Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Nick Bjugstad era is over!

Episode Date: September 12, 2020

Hunter is back on this episode of Locked On Penguins and right as he starts recording, the Nick Bjugstad trade breaks so Hunter dives into that and what it means for the Penguins going forward. Is the return good enough for Bjugstad despite all the injuries he's had? Could there be a move coming in the near future after this? These are just a couple of questions that Hunter ponders about this trade, plus he answers a couple mailbag questions, including if Jared McCann will be the third line center going into next season. Finally, Hunter touches on the conference final matchups and the latest that's going on with both of those series'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello, welcome to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Happy Friday to you all. Today's show, we're just going to do a little bit of mailbag questions. There's not a lot of news going on in Penguin Land right now. And, wow, as I'm scrolling Twitter, this is, well, right as I say that, I cannot believe this has actually happened.

The Penguins are trading Nick Buxtad to the Minnesota Wild. So that is actually perfect timing. Right as I start recording this, they have big news to make. So, you know, that will take up this first segment here. So it looks like Nick Bukstad is going to the Minnesota Wild. I am waiting to see what the return is here. So let's really see what happened here. Apparently Michael Rousseau is saying it's for a conditional seventh round pick.

Are you kidding me? That's just, wow. I mean, I know Nick Bukstad has been really, really banged out these last couple of years. He's not even been in the lineup due to multiple injuries. He had that core muscle injury. Of course, as you guys remember. But I mean, you're telling me you could only get a conditional seventh round pick for him. His value was that low.

I mean, thanks to Billy Garron for taking on his salary. But, I mean, that's just, I figure you could have gotten at least a fourth or fifth round pick for him. I mean, he's been a 20-goal score in this league before. You're telling me his value really plummeted that low. That's just a little weird to me. I'm not really sure why he only got a seventh round pick for him. So, I mean, that's just, I'm really confused by that. Also looking here as I'm scrolling Twitter.

Apparently the Penguins have also retained salary in this deal. Really, really don't think it's not a lot of salary. So that has not been tweeted out yet. If it's like 40% or something like that, this trade just looks pretty, pretty shitty. If it's like 20, 25%, I'm not really going to give a shit, to be honest with you guys. But, I mean, for bigger picture, guys, I mean, in the green scheme of things, This had to be done. I mean, like I just said, he's been banged up.

He was not going to be in the lineup this coming season. I know you guys have seen Jen Rutherford's comments. Like, oh, yeah, you know, he just gives us another option for the third-line center spot. He gives us another option in the lineup. It's like, Jen, we all know you're going to deal him. You don't need to try to save face here and try to just say, you know, oh, yeah, he's going to be in the lineup because we knew he wasn't. I mean, that's $4 million. Well, it's not going to be the full $4 million off the salary cap.

It's probably going to be at least hopefully $3 million. Like I said, if they're retaining $3 million. 25% of the salary, it's not that bad. But if you're retaining like half of that salary, like 2 million a bit, or you're retaining like 2.5 million somehow, that makes the trade look really, really shitty. So, I mean, this had to be done, though. There's going to be a lot more changes coming.

You know, of course, hopefully with Jack Johnson and potentially Patrick Hornquist, Matt Murray, all that. This one had to be done because now I think the dominoes may really start to fall for the Pittsburgh Penguins. And what does this mean now for the third line center situation? This, I think, folks, just means that Jerry McCann is your third-line center going to next season. Unless they dump him too and they get a third-line center in return, or they sign someone like Craig Smith and Free Agency.

But, you know, Jim Rutherford was always talking about how Nick Bukestead could be a third-line center next year. We haven't really seen a lot of him just because he's been so banged up. Well, now he's gone, and now your only option right now with the team, unless you bring someone in and you deal McCann, is Jared McCann for that third-line center's father. There's really no one else on the thing on this team right now. That can be your third-line center besides him. So, ways to look right now, Jeremy Cannon will probably be the third line center next season.

