think people just need to let the pass die and that he can just go finish his career in Vegas if he wants to

because when you look at the cap situation, you look at the assets the penguins have, I just don't think it makes any sense. You know, here's another thing about Filaria, and this isn't necessarily related to him coming back to the penguins, but like Robin Lainer ties into this for sure because if he didn't have such a highly priced other guy on the bench and also the guy that you're expecting to take over the reins.

I'm not so sure that you would have that quick leash that they've had with Flurry. But is there any other goalie, like all Flurry's caliber that has had that quick of a leash to get pulled from his net? Because if there is, I don't remember it. Like, I understand that he pretty much single-handedly cost them that game with that play behind the net. Like, if that doesn't happen, they win that game, that series could be completely different. But, and I don't know if Devor is just trying to make a statement there by going to Lainer, but then once you go back to Lainer, you can't go back to Flurry after that. It's just the board completely lost control of that situation,

and he put himself in a no-win spot. But, yeah, I was just asking you guys, like, has anybody else of Flurrie's caliber as it only had a shorter release than the one that he's had? Honestly, not that I can remember. I mean, at the same time, except for going back to, like, when the Penguins had Flurry and Murray, how many teams have had the tandem

where they could pull a guy like Flurry that easily, too? Yeah. I mean, they have the luxury of Robin Landerts as well. With the deal that they gave, like, and knowing that he is the guy after that. So, of course, that that plays into it, I'm sure. But it's just something that, you know, I thought about. But again, too, as something else that I thought about real quick, while we're on this talk with Flurry and just like, bullies in general, you brought up, like, Flurry's ability to maybe repeat that success next year.

Something that I've had in my mind, like, and not to say, like, I don't think that the jury's complete, the book isn't completely written on Tristan Jari, I think. He can't improve. I don't think that they can go in banking on that next season. But with how weird goalies are, I think that there's as much of a chance that he does improve and become the guys. There is, you know,

bringing in one of these other run-of-the-mill goal tenders that we think are improving commodity and them playing well enough for the penguins to have those season success. Yeah, I just, I still think they do need to bring in someone, just someone who can push him, you know? You don't need to bring him a full-fledged starter. You know, obviously having someone like John Gibson here

would be hilarious and just awesome. But I don't see the team doing that, you know, especially with what Hextall said during his end of media, well, end of season media press conference, excuse me, where, you know, he had confidence in Jari, but I mean, is he going to say anything else? I mean, he's not going to just shit-talk him during. He's not Jim Rutherford. Well, to another point, he isn't Jim Rutherford. So Jim Rutherford is the type of the guy that would make a trade for a flurry.

I mean, we know he tried to last. So I don't think Hextall is the same type of guy. I mean, he really has no connection to Flurry whatsoever, just like he has no connection to any of these guys. So trading them isn't as hard, but trading for them to get the back isn't, he has no sentimental value towards Flurry. So he has seen as no reason to bring him back. And the way that Hextall operates his teams that he's been GM under, he's not going to be the guy to trade a ton of draft picks for a 35-year-old goalie that's going to cost a lot of money. Yeah, I think that you've honestly said it best there, Tyler. I mean, he also doesn't even make a lot of big-time deals anyway.

I mean, even when he was with Philadelphia, I think the biggest move he made was trading Braden Chen for Yori Latera and, and I'm trying to, I can't even remember the other player that was. Yeah, I don't remember that full deal. They got fleeced, but it was, that's honestly the biggest deal that he made during that. So you probably expect some tinkering. And again, signing a goalie on the market makes the most sense. Someone that can go in, play maybe three.

30 to 35 games during the season or maybe even 40. Just as a true 1A, 1B, you'll have Casey to Smith ready to go. I'm assuming he is okay after the injury. And I think that's probably what you do. And then if he already falters down the stretch or he's having an inconsistent season, just give the other guy, whether it's Allmark, Marazek, whoever they bring in, just more starts, especially if he's playing well, especially if it's at least league average. I mean, all this team needs is league average goaltending.

I think I've basically said that 50,000 times through however many episodes I've done. on this podcast. That's all they really needed in the first round. And, you know, the Islanders don't get to within one game of going to their first Stanley Cup final since before, almost 15 years before I was born. So I had to throw that in there, guys. Ageing yourself. Hey, I'm just glad I didn't.

I'm just glad I didn't even get to see what happened in 93 with David Bullock. So just. Neither did we. Yes, we had to hear about it from Steve Mears when he was on our show. kind of describe it to us, but we're not around. I don't, yeah, I don't think I ever want it described to me by anyone. But, so I have a lot more to get to for this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast, including the expansion talk in the next segment.

