Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The GM Search continues its twists and turns!

Episode Date: May 24, 2023

The GM search continues to get even crazier as the updates come in virtually every hour. Hunter catches the audience up with the latest on the search as it seems to be a two-horse race right now. He looks at where things stand with Kyle Dubas and who would likely get the gig if Dubas decides he doesn't want to get back into it so quickly. He then discusses how Eric Tulsky is out of it before jumping to some contract projections from Daily Faceoff. What is Jarry's? Can the Penguins afford to pay for it? What about Zucker's? Are there any free agent options on there who can fully replace them? Finally, he ends the show with some playoff talk and how the Florida Panthers continue to be the team of destiny around the league.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/lockedonnhl and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNHL, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit is only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go to FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) 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.

The Gentleman's Their Shirts continues to change in the city of Pittsburgh. I have the latest for you all coming up right after this. You're Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes.

I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. follow the show's Twitter at Ellenrister Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list in the day, where you're free and available on all platforms. Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime, meet down the BeginningTime app, create account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. So we have a lot to discuss to begin the show today.

Remember, Josh Joey came on the show on Monday, gave a huge update on the GM search, and oh yeah, it has changed since then. So after Josh came on, Rob Rossi of the Athletic, he had an article that came out. And he said, sounds like Jason Carmanos, Dan McKinnon, and Eric Tolski all met at John Henry's house up in Boston. I'm assuming he's in Boston because they're from Boston. And they had in-person interviews with him and Tom Horner. And then Rob reported that it sounded like Tolski from the Carolina Hurricanes was the favorite because he really impressed them during the interview, especially the in-person one.

Fast forward 24 hours later, Dan McKinn and Eric Tolski are now out, according to multiple reports. Dave O'Anari of Pittsburgh Hockey now was first to say that Dan McKinnon is out. He is, of course, the New Jersey Devils assistant general manager, worked with the Penguins from 2006 to 2016. And Eric Tolski, who has been my number one target, assistant general manager that Carolina Hurricanes has been there for the last eight to nine years. look like he was the favorite, but according to Pierre LeBron, Tulski is out. So to the finalists, you can cross them off. That leaves from the original finalist list,

Steve Dilley, Jason Carmanos, and Matthew Darsh. And now we can add Kyle Dubus. I definitely think the Penguins have talked to him. I don't know that for sure, but I think they have talked to him, and I honestly think they have put an offer out there for him, and they are just waiting for him to respond. Elliot Friedman said tonight,

I'm recording this at about, what, 7.30 Eastern time for today's episode. And Elliot said tonight that Dubus is at the top of FSC's list. He also thinks they're willing to give him a little bit of time, but they do want to get this done soon. Again, that leaves me to believe that they have an offer out there on the table for him, and they are waiting to see what he says. Assuming an offer is out there, I have to also assume he's going to,

going to have full control of the hockey operations. President Hockey Ops GM, he'll get to run his whole show. It's obvious that Dubis is in number one target. Yeah, I'm glad they're giving them a little bit of time, but also, time is of the essence. Tomorrow is May 24th. This weekend, Memorial Day weekend, the final weekend in May. The draft is basically a month away.

FSG needs to get this done. They cannot overplay their hands. with this because if Dubus says no and I still think right now it's okay there's a greater chance he says no you know you're going to have to circle back and maybe that's Matthew Darsh maybe that's Jason Carmanos maybe that's Steve Greeley but you're going to be in a little bit of a pickle because you're going to need to pick someone ASAP right now me personally I do think one of Kyle Dubis or Matthew Darsh is going to be your GM next season I would lean Darsh right now, Friedman sent on the 32 thoughts podcast on Monday,

and the Penguins were taking a long, hard look at him prior to Dubus being fired. So it looked like maybe he was indeed. The favorite rod really didn't make any mention of him in the article. But Darsh would be a good choice. He's worked on the CBA for the NHLPA. He's been a strong assistant down in Tampa Bay for the Lightning. He's worked under C-Virishman. He's now worked under Julian Brisbaugh.

