Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The hot stove is heating up for the Pittsburgh Penguins...

Episode Date: March 10, 2022

Hunter is back with a jam-packed episode of Locked On Penguins and there is A LOT to get to. He starts by offering his takeaways of the game against the Panthers from Tuesday night and how the Penguins actually looked pretty good. He then gets to Kris Letang's mistakes and how those cost the Penguins a shot towards the end of the game. That said, it's probably an outlier. He goes into the numbers and how the Pens went toe-to-toe with a juggernaut and then goes into how the team tied the game for a brief period in the second period. What about the Penguins makes them never out of a game? He gets to that as well, before going into the hot stove. Does it make sense for the Penguins to trade Marino and Rodrigues for Boeser? Is now the time to sell high on Marino? What about Garland for Marino? Would that make more sense? All that, plus the Penguins' struggles at home, coming up on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!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.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Athletic GreensAthletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK.  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, everyone. Happy Wednesday. We have a jam-packed episode today of the Lock on Penguins podcast. Going to go over the Florida game a little bit and why it's really not that bad of a setback. I know the game happened. Honestly, if I finished right around this time last night, still going to go over a few parts that I'm not going to do a full full game, recap, excuse me, but we're still going to go over some key points. You know, the trade stuff is buzzing today. We're going to get into all those Vancouver talks because I know those been making the rounds on social media. and you're also going to potentially do a little preview for a Friday nights game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

That's all coming up right after the shop. You're Locked on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello, welcome to another episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.

Follow the shows, Twitter at L.O. Arnscore Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. I'm fresh off my wonderful Virginia Tech Hokies getting that massive win against Clemson, the ACC tournament. I was a sweat fest with about five minutes left. Clemson Force overtime looked like it was not going to go VT's way. And then Virginia Tech gets that buzzer beater and sends PJ Hall in the Tigers backing.

I always love beating Clemson, no matter what sport it is. I just, I'll never stand their athletic programs, you know, AC rivalries to say the least. least. Anyways, of course, this is a Penguins podcast. So Pittsburgh drops a game to Florida, four to three on Tuesday night. And honestly, I really wasn't that mad about it other than the final 90 seconds. And I guess I'm going to start with that. You know, obviously, I think this was a really good effort by Pittsburgh. They led in shot attempts, scoring chances for, high danger chances score, and they also led in expected goals. Pretty good. You know, it was just that Trishon Jari had a little bit of an off night. And Sergei Bavrovsky was

pretty good, I should say. Better than how he usually plays against the penguins. But with about 90 seconds left, Cindy Crosby ties up the game about 35 seconds prior. Not ties up, excuse me, makes it a one goal game, 35 seconds prior, 4'3. Penguins have the puck in the offensive zone. They're playing from the point a little bit.

But as Chris LaTang is going over to his left, he does a drop pass, which then gives Florida an easy clear because Malkin is not ready for it. And then again, they come back into the zone and Lenten makes another bad read. And, you know, I just think with how the penguins are going right now and, you know, I know the top line's buzzing. I know of Guinea Malkin is buzzing. You know, in those situations, sometimes less is more.

You've got to get back to the basics with a six on five. I know the penguins are usually not that great of a six on five team when they're down one. I honestly can't even remember the last time this season that they tied to. a game six on five one goal game. I don't, like I said, I literally cannot remember the last time. Do they even have that one this year? You know, when I was, you know, doing a little bit of research before this, you know, again, I just, I really could not find one. And I think a big of that, some of those problems are they're just being too cute at the blue line and they're not firing the puck to the net. You know, I'm never, I'm not going to be one of those fans or people that

cover the team that says shoot it as, you know, some of the fans do at PPG P&S arena or, you know, honestly at every NH arena. But I think in those situations when, you know, you have established zone time and, you know, you're working up to the point, fire it on net where you have an extra body there willing to do the dirty work in a high danger chance and high danger zone, excuse me. It's just, it's baffling that tangor was, you know, resorting to these really bad, like, just drop passes when, you know, I don't mind if it's on a power play and the game was tied. Maybe you're up one or something like, heck, you're up too.