I'm going to get Zach and Tyler's, both of their protected list as to what they would do and not what the organization is likely going to do. But before we do get to that, it's time to talk about Belpar. They have nine delicious flavors. When you talk to a Bill Bar fan, they're definitely passionate about, their favorites. A few of the nine flavors, cherry, raspberry, mint brownie, peanut butter, brownie, which is my favorite. If you haven't tried all the flavors, you can get a mixed box where you'll get two of each of the nine flavors. Most of the flavors have 17 grams of protein, only 130

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in case anyone does not know about this yet. Anyways, getting back to some good hockey talk. So, Expansantin drafts. July 21st is when it is. It's on ESPN, not on NBC. so the rights deal with NBC is done right after the Stanley Cup final. Thank the Lord. No more P.M. McGuire ever again. Hopefully, just done with NBC overall.

I'm sure we'll see Kenny Albert and Eddie Olick, obviously, with TNT. But after these next six, seven games, most likely, it is done. It will be on ESPN. I think the lists have to be submitted a week or two before. I have to double check that. I think it's the 13th or something like that right after I come back from the beach. but any one of you can go first. Who do you have the Penguins protecting in the expansion draft?

Seven forwards, 3D, and one goalie, I'm sure is the obvious one here. I'll let Tyler go first here because I feel like he might do something weird with the goalies. Oh, I am. And I feel like that comes to no surprise if you followed me on Twitter. So for my forward group, I would go Sid, Gino, Jake, and Russ. And I feel like that's the obvious four. Everybody's going to have those four protected. And then my next one, or my next couple, would be Teddy Bluger,

because I think that he showed a lot this season, not only just offensively, just how shut down that line can be in him as the center. And I think when you look at the depth of the position of center for this team, I just think there isn't a lot throughout the organization. So I think protecting your four centers are a big deal. although I'm contradicting myself because I'm not protecting Jeff Carter. I know that's a position that I think the team is going to go with,

but me personally, I just don't really quite understand protecting a 36-year-old that has one year left at a $2.6 million cap hit. I know that they potentially could take a guy like Jeff Carter, being Seattle, but I just don't really see him being that big of a threat to them to be taken. So I would not protect him, and I would protect Jared McCann.

I like that he could play wing or center if he needs to be. And I just think a lot of Penguins fans really sleep on Jerry McCann. I really like him as a player. And my last one, if I'm not protecting Carter, I would protect Casbury Capitan. I think the speed that he brings to the game, being able to be a top six winger and being able to play on a penalty killed. And I think when you look at the assets you gave up, really you're talking about would you protect Caspery Capitan or?

Jason Zoker and obviously you're probably going to pick one of those two out of the forward group when you're looking at who who will be given up assets for the most recently and I think out of those two Casparia Capitan is my choice to be protected and then on defense I have Tang Dumo and the I feel like those are the obvious two and then after that I think it's a decision between Marcus Pedersen and Mike Matheson and I have Mike Matheson being protected and I the only reason being, I think, I think that he impressed people this season overall, and I think into the playoffs, they impressed people. I think that his defensive liability went down as the season went on, at least for the most

part. And then for goalie, and I'm dead serious, I would protect Casey to Smith. And my only reason being, and I explained this on our show, I think he is more valuable as a backup goalie than Tristan Jari is as your starting goalie, which is why I would protect him. Okay. We don't have too many differences in ours, actually, only three total between the forward defense and goalie.

The goalie is one of the differences. I figure. I mean, I definitely see what you're saying. I've seen that argument made. I'm going to start in reverse whatever you did, by the way, now. Just talking about goalies. I would still protect Jari, and that doesn't change my opinion

that they need to bring in another goalie to either, push him or be the 1A in a 1A1B situation. I don't see them going after like a bona fide number one goalie, John Gibson, where like Tristan Jari's not part of the equation at that point. I do think like Tristan Jari is still part of their future. On defense, I went Latang Dumlin, obviously. I chose Pedersen over Matheson. I've seen an article thrown around.

I've seen some talk about it being neither of those two, like leave them both unprotected, protect somebody like a Mark Friedman, you know, and if Seattle wants to take either of those defensive contracts off the books, then so be it. But I go Pedersen here. My reason being, I like how him and Marino play with each other, assuming that you're also going with Latang and doing one,

then you at least know you have your top two pairings set in stone with those for being back in the fold, and then you just worry about one pairing. With a guy like Mike Matheson, what's he going to play like away from Cody Seas. Assuming Cody Sees is not back in the fold next year. So I go Pedersen over Matheson there. My difference with the forward group,

I obviously, you know, Crosby, Malkin, Gensel, Rust, Tappenden, and McCann, my difference is I did protect Jeff Carter over Teddy Bluter. I understand the center thing and I would still hope that they wouldn't take Teddy Bluter and he could be back in the fold. My only thing is we'd be talking about like wanting to keep all these centers in the organization.