Has an analytic background, a little bit at least. good with contracts. He is also exactly what Fenway Sports Group would be looking for in a new general manager. He can blend scouting, contracts, analytics, so much more into just being a general manager. And I do think you would see him make some good moves here. Even if the Penguins do not get Kyle Dubus, I think Darsh would be a very strong selection. So as far as we know, he's still in it. As far as we know, Carmanos really are still in it, though I think they're lesser,

options right now compared to Darsh and Dubus. Again, I definitely think they're waiting for Kyle. They want to see what he's going to say. He's mowing an offer, I'm sure, but they can't afford to wait too much longer. I think in a perfect role, they probably would have wanted this done already. But I also do think they probably told Dubis that he's mulling that offer. Hey, the holiday weekend is coming up here. We want to have this done by the end of the week.

Can you give us an answer as soon as you can? So we'll have to see, you know, that's really the latest with what's going on in the GM search. And this continues to take a lot of twists and turns in all these directions as a GM search does. I'm glad that the Fenway Sports Group is being very thorough in their process. They're looking over every available option, seeing, you know, who the best candidate is. and they're hoping to bring in their top candidate. It's probably gone on, maybe a little longer than some people have expected it to.

Remember Frankslerolli said last week it was going to be June 1st by the latest. I mean, I warned people I said end of May, early June, that they were going to take their time with this cast of a very wide net. They have done that. I think also people are used to shorter GMs are just like in 2021 when there was two weeks with one Hextall, but it was also during the season. Heck, even when the Penguins fired Ray Sherto in 2014 and hired your brother for over Julian Brisbane, Pierre McGuire,

that search only lasted about what, three and a half weeks, if I recall correctly. So I can understand why people are getting a little antsy now we're almost six full weeks out from when FSC fired Ron Hextall, Chris Pryor and Brian Burke. But they want to get this right, and you have to applaud them for that. You know, they definitely do care about this franchise. I think you've seen this evidenced, you know, these last couple of weeks, again, heck, we saw in Roth's article yesterday, you know, these candidates are meeting at John Henry's house. You know it's a big deal when the two big boys are involved here in John Henry and Tom Warner.

Because I've heard a lot of people say, well, there's absentee ownership, absentee ownership. I don't know if that's the case. I do think they care about the direction of this franchise, even though they're based in Boston, even though they don't live here. I definitely still think they care very much about this franchise and I think you're seeing that through this search. I'm not going to jinx it because I want to see how they do with this higher, but I think they're still setting up to have a really good hockey person

come in here and lead the hockey operations department. If it is dubus that comes in, again, I think he's going to run the whole show. Hockey ops, present hockey ops, GM will get to bring his own staff in. He will basically be almost a king. That is what I truly think. Fenway Sports Group thinks of Kyle Davis as. They see him as a king as like a next Theo Epstein kind of guy. I truly think he will almost get to do whatever the hell he wants if he gets the shop.

So, if she's in a little bit of a waiting game right now, we'll have to see how that goes. But that is the latest on the GM search right now. I don't think this is going to go on too much longer. If I had to guess, I think it's by the end of this week, Thursday or Friday, especially with a holiday weekend. I'm sure they would want it to be done before Friday because most people are going away on Friday for the holiday weekend, especially in this country. But sometimes you can't always get what you want. I mean, still, I don't think they want this to extend into next week when the Stanley Cup final begins because usually the league does not like when big announcements are made

during the Stanley Cup final. They like when those are made before the final or directly after the final. So I'll leave you all with that. That's the latest on the GM search. Let's me know your thoughts down the comments you can also send me a DM and stuff do you agree with ericolski and dan mckenin being out and what do you think about kyle dubus and matthew dars do you think one of them will be the jam will be someone else let me know love to hear your thoughts on that so that'll do it for this segment coming up in the second segment we're getting to a couple of contract projections that we saw today on daily face off to frank servale had the top 50 free agents list that he had and he listed the projected contract

that he thinks they're going to have attached to them. A couple of penguins are on there. A couple very important penguins will get that coming up after this commercial break. But before we discuss that, we have to get into Game Time, which is everyone's favorite app to buy tickets. And again, buying tickets to your favorite events should not be stressful. Game Time is the fastest and easiest way to buy tickets for all those sports, music, comedy, and theater near you with killer dealers on last minute tickets and their best price guarantee. you can stop stressing over the tickets and start getting hyped for the fun that you will have.

