Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins season comes to an end with yet another blown lead

Episode Date: April 18, 2024

The Pittsburgh Penguins played their final game of the year on Wednesday night and it was a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders. Hunter and Pat start the show by recapping the game and give their posit...ives and negatives. They look at how it was actually a fairly fun game between the two teams while shouting out the second line for how good it was again. They also discuss Jeff Carter's emotional night and reminisce on his great career, even though he lost a step throughout the last year or two. They go into how he got a great send-off with the opening faceoff and goal, plus how great he was when he first got to the Penguins. They then do a quick lookahead to the offseason and how busy Kyle Dubas should be this summer by thanking everyone for their support during this season.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monopoly GO!Get in the game and join your friends. Download MONOPOLY GO! now free on The App Store or Google Pay. The mobile hit twist on classic MONOPOLY.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.PolicygeniusCheck life insurance off your to do list in no time with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/lockedonnhl to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save.SleeperDownload the Sleeper App and use promo code LOCKEDONNHL to get up to a $100 match on your first deposit. Terms and conditions apply. See Sleeper’s Terms of Use for details.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelFanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARENTEED That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – win or lose! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 Did you were a loved one suffer through game 82 of the Pittsburgh Penguins season against the New York Islanders? Well, you may be entitled to financial compensation. 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, Penguins fans, to another edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Patrick Damp. You can follow me on Twitter at Synonym 4Wet. joined as always by my co-host Hunter Hodes. You can follow him on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.
Starting point is 00:00:39 You can toss the show's Twitter account, a follow at L0 underscore Penguins. And we thank you for making this your first listener watch of the day because we're your team every day in today's episode is brought to you by Monopoly Go. I admit it, I have a competitive side, and it is a big fan of Monopoly Go.
Starting point is 00:00:58 The mobile hit twist on classic Monopoly. So join your friends and download Monopoly Go now, free on the app store, or Google Play. So just got to be clear, the cold open was a joke. There is no class action lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Penguins for their final game of the season, just having a little bit of fun at the end of what has been a treacherous and long season for us as Penguins fans.
Starting point is 00:01:24 And it ends the exact same way that it began with a blown lead. This time they lose 5'4 to the New York Islanders on the new. on the island in game 82 and this was actually kind of a fun game to watch. I know I'd made the joke, but I mean, all things considered for a game that meant absolutely nothing to either team, penguins out of the playoffs, no chance to get in. Islanders have the third seat in the metro locked up. They're moving on to play the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Starting point is 00:02:00 But it was a bit of a back and forth affair. there were a bunch of challenges, a disallowed goal, a penalty shot, a blown lead, a bunch of tying goals. And the penguins had more than 40 shots. The Islanders had more than 30 shots. And it was very much a, you know what? This game doesn't matter. Let's just go play some shinny out there, boys.
Starting point is 00:02:25 And boy, it was kind of a fun watch. What do you think? Outside of the first 10 minutes, I think the penguins played fairly well in this game. during the first 10 minutes, it looked like they were just going to go one, two, three, Cancun and hit the beach on Thursday because it looked like they had no interest in even playing this game. But after that, those next 20 minutes, I thought the Penguins badly outplayed the Islanders. They were doubling them up in shots at one point in the game. And then, of course, the Islanders pushed back quite a few times after those 20 minutes. And then from then on, it was kind of a back and forth affair.
Starting point is 00:02:59 You know, Islanders would score penguins would answer back. Then the Islanders would score again. and the Penguins would answer back again, and then the Islanders eventually had a game winner in the third period, even though it looked like a couple of times that the Penguins, we're going to try and squeeze out at least a point from this game. But they didn't go fully quiet into the night. They actually looked like they had something to play for in this game, even though it was a meaningless game.
Starting point is 00:03:21 For the Penguins, it was also a meaningless game for the Islanders as well. And I think part of that reason was because of big Jeff Carter. We're going to discuss more about him and how this was his final game in the second segment. But you could tell right from the opening puck drop that they were playing this game to win for him. I know they didn't play that well for the first 10 minutes, but they woke up big time after that. You got Carter the goal. And it was a pretty emotional game, I think, all around for this team just because Carter is such a well-respected veteran in that locker room. they really wanted to win that game for it, even though they were already eliminated from playoff
Starting point is 00:04:03 contention. But, yeah, as for an entertainment standpoint, this game really was a lot of fun. Yeah, Patrick Waugh challenging for off sides. You have Mike Sullivan challenging for a stoppage off of a miss high stick. And I do think it was kind of close to a miss high stick. The offside, that was obviously offside, but Patrick Waugh, come on, man, it's a meaningless game. We don't have to do that and take that boosting goal out. And then you have the penalty shot at the end.