Like if he had to, Jeremy Can can play center. So we still have four guys that can play center protected here. Teddy Bluter, you mentioned like the offensive production was up this year. I would love to keep that fourth line intact. We're going to talk about a little bit like who do we

think Seattle takes. So I don't want to spoil that, but it very well could be somebody from that Bluger line, and then at that point, what does the other two look like in terms of their production? So, for me, that's the guys I go with. Yeah, I mean, both of these lists are very similar to my... I also have Teddy Bluger being protected over Jeff Carter. You know, I've read a lot, you know, from some other

people in the Penguins, Twitter, you know, Dan Hopper, you know, Jeff from Penn's blog, a couple others to say they would protect Carter. I think the main reasoning that they, behind it is just because, you know, Carter only makes 2.6. If Seattle flips him at the deadline, that's $1.3 million for Jeff Carter going the other way. And, you know, if he puts 16 points in 20 games, that's just a flat out steal. And, you know, I also do get the point as well that, hey, you know,

when is there again, Malkin coming back, that knee injury was really messed up. I get how the organization may think there. But Bluger is also so much younger. And I also agree with Tyler, I don't see Seattle going after Carter as a one-year rental thing and to just flip him at the deadline it's just weird well that's the thing for me is i don't see like deadline i i think that they could take him and flip him pretty much immediately like they would look at trick like i don't see him playing for them that's not why i'd protect him but i think that they would use him as a trade asset pretty much immediately yeah no i agree with that

you know and as for defense you know it just i saw i think rob rossi on the athletic road they may protect mark friedman over both peterson that's who it was i can remember who it was but i saw that I think to expose both of them and just kind of try to say, hey, Seattle, you know, maybe you want to take a back contract off the penguins' hands. And, you know, that's the big thing here with this expansion draft. You know, Ron Hextall really doesn't have a lot of loyalty to almost any of these players. So he's going to do what he thinks is best for the team, even though he hasn't even been here for a full calendar year. You know, I've talked about my list for what I would do on this show a lot. I have the first big four.

If anyone is not protecting any of those big four, I'm honestly, you should just be. Throwing off the four-pit bridge, to be honest with you. Jared McCannies to be protected. Had a great season. I think he should be extended going into next season. Casperi Capman, I understand. I've talked about this a lot on my show recently. I get a lot of people saying, well, he could regress next year.

You know, he shot 16% at 5V5. Yeah, I get it. A lot of his chances came off the rush. I don't expect him to probably shoot that high next season, but he was still a really good player from the almost average a point per game. I would bring him back, especially going into the last year of his deal, and then I would protect Teddy Bluger over Jeff Carter. And as to the D, you know, I already touched on.

You know, Dumlin, let's hang, and then whoever other one you want to protect. It's actually so crucial that they don't have to protect Marino or P.OJ. And this is that they're both on, they're just, they're both so young and one of them is on an ELC. And then, you know, Marino's contract kicks in for this next season. And then for the goalie, I am actually on Tyler's side. I would protect Casey to Smith. Let's go. Seattle's not going to take

Tristan Jari, who gives it a damn, to be honest. Yeah. I mean, it's just, they wouldn't. And then as for who I think

Seattle is going to take, I'm going to throw this over to you guys, it's definitely got to be someone from the fourth line. I would be stunned if it wasn't. I actually would be stunned in a way if they took someone like Jason Zucker and not one of the Aston Rays

Blue Gertanet line. It's weird because of how much I like Jason Zucker that I'm saying this, but I want it to be Jason Zucker if they're taking it forward. And it's, and it's, it really has nothing to do with the player. It's just like, if they can get that $5.3 million off the boat, I don't think he's that type of player, or he hasn't been at least for the Penguins.

So I would love to keep that fourth line intact. Man, with how analytically driven that they seem to be building that Seattle team, I mean, you know, the hiring of the coach, whatever. But I've been leaning towards Zach Ashton, Reese as potentially being the pick. So I think that that's where I'll stay. stick for now just because I don't see them wanting to take on Sucker's contract. I'm between those two. I don't think it would be, well, you guys have Blueter protected.

I don't, but I don't think it's Blueter or Tanna. I think it's to be Zach Ashton-Rees or Jason Zoker. So to me, if it's someone off that fourth line, I'm with you. I think Zach Asson-Reece would be the pick. And I think it's also because he's one of the best defensive forwards in the league last season. I don't think that can go understated. But I'm still going to pick

Jason Zucker is the pick and only because I believe that the penguins could do something like they did in 2017 where it's like, hey, we're going to give you a future pick if you take Jason Zucker because we don't want his contract anymore. He just doesn't fit the team.