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Terms to apply again, create an account and a redeem code locked on NHL for $20 off. Download game time today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. All right, we're back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. I'm going to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter at I want to show Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list in the day. we are free and available on all platforms.

So, Daly Faisoff today, released their top 50 pending free agents, starting with Damon Zverson, Tyler Bertuzi, Jamitio Orlov, J.T. Comfer. And you get down to the number 11th spot and you see your first Pittsburgh Penguin, and that is Tristan Jari, made $3.5 million this season,

played 47 games. Daily Face Off is projecting him to get, drum roll, please. Four years, $4.8 million per. Absolutely not. absolutely the hell not. If you are someone that would pay Tristan Jari that money, stand up.

You're listening or watching this. Please stand up. I don't think there's going to be many of you. I am not paying Tristan Jari almost $5 million per season. And with all those injuries that he's had, he's been inconsistent. That contract, I think, will age like milk very quickly. And I know when he's been healthy, he's been pretty good. but can you rely on that throughout a four-year contract?

I think the penguins are better off just finding someone via trade and also someone that's a bit cheaper. You sign that contract with Tristan Dry, that's $4.8 million. You know, you have with Casey DeSmith's contract, and I believe he makes, he doesn't make too much money. He makes, well, I just had it and then I just lost it. He makes, do-to-do-do-do, if I can just find. this year. I don't know why it's cat-friendly. Just being ridiculous for me. Yes, 1.8. So 4.8 plus

1.8, that is $6.6 million if my math is correct. And I'm pretty, I'm obviously it is. I'm just messing around because I'm not a math major. 6.6 million combined for your two goaltenders. I don't think that will be wise for the payments, especially when they are up against the cap every year. If you are committing that much money to a goal. tending tandem, especially that one, you're outside your mind. And that doesn't even begin to say that this tandem should not even be brought back, both of them together, that is. If you bring back Trish and Jari on that contract, you have to find a way to get to Smith out. Because how can you run that tandem back when it's always so banged up? It's always so inconsistent. It will be a slap in

the face to the core players. You just, you cannot do that. But with that projection, four times 4.8, hard and I mean a hard pass on that you go down a little bit and you see Jason Zucker who of course is also a free agent if I can find out here yet he's 32 on the top 50 made 5.5 million this season Franks contract or the projections five times 5.4 I know he made 5.5 million this season that is a bit rich five times 5.4 the term that one I don't really like I know he had a good year but can he follow that up

for five more years 5.4 million that's only a $100,000 decrease in money that's not good enough I think you're going to have to put that number either at 4.5 to 5 million I think anything more than that I think he's asking for too much I think at that rate if Zulker wants that kind of contract

I think the Penguins might have to walk and try to replace him via the trade market Maybe you can do something for agency like Tyler Bertuzi, but then you're just paying, you know, even more money and even more term because Bertuzi, he's projected to get six times five point, five point two five. He's 28 years old. You're paying it when he's 34.

You know, you see where it gets dicey a bit quick because sometimes those contracts age like no team, even though I do think Bertuzi is a very good player and I would love to have him on the Penguins. But, you know, for Sony's 31, who just had a career year, who probably won't play that good next season,

I don't think the Penguins can sign him to that kind of deal. It's too rich for me. The age curve is too much. Usually players

this kind of age when they have a career year like that, it goes down in a hurry. Heck, remember when Patrick Hornquist when he was here, he signed that massive extension, right?