There's actually a mail-bought question later on in this podcast, which we'll talk about who I think is going to be the third line center, even though I kind of just teased it. But we're still going to answer that anyway. But, you know, what a way to start this podcast episode and to not think right as I started recording that I would be talking about a trade because I started sworeing Twitter right as I was recording. But, you know, here we are. I'm glad, you know, this is what you do. This is what you live for. So I'm really excited that a trade actually broke right as I started recording. But anyways, in case any Minnesota wild fans listen to this podcast or, you know,

Lockdown Wild sends some people over here to listen to this podcast. What you guys are getting, Nick Bukstad, he's a player back in play center. He can play wing. He can play up and down your lineup. When healthy, this is a 15 to 20 goal score, I think. I mean, he showed plenty of potential with the Panthers. He was honestly pretty fine when the Penguins got him during the 2018-19 season. I thought, I think he was, that third line in the playoffs was Simone and Hornquist next to Buxtad was their best line against the Islanders, even though they didn't score as much, but they dominated possession.

They were just heming the islanders in their own zone every time they went out there. But, you know, when he's healthy and when he's on, he's a solid contributor. And, you know, Billy Garan's taking a chance on him. He was here when Jim Rutherford originally acquired Nick Buechstead. So, of course, the familiarity with Bukstad is there with Billy Garon. And this is also the second trade they've made together. That is Billy Garon and Jim Rutherford. So, you know, also kind of glad that Jim is going to former colleagues and saying, hey, you know, like, you want to help me out here and just basically take back a player who's just been really, really banged up.

And there's not going to be a place for him in our lineup. And you guys can just have him in your lineup because we all know your team is rebuilding and just retooling. And it sounds like Miko Koiu may not even be back for the wild next year. So, you know, maybe Nick Kvigseh could be that Miko Kov place. And, you know, probably not. but, you know, maybe he could help replace Miko Koi because it sounds like he may not be back with Minnesota next year. But, you know, otherwise, you know, he can kill penalties. Maybe you put him on your second power play unit.

But, you know, in any case, this is a player who can also drive possession, as I just talked about. You know, during the regular season, 19, 52% core C percentage. Estemic was around 52% the season before that. It was hovering around there as well, about 52.3%. And that was also coming off two bad years with the Panthers in 2015-16, 2016, 2017, is coursey, Fenwick percentage around 49% 46%. I mean he's 2015-16 season, 15

goals. He's had that 1-24-goal season in 2014-15 though. That's a long ways back. But I mean, he, 2017-18, he had a full 82-game reggae season. 19 goals, 49 points. You know, if the Wilde can get that version if Nick Bukstad back and I'm skeptical that Nick Bukstad can get back to that level

and also stay healthy, then they'll come out of this trade looking really, really good. But, you know, a buddy, King Clark, you has Ask plenty of mailback questions for this podcast. He did not ask one for one today. But, you know, he tweeted out, I would be surprised if something else doesn't come in the near future after a pure cap dump like that.

So, I mean, I definitely see where he's coming through with that. You know, this is a pure salary cap dump for the penguins, even though I don't think the return is that good. But like I just say, guys, in the grand scheme of things, this is not going to matter as long as they actually use the cap space to fully retool the team and bring in players that, speed and scale that are not slow that don't hinder your chances to win like a Jack Johnson. You know, you have to use your cap space wisely.

They may or not be a cap team going into this season. There's been conflicting reports, of course, with Joshua and Rob Rossi. And then there's been other reports, you know, with D.K. Pittsburgh sports saying that they will be a cap team. Who knows? But, you know, as King Clarkie said, there could be another move in the near future after a pure cap dump like this. And just remember, guys, Matt Murray is also going to be dumped. That's going to be, I think, about $4 million in caps. space dumped right there. The Penguins are, I mean, they can't really retain his salary anyway because

it was a restrictive freeation. So that really wouldn't make any sense. But there's a clear cap space with that. You have Patril Hornquist. That's $5.3 million right there. You can cut ties with him. Potentially Jack Johnson, that's $3.25 million right there. If you want to cut ties with them, hopefully they will. There's a lot of players on this team that they can cut ties with that really will just give them a lot of salary cap flexibility. And so I will be curious to see if there is a corresponding move that's coming in the near future for this team where they bring a player in. But, you know, this is the first dominant. Well, not the first dominant.

