Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Tristan Jarry becomes a Penguins legend, plus who could the Penguins go after at the deadline?

Episode Date: February 19, 2022

It's an off day but again, the content never stops there with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hunter first brings up Brad Marchand's statement and how Tristan Jarry is now a legend in Pittsburgh. Is there any way out of it for Marchand? He also explains why it's great that Bettman upheld the suspension since he hasn't done a lot right lately in a swath of other areas. After that, Hunter brings up the idea of a small play-in for the NHL (8 vs 9, 7 vs 10) and if that makes sense since the NBA does it. Finally, Hunter does a small trade deadline primer and looks at some of the options for the Penguins as it's coming up quickly. How aggressive should the team be? Who or what should be in play? All that, plus much more 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.Primal Origin OilsStop the itch and make your beard look healthy & groomed. Check out PRIMALORIGINSOILS.COM to learn more about their full line of beard care products. Use the code “LOCKEDON” for a 20% discount at checkout.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. 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.

Hey everyone, happy Friday. Welcome to this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. So it'll be a little bit of a different episode today. I know the team does not play until Sunday. I did basically a full preview of the game against Carolina on my Thursday episode. But for today, we're going to go into Brad Marshan's comments and why I'm glad that Gary Bettman upheld the suspension. Plus, we're going to dive into some of the trade deadlines off and go over, you know,

some of Frank Cerroveli's big boards and see if some players make sense for the Penguins and some other jazz as well. That's all coming up right after. this drop. Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day.

Hello, welcome to this Friday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can also follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Arnold Sport Penguins. So tonight, you know, Gary, thank God Gary Bettman did, you know, upheld the Brad Marsh and Spencer. And he can go, I believe, to an independent arbiter.

But I don't think, even then, I don't think that's going to mean very much. But Frank Zarevili tweeted out the report. So when Marshaan was pleading his case to Gary Bettman, he was asked, okay, what did Tristan Jari say to make you want to, A, punch him in the face and just put your stick right to his mask as well? And he testified, according to Bettman, and he said, excuse my language here. How about that fucking save? And no, I'm not kidding when he actually said that.

When Tristan Jari actually said that, no, he kind of downplayed it after the game. He was like, yeah, you know, didn't really, really say anything. I mean, he's not going to go out here and, you know, publicly bash, Brad, Bash, Brad Marsh and in the media. But you're telling me that Brad got mad over that kind of comment. I mean, wow. I mean, as, you know, Michelle Tarion once said, as the Penguins head coach, They're so soft. You know, I always love that line.

I probably look up that comment about a few times every year on YouTube. I always, the max tallow one always gets me to. You know, maybe Maxim Tel, but five foot eight, he's not going to really do anything. But then, you know, they're so soft. You know, that's, that is exactly what Brad Marchant is. But if he really got triggered by that kind of comment, I mean, I'm not going to really say the NHL isn't for him. But it's like, maybe you've got to rethink your. priorities to what should actually make you mad in this role. Because, you know, something like

that should not get you that jammed where you're swinging your stick at someone's mask and you're basically just punching someone in the face when the game is over. You know, Tristan, obviously, he's going to talk crap in that situation. It's Brad Marshan. And, you know, we all know how stupid he is. But, you know, he had just played one of the best games of his season. And you're telling me that, I mean, he's just going to go after him for literally no reason at all. I don't understand that. And, you know, that's just, it goes to show how much Brad Marchand stinks. I mean, he can be a great player, and I know he's a great player. I've said so many times that he's a top 10 to top 15 player in the league.

Excuse me. But he also is a very selfish and a stupid player as well. I do not understand why he has to consistently just be dumb for his team like that. And, you know, he got to spend in six games for it. And he's going to have to go through it unless an independent arbiter reduces the suspension. But again, I don't think that's going to happen at this point. You know, we can crush Gary Betman for a lot of things NHL related. You know, obviously the Chicago Blackhawk situation, he has done a terrible job with.

I mean, there's been multiple lockouts where he's been at the helm. You know, he didn't send the players to the Olympics in 2018 when there was no COVID-19. For basically no reason at all, it was just over, I don't know, money or something like that. And he's refused to grow the game in numerous areas. He doesn't make it enough fun. But I will say for this, he nailed it. He wasn't going to let Brad Marshan get his way. He upheld the suspension.