Starting point is 00:04:27 this was a peak NHL officiating game all around. And of course, Kelly Sutherland and Wes McCauley are calling it. So all in all, yeah, kind of a fun game to end the season, even though the Penguins didn't get the result. Yeah, it was. And of course, like you said, you have Kelly Sutherland and West McCauley, two referees who, they may not be the best referees, but I will give them this. They're at least entertaining.
Starting point is 00:04:55 They at least will make funny calls when they put the microphone on. They will give it right back to the players who give it to them. And annoying as that may be as an NHL fan because of how inconsistent officiating is. Like you said, from an entertainment standpoint, it's fun. And I mean, I got to say, looking at the hearing about it on the broadcast and then watching it, I mean, two players, one from each side, I think just kind of hope that they could play 82 games a year against one another. That's Samuel Bullduke of the Islanders. He has two goals to end the season, both of which came against the Penguins.
Starting point is 00:05:38 And Valteri Pustinen got his fifth goal of the season. He has three against the New York Islanders. So both of those guys probably going into the locker room after the game and thinking, man, if I could just play 82 games against this team, I'd be scoring in an 82 goal game, 82 goal pace. Hey, you did forget one player when you were talking about those two. Brock Nelson, I know he has over 30 goals this season, but it's always death taxes in Brock Nelson scoring against this hockey team.
Starting point is 00:06:06 I looked it up during the game when he scored just because I was like, he has to have his most career goals against the penguins. And it's true, I believe it's 21 after tonight. and that's his career high. And I had a couple people ask me, like, well, he's got to, like, have doubled up against the penguins of anyone else. And it's actually not true. He loves to torture us. He loves to torture the New York Islanders who he has, or New York Rangers, excuse me, who he has 18 goals against.
Starting point is 00:06:35 And then for some reason, the Montreal Canadians, who he has 17 against. So if you're the penguins, the Rangers, or the Canadians, and you see Brock Nelson walk into the arena, just pencil them in for a goal. We can do that anytime goal score for a fan duel for all you sports betters out there overall. But back to the game itself, I think the best line for the Penguins tonight, yet again, Pat, that second line of bunting, Malkin, and Raquel. They had about a little over 12 minutes of five-on-five ice time tonight. Numbers-wise, when they were on ice, penguins had 60% of the shot of Thames. They split in terms of scoring chances, but they did have four high-danger chances for,
Starting point is 00:07:13 three high-danger chances against, and of course they do get that goal from Ricardo. Raquel to end the first period. And I did say this on Twitter. I'll say it on the show here, too. I know Raquel had a really bad start to the year, but he ended this season on a high note, I would think. He did get close to 20 goals. Overall, that release that he had to beat Ilya Sirokin was really nice. I don't know what the future holds for him going into the offseason. If they were up to me, I would look to dangle him just because I'm not too big of a fan of that contract. But I do like how he ended this season. And if he were to be on this team next season, I wouldn't be surprised that he does get back to over 20 goals for next season.
Starting point is 00:07:55 I'm just a little wary about that contract overall. But bunting was great yet again. Evgeny Malkin, his skating was tremendous. He was setting up chances left and right. He gets that awesome goal right at the side of the net. And to be honest, after seeing a couple replays, it did look like he kicked it in a little bit, but whatever. Who cares? It's a meaningless game.
Starting point is 00:08:14 No one's going to care at the end of the day. but I just had to shout out that line because I thought that was the Penguins best line by far yet again. And in a hilarious twist of fate tonight, the Penguins power play goes two for two 100%. But on the flip side, the Islanders power play goes two for three. So it was not a pretty night for either team's penalty kill. But I mean, you, tonight's game in all seriousness, fun as it was, entertaining as it was disappointing as it was to get a loss and another blown lead loss as they have so many times this season, it was a frustrating game because you watch the way they played.
