Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - What to do with the No. 14 pick? Plus, a look at a potential Jason Zucker replacement if the Penguins don't sign him!

Starting point is 00:00:00 Well, the NHL draft lottery has come and gone. No, the Pittsburgh Penguins did not get a miracle, but they still have a pretty good pick. And I will discuss in this first segment what they should do with it, and we'll discuss the NHL Draft Lottery as a whole. That's all coming up right after this. You're Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Starting point is 00:00:26 Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the locked-on penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at Elros for Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. We're free and available on all platforms. So, an initial draft lottery has come and gone, as I said in my intro.

Starting point is 00:01:04 And, of course, no, the Penguins did not get a miracle. They only had a 1.5% chance of jumping up to the number four pick. I understand I did an episode on that. for Monday. I did not think it was going to happen. And I think I am basically all of you right. And that regard, the Penguins will stay with the number 14 overall pick and they will have options with it. They could take a pretty good player there, but they could also trade it for some immediate help. And as I explained in my Monday episode, I will look to move it for someone who can come in and help right now. Whether that's a superstar goalie, like a package deal with

Starting point is 00:01:41 you know, Conra Hellebuck, UC Soros, trading for Jeremy Swamon's rights, or that's a top pairing offenseman like Noah Hannafin or someone else, or that's a good complimentary forward that can play in your top six, like a Jason Zucker replacement, that is what I would be looking to trade the pick for. If it's just for someone who can help your bottom six, your bottom pairing, a meggle-tender, I would just keep the pick because the Penguins can get a pretty good player with this pick. you know, Gabe Perrault, I think, could be there. Matthew Wood, Oliver Moore.

Starting point is 00:02:15 Axel Sandine Pellica, I believe is how you pronounce. That last name, Pelica, Polika, I believe. It's one of the two. I apologize if I mispronounced his last name. Colby Barlow, Graydon Yager, you know, players like that who could be there at 14. And those players are better than, you know, a lot of players in last year's trial. I don't think enough people will understand or realize just how good. their strapped is. I would not just be trading this pick for the sake of it. You know, again,

Starting point is 00:02:45 I'm not going to be doing something like the I owners in last year where I'm trading a top 15 pick for Alexander Ramano. Fine player, but I'm sorry, I don't think he's worth a top 15 overall pick. I will be trading it like the senators did. Remember when they traded for Alex de Brinket when they gave up what was it, I believe was the number, yeah, it was the number 12 overall pick. So, somewhere around there. So that's what I would be doing. Like, an impact forward, a top pairing defenseman to play with what's hanging since the doom one is walking, or a star goaltinner.

Starting point is 00:03:16 I'm not just trading it for the sake of trading it. Anyways, all that is signed for the Penguins. The overall draft lottery was something else. It looked like for a while, we were just going to get the projected 16 teams in that actual order. Because we get to the top three, all the teams below,

Starting point is 00:03:39 they were in their projected spots. nothing changed. And then before they went to commercial break, Kevin Weeks decided to play spoiler, and it was a nice little boo-boo. That's all it was, that the Columbus Blue Jackets were picking number three, which means it was down to the Anaheim Ducks

Starting point is 00:03:54 or the Chicago Blackhawks for Connor Bedard. I feel bad for the Blue Jackets and their fans for that because they didn't deserve to know before the commercial rate. They deserved to know after it. Dumb Boo Boo-Boo by Weeks, he knows it. Just got a little bit ahead of himself. He always is the meme guy.

Starting point is 00:04:11 I shouldn't say he's always the meme guy. He does break a lot of stuff on Twitter. He's actually a pretty good reporter, but he has turned into a little bit of a meme at times where everyone is just like, dude, you're breaking these stories on the side of the road at like a frickin McDonald's rest off area and all this stuff. So, of course, he has to do that during the initial draft lottery.