This is the next domino to fall for the Penguins off season. Overall thoughts again on the trade. Wish they could have gotten a better return back. I think a conditional seventh round pick and salary retained is a pretty big joke for the Penguins. I still think they could have gotten a fourth or fifth round pick at least in return for him. But, you know, it's whatever. It's a mute point now. I'm not going to say, oh, yeah, this is Jim Rutherford's worst trade of all time.

the summer of suckage from Jim Rutherford continues. It's just you don't need to judge the trade like that. This is a pure salary cap dump folks. What happens after this will really be telling for Jim Rutherford as far as his offseason retooling for this team goes. So I think that's basically all my thoughts on the trade for that. And I'll just close it up with this. If they're retaining a good portion of Bukstad salary,

then that's just kind of another big L. It really needs to be only 20 to 25% if that if you're retaining salary. You can't be retaining like 2 million. and like half of his salary. I think it's like, like I said, a $4.1 million cap hit for his last season. If you're retaining $2 million or something like that, that's just stupid. So, you know, really hoping that's not the case. I'm seeing some reports out there.

That may be the case, if that's so, Jim, that's pretty, pretty stupid of you. But whatever, I guess, you know, like I said, we'll really see what Jim Rutherford is made of with the next corresponding moves. But, you know, I tell you guys what's not stupid, and that's trying Bill Pard. There's six new amazing flavors. Three of them are the caramel brownie, the cookies and cream and the carrot kids. The Bilt Bars are healthy. They're covered in 100% chocolate. They're soft and easy to chew. They're low calorie, low sugar, high protein, high fiber, great for KETCO diet.

One of my favorite flavors is still the cookies and cream, 17 grams of protein, 130 calories, 4 grams of sugar, 4 grams of net carbs. We reset the promo code for this relaunch. You get a free cooler with purchase while surprise last. You go to BiltBarr.com and use promo code locked on. You'll get $10 off your next order. That's promo code locked on for $10 off at Biltbar.com. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. Wow, that first segment was a lot of fun to do. And, you know, I just, I love when it trade breaks right as I start to record.

So, okay, that's the last time I'm going to say that. But for this segment, we're just going to do a couple of mailback questions. There were too many that came in this week, but there were a couple that I did want to answer. So we're going to do that. And then we'll just talk about the conference finals and just end with that for the week, I guess. So let's just get on into the couple mailback questions for this episode. All right. So Jesse Maliki.

So Jay Maliki 13 asks, who do you predict to be the Penguins third line center when the puck drops next season? So I kind of alluded to this in the first segment. I think it's going to be Jared McCann. I really don't think they're going to trade him. I know that they're testing the market for him right now. And understandingly so, you know,

Jim Rutherford wants to see what he can maybe get for him. I wouldn't trade him. I've said it many times on this podcast. I know on my Twitter. I'm going to say it again. Get into competent line mates and let's ride. Just let's freaking ride with Jared McCann and two competent linemates and really see what he's made of.

He put up good possession numbers this past season. Yeah, I know. His numbers tanked a bit, not his own wrong numbers, but, you know, his goals and assists, his points and all that. After the new year starting, we all know that. But his shooting percentage was, I think, the main culprit with that. It just tanked. He was getting the chances, but, you know, it's just the puck was not going in for him.

I know he had that really, really bad series against the Montreal Canadiens. I mean, virtually almost every pegman had a bad series against them. But, you know, I would just, I would stick it with it with McAnna. Give him maybe 3.5 million per. I think that's as high as I would go. Four million you're pushing it. I don't think they should give him $4 million. Three to $3.5.5 is what I would do right now.

And how long for the term? Three to four years? I mean, I don't think they're going to like bridge him and do like a two-year deal, but I can really see them doing like a three to four-year deal for him at around the three to $3.5 million range. But I really do think Jeremy Kahn is going to be back next season. If not, I talked about this. You know, right after the season ended, I could see them signing Craig Smith in free agency.