Starting point is 00:08:59 You watch the way the power play operated and you just can't help but think where was this all season long? Right. I mean, you took the words right out of my mouth there. I kind of said something similar during our Wednesday episode. Honestly, they were so inconsistent throughout the first 65 games and then they turned on and it's like, yeah, I mean, if you had just played like this for a little bit more during the season, you would be in the playoffs. But instead, you miss the playoffs for a second straight year by the slimmest of margins for a second straight year. And you go into another offseason with pretty much the same questions that you had heading into last off season. So again, I concur with you overall. The movement on the power play was great to see.
Starting point is 00:09:47 And the zone entries were awesome. That pass to Malkin was also tremendous. It was just such a better power play overall tonight. And I wish I got to see that type of movement from the power play all year long. We really do. It would have made such a difference in this season. And we'd be getting geared up for the playoffs, if it were, but it was not. And like you said, we're going to go into another offseason with a lot of questions, but one of those questions will not be what happens with Jeff Carter. He confirmed after the game that he is in fact retiring in last night was his final NHL game. And we will talk a little bit more about Jeff Carter, his career and his impact on the penguins in the second segment.
Starting point is 00:10:33 But before we do that, we are going to take. tell you about our first sponsor, and that is Monopoly Go. I have been told that I am a competitive person, and Hunter, can you confirm that for the listeners? 100%. He is one of the most competitive people that I know. Yes, I absolutely am. And most people in my life, including you, will confirm that. It is definitely a flaw I have to work on. But my competitive side is a big fan of Monopoly Go. I'm sure you've heard of it, and it's been downloaded over 150 million times. It's a great twist on Monopoly where you play on not one, but hundreds of Monopoly boards in crazy locations, building up amazing cities that bring
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Starting point is 00:11:40 Download Monopoly Go now free on the app store or Google Play. All right, we're back here on the Thursday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am Patrick Damp. That is Hunter Hodes. And it is official. Big Jeff Carter is calling it a career. he basically had the Jeff Carter farewell tour tonight in this game, whether it was like you said,
Starting point is 00:12:06 getting the opening face off with Sidney Crosby on his wing, and then late in the game on a power play with a chance to tie the game, he's on the top power play. He gets the goal that ties the game. And you could see it throughout the game. There was a lot of emotion in and around him. His family was in the building, one of his longtime teammates from when he won the state.
Starting point is 00:12:29 Stanley Cup. Jonathan Quicks family was up in the suite with his family. Since he's getting ready for the playoffs, Jonathan Quick, that is, with the New York Rangers. And just a really, really great career for Jeff Carter. I know the last couple seasons, he has been a polarizing figure among Penguins fans. I was saying it to you before we hit record. You could see a lot of people tonight finally, I don't want to say come to the realization because when you're an an NHL player on a team that has playoff and even championship aspirations, you're going to get held to that standard no matter what. But you could see a lot of people start to say, hey, listen, he's not to blame for the contract that he signed. You get offered that kind of deal.
Starting point is 00:13:13 You're going to sign it. But to Jeff Carter, 19 seasons of 10 or more goals, 4.30 plus goal seasons. won two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings. And when he got traded to the Penguins, I mean, that first season and a half, two seasons, man, he was pretty darn good. And it looked like it was going to be a pretty quick and pretty easy career transition and revitalization for him when he arrived. I remember not thinking that much about the trade at the time.
Starting point is 00:13:48 I warmed up to it quite a bit a few years. years ago. But then all of a sudden he goes out there, plays only 14 games. He has nine goals and 11 points in 14 games heading into the playoffs and is then one of the Penguins best players in that series against the New York Islanders. Every time he had the puck on his stick, it felt like he was going to score. The next season, 2021, 2021, 22, when they lost to the Rangers in seven games. 76 games, 19 goals, 45 points in those 76 games. I mean, he's averaging over a half a point per game. But right when he signed that extension, you could tell that he had lost a little bit of a step. And you're right. You can't blame Carter for taking that money because he's getting over
Starting point is 00:14:33 $3 million per year for the next couple of years. Any player in that situation would take that. And I also don't think you can blame Carter for Mike Sullivan, utilizing him in situations that he just wasn't able to handle anymore. For example, Pat, last year, he's taking the first face off in overtime. I'm sorry. I like Jeff Carter as a player. I don't need him taking that opening face off in overtime. I also don't need him defending six on fives when you have other better and younger players that are more capable of doing that. I just think Sullivan utilized him wrong in a couple of ways throughout these last couple of years. And that led to me and I know quite a lot of other people to be pretty hard on him on social media. That aside, he had one heck of a career.
