Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The three MAIN reasons why this Penguins season went down the drain...

Episode Date: April 20, 2023

Happy Wednesday! We're still rocking and rolling here and Hunter starts the show by discussing the main reason why the Pittsburgh Penguins just couldn't get it going this season. He looks at how the Jekyll & Hyde aspect was too much to overcome and why it felt like the Penguins would get up for some games but also decide to not fully play in other games. After that, he dives into the finishing problem that the Penguins had and why a good chunk of it comes down to poor roster construction. Even so, he looks at how there was a stark difference between the top six and the rest of the lineup. Hunter pleads for the new management to add more pure finishers to the lineup so that they can take the pressure off the core players next season while also making an argument for the defensive core to be more involved next season. Finally, Hunter looks at why the Penguins could never get a timely save when they needed to from their goalies and why that really doomed them as the season went on. All of that, plus much more is on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!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. 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.Athletic GreensTo make it easy, Athletic 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/NHLNETWORKFanDuelMake 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.

Hello, everyone. Happy Wednesday, April 19th, day three of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I've been watching some of the Islanders Hurricanes game tonight. It was also flipping back and forth between the Bruins and Panthers. But for today's episode, we're going to get into my three main reasons why this season did not go as planned, the first of which you will get right after this drop. 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 Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Honor Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows Twitter, Eleanorstor Penguins, and of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. We're freeing available on all platforms. And today's episode is also brought to you by GameTime. You can download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code lock.

NCHL for $20 off your first purchase. So let's jump right into it. So for today's episode, we're going to get into my three main reasons why this season just went down the drain. I mean, the Penguins missed the playoffs the first time since 2006. My first one, honestly, it's just the lack of consistency. I think that's really the big one for me, you know, to start the season, 4-0 and 1 off to that grade. I should have been 5-0, to be honest, about that overtime loss was to a Canadian.

team that the Penguins were up to nothing going into the third period. They allowed an early goal in the third. And then they actually allowed that six on five goal with less than two minutes to go in the third. They tie it, Montreal ties it and then they win in an overtime on a power play goal from Kirby Doc. Penguins easily could have been five and no right there. But after that, they have that massive six, seven game losing streak.

And then November and December, they just rip through the league. And I mean rip through the league. into the new year, this team had 65, 70% chance of making the playoffs. The odds were very much in their favor. They were in very much in a playoff spot. I'm pretty sure, in terms

of being up on the Panthers, they were about seven to eight to nine points up on them. But, you know, they would have these streaks. You know, again, that 4-0-1. And then you had that 6-7 game and then they win 13 out of 16, whatever it

was in November, December, where they are tearing through the league. And then they went on another big losing streak. And they went a little bit of a winning streak. Then they lost a few games. Then they won. And it was just, I was saying it all year, Jack and Hyde. And, you know, they threw away games that they just should not have lost. And I don't need to remind everyone that they only won one game combined against the

senators, Canadians, and the Red Wings. And I'll even throw the Chicago Blackhawks in there. One game combined. against those four teams, a good chunk of those teams are lottery teams. That's just, that's not good enough. And even in the games that they would play well and you'd be like, oh my God, like, it looks like there's an actual good team here. And, you know, we saw it for a lot of stretches this season.

But then they would follow up those performances with games where it's like, what are we watching here? It almost just feels like they would pick and choose. They would go through the schedule, right? And it's like, oh, we're going to show up for this. this select game. Then we're not going to show it for this game. Then we're going to show it for this game, not this game, this game, not this game, not. That's almost what it felt like, to me at least. It just, it literally felt like they would just look at the schedule, decide,

oh, we're going to play hard against these teams and we're not going to play hard against these teams. For example, those first two games against the newer Rangers this past season, they played their tails off against them. Sure, they lost the previous, the next two games at Madison Square Garden, even though the third one they could have gotten a result from. But at least they played hard against the Rangers at home, but yet you can't do that against the senators or the Canadians, and especially the Blackhawks at the late stage of the season where everything was on the line. Heck, we can even throw that loss to the San Jose Sharks in there. They only had, they only won one of their games against them. They lost the game at home, and that was right

before the All-Star break earlier this year. You know, there was just way too much inconsistency from the scene. This was probably, I think, the most inconsistent team, Penguins team, I should, you know, obviously I should say that I've watched in my lifetime, maybe outside of the 2014-15 season, but I also don't think that's a team is that good. And I know this team wasn't that good either, but in terms of, you know, inconsistency, I think this one has it in the bag.