And that's the only reason I think that. Otherwise, I don't think they would want the contract because why would they? Yeah. My only thing with giving up an asset like that is we kind of touched on it already. We talked about it so much on our show. Like, how close to the best

Hextal wants to keep his assets, is he really going to give up a dick to have them make a player? I just don't know that the fifth front office. If it was Jim Rutherford, sure. I could see him doing that. That's also true. And maybe Hextal doesn't value the fourth line

as much as the fans do just because he hasn't been here as long. And maybe that's just the fan of me saying I don't want that fourth line to be touched because we know how good it is. Whenever they're together, they're the best fourth line in hockey. Well, don't tell that to people up on Long Island.

They're still loving their little. little Thedeketh Martin Clutterbuck line. But, yeah, yeah, I mean, I think Hexel did say at his end of season press conference that they don't want to give picks like Jim Ruther did in the expansion draft. So, yeah, I think he kind of said that was awful. Wait, did he actually say Jim Rutherford's name like that

when he was saying that? No, no, I... Oh, man, I was going to say that in there. He's been too nice. He's been very nice to him at every media thing that I watch from him, but, yeah, he did say he does not want to give up picks. for them to take a player.

Yeah. You know, I've seen a lot of fans wanting them to protect Brandon Tanniff. Look, I love Brandon Tannett. His hair is incredible. He makes three and a half million per for the next four years. Honestly, if Seattle, if that was the pick, a lot of you are not going to like this, that would help the penguins long term.

It really would. Yeah. It would suck to lose him because he really has been great in this contract. I've not really cared about him making that much money so far, but especially with the offseason with the flat cap for however many more years it's going to be, it would help them a lot down the stretch. And especially with Jason Zulker as well, I actually think that could be the pick because even though it's a high ticket, they can just flip him at the deadline or flip him after and have someone retain,

they can retain half his salary. So I think that would be totally fine. Yeah. Yeah, I don't hate Tana being taken, honestly. Like I know, like our buddy starts. He would hate it just because he loves Tanna so much. Don't get me wrong, I love Tannen him, but I love his type of game. But I feel like just when you look at the years and the cap hit, for what he does,

you can get more replaceable players that do something similar for cheaper and shorter term. Yeah, exactly. And we're going to touch on that just a little bit later in the show and just talk about pre-Asian targets and who you all would want to target in free agency or potentially trade stuff. That's actually kind of come up in the next segment. Before we do get to that, and of course some miscellaneous, excuse me, around the league and some Gary Bettman talk. It's time to talk about.

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All right, we're back here on this episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodey. So as I teased going into this last commercial break, it's time to talk a little bit about free agency and some trade stuff. You know, there's a lot of good players hitting the market this year, especially when it comes to Ford. You know, I've touched on, you know, if Seattle does take Zach Asson-Ree. Yel Armiah from Montreal. He's had some really good seasons there. He used to put him on the fourth line with Tanev and Bluger.

I think that would be pretty good. Obviously, he's not as good defensively as Ashton Rees. Not many players are, but I still think that would be a pretty good replacement. You know, another player that I think fits the mole really well of wanting to get bigger, you know, more size, tougher, of course, from Byronberg with his truculence. Blake Coleman, you know, can they get into a bidding more with him? I'm not sure. They probably have to work the cap situation.

a bit there. But just going into free agency, what position do you think the penguins need to target the most and just who do you see the penguins potentially going after? Well, for me, the position they need to target the most is goalie. And it's not just to replace Tristan Jari. I don't think that's the intended goal. I just think it's to have more of a safety net there.

Because as much as I love Casey to Smith, I just don't, I don't think he's a starting goalie in this league. I think he's a great backup goalie. but after the performance that Tristan Jari had in these playoffs, I feel like you just can't go in the next season as him being the guy, and he's the only safety net there. So I think you have to look at the free agent market for some goalies if you're not going to trade for one.

And we mentioned a couple names earlier. Like you mentioned Linus O'Mark, he's one guy that I would be eyeing if I were the penguins. Antiranta from Arizona is another guy that I would look at to maybe go with that one A, one B scenario with Trisian. and Jari. And you mentioned Peter Marazic. The only thing of Marazik is he's been so good with Carolina, I feel like he's going to cost a lot more money that another team is going to be able to pay him. And then I just want to get your guys' thoughts. I mean, Smy and I touched on on our show. When we've seen the penguins being connected with Frederick Anderson, how do you feel about

if they were to bring in a guy like that? Because I've said that could just be like bringing in another Tristan Jari, but maybe a change of scenery would be good for him. And cost is also a big thing so I have no idea what that would be but I think out of the goalies that I'm looking at he's the most intriguing one to like why how much and like what kind of player would he be with the penguins yeah so he's one of the ones where I'm I mentioned this before I'm at like this weird spot with him where it's like I almost have as much faith that Tristan Jari like does turn around and become the guy as opposed to Frederick Anderson a change of scenery doing him wonders and getting back to like 2015 for him. So that's kind of where I'm at with that one, like, whatever, like a one-year