Starting point is 00:15:21 you could tell from the opening puck drop tonight that this was going to be his final game. You said, Crosby's on his wing. They put Carter out on the top PowerPull unit looking for that tying goal. The script writers were hard at work tonight trying to get Carter one more goal in his final game. Heck, he was on the ice on the six on five situation and almost scored the tying goal with less than a minute left. Did you see that cross ice pass by Michael Buncing? That was an awesome pass and a but a better save by. Sorokin, you could tell they were really wanting to send him out in style. And again, I wish him
Starting point is 00:15:58 the very best in the future. I know he lost a step or two these last couple of years. But man, was he fun to watch that first year, year and a half when he first got traded here? He really was. And I got to give him his flowers for this season. I know it was another frustrating one. I know it's been the meme amongst our most hardcore listeners that we interact with all the time that I'm the president of the Jeff Carter fan club. And it's all warranted. I accept it. But in a reduced role for a guy who has had the kind of career that he has, he took it in
Starting point is 00:16:31 stride. He was a great pro. He was a great role model for some of the young, young-ish guys in the locker room. And he never seemed to complain or do anything that would make the locker room. I don't want to say toxic because that goes a little. too far, but he never really became an issue for any way that we heard. Because you know a guy like that, the type of career that he had, especially all the way up until, I would say, a season or an and a half ago was pretty much a very reliable goal
Starting point is 00:17:07 score in the National Hockey League. And whether it's just pride or human nature, when that kind of skill diminishes and it's no longer there, it can become really frustrating. and it can become really hard to accept. But to his credit this season, he accepted that reduced role. And for the most part, I think played it fairly well. I know the production was down this year compared to last year. But I think overall, he was just better this year compared to last year.
Starting point is 00:17:37 I know the bar wasn't that high considering how he struggled last year. But you're right. They put him in that reduced role for the most part. There were still times where Sullivan was deploying. him in late game situations that really drove me crazy. But for the most part, they put him on the fourth line and he only got a select amount of ice time per night. And he didn't kill them on a nightly basis.
Starting point is 00:18:03 So that's really all I can ask for overall. Now, I do have a question for you? Do you think he's a Hall of Famer? Maybe. I think, I think, yeah, he's one of those guys. I think gets in way down the line. He's a guy that I think when you have one of those years where there's certain guys with eligibility, but there's no like true blue Hall of Famer that, you know, you look at and go,
Starting point is 00:18:35 oh, this guy, he's definitely in. He is absolutely in. He's a guy who when there's kind of a down year for the Hall of Fame, he put together a very long career. He's up there with 30, for his 13. for his 30 plus goals seasons, he's up there with a lot of guys who are already in the Hall of Fame. So I think that alone plus two Stanley Cups and the longevity, I think way down the line he gets in. It's not going to be first, second, or even third year of eligibility. It'll be a while.
Starting point is 00:19:05 But I do think at some point he will get the call just because you look at the numbers and they are pretty darn good add into championships in a long career. The Hall of Fame committee loves that kind of stuff. Oh, for sure. I do think eventually he is going to get in right now. I kind of see him in that Hall of very, very good category. But I do think eventually the committee who votes players into Hall of Fame will eventually vote him in. I don't think it's going to be right away. But I do think there's going to be a day where that comes.