I just, I don't get it, you know, and you can even throw the games against the lightning and the avalancheon. The Penguins win a combined five and oh against those two teams. I'm not joking. You all know it too. Finally even know, they swept the season series against the lightning, and they usually play well against the lightning. They beat the avalanche both times after losing to the avalanche both times last year,

but you're telling me you lose to the lacquins and you lose to the sharks, and you lose to the Canadians and you lose to all these bad teams. And honestly, it just felt like they weren't taking those teams as seriously. And I understand, you know, you get up more for games against teams ahead of you in the standings, against better teams overall. I get that. But you still have to give the teams below you or the teams, even right around you, like the Islanders,

that same level of respect that you give those teams above you in the standings. And those Islanders games, what killers those were, right? Massive, massive killers. I will continue to argue that they should have won those last three games against the Islanders. They should have gotten all two of those,

they should have gotten to both, all three of those games in regulation. game. They got blown out on the first one. Okay, whatever. The second one, you're up four to two with less than a minute to go in the second period. You don't win that game. You're up two to one going in the third period in the next game at home. You allow two goals in only a few minutes and you don't tie the game latent regulation when you're throwing a bench at Ilya Syrokin. And then the last one, the worst one, up three to one with less than six minutes to go in the third period, you're actually playing a pretty solid game, and then all hell breaks loose, and then you lose in overtime, and you only get a point. They only got one point in those four games against

the Islanders. Those were killers right there. I don't think I really think that was, you know, they give, too, they give it inconsistencies. I think that just had to do with them not being able to defend in the third period. And I think that is a big issue. It obviously was. It's not going to make my top three, though it probably should. But that's another. one right there. But still, the lack of consistency with this team was baffling this season. It's a season unlike any other I've ever seen. The streaks that they would go on. Win four, your first five, lose your next six. You win 12, your next 15, whatever that number was. You lose your next six or seven in a row. You win in your next four in a row, but you lose your next four.

Happened to all season. They couldn't even string together a four-game winning streak with everything on the line in most of those games. or against garbage teams. That should tell you all you need to know about this team and its lack of consistency this season. Not good enough. And that's why they're sitting out right now. So that's, I think that's chief among them. I think that's the top reason why this team,

it just, they weren't able to, you know, make the playoffs and be a better team this season. They just were never consistent. Even with the flaws on the roster, they could just never get out of their own way with a lot of these games. That wraps up this first segment. Coming up in the second segment, I am getting it into my second reason for why this season just did not go as planned for the Penguins.

But before we get into that, we do have to discuss game time. So, you know, there have been plenty of times where I've been trusted about buying tickets. Actually, just last week against the Blackhawks, whereas some of those tickets were going pretty fast. It was kind of like a playoff atmosphere. but, you know, I was able to get them at the last minute thanks to game time. You know, it is the place for last minute ticket deals. You know, forget planning months in advance.

Game time has deals on tickets right up to the day of the event. You also can get exclusive, exclusive flash deals on tickets for football, basketball, baseball, concerts, comedy, theater, and more. The game time guarantee means it will always get the best price. If you find tickets in the same section, rose or less, game time will credit you 100, 10% of the difference. You can download the GameTime app right now, create an account, and use Code Locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

Again, you can create an account and redeem code Locked on NHL for $20 off. Download game time today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. All right, I'm back in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodey. You're going to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at Eleanor So Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list in the day. were free and available on all platforms.

So my second reason for why the season did not go is plan the lack of depth scoring slash finishing. I believe it's John Smith and a couple others on the YouTube channel who have been saying this. You know, the Penguins and the numbers back this up. They have been one of the worst finishing teams in the league these last couple of seasons. They were dead last last season. You figured that it was going to regress to the mean because the season before last season,

the COVID shortened year, the Penguins, they were the best finishing team in the league. I'm not joking, look it up. They go from first to worst. You figure it would at least get up to the middle of the pack this year, right? Nope. Nope. They stayed basically dead last. I believe they got 31st in the league.

Yeah, where's my notes? Yeah, 31st. Not good enough at all. And, you know, part of that is due. No, actually, I should say a good chunk of that is due to, not having enough pure finishers on this team. The Penguins need more of those for next season and beyond if they want to win again in the Sydney Crosby of Guinea-Malk and Chris Langeera.

All we need to do is look at the stats. This season, Gennie Malkin, excuse me, Sydney Crosby had 33 goals. Gennonnie Malkin 27, Rekyll 36, Ricardo-Rekyll 28. Jason Zucker, 27, Brian Russ 20. The entire top six had 20 or more goals. Chris Lattang also had double-digit goals. He finished the season with 41 points. The only player that had double-digit goals in the bottom six this season,

outside of Bronch McGinn, who was traded, he had 10 goals, 16 points, and 60 games with Penguins. I'm not really counting him right now because he's not on the team. The only player that is currently on a team that had more than 10 goals in the bottom six outside of the top six and Chris Letang was Jeff freaking Carter. He had 13 goals in 29 points in 79 games. That is sad. I mean, that's a far cry from last season when Danton Hinen had 18. Evram Rodriguez had 20, basically, right around there.