buy-low option where, like you mentioned, like, he doesn't necessarily have to be the guy, like Tristan Jardy, still the guy that you hope ends up being the number one, then whatever. But then you're still in a spot where you don't have necessarily a proven commodity if Frederick Anderson fails when it comes to playoff time. So I, that's where I'm at with him. You mentioned pretty much the goalie names that I've thought of, and of course, we already mentioned the idea of math coming back to Pittsburgh to start off the show. So I don't know. I mean, other than the one name that I thought of,

and it was never going to happen, but now he's having the surgery as well, too de Rasp, like if Boston for some reason were to roll with, you know, their other options. Yeah. If they were to hand the net over to, what's the kid? Swayman. Swayman and then just bring back, you know,

one of those other two. They had that Vlader come up or whatever. And then, yeah. Yeah. And, you know, maybe they bring a lockback cheap or something like that. And they decide to just, you know, end the Rast era. But now that he's having the surgery, I don't know what that does would have anyway. Elias Sorokin is a free agent as well.

Maybe they torch the penguins, maybe we just bring him in. Restricted, restricted free agent. Restricted free agent, okay. Alainis Almarc and anti-Rants are on UFAs. And those would be my two main two names that I would look at. Now, if you want to make a trade for someone, Darcy Kemper, from Arizona also makes a lot of sense. He had kind of a bit of a down year with injuries,

but when he's healthy, he can put up some pretty good numbers. As for Frederick Anderson, I think he's okay on like kind of a prove-it deal. Maybe you sign him into a one-year deal for just a few million just to try to see if he can get his legs back or just his game back overall because he just really struggled, especially, you know, when he had that injury, he just was not the same after that. Outside of goalie, is there any player that you're looking at just for the Penguins of Target? you know, on defense, I mean, defense, there probably isn't going to be a lot of room there.

Cody Cici, I think, has priced himself out of Pittsburgh. I'll probably get your thoughts on that as well. I don't think he's going to come back. And then you have the top pairing. PO is going to be coming up, I think, full-time. Marino's there. Pedersen's likely there next year. And then if they don't deal Matheson, you have Chabar-R-R-Reedle, obviously, there, too.

I don't really think they're going to make him move there. But forward, I think, there's definitely potentially something coming. Just I'll get your thoughts on that. Yeah, you mentioned, well, you mentioned Jormia, which is a name that I've thought about a lot recently. Like you mentioned, like, to me, it's going to depend on what player they lose in the expansion, who I'm targeting in free agency because you're trying to replace that player, right? So, like, I know that people throwing around Brandon Sawd. That would be great.

I don't know after what he did in the playoffs with Colorado if he's kind of priced himself out of the point where Pittsburgh doesn't have a shot at him now. But say we were to lose, like, a Jason Zucker, I would have loved that fit. Looking at the rest of it, like a guy that I've started to think, out and this is going to be an interesting one. And not that I want this to happen by any means, please don't. But I could see them doing it just because they were apparently interested around the same time as Jeff Carter but didn't do it. And if Malking is like to be ready to start the season, they're going to have some center versatility, Travis Zajack.

And I don't want them to do it, but I've thought about it a little bit. No. I don't like Travis A. Jack, but I hate it. He's cooked now. He has, he brings nothing anymore. know he had like a kind of a couple good series maybe it's just getting the lightning but i mean before that he had like two points in 20 games or something i just yeah yeah go ahead go ahead tiger interrupting um for defensively i really think that if they wanted to go in the next season

all in house they could and i think the only reason i say that is because i like chad ruweed a lot yeah me too um so i don't really think there's much on the defensive market they would have to go out and look at. And I don't really think that they're going to have to replace a lot in their top six. And I think when you look at free agents is, what are you going to be replacing in the expansion draft, obviously? But I think you also have to look at, do we expect Sam Poole and or Nathan Laguerre to also come up next year at any point as well? So a lot of my free agents would be depth players and I think one that I would look at is Derek Ryan from Calgary. I think that he he had what 13 points last year which I mean isn't a great total but he his defensive numbers weren't bad and I

think that he could fit into the depth of this team. Another player that I actually liked and I liked him when he was in the KHL but I don't think if their focus is getting bigger that he would he would really fit in with the penguins is Nikita Gusev. I liked him a lot in the KHL, and I think he had a good first year in the NHL. This year he kind of struggled with New Jersey, but I think a lot of that had to do with New Jersey style of play. And New Jersey was just bad. And then he went to Florida, put up a little bit of, he did okay, I guess, there.