But when you're down one and the stakes are at the, you know, the highest point of the game and you're doing that, I mean, that's just, that's not going to work. And I thought that was honestly the cherry on top for a really poor performance. I'm Chris. You know, for those that have been listening to this podcast for a long time, you all know that I am one of the biggest Chrisetang fans out there. You know, I would hope that most of the fan base is as well. I know how great he is. The best franchise defenseman in this franchise is history.

It has almost every record among defensemen for this franchise. But, you know, he can't play the way he did last night moving forward. I know that's been the outlier this year compared to the norm. I am sure he's going to bounce back in a big way on Friday. But the penguins need more out of him than that. You know, and honestly, before that's sure. stretch at the end of the game. He was just, he seemed off with his passes.

He also missed two to three wide open nets that he hits nine other times. There were two times specifically, I remember, this was a one goal game. I believe it was in the second period. And Krista Tang gets the puck at the left circle and just, and he fires it right into Abramski as he's sliding over when he has at least a half of the net open, if not three quarters of it. And it's like, man, if you give that to him nine more times, he hits them every single time. It honestly just, it was baffling that he missed both of them.

I believe the other one kind of rolled on him. And, you know, that's just, that was Tanger's kind of luck for that game. You know, when the puck is not going in the net as he was what happened with those two. And, you know, he's making bad weeds with a blue line and defensively, he's not all the way there as well, especially with, I believe it was Sam Reinhard's goal, where he went one on three and the penguin's defense was really soft in that situation. You can't allow a player to, you know, getting that close when you have three guys around him.

Just a not a really good performance from Chris. And again, I am sure he is going to be fine moving forward. But for as much as I praise him, I have to, you know, give some negative feedback when he's back. You know, I have to keep it real here, you know, as some of the kids say, I guess, on the podcast. So that was definitely, you know, a couple of things that stuck out to me from that game.

But again, you know, also, So, man, Florida is just ridiculously good. And believe me, I know how good the penguins are. You know, they're one of the five to seven best teams in the league this year, in my humble opinion. But the way Florida comes at you in waves is something that I think I've never seen before. They're so deep. They play with a great structure. Their forecheck is ferocious.

Defensively, I was really noticing how they're their defensemen, they play really close together. which is a bit weird because normally all the teams, you know, you have one defensemen on one side, on the other side, but in Florida, you know, it was kind of like how they would always, you know, collapse the middle a lot more than normal. There was a couple other times where the penguins were coming in

on either the left or right side, and both defensemen were over there, you know, leaving the other side of the ice exposed. But, you know, they were, it was just, it was definitely pretty aggressive in something that I don't think I've seen a lot this year. And I definitely don't think Mike Sullivan has seen a lot this year. you know, this is definitely a team that's going to cause a lot of other teams' fits in the playoffs. I think they can beat Tampa Bay.

I think they can beat Toronto. I honestly think they can beat any team in this conference. They are that good. They are that deep. They've gotten the goal tending. Eric Gwad is wholly healthy. We saw he had the goal last night. He is such a difference maker when he plays.

You know, that said, I still thought the penguins played them pretty tough. It was just that those opening 20 minutes really due to them. you know, it was kind of weird because Florida just kept attacking and attacking. And I'm like, Pittsburgh, you do realize the team played last night, right? It was just, it was a little weird because the Penguins were the team on their, on their heels and they hadn't played in a few days. Yet, you know, Florida played last night and you would expect them to be gas a little bit. But, you know, they just, they came out firing.

And, you know, I know the Penguins had a nice bounce back in the second period where they had about 77% of the shot attempts and the scoring chances. Third period, I thought they mostly played pretty good. But you can't fall asleep for the first 20 minutes. You know, that's just that's going to do you in. I know the penguins were able to tie it. Two goals in nine seconds, I think it's the fastest two-goal stretch of the season for the team. Just very impressive.