Starting point is 00:19:40 And we know how it is with the Hockey Hall of Fame. It really is the Hall of Very Good at this point because there's a lot of guys. guys who get like they don't and this is a whole different discussion for a whole different episode but they really should be the elite of the elite but it just isn't there's a lot of people in there that make you scratch your head not that they were ever bad but you look at it and go I don't know if he's a hall of favor but like I said different discussion different day so congratulations to Jeff Carter on one hell of a career hope he does all hope he gets all the best in retirement and if I'm the penguins I'm keeping them around in some capacity whether
Starting point is 00:20:16 it's player development, public relations, whatever, because by all accounts, he loves it here, he's planning to stay here. So I do hope the penguins give him some kind of role moving forward however they can. But now we got to start talking about the off season. And we are going to do that in the final segment of this episode. But first, we got to tell you about our next sponsor. And that is policy genius. Everybody knows this for the most part. And if you don't, one day you will learn that choosing a life insurance policy is extremely important for your family, your loved ones, and yourself, but trying to get that right policy is confusing, time consuming, and it can feel overwhelming. But with policy genius, you can find life insurance
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Starting point is 00:22:20 That's Hunter Hodes. And here we are. The season has officially come to a close. And as we've been saying, a lot more questions than answers. And we did get one answer other than Jeff Carter about what is going to happen with this team. The team announced right after the game that they will hold their end of season media availability with select players. and head coach Mike Sullivan tomorrow at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. And then on Friday at 10 a.m., Kyle Dubus will address the media from UPMC.
Starting point is 00:22:54 Lemieux Sports Complex. Obviously, both of us will be watching those, and we will get you our reactions from them on our Friday edition. But here's where I want to start with this, because it's been a topic of discussion all season long, and it's one that we have to have here that we're going to obviously have throughout the offseason and as any stories may develop, but we got to start with the people behind the bench. Does Mike Sullivan come back? Does this coaching staff come back?
Starting point is 00:23:24 And do you think they should come back, Hunter? No. If it were up to me as Kyle Dubis, I would cut bait with all the coaches and start fresh. I think it's time to bring in a new head coach, whether that's someone like, just throwing names at the dartboard here, Craig Bureubi, Dean Everson, Jay Woodcroft, et cetera, I think it's time for a fresh voice to come in here and to jumpstart this team a little bit. It's the one button they really have impressed yet, and I think it's past due at this point. Now that said, I also won't be surprised if Sullivan does come back based on the way Dubas has been talking about him throughout this season.
Starting point is 00:24:06 I mean, he even had a quote, I believe it was during the GM show, well, if you don't have Sully, then you're searching for Sully. So I do think there is a real chance that he comes back. And if he does, you need to have a brand new coaching staff around him. You have to cut bait with both Mike Volucci and Todd Reardon. I understand that the P.K. Was pretty decent throughout this season. I don't care. It's time for a fresh start there.
Starting point is 00:24:34 I've said so many times about Reardon, but you've got to let him go. This obviously, you have to bring in someone who can bring fresh ideas to the power play and can coach up the defenseman a little bit better as well. That's bare, bare minimum, I think, for the staff. But if we're up to me, I would cut bait with all these coaches. I just don't know if Kyle Dubus sees it that way. You beat me to it. I was going to say, I think Mike Sullivan is back. I don't think the rest of the coaching staff is back with them. And I have, if I'm Kyle Dubus, my objective this offseason when it comes to coaching is to find somebody who is going to make Mike Sullivan understand his seat is very hot. I know a lot of people,
Starting point is 00:25:20 especially people in Boston that I know, love to tell me about how cheap Fenway Sports Group is. And I have to disagree with them a little bit. And I have to say that they are, but around the margins. They're not cheap when it comes to their sport operations departments. When it comes to the actual operations, whether it's staff, whether it's facility, anything that has to do with the actual performance of the team, they spend money. They are willing to spend money. It's everywhere else on the margins that I think you can say they cut costs.
Starting point is 00:25:54 But when it comes to personnel, when it comes to staff, when it comes to facility, they will write the check, they will sign the check, they will pay the money. And if I'm Kyle Dubus, I'm looking for one or two coaches to put beside him. I don't know who it is yet because you never know
Starting point is 00:26:11 with the coaching carousel in the off season. We already know that Buffalo let go of some coaches. We know that there's a handful of other teams that have interim coaches that they might not hold on to. So depending on who's available, you have to get somebody on that bench that could realistically, not just take over on an interim basis and hold off until the end of next season to become head coach,
Starting point is 00:26:33 but somebody who could take over as head coach. Agreed. I 100% concur with you on that. if you do bring him back, he better be under a major microscope for next season. For example, if this team has a really horrid start out of the gate and you bring him back, that leash better be really short to start next season. Yeah. And that's the other thing, keeping it on the train of FSG, I do think that at the very least,
Starting point is 00:27:05 they're going to honor the beginning of the extension. I don't think that they want to drop him before. it kicks in. But I do think that there is going to be a very frank discussion with him that says, all right, your extension is now active. You are now on this contract. The clock is ticking.