But I like him as a player. But at the same time, if their focus is getting bigger, he's, what, 511, 180 pounds. So it's not really the mold that the Braddard was like 5-1. I thought it was like 5-9. I think he's like 510, 511, something like that. I just like him as a player, but it definitely doesn't fit the mold that everybody suspects the penguins are going to go for. Yeah. Yeah.

For me, I don't know if you guys are on board with this. I'm just thinking about it like, so, you know, we keep circling back to this malkin injury. And of course, it's hard to evaluate before the expansion draft happens, what exactly they're going to be looking to replace. But whoever they get, I think it's going to be somebody that can play center. They might primarily play wing right now, but I think it's going to be somebody. they couldn't play center. He had only to Jeff Carter situation last year at the deadline.

That would make sense. You know, they would, especially if they do lose, you know, one of Bluger or Carter, you know, they will need a center.

I don't know. Oh, yeah. I mean, you still have Freddie Goodroo coming back. I mean, remember, he is a UFA, but I'm sure they'll bring him back for cheap. I mean,

I don't know why he wouldn't come back. I hope. I liked him better on the wing anyway. And there are some good centers available that, you know, they're not like the top tier ones. You can just get, you know,

Actually, you know, old friend, I believe Nick Menino is out there in free agency this year. So if they wanted to go out and go get him, I think that would make some sense on kind of a... There's a lot of old friends out there, Brandon Sutter. I think Bukestad is also a free agent in Minnesota. Brandon Sutter, those days, man. I remember getting so excited when they traded for Sutter because I thought he was going to be a good replacement for Stahl when I was 14 years old, and then I just realized I was a complete freaking moron.

And then you realized we got Brian Duman, so it was okay. Yes, that is also true. And then I realized we had that top 10 pick and then we wasted it on Derek Pugliott. But Brian Duhlin still is the cream of the crop for that trade. Also, touching on Cody Cici, pricing himself out of Pittsburgh. I think I would like to bring Cody Cici back on a one to two-year deal. However, I just don't think it will happen because I think if it was going to happen, it had to happen in season. And he's going to get more in free agency because of how he played with Pittsburgh.

Well, you mentioned, like, so the same, Dan Kandiris, the one that I saw linking the penguins to Frederick Anderson very early in this process. He's also the same one that just put out that he thinks Cici's going to get a three-year deal worth between three and three and a half per. What? Yeah. Oh, my God.

Okay, that's, I mean, that's not what I would want to give him. That's a little bit of an overpay. I can't give him C. That's just, yeah, I mean, great year, obviously, really, I mean, he deserves to go out and get the payday that he, that he wants, you know, he finally lived up to, you know, what everyone thought he was going. Oh, yeah, it's his last chance to get paid. I mean, get everything you can out of this. Yeah. And, you know, I'll admit, and I think everyone else will. I'll eat crow on that.

I shot on that signing from day one, and then he made me and a whole lot of other people look stupid. 100% of the season. So, um, best wish is to him. I didn't think, I didn't think he'd end up being in their sixth defenseman. I thought Chad Roodle was actually going to win that job. I said that point Blake on here. I was definitely surprised when Ruehito was not playing after game 13 or something like that. Yeah. But I think he's the number six next year anyway. If they don't go out and sign anyone, if C.C. walks, I don't. Especially if one of Pedersen or Matheson are not in the lineup next season and P.O. gets bumped up.

I think that's your six next year. I don't really see them, you know, going out and trading for a big-time defenseman. You know, if you want to say I want to go overpay for a defenseman, the Flyers can go do that with Seth Jones, which what I saw today from Elliot Freeman's 31 thoughts. I will be here if they do go out and trade. They're going to do that, and then Boston's going to give up a ton for Oliver Ekman-Larsen, and it's going to be great.

Yeah, I mean, you know, two defensemen who are just not so very good anymore. But I used to love OEL, too. That was my guy just like two years ago. I don't know what happened, man. Yeah, Cliff. Yeah, I did too. Yeah, he was always one of my favorite defensemen to watch, you know he was on the West Coast,

but yeah, it just really stinks that his value with. So we're on vacation, and I don't know how accurate this is, but my friend was looking at his phone, he saw something linking the Penguins to Rasmus Ristolin. Oh, God. Yeah, I think I would hate that.

He's not good. I mean, someone can go. I think Elliot Freeman on the 31 Thoughts podcast said, Sabers are trying to package him with one of Reinhardt or Eichl to a team. That makes sense for them if they can do that. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's probably what happened with Ryan Hart.

I don't think you're going to have a team to take Rist to Lina with Eichol. I mean, I think it's just a, Ikel's just a totally different beast with that trade. But yeah, I would be very upset if they went after Rist & Lina. It makes sense for they're getting tougher business, but is he good player? No, he just hasn't been good ever since he came into the league. If they're going to do that, not that, like, whoever they get that's going to be the big, tough body, whatever, like, obviously they still need to play hockey.