Everyone's like, oh, no, it's fine. Who cares? He played at a fine level for at least the first season, but after that, it went downhill, very quickly because that's that's how it is for these players 30 and over

I mean that's just how it is and so again in my opinion I would pass on both those guys and I would look for replacements that are a bit cheaper maybe you can find them via trade market if you can somehow find them in free agency probably won't find a goalie for that cheap well I think I should probably replace that a little bit I think you can find a more of it maybe a more cheaper goalie in free agency you know someone like an Aiden Hill who only made 2.18 this season. He's projected to get two times 3.3. I would be at least decent with that.

He's 915 this season. Corpusallo's out there, Varlamo, but I don't really think they're that big of upgrades. Varlamma is 35. Corpuselosososos 2. Aden Hill, though, would make some sense. If you want to do Aiden Hill and Casey to Smith, maybe that could work, and that gives you average goaltending. I am still of the opinion that I would rather go out and try to get a full-fledged

starting goal tender like a UC Soros, like a Connor Hellluck if the Penguins can do it. But I think of the free agent options available, it's probably Aiden Hill and Frederick Anderson. And I still don't know how much of an upgrade they're going to be over, Jari. When Jari is healthy, that is. When he's healthy, I think he stacks up to both those goalies pretty well. But obviously, you know, that's been a big question of his for the last couple of years. So those are my main thoughts on the two penguins that have made this list. You know, Tyler Bertuzi, I would absolutely love to have again, 28 years old, made 4.75 million this season would make 5.25 potentially on his next contract.

The six years, you know, the window is only for the next couple of years so you can maybe buy that contract out in the final few years or trade him because I'm sure he'll still be playing well. J.T. Comfer, I would be really intrigued about him. He's a center. made $3.5 million this season. Five times $5.3. Is the projection. I know that's a bit rich, considering he's almost

to 30 as well. But Confer at 27, not 27, 17, 17 goals to season 52 points on a good Colorado Avalanche team. In terms of the third line center, you can do a lot worse than him. If I'm the Penguins, I am definitely looking at getting Comfer,

even though, again, he's close to 30. It would be a decent amount of term. But I think he might be worth the price considering how he just had a good season. And honestly, guys, again, they don't have a good third line center on this team. They're going to have no choice but to go out and get one via free agency or

the trade market. Ryan Bunting. Michael Bunting is out there. Ryan Graves, I think he could be intriguing if the Penguins want to get a new top four left-handed defenseman. Ryan O'Reilly is out there for a third line center duties. Jordan Saul, if he wants to come, come back, but I think he's probably going to be signing Carolina. Max Domi, who I wanted

the Penguins to get at the trade line. There are some decent options, but again, you are going to have to pay a decent amount to get some of these players. So let me know what you think about the Jari and the Zucker projections. Would you sign them to those contracts? Would you look elsewhere? Who would you look for? Let me go down in the comments. You can send me a DM on social media. Or I think someone was doing. He was actually leaving reviews on the Apple's page or Spotify, so you can do that as well to let me know. So that wraps up the second segment coming up to end the show. We got some Stanley Cup playoff talk

and why I am continuing to take L after L with these conference finals. Stick around for that coming up after this break. I'm back here in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. In order to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at NWRSA Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this. Your first list in the day.

We are free and available on all platforms. So let's jump right into the playoff talk. So I am continuing to just look like an idiot. Panthers are up three games to nothing on the Carolina hurricanes. I pick the Keynes in seven. They might get swept. And what a job by the Panthers. 10 and won their last 11 games.

