Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - What about Pierre Engvall for the Penguins bottom six?

Episode Date: June 13, 2023

Happy Tuesday! Hunter starts the show with an ode to Stan Stavran, who is one of the best to ever do it in Pittsburgh sports media history. He is someone that Hunter and so many others looked up to over the last several years and he will be missed by so many. After that, Hunter discusses why Pierre Engvall would be a GREAT fit for the Penguins' bottom six after the couple of seasons he's had. He looks at the numbers and what he's seen from him on film before he discusses how Kyle Dubas has been with him for each of the last four seasons. That alone makes him a prime target to be signed but he also would take the pressure off the big guns at times, especially since he's still a young enough player. After that, Hunter looks at Mark Friedman's season in review and why he's a perfect No. 7 defenseman for the team. His underlyings continue to be solid while he also provides a little bit of a troll/physical element, which everyone loves. He can also provide some offense at times, which is nice for an extra defenseman. Finally, Hunter ends the show with a preview of Game 5 and how the Vegas Golden Knights can win Lord Stanley's Cup.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!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/NHLNETWORKBirddogsGo to birddogs.com/lockedonnhl and when you enter promo code, LOCKEDONNHL, they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order.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. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED 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.

Well, it's time to discuss another player that Kyle Dubus could go after when free agency starts on July 1st. No, it's not for a top six role this time. I think it will be for a bottom six roll that's coming up right after this. Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello, welcome back to another episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.

I am your host, Hunter. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, Holiday shows, Twitter at Endlarsop Penguins, and of course, thank you all so much for making this, your first list in slash watch of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. Before we get to our free agent target that I have in mind for today's episode,

I do want to take a couple of minutes to discuss Sand Savering. He passed away on Monday at the age of 76, the godfather of Pittsburgh Sports Committee, an icon to the city of Pittsburgh. when I was a kid, I would always try to tune in to whatever he was on, whether it was radio or television. He did work with the Steelers, did work with the Penguins, did work with the pirates. Every time I tuned in, again, whether it was radio or television, I got smarter.

And he is also a reason why I wanted to pursue a career in journalism. He did everything the right way, was always kind to people, was always gracious to people. He treated everyone with the utmost respect, just listening to his show and seeing people calling on TV or on the radio and just seeing how nice he was to everyone there in person. He was a tremendous human being and again was a total icon in this city for the last 40 to 50 years. And look at what everyone is saying on social media right now when it comes to Stan. He was beloved here. You felt like he was just going to work and live forever. I know I personally didn't know him,

but in a way I kind of felt like I did because of the way he engaged with people on his show, the way he talked about Pittsburgh Sports. He was a national treasure. And when you think of Pittsburgh Sports, one of the first people that comes to mind is Stan Sabrin. my thoughts and prayers go out to him, his family, and his loved ones during his time. Stan, there will never be another one like you.

Rest easy, fly high, and love the show always. So I just wanted to start out of the show with that. Going forward, let's get into a free agent target that I do have in mind for the payments. I don't think he's been talked about too, too much yet from anyone. really think anyone's really been discussing him in the Penguins MediaSphere or really the fans. And that is Pierre Engball played for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season and also played for the New York Islanders. He was traded to the Islanders a little later on in the season to move that. Dubus could be regretting a little bit because Engball went on to play very well for the Islanders and help them get into the playoffs.

And only 18 games had five goals and nine points finished the season with 17 goals and 30 points and 76 games. This is his second straight season where he has had 15. plus goals and 30 plus points. Before these last couple of seasons, you know, 2020, when he first came in at eight goals, 15 points, next season after that, had seven goals, 12 points. But after that, he really broke through and he is shaping up to get a pretty, I would say a pretty decent contract in free agency when he hits the market on July 1st. I think he would be a great addition to the Penguins bottom six. Kyle Dubus also knows him, was with Engval for the last four years that Dubus was a general manager

could easily see him having interest in it, even though he traded him to the Islanders a little later on in the season. He's young, only 27. Can score for you, can playmate, can play on the penalty kill. You can even put him on the second probably. Heck, the Islanders are putting him in their top six late in the season. I know they're not the deepest team,

but if there are some injuries to the Penguins, he can also play in the top six, if need be his underlines this year, were tremendous. And we'll start with the Leafs right here and played 58 games, 664 minutes. When he was on the ice, the Leafs had 53% of the shot attempts. They also had about 50% of the actual goals for 55% of the expected goal share, 53% of the scoring chances, 57% of the high danger chances, and 72% of the high danger goals were 16-4-6 against. You move on to his time with the Islanders and his numbers, some of his numbers went up. And some of the other numbers stayed the

same. Islanders, 18 games. When he was on the ice, they had 57% of the shot of Thames. They also had 65% at the actual goals for 21-4-11 against 55% of the expected goals here, 58% of the scoring chances, 55% of the high danger chances, and 66% of the high-danger goals were shot 14% in those final 18 games. So there's going to be a little bit of regression that comes with that. He only shot 6.6% when he was with the Maple Leafs. But he has, had a great season when it comes to the numbers and the counting stats. He is a perfect fit for this team. And I think what they're trying to accomplish in the bottom six is a pure left winger.