Jeff Carter had double digits last year, too, when he was actually showing a little bit of a pulse. Man, I mean, Teddy Bluger actually scored a little bit last year. Man, it was a, it is a far cry. Man, just think of those bottom sixes these last couple of years. He had Edm Rodriguez, Danton Hinen at 18. Obviously, we saw some regression this year, which is unfortunate. Freddie Goudreau was awesome.

Jared McCann, I don't need to remind everyone how good he was in the bottom six. Brandon Tann have had double-digit goals when he was here. Those two, these last two teams were deep. They were very, very, very deep. The Penguins were anything but that this season. Let's go, let it. We can keep looking at the numbers here. You know, Jeff Petrie, he only had five goals.

I understand he's a defense. but he wasn't as advertised. Danton Hinen only had eight goals and 22 points this season. Kappan had seven goals before he was waived. Ryan Pilling only had seven goals. Josh Archibald only had six goals. I understand he was hurt for a good bit, but after the way he started, even when he came back, you figured, oh, he can start scoring a little bit again.

No, six goals for a fourth liner. That's not going to cut it. I'm sorry. I understand he was a bit banged up. That is still not going to cut it. Drew O'Connor, only five goals this season. Teddy Bluger, two goals. You know, you go down the list.

You know, two goals, three. Michael Gremlin only had one goal. Slim pickings. You know, that is a massive reason why this team did not go anywhere. And you want to go to the blue line. Let's do it. Why not? Marcus Pedersen, for a fantastic season, not going to pick on him that much.

Only had one goal. Brian Dune one. only one goal. Jeff Petrie, five goals. So from half of your starting defensive core, seven goals from three guys. I am sorry, you need more offense from your back end if you want to go further as a team.

You need more offense from your bottom six. I mean, I've been saying that all season, but from your back end too, I understand. I don't want every defense in being an offensive wizard, but seven goals combined from half of your starting defensive core heading into the season is not good enough. P.O. Joseph, he had a few goals. I'll take that even though his defensive lapses this season were kind of eh to say the least.

But, you know, Chatter-Reedle, one goal. Mark Friedman, one goal. Demetri Kulikov, no goals. Jan Ruta, three goals. So if you combine Dumlin Pedersen, Petri, and Jan Ruta, 10 goals, combined from four of your six starting defensemen coming into this season. It's not good enough. And again, I'm not trying to pick on Marcus Pedersen because he was a beast for this team this

year. Either way, you need more offense from that unit. And I think the new management group is going to realize that and is going to try to make some changes to it somehow, some way. You can't be having Crystal Tang only give you your offense from the back end. You need other players to help in that department. Yeah, did Brian Dumlin set our career high in points? Sure. You only also have one goal. You need more of the other players outside of the top six scoring goals for you. Those numbers that I just gave you, those represent a failure by this last run office to build a competent team around star players. That's what it does for me. And it's ridiculous that that's what Cindy Crosby and the rest of that core group got because they didn't deserve that.

They did everything they could to try to get this team into the playoffs. But, you know, poor roster construction, bad performances from players who you expected to have not that good performances, some other players you expect to be better, we're not as good. And this is what you get. They need to fix the bottom six next season. They got to maybe change out the defense to get a couple more. more puck movers slash point producers back there while also maintaining, you know, some defensive

defensemen. And I think if they do those things, you know, they'll have a more well-balanced team for next season, even if Jason Zucker walks in. I know that's going to be hard replacing 27, 28 goals. But I think you can find someone on the free agent market or be of the trade market. I can hopefully come close. If you only have to replace one top six winger for next season, I think you're doing pretty good because sometimes a lot of teams, they have to replace more than one.

top six-winger I'm heading into a season. But that does it for this segment of the podcast coming up to end the show. We're going to get into my third and final reason why this season did not go as planned. Some of you will probably have a good guess for it. We'll have to see. Stick around after this for this commercial break. All right. I'm back in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.

I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at Eleanor for Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this yours. first this in the day. We're free and available on all platforms. So, you know, my next biggest one, honestly, it's the goaltending. This team had very inconsistent goaltending all season long. And, you know, it's never good when your starter only plays 47 games and your backup

plays 38. That is just way too many games. And Tristanjari, you know, injured or not, he struggled. You know, he allowed almost three goals above expected. 909 say percentage 2.9 goals against average. Casey DeSmith saved three goals above expected. 905% percentage 3.17 goals against average. Jari, you know, his goals stayed above expected per 60, minus 0.063 for DeSmith.

0.084. Even Dustin Tukarski had a better goal state above expected in four games compared to Tishanjari. You know, this team was never able to just get consistent goaltending from whoever it was. and yeah, I know to Smith had to play a lot more this season. I get that. But, you know, you still need to be

a bit better as a backup when, you know, the starter is hurt. I mean, I'm not expecting to Smith to be Jesus Christ over here, you know, or, you know, goaltending terms of Patrick Waugh or Dominic Hasick.