Starting point is 00:27:23 It's no longer you're here and you're the best coach and we're not going to do anything to get rid of you. It's now, okay, you're on your contract. Now you have to earn it again. Oh, 100%. And I just want to see him make adjustments to
Starting point is 00:27:40 his system for next season. I'm tired of the aggressive pinching. I'm tired of all these cross-ice passes when they're trying to skate out of the zone with control. Just you don't need to play that way overall. Get that out of your system a little bit and scale it back. That's where I want to see a little bit for Mike Sullivan in terms of tweaks to his system for next season. That depends upon what they do with the roster this offseason. If they get players that can better suit that system, I think you can continue with it. But then therein lies the other issue.
Starting point is 00:28:21 When he put that system in place in 1516, he was ahead of the curve. A lot of teams weren't doing it. And it snuck up on a lot of teams. Now a lot of teams play the same system as the Penguins, because the Penguins, in that era of the 2016-standstill, Stanley Cup, 2017 Stanley Cup. They reinvented the National Hockey League. Now it is based on speed.
Starting point is 00:28:43 It is a fast league now. It wasn't a slow league prior to that, but there wasn't as much emphasis on it. And now you look at some of the best teams in the National Hockey League, and they are blazing fast. And it has given the Penguins fits over the last couple seasons. So a lot of questions to be
Starting point is 00:29:01 answered there. But before we end this show, this episode, we do have to take some time here to thank all of you. Because we know this has been a frustrating season. From the time the puck dropped up until the final buzzer tonight, between the power play, the way it ended, not making the playoffs again. It's been a tough one. But Hunter and I cannot thank you guys enough for joining us on this ride this season.
Starting point is 00:29:31 We have tried to make it as fun as we can, despite another frustrating season. But none of it would matter at all without you guys tuning in, listening to the show, interacting with us on social media, sharing the show, hanging out with us in the comment section. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you guys so much for supporting our show. You all are the reason why I continue to do this as a whole. Pat, I can't thank you enough for joining me on this show right before the season last year. I've been looking for someone to bounce ideas off of for quite a while.
Starting point is 00:30:13 And I knew that you would be the perfect fit to bring on for this show after doing it solo for a few years. I mean, to be honest, I was kind of getting to the point where I was gassed, honestly. And you kind of honestly reignited my love a little bit for this. And I can't thank you enough for coming on here and doing it with me. To you, the listeners and the watchers of the show, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. The show grew in ways that I never thought it would this year. And I think we have the best listeners slash watchers out there as a whole. So thank you all so much.
Starting point is 00:30:53 I know the season didn't go according to plan for a lot of us. but I do think if the right moves are made this summer, this team can get back to the playoffs next year. We'll have all the time in the world to discuss potential moves for the offseason. For example, now that Carter's retired, who is going to take his spot? Chanson Harkins is a free agent. There's another spot in the bottom six. Does Jackson and Iveney get the number six defensive spot?
Starting point is 00:31:19 What happens in net? Does this team need another top four defenseman? And I think so. Do they need another top six winger so you can move to Roe Conner down? about third line center because I think they needed another three C. We have all the time in the world for that. But to sum it all up, thank you all so, so, so much.
Starting point is 00:31:38 And yes, Hunter, thank you for taking the chance to bring me on the show because you guys all know if you've known me long enough, I can talk to a wall about hockey and I could do it for hours because it's my favorite thing in the world right there with the Pittsburgh Penguins. But this love fest doesn't mean we're going anywhere. We will be back with an episode on Friday to talk more about the offseason, give our reactions to Sullivan and the players in Dubus's media availability.
Starting point is 00:32:06 Talk more about what we think needs to happen with the penguins this off season. We're also going to keep you up to date on the minor league teams, the Wilkesbury Scranton Penguins in their Calder Cup playoffs and the Wheeling Naylars in the Kelly Cup playoffs. And we also got a lot of offseason content to come because hockey never stops, baby. It's all it's year round. So thank you as always for tuning in to the locked on penguins podcast. We will be back on Friday, like I said, to give our reactions to the media availability and have some more offseason discussions. But for now, I am Patrick Damp. That is Hunter Hodes.
Starting point is 00:32:43 Thank you as always for tuning in and we will be back on Friday.

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