We're all in agreement on that that they need to be able to skate and at it. actually bring something to the team other than just a physical element. But I would rather have that player be in like the bottom six than one of their defensemen at all, like on their bottom parry defensemen. Just because I feel like you can shelter that whoever that forward is more than you can, a defense, but regardless of what pairing they're on. Yeah. I definitely agree with that, especially, you know, with what happened this year with, you know,

I loved how Sullivan deployed that third pairing. They just, he sheltered them virtually, I think, almost. And especially when he started playing. playing better, you just upped his minutes. So I think that was okay. I guess we can just get into the last topic here, which is going around the league a little bit. First off, give me your Stanley Cup final predictions.

I have Tampa Bay and 6. If Montreal wins, I said at the beginning of the show before, you know, we wrap it up. That would be the funniest sports championship I think I've ever seen in my life. Yeah, I mean, I got it. I'm going with the exact same thing, Tampa Bay and 6. But the thing that's so bad about it is

I've literally picked against Montreal the entire time, and I just feel bad that it didn't even pick them the win a single round, and now they're here in the Stanley Cup final. So I don't know if they can keep defying the odds, but I don't think so. I mean... This is a different beast. Yeah. That's what I'm saying.

Tampa Bay is completely different from the team that we saw most of the regular season. My brain is telling me pick Tampa Bay. My heart is telling me pick Montreal because I don't want those scumbags in Tampa Bay to win. They cheated the cap. So I do not want them to win at all. Listen, either way, we're still going to be able to say that we were the only team to go back to back in the salary cap area that didn't play in a bubble during a shortened season. I guess that's true as well. I'm going with my heart.

I'm going Montreal in six, not seven. Six games for Montreal. Six games. Well, you heard that here, everyone that listens to this show. What a prediction that is. They better win game one. They've been riding high the whole time. All you have to do is do it for six more games, or four more games, technically.

Carrie Price, you know, he was Godmode against the Penguins in the bubble. Now he's continued going back in time for this entire playoff run. Already 10 goals above expected save for Kerry Price. So we'll see what that number looks like after one more series. Yeah, he needs to be God, I think, in that series. And they also need to have to note and Gallagher really shut down Tampa Bay's vaunted top line of, you know, Kucharov and Point. And I think Palat is on that. top line as well but they're just they're so deep and they can beat you

that's the thing about them you know they kind of remind me of the penguins in such a way because if you want to score they'll south score you if you if you want to play a boring little islanders berry trots trap game they'll beat you at that too it just it reminds me a lot of the 2016 team with the penguins it's so funny to hear you say that and I completely agree you get everybody so focused on getting the opposite of skill and speed and being able to play that way you got to build your team around barclay goddreau and Coleman and Yanni Guard and it's just like okay those players are really good

but you still got to have the core in place. That's how much Jim Rutherland. Everybody wants to be Pat Maroon. Everybody wants to be Pat Maroon. Oh God. Yeah, that too. Yeah, it's just, you know, there's no Zach, is there any analytic equation for that? As Pierre

McGuire, like Steve. I don't think he's calling this series, which is nice. A couple more quick things here, though. There's some, there was Batman had his, you know, state of the union address today basically and talked about the Olympics, you know, again, it says we have real concerns about whether it's sensible to go. They're trying to work out a deal.

Really don't understand why this is so complicated. Everyone wants to see it. I want to see Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid team up on everyone and just have two points per game on everyone. Do you all think the players will eventually go to the Olympics? Well, they better. Her OV's done, right? He's going to be done with the NHL if they can't.

So Alex has actually needs to dictate that. I just think you look at the catastrophe that was 28. and look at the backlash that it got for the NHL not sending their players. I just think if you just look at it from a PR perspective, which I mean, how much does the NHL really care about that? But if you look at it from that perspective, I just don't think that you can not send them.

They're the best players in the world. I don't want to watch some junior team from the Czech be playing when I can watch NHL players. Yeah. Like the fifth and sixth and seventh best options that the country has. Listen, it's great that in 1980 we won with a bunch of college players, but do you really think I want to watch that? No, absolutely not.

That's still how some of those people think the U.S. should be built today, which is just total blasts. I mean, remember the world coming to hockey? They put Brandon Dubinsky on the team over Phil Frickin' Castle. I'll never get over that, man. Yeah, like, do you really think I'd rather see some college players over, like, Patrick Kane and Austin Matthews? Absolutely not.