And I think, you know, that's really all there needs to be said with that. It's just, it's hilarious that that got him so mad. And, you know, as Pittsburgh Clothing Company is going to do, and thank God, so they are going to make a shirt that says, how about that effing save? I'm sure there's going to be maybe a picture of jar. and Marsha on it. I'm not sure. Or it's just going to say the words across, because remember the brilliant intent of one, which I actually own upstairs. You know, you think you're an effing sheriff. I'm not going to keep saying the way. I had to say it once for a fact. I'm not going to

keep, you know, saying I can I try not to use that word too too often on the podcast. But they could just do a shirt like that. But I do hope that they include Brad on that shirt or Tristan in some way, shape, or form. And they actually did say they are going to be making it tonight. So I would assume that that shirt will be out at some point this weekend. Yes, I will 100% be buying that shirt. And I hope you all will as well. Their shirts are honestly not that expensive. They're about $20 to $30 if that.

They're usually running some promotion as well. So yeah, I'm definitely copying that. It's always worth it, especially when you know it pokes fun at Brad Marshan. So, you know, good on Tristan. a legend was born in that situation because he had to throw a nice little trip out. But, you know, it's just, again, it's funny how Brad just had to, you know, be an idiot for the sake of being an idiot. And, you know, it costs his team. And, you know, the Bruins right now, they're in that final playoff spot.

If I check the standings right now real quick. I mean, I believe there are almost 10 points. No, there are now. There are only six points ahead of the Red Wings. The Red Wings do, excuse me, the Bruins do have three games in hand. So if they win those three games, they'll be up to 12 points up on the Red Wings. But, you know, Detroit, you know, they're trying like heck, I should say, to make it a race. You know, this is the first time I think I've seen the playoff race be within six points or less,

probably since the beginning of the season. You know, Detroit, they're playing their tails off. And, you know, I'm glad because, you know, the Eastern Conference, for basically the entire season, it's been locked up. So if we can potentially get a playoff race down the line, with Detroit and Boston, I think that would be that much more competitive. I saw Frank Zarevelli put on Twitter today,

for those that aren't on there, that he was discussing the option that the league could do a couple play-in series, you know, eight versus nine, seven versus ten. But, you know, I would be in support of that because the NBA does it, I believe, like that. They're going to be doing that this year. I think they implemented that in the last couple of years.

But for the East this year, I mean, a Detroit-Boston series would be pretty chaotic, but does anyone want to see Washington versus Columbus in a play-in series? A, Washington is comfortably in a spot. There are only two points out of third place in the Metro. I know the Rangers have three games in hand, but Washington is still right there, and Columbus is 16 points behind them in that number 10 spot. Does anyone really want to see a series between those two teams?

I mean, I know Washington has not been good this year. I get that, but I still think they would probably white the floor with the blue jackets. I don't think they're a good team. I know they've stayed in the race for a little bit. You know, there are nine points out from the Bruins right now. They're basically a full 500 team, 24 and 23 and 1. Somehow they only have one overtime loss, which is crazy. One loser point.

I don't think I've seen that in quite some time. But I just don't think that series would be fun. I mean, in the Western Conference, sure, I guess with L.A. Anaheim, that would be for a cool play in series. Nashville versus Dallas. Those will be competitive. I just think, you know, in some years it could work, but in other years, you know, like this year, especially in the East, I don't know if it would. So it is a good idea in theory.

You know, it would make, I think, for some competitive series, you know, it's, you know, a reason for, I guess, a couple of other teams to buy more at the deadline compared to selling. But I don't think we're ever going to see Gary Bettman implement that. Because, you know, remember, when he talked about basically the play in during the return to play with, when all he brought back, you know, all those teams that were out of the race, he's like, yeah, this is just a one-off. We're not going to be doing this again. And I know people's minds can change, you know, happens all the time in sports, but I just personally don't see him agreeing to a play in round.

You know, it would be cool. It would probably make for some pretty, again, some good series, some not so good series. And it would probably maybe grow the sport at least a little bit, but I can't see it like, you know, drastically, you know, growing in it in one way or another. That's just my opinion, though. I'd love to hear what you think.