Of course, I'll get to that in just a second. But, you know, overall, this is a loss that I can live with. You know, you played them on mostly even terms for, you know, three quarters of the game. I should say. And sometimes the game doesn't go your way. You're tired for second place right now. You're still in really good shape. You're 18 points up on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Then we have 25 games left. You know, with where the penguins are right now, again, I'm going to have to take a monumental collapse for them to fall out of the playoffs. You know, I'm also going to get to this after the commercial break as well, how the penguins are for some reason not good at home this year. Alan T. Yoder actually pointed this out to me on the Locktown Penguins Twitter account. So thank you for doing that. I do have a stat to share with you all for that, too.

but, you know, I'm still fine with the performance. That was the fifth game in this nine-game brutal stretch for the Penguins. They're three-in-one-in-one. Yes, I'm including Columbus because they've actually been pretty hot lately. But, you know, they've gotten points in four of those five games. Seven out of a possible 10 points against some of the best teams in the league. I would say the Penguins have been doing a very solid job in the stretch. They have Carolina, Vegas coming up, and then they also have St. Louis.

in Nashville on the road. But coming up in the next segment, we're going to get to, just maybe some of the reasons why the Penguins have struggled at home this year. We're also going to get to two goals in nine seconds,

what I really liked about that, and a couple other things from the game as well. But before we get to that, if I can load this up here real quick, this is the time of year that I pretty much given up on all of my New Year's resolutions,

but not this year. I'm sticking to my resolution to eat right. Thanks to you, Bill Bart. Almost feels like it's not really a resolution because I actually enjoy eating them. Have you tried the puffs? If you haven't,

and you're missing out on one of Bill bars, best tasting bars. Puffs are a fan favorite with some incredible flavors. Yummy Simony Matureau, coconut marshmallow, banana cream pie. They are all so good. All Bill bars are covered in 100% real chocolate.

Yes, puffs are included. They are low calorie and high protein. You can replace your candy bars with these as well. You go to Billc.com and scroll down to the macros chart. You'll be blown away. High protein, low calorie, high fiber, and low carb. well. Some of the best flavors, of course, mint brownie, coconut, coconut, almond, and new for this month, white chocolate cookies and cream. Now, there is still an offer. You can go to build.com.

Use promo code Locked15 and get 15% off your order. That's promo code Locked 15 for 15% off at Built.com. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locktown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O underscore Penguins. So, Alan, I want to shout out you for bringing this point up to my Twitter account, the show's Twitter account. I was able to do a little bit of digging. The Penguins have lost seven of their last nine games at PPG Paints Arena,

two and four in three. So they've gotten points in five of their last nine games at home, but they still have full regulation losses. And it is weird because normally under Mike Sullivan, this is one of the best teams at home every single year. I believe they set a franchise record for the best home winning percentage just a few years ago. I want to say they were 32 and 6 in 3. I think if that sounds right, it's very close to that.

It might have been 31 and 6 and 4. It was right around there. This year, it's been anything but that. They've struggled really bad at home, but they've been the best road team. the NHL. They have all the metrics for teams on the road that the Penguins are number one for every single one, goes against goals, four wins, you know, all of them. And I've been trying to come up with reasons as to why the team is not as good at home. And I honestly don't really know. I mean, the crowds have been pretty lively. I know, Alan, you were talking to me on the Twitter

account, how you were saying that, you know, you have season tickets and the crowds have been really good. I mean, I've been watching all the games at home personally. It seems like the crowd. are fired up this year. You know, there's 100% attendance now, you know, with COVID, not nearly as bad as it was a couple of months ago. But I mean, for whatever reason, they're not starting out games the same way they do on the road and they do at home. And I just, I don't know if it's a lack of effort thing, lack of attention to details. I don't know. You know, they're spooked of PVG paints, serenos, they're like a ghost in the building. I really don't. I don't think there's a specific reason for it. But it's

something they have to correct. And, you know, this is also, you know, I love when the Penguins get home ice because usually they are so good at home. But if that's a couple of years, they've also not been as good at home in the playoffs, too. So I don't know if that's carrying over the regular season this year, but it's definitely something that I am going to keep an eye on for the rest of this home stretch here and, you know, the home games, you know, the rest of March and all of April as well. Now, switching gears a little bit. So Penguins, they were able to tie the game for a brief point against Florida. Two goals in nine seconds. Brian Russ gets the first one.

I thought it was Zach Aston Reese coming out of the gulag, but it was one of Florida's players directed at pass Bobrovsky. And that's another goal for Russ this year. His price tag continues to increase. And then, you know, again, just a few seconds later, Jake Gensel gets another goal. He always terrorizes Sergei Brodowski.