Yeah, that's just... And, too, like, if the players want to be there, man, like, They have missed out on so much the last two years to continue to put out a product on the ice. They just do right by them. They need to figure out a way to make this happen. And there's so many great matchups where there would be. I mean, Russia is going to be more stacked than ever. I mean, you'll have Kutrov, Malkin, Ovechkin, Surgachev, I mean, whatever, Vasilevsky and Net.

I mean, that's going to be so much fun to watch, Canada, USA. Sweden's going to have, I mean, their defense is always going to be stacked. Finland's going to be really good, of course. Everyone wants to see it, you know, no one just wants, like, yeah, I think Tyler is something about best. No one wants to see, you know, Troy Terry Captain Team USA from 2018. It was just, I'll never get over that. And then a couple other things here. I think, you know, I expected Gary Bettman to say this.

Our officials are not only the best hockey officials. They're the best officials in the world out of any sports. You know, he's going to talk up his leave just because he has to, but, I mean, you got to see something. when it's bad. So it's bad. It's terrible. And somehow it gets worse when the playoffs kick in. There's just a button that league-wide.

They're just like, don't call anything. By best, he means that more than any other league, they're able to make themselves the star of the show and dictate terms and take over the ice more than the players at times, then yeah, sure, they're the best in the world. Unbelievable. He had to have been asked a question. He didn't just randomly say that.

I think someone asked about the officiating, and he said that, and he also said, you know, well, the players change the way they play in the playoffs. It's like, okay, I mean, sure they do. But, I mean, call penalties. You know, the regular season product is still really bad, but it just gets worse because, you know, they just, they want to let the boys play when, you know, in reality, you're just letting lesser teams get away with stuff to, you know, make the game more fair and, you know, have some parity or, you know, parity, excuse me. That was not the word I was looking for.

It's just really ridiculous. And, you know, again, it's Gary Batman. You know, he also said concussions don't cause CTE. So I really can't. He must be a Tom Wilson fan. Yeah. The biggest. He literally must be.

And I think that unless you have anything else, I think that will do it. What do you all have coming up for around the 4-1-2? Because I personally want to know, and I think everyone that listens to the show also wants to know as well. Who's the next player that's coming on your show? Well, probably do you have a repeat guest, because I know Rusty's supposed to come back on, but wait until the season wraps up. So we talk to him about this.

We'll see if he watched the Canadians and Lightning Series once that wraps up. But we also have one of our friends, Alex Nicholson, working on a Rustash portrait for him. So he doesn't know about that. So if he listens to this show specifically, we're going to be in trouble because we ruin the surprise. But we're going to present it to him on the show.

So yeah, Brian will be coming back on shortly once the season wraps up. Beyond that, I mean, there's stuff that we're working on, but nothing set in stone yet. Well, I'm excited. I think everyone else is excited. Now, in case anyone here that listens to the show does not follow you all on social media, just I'll give you guys here to plug in your social media. Well, the podcast, of course, it's easy. At around the 412, you can find that on Twitter, on Instagram, we're on YouTube.

We do the show live on there every Wednesday. If you don't watch the show live, I want to listen back. We are on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, IHeart Radio. Again, just search around the 412. My new and improved Twitter handle for the last few months since my suspension is now at Zachary Smith 412. Shaking my head, but you can find me there. RIP to Z-23 Smitty. Had it's run. It had a good run.

Yeah, like Smitty said, around the 4-2 on like literally every social. and then my personal handle, it's a little more complicated than Zachary Smith 412. It's at Wiler underscore Teeks 33. And if you don't know how to actually put that based off what I just said, you can just go to our Round the Fourteenth bio and you can click on my name in there. And that's a lot easier than searching it. That is probably one of the greatest Twitter ads that is plugged into. Next to Shari Irvin. Yes.

Danny, he's come on the show once and his Twitter ad is also. definitely up there as well. But I definitely appreciate both of you coming on. Hopefully next time, Zach, you don't have a third account by going at Gab Gowdy every week. I'll try to relax on that. Please, please continue actually to do that

because, you know what, I'm going to just shut my mouth. That stuff is saved for other times. But again, appreciate both of you coming on. This has been a long time coming. And I definitely am going to have both of you on here. some point again during the offseason, especially going into next season when it looks like according to Batman, it's supposed to start between October 10th and the 15th. So a little, just about a week late, it looks like, and the schedule is going to be released between the end of

the Stanley Cup Final and the NHL draft. So around kind of mid-July, mid-to-late July. But again, thank you both so much for coming on. Of course, we appreciate it. Now we should have to get you on around the 4-1-2 and we'll be set. I will come on anytime you all want. Don't worry. Awesome. Yeah, thanks for having us. Yeah. Absolutely.

Again, go follow both of these fellas on Twitter. Go follow their podcast Twitter account because they do, they really do do some great content. We'll have another show coming tomorrow, so I will talk to you all then.