You know, you can DM me, tweet me on social media, you know, comment on the YouTube page of all that jazz. Coming up in the next segment, we're going to go into some trade deadline stuff and look at Frank Cerebelli's top 25 more than you know what players I think could help the penguins. But before we do that, this is the time of year that I've pretty much given up on all of my New Year's resolutions, but not this year. I'm sticking time of resolutions to eat right. Thanks to Bill Bart almost feels like it's not really a resolution because I actually enjoy eating them. Have you try the puffs? If you haven't, you are missing out on one of Bill's best tasting bars. Puffs are a fan favorite with some incredible flavors. Yami, cinnamon chiro, coconut marshmallow, banana cream pie. They're all so good.

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All right, we're back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Honeys. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. you can also follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Armsworth Penguins. So getting to Sarah Belly's big board here, scrolling up here. So he lists the first one called Giroux for as much as I would love for that to happen for the Penguins. And it would piss off a lot of Flyers fans. It would be a lot. It would be great.

The Flyers are not going to trade him to Pittsburgh. Remember when Ron Hextall was in Philadelphia, when the Penguins wanted Mark Strite, they sent him to Tampa, who then, flift into Pittsburgh. So, you know, we are not going to see those two teams straight with each other probably for another millennium at this one. I think Drew was probably going to go to somewhere like Colorado. They make a lot of sense. They're all in. I think they're probably the best team in NH at the moment. They're going to be a really tough out in the playoffs. Ben Chirot. I know some people have said the Penguins need defensive help. He is not one of those players. Per Dom Lachuskin,

of the athletic. He only has a 31% actual goals for rate this year off of a 41% expected goals rate. That's one of the worst marks in the league. And for some reason, NHLGMs, real people, want to give up a first round pick for that kind of player. He also provides basically no offense. What are we doing here? I mean, it is, you know, again, the NBA trade deadline, excuse me, is so, fun because you see all these stars players move.

But with NHL trade deadline, it can be good in spurts, but you have all these GMs saying, you know what, I'm going to go overpaying for a bunch of bottom pairing defensemen who aren't good at hockey. And that's exactly what I think someone is going to do here with Ben Chirot. You know, I know he choose up a lot of minutes. He plays an okay defense. But, you know, this year, his underlying stink. And I get it.

You know, Montreal is not good. They're the worst team in hockey. but I don't see much changing with him if he is traded to a contender. I just know, and if you give up a first-round pick for that player, you know, God help you. Tomas Turtel is number three. I would love for the Penguins to get him, though. He makes 5.6 against the cap. I'm not really sure how that would work.

It would make so much sense for, you know, a winger for a beginning of Malkin just because, you know, there's so many mixes and masses of players coming on to his line and all that, where it's just like, oh, my God, can we get some consistency? with this line. I'd love it, but the sharks are, they're going to ask Kings Ransom for him and rightfully so. He's had a great year. Corzine Jose, you know,

he's on pace for a career high, 39 goals. He leads the sharks his year with 22 of them. You know, you're looking at least probably a first-round pick, top prospect for a decent roster player and maybe another top pick. I'm not really sure if the Penguins want to do that. I know Brian Merck has gone on record and said, you know, they want to keep some of their picks.

Though if you want to go all in, one more time, he makes a lot of sense. Jacob Trickren, again, you know, I know the penguins need a lot of defensive help, but, you know, he's going to command a big return as well. I don't see the penguins going after him. Now, Brock Besser, this is the one I've kind of circle when I was looking at, you know, obviously Jim Rutherford is with the Canucks. You know, there's history with the penguins and trading with these two teams, you know,

you know, Ron Hextall has great respect for Jim. And, you know, he can be had in a train, you know, Penguins fans especially know that. I mean, you know, we've all seen, you know, the Matt Hunwick stuff, Jack Johnson signing, you know, even for a time the Matheson trade did not look that good. Eric Good Branson for some reason, he traded for Tanner Pearson. He got, you know, for Carl Hagelin. Then he stunk before going back, excuse me, going to Vancouver, excuse me.

But, I mean, Besser would just make so much sense. You can stick him on the right wing with Gino. Kaepernan has not been good in that spot right there. And if you can run a top six of Jake Gensel, Sidney Crosby and Brian Rust, as well as Dayton Hinen, Evgeny Malkin, and Brock Besser,

good luck, everyone. I mean, that's at least, I think, a top three to top five, top six in the league. I definitely know he makes, you know, a decent amount of money. He is a pending RFA this year. So the Penguins could probably eat a cap in some ways with it.

You know, he has 10, goals in 21 games this year. He's been great under Bruce Boudreau. But the Canucks, you know, they're entering an interesting time here. You know, what is their plan moving forward? Jim Benning is out. Travis Green is also out.