Penguins could use at least one of those for their bottom six. Heck, they could use probably four new players for their bottom six. You can even make an argument that they need six new players for their bottom six. And again, this would also appease the crowd of them wanting to get younger. I have seen this a lot as of late where people don't want the penguins to go out and get a bunch of 30 plus real players. I understand that. I have people saying it about Mark Schifley. The only thing Schifley is a little bit of a different story because he had 40 plus goals this past season.

But for so on Mike Engvall, he's 27. You can probably sign him to like, what, a three to four year term? He made $2.25 million this past season, so he's going to be asking for a raise. You can get him for what? Remember what Brandon Tann have got on the open? market 3.5 million. I think if you can get him for three times 3.5, four times 3.5, you're fine. I don't think I would give him the Brandon Tanna of contract, which was six years times 3.5 million. But I would definitely be interested in signing him to play in the bottom six years.

Everything the Penguins could be looking for in a player. Again, can score goals, has a great first pass, good skating ability, can forecheck, win battles along the boards, can play on the second power play, can kill penalties. He can do everything that is required from a player in the bottom sex, and he would fit Mike Sullivan's system to a T. Cowdubis, very familiar with him, even though he traded him. I really, and I mean really like this play. It took him a little bit to get going.

First couple of seasons in the NHL were really much to write home about, but these last couple of seasons have been very good for Engel. So I would be very intrigued about signing him. him if I were Kyle Dubis, again, wouldn't like the term three to four years I think is good. If you can get him for 3.5, maybe 3.6 million per season, it's probably fair. But he is exactly the type of player that Penguins should be acquiring for their bottom six. A speed first player, someone who can put the puck in the back in the net, someone who can also take the pressure off of Sidney Crosby and of getting Malkin and all those top guys

when they're having an off game or two. because so many times this past season, right? Penguins just never got enough depth scoring when Crosby, Malkin, Raquel, Gensel were just taking some time off and that killed them. Remember when this team was so deep, especially during the Jim Rutherford era, toward the end of the Jim Rutherford era,

even during the start of the Rone Hextall era until Hextall really just butchered it. They got away from that over this last year, year and a half. It's time to get back to being a four, line team and having players who can help take the pressure off the big guns so they don't have to carry the team on a nightly basis. He is definitely one to monitor. I'm not really crazy about this free agency class as a whole and I understand he got top six minutes with the islanders this past season, but on the Penguins, he would be playing, I think, on the third line and he will be

someone who can contribute, you know, definitely on a weekly basis. I don't know if it would be on a nightly basis because he's not going to score every game. But I think they're definitely on like a weekly basis. I am very interested in bringing this player aboard. Has the stats, has the underlying passes the eye test, total Mike Sullivan type player and also a player that, you know, Dubus should go after on the phage of market. So that wraps up this first segment.

Let me know what you all think down in the comments. You also send me a DM on social media. Do you think Pierre Engwald would make sense for the penguins on free agent frenzy, which is July 1st. Can we think about right now? We're about 18 days away, so almost two and a half weeks. It's coming up really quick, very, very quickly. So let's see if Dubis goes after him once that starts.

And I do think he's going to have a lot of interest. The Islanders, I think, will be trying to resign him, though, I think they're also trying to resign Scott Mayfield. He's going to look for a lot of term. Other teams in the East and the West will be going after Engel after the season that he just had. But that would do it for this first time. Coming up in the second, we're going to get into Mark Friedman's season review, what I thought from him this season, and what I expect from him heading into next season. But before we discuss that, we have to jump

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Because as like in sports, confidence is the name of the game when you shop on eBay Motors. And with over 122 million parts to choose some, you'll be back in the game in no time. After all, it's very easy to bring home a win when the right parts are guaranteed, get the right parts, the right fit, and the right prices on eBaymotors.com. That's right. eBay guarantee fit only available to you as customers, eligible items, only exclusions apply. I'm back in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes.

Myrother to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, all the shows, Twitter, at Elmoreshire Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list in the day. We are free and available on all platforms. So continuing with our season reviews is one of the final extras that I have to do on defense before we get to some of the extra forwards is Mark Freeman started the season. in the AHL was called up numerous times, ended up playing a green total of 23 games. So Penguins is a season, one goal, three points in those 23 games.