And it looked like for a time, you know, the old Brobrovsky was coming out. I didn't really like that goal that he gave up. And it's just the penguin's, Quick strike offense is so good. I mean, this is why, excuse me, that they're never out of a game this year.

It's just because, you know, when the top line is buzzing, like they have been all year, and, you know, it's just good stuff is going to happen. And they had so many quality chances before those two went in. And it was only a matter of time

before the dam was going to break a little bit. But, you know, I also will say this again. The Penguins are never out of the game. They showed that last, I know Florida was able to take the three-two lead off of an Anthony Duke clear goal. It looked like at first it was maybe goaltender interference, but, you know, Tristan was able to play his position after, you know,

the Florida player was out of his crease. So that was not goal interference all. But, no, again, I liked the pushback in the third. It was just, you know, Bob was making some good saves. And, you know, Ford was also playing really well defensively. But, you know, again, I really liked how the Penguins can just, you know, snap out of it, snap out of the little. with it's just a snap of a finger and just come back from a two-goal deficit like it's honestly

nothing. But two really nice goals there, Cindy Crosby's goal at the end of the game. Another little vintage Sid goal. He's playing some amazing hockey right now as well. And, you know, I will say this before we get to our next day. You know, if this game didn't show that the penguins need more secondary scoring, then I truly don't know what well. You know, I was reading Josh Yoli's article this morning.

from the athletic. I'm going to pull these stats up for you all right here because it is pretty damning just how bad the Penguins' issues are with secondary scoring. Here it is. Edm Rodriguez, since his hot start, one goal in his last 25 games.

Kispera Kampin, one goal in his last 24 games, who knows if he's going to be on the team after the trade deadline. Danton Hyman, he's been pretty good, but three goals in his last 22 games. Brock McGinn, good signing, and I think he's better than Brandon Tanov, two goals in his past 23 games. Dominic Simone, three goals in 52 games a season.

Zach Ashton-Rees, one goal in 50 games. Those five of those players have been in the bottom six for most of the year. That's unacceptable. You know, this was a strength of the team in the first half of the season. They've actually, they were outscoring teams, you know, when Crosby and Malkin were both off of the ice. honestly the last couple of years but this year

especially after that hot start it's just the depth scoring is dried up and for a team that is only relying on one and a half lines right now heck only basically two that can't happen you know Jeff Carter his play I think has also regressed a little bit these last couple of weeks and

you know this just I'm pleading Ron Hextall to go out and make a move for another forward you know this I know Jason Zucker's return is going to help. It's going to be massive, just because of his forechecking ability.

He can score, hopefully. He's not, his shooting percentage luck actually improves. But you can't have six players with that little production throughout the last, you know, six to eight weeks. Also, according to Josh last night, those six players combined for just four shots on that. It's not acceptable. I'm sorry.

You know, the penguins can. not win games when their depth is that bad. I'm not going to sit here and say it's 2014 level when Zach Sill and Maxine LaPierre and Marcel Gautch before he got traded and, you know, Tanner Glass were on the ice. But, you know, this is still pretty bad. And it's something that needs to fix if the Penguins want to win games down the stretch and especially, and especially win in the playoffs and hopefully make a deep run. So I end here with that.

Coming up in the next segment, we're going to go around the trade. carousel a little bit. There was a whole bunch of rumors that popped up today out of Vancouver. So stick with that coming up here in this next segment. All right. I'm back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter. Hello. On underscore Penguins. So, you know, a lot of rumors, as I just said a couple minutes ago, swirling out of Vancouver. There was a couple, Vancouver, you know, sports talk radio host today that, you know, obviously Derek Clancy was at the Penguins game last night.

He thinks they're looking at John Marino and Evan Rodriguez, and he says, you know, something could be cooking there with regards to a Brock Besser package. So if the trade were to be Brock Besser for John Marino, Evan Rodriguez, you know, it sounds good in theory, right? But the couple questions I do have, A, are you going to accept Brock Besser's 7.5 qualified? on for next year? Probably not with all the players they have to re-sign. B, if you trade John Marino, who is going to be the player that steps up in a top four role with Marcus Pedersen? Is it Chad Roodle? I think he's a fine player. But can he consistently play top four minutes? Personally, I don't think he can. Is it Mark Friedman? Again, I like Mark

Friedman. He's actually been really good as the way the expected goals got, of course, as you know we all call him on penguin's Twitter. But can he consistently play top four minutes? I personally don't think so. Now, are you going to move P.O. Joseph over that side? Are you going to move Mike Matheson over that side? No, because he's, you know, they both are left shots. And especially Matheson has been great on his regular side this year.