They played well when Bruce took over, but it's looking like they're not going to make the playoffs. Who is going to stay for that team and who is going to go? Remember, Bessor is an RFA at the end of the year, and he has a 7.5 million qualifying offer due. obviously you don't think the penguins be able to pay that he would probably be a UFA after this but you know what even if it's a rental you're going for at least one more cup in the Sydney Crosby and of Guany Malkin era you've got to do whatever it takes to go win

at this one if that means sacrificing another first round pick so yeah you know I'm just I'm salivating just thinking about Brock Besser playing with a gunny Malki he's a great finisher great playmaker you know defense whatever you know that's why I'm salivating you know that's why the penguins have their great bottom two checking lines, but it would just be a lot of fun to see Besser on the penguins. John Kleenberg at number seven, you know, I have seen some people clamor for him to come to the penguins

just because they don't think that, I guess, what's the word on, let's the couple of the words I'm looking forward here. They don't trust another defenseman other than Crystal Tang, though I will say Mike Madison's been pretty decent this year. I've liked Chad Roodle. I've liked Marcus Pedersen, Brian Dumont has been fine.

It's mainly just been John Marino that's really struggled this year. So if you want to put Klingberg in that spot, fine, but he's also going to cost quite a lot. I mean, I think in this situation, you have options that are in-house that could probably, you know, be just as good, if not better than Reno. You can stick POJ on that pairing if you want. You so weakola, you know, heck, even Mark Freeman,

and he hasn't even played that much this season. And so I think I've also read the take that, you know, the Penguins need more defensive help than anything. I don't agree with that at all. Again, I think the defense has been mostly fine this here outside of Marino. I know they've been giving up quite a few odd man rushes the last couple of games. They've got to clean that up. But, you know, they don't have, I guess, a black hole that's really killing them on a nightly basis.

So I don't think they're going to need to go out and get Klingberg. I think he's going to go to a different contender. Mark Andre Fleury, that's not happening. I'm just going to score right past that. Jeff Petrie, I think personally that's a summer deal. He's going to cost quite a lot. I would love him on the Penguins, though right now. He makes $6.25 million for the next three years.

It's probably not going to happen. Mark Giudano, he makes $6.75 million for just this year. I don't think that it's happening. He's 38 years old. He can go help another team. Nick Paul, I think that would make a bit of sense for the Penguins. He's been pretty decent this year. and Ottawa only also makes

1.35 million. If you want to get him to shore up your depth forward, because I know Jason Zucker is not coming back and I don't know why this started playing for the Netflix. Give me one... I'm not going to let him tell you, okay.

Okay, I don't know what the heck that was. I'm going to try to edit that out. Okay, of course, because literally, as I'm recording, the Netflix is paused and all of a sudden it just randomly started playing. I may edit that out. I'm not sure. We're just going to keep rolling with it. That was just a very weird thing that I never thought would happen while I was recording a podcast. So anyways, back to what I was saying with Nick Paul. With Jason

Zarker still out, probably I would say, till the trade deadline, if not past that, it would make sends to go after a, you know, a middle six-four, you know, that can provide some value. I think Ottawa will get a decent return for him, but, you know, at the end of the day, again, he's probably on top six-four. You can probably get him for, I don't know, a mid-round draft. Maybe a second, you know, maybe just a prospect or something like that. But if I were the Penguins, you know, I definitely would like all the Penguins to maybe go after him.

J.T. Miller would love that. I don't think the Penguins are going to do that. Joe Pavelski. I think Dallas might hang on to him if they think they can really make a run. it's all a matter of how far out are they. Just, I guess, you know, when the deadline comes. That's the first half of this list. Coming up in the next thing,

I'm going to go into the second half of this list. And also touch on why I saw some rumors about Cal Clutterbuck yesterday, why that would basically just be a joke, at least in my opinion. But, you know, before we get to that, football might be over for this season, but basketball is in full steam for both pro and college hoops. from all the latest odds, totals play performance props to where the next fired coach is going to land. Betonline.net is the number one spot for all of your sports betty needs.

Betonline remains the best spot for all of your sports scores, podcasts, and news. This season, you can head to the website today or use your mobile device to learn more about the trends and action. Bet it is bet online where the game starts. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. you can also follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So getting to the second half of this list, you know,

Georgiev I see on here, Jonas Corpusall. I don't think either of those goalies are going to get moved. Pavel Zaka, he's a pending RFA. I know New Jersey Devils, GM is Tom. The GM obviously is Tom Fitzgerald. He does have history with the Penguins. Zaka is a good player. But I don't see Fitzgerald moving him to a metropolitan team.