His offensive numbers have really nothing been that much, you know, to write homebound out in 65 career games, four goals, 12 points in those games. He's played sparingly throughout his time as a Penguin, but he's still also a very good number seven or number eight defensemen to have. You can do a lot worse when it comes to Mark Freeman, aka Lord Farquod, as Brian Boyle from last season,

a couple other Penguins players had the shirt of him. And I would love to find that shirt. If they, if whoever made that shirt wants to make more, please do it because I will buy that one in a heartbeat. I thought it was a hilarious share when Brian Boyle and a couple of the other players were wearing. I think Jason Zucker was also wearing it during a media availability as well.

The underlines, though, Friedman this year played 301 minutes at even strength when he was on the ice. The Penguins had 53% of the shot attempts. They also had 54% of the actual goals for, 57% of the expected goal share. His expected goal share total has always been very high, especially for the last three seasons that he's been in Pittsburgh, 58% in 2021. Last year, 55.3, then this year, 57.4. Also, 161 scoring chances for 134 scoring chances against for 154. 54.5%, 67 high danger chances for, 55 high danger chances against for 54.9%. Around up to 55.

And then nine high danger goals for when he was on ice, four high danger goals against, shot 6.86% on the ice. So his underwings have always been super strong for as long as he's been a penguin. There's a reason why he was called the expected goals god when he was on the ice. if you go to Micah Blake McCurdy's charts for hockey viz, there's a whole blob of red right around the center of the offensive zone and it just shows where he drives, and that just shows where he drives offense. And it's been like that his entire penguin senior.

It was like a lot bigger when he first came over in that very short sample size. It's gone down a little bit, but it's still very much there. And again, I really like him as a number seven or a number eight defenseman in this system. He can come up anytime. He can give you quality minutes on the bottom pairing. Heck, you can even play for you on the second pairing at times. He's always defensively responsible in his own zone, has a booming shot from the point. He can also, if you need me, quarterback the second power play, though, if he's quarterbacking the second power play, that means your defense is pretty banged up. I've always been a fan of them. He also brings that added physical presence that I know.

a lot of people in this fan base like, I know some people think this team is a bit soft. They don't really go after the body a lot. I personally think some of the physicality talk is a little overrated, but I do like seeing him throw a pretty nice hit once in a while. And oh, yeah, he'll get in your face as well. He's a hilarious troll. He reminds me a couple of my buddies who just love getting people riled up.

That is Mark Friedman. He lives on getting people hashtag mad online. just go back to that game against the Rangers. That was when actually Shosturkin did that hand motion, saying like, oh, yeah, keep talking. He was doing that to Mark Friedman, because Freeman was just barking at him when the penguins got, were going off the ice after they lost.

Was it 4-0 late last season in 2022, not this past season? And he was doing it all throughout that series against the Rangers. He was doing it in the games this past season. He is a ton of fun when he is on ice. And for the minutes that he provided the Penniers, Penguins this season. I thought he was totally fine. He's, again, a perfect number seven or number eight guy in your system. If you, the Penguins go out and make some changes to their defense this offseason, right? And saying, you know, you move on from Jeff Petrie. Somehow you bring in someone

else on the right side. You bring in a top four guy for your left side. You move out Yon Ruta, Chabar Wheatle steps in and, you know, you have a top six of whoever's playing with Crystal Tang. You got Marcus Pedersen and whoever with the new guy. And then you got P.O. Joseph and Chiber Wedle, after that, I would say your number seven defenseman should be Mark Friedman. He deserves to be on this team full time. And it was unfortunate that he was down the AHA for most of the season. I do not think he belongs in the AHA anymore. He belongs in the big leagues.

And I know it probably was hard for him to be sent down to the minors right after training camp ended. He was one of the final roster moves that the Penguins had to do because they were barely under the cap. Heck, they had to put on waivers multiple times the season and honestly, my friends, I thought he was going to get claimed both times. I was kind of surprised that he was not claimed by any team, considering the underlines that he's put up in a very limited role to Penguins

and just some of the numbers overall and also his eye test, I would have thought at least one general manager would take a flyer on him. So the Penguins, I think that's super, and I mean super lucky that he was not taken by another team. But I'll continue to have him clean the system. I really, really enjoyed Mark Freeman. And, you know, I do hope that he is on the big team next season. Because, again, I really do not think that he belongs in the minor leagues. It was really unfortunate to see that whole situation pan out.

because, heck, remember, the Penguins wanted to have, I think, him and Ty Smith up to start the season, but because Ron Hextall bungled the salary cap so badly, they had to send both of them down to works. But, heck, of course, they had to waive one of them. And it was just, you know, it was an absolute tire fire. So, you know, really appreciated Friedman for this past season and the games that he played. And I'll give him a solid B for my grade. But that will do it for this segment of the Lockdown Penguins podcast coming up to end the show. We're going to get into if the Stanley Cup will be rewarded on Tuesday night.