I can see them dealing McCann out and bringing someone else in to be the third line center. Please not Max Domey. I really do not need to see Max Domey on this team. We all know why it could happen with Ty Domey's ties to Mario Lemieux just with the ownership and all that. So, yeah, please do not do that, Jim Rutherford. That would just be a total big L for you. But yeah, I definitely really see them keeping McCann. And I think he is going to be the third line center going in the next season.

Last question, Alan T. Yoder, who is also asked mailbag questions. What is your favorite piece of Penguins memorabilia that you have, like a jersey hat, Pucks, bubble heads, cards, et cetera. Man, that is, that's a good question, man. I'm trying to think, I think my best one, I have this signed, it's a picture from the 2009 final in my room. Cindy Crosby of Guinea-Malkin, Jordan, Saul, Mark Andre Fleury with all their signatures on it. that's probably my favorite one.

It's the Stanley Cups right next. It's not right next to them, but it's just all four of them together. That's one of my favorite Penguins member really that I have. There's also a baby Mario Lemieux and baby Wayne Gretzky picture that I have, just both of them, just like shooting the puck at the net and just like almost looking at each other. I love that. Got a few signed pucks from a couple of penguin players. My mom has a bunch of like weedy stuff from the 90s cereal, like penguin cereal.

She has a couple signed pucks. I mean, one of them is Paul Coffey, who was her favorite player of all time for the Pittsburgh Penguins. So that I've also been like a big city of champions picture just with Mellon Arena in the background, like the team hoisting the Stanley Cup. So that was probably my favorite memorabilia that I have. Like I said, my favorite one, though, is definitely the picture with Stahl, Flurry, Crosby, Malkin, and all their signatures next to their faces on it.

And before we do get to the next segment, there's no more mailbag questions. I do want to say, so the retained salary finally came out as I'm recording this. And apparently it's 50% on Nick Bukstad's contract, so that's $2 million. I think it's $2.05 million. Jim, buddy, what are you doing? I mean, I know I didn't really defend the trade in the first segment, but I did say, you know, it's not really the end of the world. It's mostly just a salary dump.

And it basically is, that's what it is, but still, I mean, $2 million retaining salary in a seventh round pick. I mean, that's just, that's just not good, man. That's just not bad asset manager. You could have gotten a better return from that. I know the big thing with this guys is cap space. There could be a big corresponding move coming in the future, but it's just like, I mean, come on, 50% of his salary.

I mean, it had to be like 20 to 25%, as I just said a few minutes ago. That's just unacceptable to me. But I will say this as well, guys. I mean, I think you're going to see more similar trades like the one Jim Rutherford just pulled off from other teams where, you know, teams that are kind of trying to save money because, you know, with the COVID situation and all that, they're going to try to just dump some salary, but also have to retain some because I don't think teams are going to. going to want to take on a whole bunch of salary this offseason.

So, I mean, there's that counterpoint to it, but still, I mean, I would have rather them just retain 25 to 30% of it or something like that. I think 50% is just a bit too much for my taste of least. But, you know, I think I'm basically done talking about the trade. But yeah, I hope you guys enjoyed those mailbag answers. Coming up in this next step, we're just going to talk about the conference finals, and then we're just going to end the episode for the week. All right, welcome back to this episode of Lockdown Penguins podcast.

So, I mean, this Western Conference finals getting good guys. I mean, the stars in there are fully back to their defensive ways. Last night, it was a fun game to watch. I was mostly watching the NFL, though, just because, you know, having football back is just absolutely spectacular. I mean, I love watching football. But, you know, once that game got to be a blowout because the Chiefs were just dumping on the Texans like it was nothing. You know, the Texans really could use the number one wide receiver guys. But, I mean, I ended up flipping over to the Vegas Dallas game.