It would make sense for the Penguins. you know, he can play left wing. He can play Saturday. I think the penguins could use another winger, you know, specifically for the Junon line. I think if you put Zaka up there, he definitely has the talent. I mean, he's also on track for his first 20-goal season of his career.

But, you know, what is the asking price for that? You know, it's probably at least two, if not three things. I know New Jersey is far out of it, but, you know, I don't think he's going to sell him for absolutely nothing. Max Domi, that's a pass for me. Jake DeBrust, I don't think he's going to be traded with him. Riley Smith, I don't see him traded just because Vegas is going for it this year. Ricard Raquel, I know people I've had their eyes on for a while, but, you know, Pat Verbeek just got there.

He has to really assess his roster. And also, the ducks are in a playoff contention this year. I really don't see Verbeek trading him. Nick Letty of Detroit pass. Phil Kessel, I have seen some people throughout that idea, but I don't think the penguins are going to do that. I mean, I think at this point, Phil, he's not washed, but he's definitely not nearly as good as he used to be. I'm just not sure he would provide even the value that Capitan has provided this year. And I don't mean that as like a big slide to Phil.

I love him and obviously loved what he brought to the Penguins. But, you know, he just, he's not what he used to be. And with how big his contract is, I think I would pass in that situation. But getting to my last topic of the day, I saw some weird takes about, Clutterbuck on social media on Thursday. And it was just, it was odd because why would you openly trade for a player who brings down value both offensively and defensively? And I'll tell you what I mean.

So, you know, Jason, of course, the Penguins Twitter, you know, shout out to him. He always, you know, we talk on game days. We talk on off days all the time. And he pulled up a model of Jayfresh and of Andy and Roan. And Clutterbuck's projected wins above replacement this year is 28%. He has 9% for even-strike offense, goals for 60, the 11th percentile, primary assist for 60, the 23rd percentile, PK, 28%, finishing 21%.

His only good thing is his even-strength defense was in 93%. And I kept seeing the reasons that, oh, wow, yeah, he's a veteran presence. So he'll hit a lot and he's just that physical guy for you. But it's like, look at the lineup when fully healthy. Why in the hell would the penguins go after someone like that? I mean, not to mention he's on the freaking Islanders. They're not going to trade him to Pittsburgh regardless. I know the Islanders are probably done right now anyway.

Their seasons been on life support since, I'd say Thanksgiving. Excuse me. But it would just make no sense. Look at their top 12, the Penguins roster that is, for forwards. And who would you actually play Clutter Buck over? I know Captain has been dog crap this year. but am I going to play Cal Clutterbuck over him? No, because he drags offense and he's not good defensively.

And you look at Andy and Rono's stuff too, 9th percentile for full offense, shock contribution 4%, passing 5%, shooting 29%, transition 2%, terrible on denials, 0%tile on high danger assists, terrible with entry passes. The only places where he's green are his defense and his role difficulty, and he's decent, I guess, on the PK.

He's played 42 games this year, five goals and 11 points in those 42 games. Yeah, that's totally a player that I would trade for if I were the Penguins at the trade deadline. I just, I don't understand those kind of takes. So he is a player that the Penguins need to stay far away from. I hope that, you know, you all got something out of these last couple of segments about, you know, what players I would potentially look at for the deadline. I'm getting a head start. I know the deadline is about, I think, a month away at this point.

But, you know, we saw the Tyler to fully trade this week. Anything can happen at any given moment. You know, that's the biggest thing here, I think, when I have when it comes to trades. So that'll do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Penguins are back in action. Sunday afternoon against Carolina Hurricanes. The battle for the first place in the Metropolitan Division is on the line. It's going to be awesome.

I can't wait to see how the Penguins come out for it. I'm sure Mike Sullivan is going to be great. ruling them on a practice on Saturday. That game is at PG-Py and PCAns Arena. Remember, 1 o'clock and then show network. So it won't be on ESPN Plus. You don't have if you don't have, if you're not in Pittsburgh, you'll probably have to find a different streaming service for it. But like I said, that'll do it for this episode. Thank you all so much for listening and I'll be back with you all on Monday. I hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful weekend.