He's getting closer to a return. I think he's going to come back before Jason Zuckreys. He's already skating with a team in a non-contact capacity. So in that situation, you're going to have to go out and probably make another deal to get a top 4D. And honestly, the market for defensemen this year, I don't think is that good. I mean, Josh Manison is out there, but, you know, what, you know, going to go out and get Ben Chirot, give up a first round pick for that guy? I mean, he has a 40% actual goals rate with, I believe, a 35% expected goals rate this year.

I mean, I know he's on a really bad team, but I'm not giving up assets to get that guy. That's for damn sure. I don't think Montreal is going to trade Jeff Petrie. That's for damn sure. I think that's going to be an offseason move, at least in my opinion. but you know I just I don't think it's worth it to you know trade I think key components of the team for a player that has a 7.5 million dollar qualifying offer that's just my opinion though let me know what your opinion is you can tweet me at 100 hodes the show is square I low and score penguins

you DM me on either one comment on the YouTube page of course um I just I don't know Rodriguez, I would probably be fine with parting just because he's not been good lately. And I don't know if the team is going to resign him after this year. But I just, I'm a little hesitant to give up John Marino right now. I feel like that's a move that you make over the offseason. You know, I'm all for selling high on him. I don't know how, you know, if he's going to be that much better than this moving forward. But I just don't think now is the time, at least in my opinion.

There's also rumors surrounding Connor Garland The Penguins are looking at him You know, he would I think make a lot of sense If I can find a tweet here Yeah, I mean Chris Johnson basically is I mean he said there's interesting Garland But he has term left which makes it more difficult

You know, I would love to go get Garland I mean I think he makes a lot of sense You know, if you look at Jayfresh's stuff You know, it's projected wins the rubble placement is 89% even strength offense, 76 percentile, even straight defense, 70 second percentile. Really good finishing ability. He also makes less than Brock Besser. I believe it's about almost a million less.

I think it's five times five. So definitely a lot of term left, but are the Penguins really going to go out and get someone with a lot of term left at the deadline? I'm just, I'm not sure. I feel like if they are going to go get someone, it's probably rental, which is why Besser might make more sense. that we're gone. But it's just like with his qualifying offering, if you want to give up Marino and Rodriguez, I just don't know if that is worth it. At least in my opinion, but you know, Vancouver, you know, they've been talking this all up, you know, Garla Garland contract matches up pretty closely with Marino's contract, which is true in theory. Marino makes 4.4 Garland 5, so 600K

difference. I think the Penguins would be able to make that work, though they would probably have to, you know, I mean, kiss Brian Russ goodbye for this foreseeable future. I would hope they would, they would be able to get Latang and Malkin under contract in that one, but, you know, we'll have to see. I'm going to have to go on cat friendly

and play around. What was this? I'm sure, you know, Jackson, who always DMs me, who listens to the show, may send me a cat friendly lineup. I'm going to have to do some more of that my selfie as well. I also don't know if I would do go in for Marino. I don't know. Something

and just, I guess I'm just really hesitant to give up on him this really because if he does blossom into a really good defenseman, I think that would kind of just, you know, make me a little upset, to say the least. But, you know, trade seasons in full force. We're almost a week and a half away now from the deadline, you know, this is a hot topic. You know, we'll have to see if the penguins do anything. You know, I was listening to the Jeff Merrick show today with him and Friedman, and he said that they can't really see Brian Burke and Ron Hextall sitting on their hands because of how competitive they are. So we'll see 12 days away right now from the trade deadline. I'm curious to see what happens with what they do. Penguins still have time there to make a move on their next

Friday against Las Vegas. I have a full game preview for that coming on Thursday's episode. And of course, you know, a couple other items to get to as well. Before I'll have a full game recap on Friday and then a preview of what's to come on Sunday. So that'll do it for this one. Thank you all so much for listening to this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. and I will be back with you all on Thursday.