I'm going to give my prediction for that coming up right after this. And we are back here on this episode of Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows Twitter at Elmorest of Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this, your first list in slash watch. Today we are free and available on all platforms. So tonight, we could see the NHL season come to an end as the Vegas Golden Knights

are one win away from their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. They beat the Florida Panthers in game four on Saturday night after the Panthers really tried to come back in that game. They were down 3-0. Brandon Montauntan makes it 3-1. Sasha Barkoff makes it 3-2. but they weren't able to complete the comeback. And coming back from 3-1 down,

it's hard to do once. It's almost impossible to do twice. I'm not going to bet against the Panthers because I've been doing that all-playhouse long only to look like a complete fool. I pick the Knights and 7. But right now, it's just, it's hard to see Vegas losing this at home with everyone there.

That is going to be a madhouse at the strip to not. and I just love the way the Golden Knights are humming right now. Aidan Hill is playing out of his mind. Mark Stone is playing great. Jonathan Margeso is having a lot of fun these playoffs, really sticking it to his former team here, showing why Dale Tallon was a complete moron

to give him up to Vegas him and Riley Smith. It also doesn't help for the Panthers that Barovsky's hasn't been as good in these four games, and especially Matthew Chukh being hurt. He's barely been able to raise his arm up to shoulder length. he's obviously very made up to not even practice on Monday. Status, it's unknown for Tuesday, but I got to think he's going to play tonight. Biggest game of your season, I know he's battling a big injury,

but he's going to go out there and gut it out, even though he didn't play as much in the third period over the weekend. I got to think he's going to go out there and fully gut it out. But, you know, Vegas right now, their top players are playing awesome. Their defensemen have been great. Aiden Hill is showing why he's probably going to get quite a big payday once this season is over.

But Vegas, they are just a ton of fun to watch. The Panthers haven't really gotten anything going offensively in this series. Even when Kachuk has been on the ice, I mean, he obviously had the big goal to tie it in game 3 Verhege. He won the game where he felt like, oh, maybe they're going to win game four. but honestly this series has been kind of playing out like the 2016 Stanley Cup final between the Penguins and the Sharks

where the Golden Knights were the much better team in the first two games, much like the Penguins were against the Sharks. Penguins, I thought, were the better team in game three, like the Knights, but the Knights lost that game in overtime after a late goal.

Same thing with the Penguins against the Sharks, Jonas Don's going game three, then both teams were able to win on the road in game four, and now they're coming back to game five. I know the Penguins lost Game 5 at home, and that was a madhouse outside of PVG Paints Arena. There was a huge square to watch the game. There was Market Square.

Another TV had to be set up. Vegas is going to be insane. I don't know if it's going to go the way it did in Pittsburgh, where penguins had to go back to San Jose to win the Cup. Obviously, no one in Vegas wants to travel back to Florida, try to win the Cup there. But right now, I'm seeing a lot of similarities when it comes to this Stanley Cup final and the one in 2016 when it comes to the Penguins.

and the sharks. I do think Vegas is going to take it on Tuesday. I originally said Vegas in seven. So I'm going to move on my prediction a little bit. I just, I'm loving the way they're playing. Their depth has been too much. Honestly, every part of their game has been too much for the Panthers to handle it with the Chuck hurt. I just don't know how much damage the Panthers can truly do to the Knights.

So I think the Stanley Cup is going to be won tonight. The season will end. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. We'll go back to sunrise later on this week. And if I'm wrong there, we'll go back to Vegas later on after that. But right now, I am thinking that the nights are going to take this home on Tuesday. Really looking forward to watching it. It's been a fun playoff run so far for these last couple of months.

I don't want to see it in, but I do think we are trending that way right now. But I believe that will do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. You do want to say I want to make a slight correction to, thing I had in my Monday episode when I was talking about Brian Rust and how the Penguins had trade assets to get players coming in via trade, I said that he had a 15-team, no-trade list.

That is my fault. I was thinking of Jeff Petrie when I said that Brian Ross has a full no-move cause for this upcoming season. You would have to go to him to ask him to wave it to any team who you're trading with if you want to move on

from him and trade. Petri is the one that has the 15-team no trade list, but Brian Rust has, has the full move cause that was it is in his contract after Ron Hexol gave it to him last year. But I just want to correct a little thing I had on that because, you know, I always strive to be 100% accurate for you all. But that will do it for this episode of Locktime Penguins podcast. Really appreciate all of you listening slash watching. We'll be back with another episode on Wednesday.

We'll continue to looking at some more free agents, some more trade stuff. I will have some draft stuff coming. Likely next week, I'm going to drop my big board. also going to look at some other big boards from big time scouts and other people surrounding the natural draft to see who the penguins should take in the first round of the annual draft if they do keep their picks. A lot of draft content is coming. Again, I'm going to drop my big board coming up next week. So again, thank you all so much for listening and watching. Really appreciate it. I'll be back with another episode for you all on Wednesday.