They are the team of destiny. Three more words again. Team of destiny. They remind me so much of the L.A. Kings. have that star talent that they had, the swagger that they had, they don't care who they're playing, they got the elite goaltending that they had, the great defensive play that they had, they reminded me so much of that 2012 Kings team that were just blowing through the playoffs like it was nothing. Panthers are on, it looks like they are going to be on their way to their first Stanley Cup final

since 1996, and of course they've been the Penguins on the way there to get to that final, which is a series that I think a lot of you older fans will want to forget because of the way they played to get to that final. But they have just been magnificent in the series against the Hurricanes. They have shut them down like in Snow Tomorrow. The Hurricanes cannot generate anything offensively. And actually, you know, the last 10 or 11 games with the Panthers in the playoffs, they've only allowed 13 goals.

They've allowed less than two goals a game during this run on an average. Defense of play has been great, but Sorgaabovsky. Wow. I mean, this is probably the best I've ever seen him play. And I've seen him play good hockey when he's won a couple of Desna's, but I don't think he's been at the top of his game like he has here. I know people are going to say, well, what about his contract now? What has about his contract now? The contract still sucks.

Sorry. I mean, I don't think he should be making $10, $10.5 million. But at least he is earning close to that money right now as he is playing the finest hockey of his career. They are going to be an absolute force when they likely. get to the Stanley final play one of Vegas or Dallas. These games against Carolina have been very close. I do think the Hurricanes deserve to win game three. You could all honestly argue maybe game two a little bit as well.

But these are the margins. These one goal games are all going the Panthers way. And I'll also say this for people too. My grandpa said this to me way back when. He said, Hunter, all you really need is a hot goalie, and you can go all the way. unless you're the year of the New York Rangers with Hendrik Lundquist and Igor Shisterkin

because they, for some reason, even when their goalies get hot, they just can't score. But for a lot of other teams during this era, all you need is a hot goalie. And Sergei Barovsky has been that dude for the Florida Panthers. It has been awesome to see them continuing to play so well. That crowd down there has been electric. They are loving it.

Heck, South Florida sports right now are on another level. the heat are up three games, nothing. Both teams down there are protected to go to the NBA and the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final. What excited will be if both those teams walk home with the titles if they get there and finish this off? That would be crazy to say the least. On the other series, Vegas up two games to nothing on the Dallas Stars.

Vegas will try to go up three nothing in this series tonight in Dallas as the series shifts there. Really curious to see how the Stars respond. they should have won game too, but the Lout team like Vegas to tie the game with 222 left, and when it goes to overtime, it's a crapshoot there, it's a 50-50. Lost that one.

And I'm down 02. You're facing a must-win game here. Ottinger needs to be good. I want to see more from Jason Robertson. Rupa Hens has been done everything he can. I want to see more from Tyler Sagan. I want to see more from Jamie Ben. Some of those guys have disappeared through these first couple of games.

And I want to see at least one of these series turned into me a good one because right now it looks like the Stanley Cup finals is going to start before Memorial Day on Monday. Same with the NBA finals. So the NBA finals is projected to start June 1st. Though if the series ends tonight, maybe they could somehow move it up. I don't know if they're allowed to do that.

And the Stanley Cup final, that's projected to start June 3rd. If both series end before the weekend, they may have to move that up. So, you know, Vegas, Florida would be a lot of fun considering Florida gave Vegas Riley Smith and Jonathan Marches-O. A lot of storylines for that one.

That would be a fun. That'd be a fun series. But, you know, at least the games have been close on the conference finals. It's just that I hate that the series have not been close in terms of, you know, 20, 3-0 and all that stuff. So hopefully we'll see a better game tonight

when it comes to stars in Vegas. Well, since it didn't say better game, I'm hoping that we see at least one team cut the series deficit, in half so that the series gets a bit closer and we don't have two teams that are up three nothing going into their respective game goals. So

that'll do it for this episode of the Locktime Penguins podcast. For tomorrow's episode, I'm sure we're going to have more GM updates, can continue more player season reviews, and then when the GM announcement is made, I will have a short video giving my thoughts, and then we'll have a full episode to discuss the press conference and all of that

good stuff. So again, thank you all so much for tuning in. I very much appreciate it. I'll talk with you all again on Wednesday.