But, you know, 3.17 goals against average is not good. A 955% percentage that's hovering on league average. I would say it's a little bit below. But that has to change for next season, especially if he is on this team. Tristan Jari, we don't know if he's going to be on the team next season.

I'm not really sure he has earned, excuse me, another contract. If he does get one, I expected to be only a one to two-year deal, and I think they're going to bring someone else in to pair with him, you know, that has more experience, that has better numbers than to Smith, because you can't run this tandem back. You know, and in big moments when you need your goalies to make saves to help you out, even during defensive lapses. And I know there were plenty of them this season for the Penguins.

Jari or DeSmith couldn't do it. You know, I'll keep saying it. The more DeSmith plays, the worse he is. If he had played, you know, maybe 10 less games a season, did the Penguins get in the playoffs? Probably because that means Tristan Jarrow. he is healthy. Now, he was blaming it a lot on the injuries after that game against Columbus. I also do not understand why the hell he was even suiting up for that game, to be honest

with you. But they just, this team could not get the saves when they needed them, especially in big situations. You know, that game against Chicago, for example, that first goal from Connor Murphy, I would like a save there from a number one goaltender. The Andreas at the Nisio goal. He's way out of his net. You need. to save there to prevent going down two goals. You know, right when that happened, you know, the game was basically over, to be honest with you. You know, even, you know, using another example from Casey to send him.

Remember that game against the Red Wings, Brian Russ takes that penalty, 348 left. You got to at least get a point out of that game. He gives up, you know, he gives up that really weak goal short side from to David Perron, 5-4. They lose in regulation. That's when, you know, that's one. you definitely really want back. And, you know, it's, it's moments like those.

I could probably name a whole bunch more that also really contributed to this team missing the playoffs. You know, and everyone knew this was, I don't know about everyone. I think most people knew that this was going to be an issue coming into this season because they had run the tandem, you know, a couple seasons back to back. It didn't work But the GM said, oh, no, no problem at all. Not going to do anything about it.

Heck, you easily could have replaced it, that last year's trade deadline, but he had a couple good starts in Roe. Hextall's like, oh, you know, he's fine, he's good. No, he's not. He played the same way this season, and the GM still didn't make a move with the deadline. And heck, everyone knew Tristanjari was hurt by the trade deadline,

and Ron Hextall knew it. He still didn't make a trade for any other goalie. you know, they failed epically when it came to that. And, you know, in a perfect world, you get two new goalies for next season. More realistically, I think you're maybe looking at one, whether it's DeSmith or Jari leaving. Now, I don't know if you can find a big market for DeSmith. Jari obviously is a free agent, so he can walk if he wants. I think it'll be a little, maybe a little more tricky to replace him,

especially if you're looking at the free agent market. but there's a, you know, I would look at Karel Vegelka, the Melka, excuse me, from Arizona if they're willing to move him. That is a player, you know, he's done, he's had decent numbers there in Arizona. If I could just look up that here real quick, yeah, making sure I spelled his name right now. He had pretty okay numbers this season for the oaths 50 games, 1824 and 6 record. No, only a 900, say, a percentage, 3.43 goals against average, but he was playing on a really bad coyote's team.

You know, you compare those numbers to last season. No, kind of round the same. But if you put him in front of a better team and a better defensive structure, assuming that the new management makes some changes to it, make some changes to the roster and Mike Sullivan maybe make some changes to his system, I think he could be a little bit of a better goalie than Jari. That's someone I would be looking at. if I were the Penguins, if I wouldn't want to replace Charlie,

I understand he has worse numbers. But again, I also think that's partly due to him being on a worst team. We also at Lee and Salmark, for example, he was putting up decent numbers on some bad Buffalo Sabres teams. He goes out this season as the best year of his career, and he's potentially in the frontrunner for the Vesna Trophy. So, yeah, just not enough big saves and high leverage moments, not enough good goaltending in general.

And, you know, this was the third season in a row that they decided to run the stand-up back, and sure enough, It didn't work. And that's going to need to change heading in the next season. But that would do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I really appreciate all of you listening and watching this one. Coming up for tomorrow's show, we're going to get into a few reasons for hope for next season and why this, I think this team can get back to being good.

And, you know, I think be a playoff team next season, especially if new management knows what they are doing. So look for that on Thursday. Again, thank you all so much for listening and watching. hope you all really enjoyed it. Let me know your thoughts on what you think the three main reasons were for this team's demise. And I'll, you know, like, you know, comment and send me a DM and all that stuff. We're looking forward to that. So, yeah, thank you all so much. I'll talk with you all on Thursday.