And, you know, Vegas is in for an actual really tough series here. I know they were pushed to seven by the Canucks. you know, they were going to get goalied, if anything, if they lost that series. It wasn't because Vancouver was outplaying them. It was because they literally had God in net for like three-shake-in. So, I mean, that really would have been the only reason that they lost. They outplayed Vancouver like it was nothing. I thought Vegas out-play Dallas for most of last night.

But, you know, Alexander Radula of an overtime, like 30 seconds in, that is just a gorgeous shot. I mean, the leg kick especially, just there was only really one spot he could have put that puck puck and he put it right past Leonardstick side. just a gorgeous, gorgeous job I Radgello of the Stars and now up two games to one and you know I said

Vegas in 7 at the beginning I'm gonna stick with that and I said Dallas was gonna give them a fight and they're sure giving them a fight right now this is the best team that Vegas has faced this postseason by a mile I mean I know if they win this they're probably going to get Tampa

in the Stanley Cup final which would be an even better team than they just faced in Dallas and Tampa as I'm recording this right now it's one to one at the first intermission with the Islanders we're going to get to that series in just a second but I mean this is This is a tough series for Vegas.

I know, you know, the Mark Andre Fleury stuff. Oh, Leonard let in a goal 30 seconds in overtime. Should Mark Andre Fleury get the start? No, guys, he shouldn't. Robin Leonard played really good last night. He did get hurt towards the late stages of that game. It did not look good. I mean, he really didn't move on that goal, which kind of scared me a bit.

But I'm hoping it's nothing really serious. I'm hoping he gets to start a next game. I really don't think you're going to see Mark Andre Fleury in this conference final unless Leonard just absolutely stinks, or if he's really, really hurt. So they're going to Ryan Lennar. I think honestly they're going to extend him. David Pagnott of the fourth period had a report today

that it sounds like they're going to sign into a five-year $25 million deal. Lennar refuted that, saying, you know, I don't know why we're talking about this during the season. Nothing's been agreed to. But so, guys, it would not surprise me if Robin Lennar is signed by the Vegas Golden Nights after the season, whenever that is. So game four is tomorrow night. I think Vegas is going to win.

Game four to tie up the series of two to make it a best of three. But, you know, when Dallas is playing this good defensively, going to be very, very tough for Vegas to score. I think Hu Dobin is going to get the net again. He looked pretty banged up last night. I don't think Ben Bishop is ready to go yet. But if Ben Bishop is ready to go at any point, he is going to get his net back, I would think. So that's that on that series.

The Islanders, Tampa Series, like I just said, is going on right now. 1-1 Cal Clutterbuck scored. If you allow Cal Clutterbuck to score, he should honestly automatically forfeit the game. That was only his second goal of the playoffs. The Islanders have come out pretty decent tonight, but I think Tampa has had the better of the play through the first period of that Mikhail Surgachev was able to tie the game against the Islanders going into the intermission. Now, the Islanders ended up starting Barlamov.

They also took out Casey Sazegas for some reason. He's their best player on the fourth line. So, I mean, I don't really know why they decided to take him out. I know Andrew Ladd is also out. I don't know why Barry Trots played in game three. That was a very brain-dead decision. But Derek Brassard is back in the lineup, and I think Dal Cole is also in the lineup. So, yeah, I mean, Barry Trots' roster decisions lately have been kind of meh.

And he's done a pretty good job this post season with his roster decisions and getting the owners to where they are. But, I mean, you don't scratch Derek Broussard when he's been one of your better players for a freaking Andrew Ladd. You don't take Casey Zizekis out. He's had a really good playoffs as well, and he's driving possession. You don't take him out for Dow Cole or whatever who else they're putting in, like I just said. So that's just really steep in, my opinion. But I think that will wrap up this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I know it's a bit shorter than some of the episodes that have we done in the past.

but we'll be back next week for five episodes. Really great that we got to have the Nick Deekstad trade break right as I'm recording. That was a lot of fun. Like I said, we'll be back on Monday with fresh new episodes for the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Watch some hockey, watch some football. It's great that football is back. Just watch all the sports you can.

And we will be back on Monday with a new episode. I will talk to you all that.