Starting point is 00:04:29 Feel bad that he did it, but it's a boo-boo. And then, of course, the Chicago Blackhawks get the number one overall pick, and they have their next franchise player. And yeah, I'm feeling a little bit icky about it because if you're asking me, again, no, the initial draft lottery is not rigged. If you think it's rigged, you need your head examined.

Starting point is 00:04:53 We just saw a report, I believe it was from Stephen Wyno and Frank Zarevelli. Gary Bettman did the drawing in front of reporters. And do you know how many owners would basically be suing the league if the thing was rigged? How many times did the Edmonton Oilers win the draft lottery and they were still bad? trust me this thing is not rigged

Starting point is 00:05:12 so that aside I feel a bit icky because I don't think the Black Hawks deserve to have the chance of getting badard based on what happened a couple years ago with the Kyle Beach they were only fined $2 million they were not docked any draft picks

Starting point is 00:05:28 in contrast the Arizona Coyotes were docked draft picks for a scouting combine violation the New Jersey Devils were fined $3 million for salary caps for a convention with the Ilya Colichuk situation. The Blackhawks, they were fined $2 million,

Starting point is 00:05:46 no draft tax docked. Another fun fact, they made $2.5, the Blackhawks, million dollars last night alone in season ticket packages for next season right after they got badard. They made that money back in 15 minutes. Slap on the wrist. For someone like me,

Starting point is 00:06:07 or you best listening to this, $2 million. That's a lot. But for an ownership, a billionaire ownership group, like the words family, that's nothing. So it makes me feel icky that, again,

Starting point is 00:06:19 this is a league issue that they did not dock the Blackhawks any picks. And I know people will come and say, well, what about last year? They could have done last year's picks. Well, the funny thing is, they traded that first rounder

Starting point is 00:06:31 in the Seth Jones deal. So that original pick was already gone. Yes, they got a first round pickback from the senators for Alex de Brinket, but by then the punishment was already handed down. It should have started with this pick in 2023. And honestly, it could have been a lot more. That's where I just find it to be a little icky when it comes to the Blackhawks getting him, just because I don't think they should have had a chance to get it because I think the league should have docked that pick and a couple others, to be honest with you. that's that's that's what i think about that obviously i think he's going to do great things

Starting point is 00:07:11 in chicago you know even outside of that i hate that he's going to an original an original 16 i would have very much liked him connor bernard of course to go to a team like the anaheim ducks a team that has a lot of young town like trevor zegress you know troy terry is still there a lot of those young kids because they would that would have been a lot of fun and honestly i do feel bad for Ducks fans. They got second in the Sydney Crosby lottery, and now they got second in the Connor Bidar lottery. If I were a Ducks fan last night, I probably would have just thrown my controller out in the street, or honestly just thrown, you know, not even three to video games, I would have just thrown my remote out into the street and broke it. Second time in this generation that they

Starting point is 00:07:53 have gotten the runner up for the Badar sweepstakes. I would feel sick to my stomach. And I would like to also go to the Sharks, a team that was doing it right for a lot of years. I know they've been bad recently, but he would have really changed their franchise around as well. And they're also not an original 16. Also, you could say the Blue Jackets. They've been dying for a star player. I know some people will come and say, well, Hunter, they have to know that now with Johnny Goodrow.

Starting point is 00:08:17 I get it. Johnny Goodrow is very, very good. I mean no offense to him, though. There's a fairly good chance that Badard is going to be better than Goodrow. And I know Goodrow has accomplished quite a bit in the league, you know, points wise and all that. but I think Bajard with how good he already is, he's going to be better than him at some point during his career. So, you know, they've been starving for another star talent there. That fan base is very strong.

Starting point is 00:08:45 I know people like to dunk on Columbus fans because the Penguins and their fans always invade the nationwide arena, but they have a pretty good fan base. They sell out a good chunk of their games. But those are my overall thoughts on the draft lottery. Again, no, it is not rigged. Yes, I don't think the Blackhawks should have been allowed to have that pick to have the chance to get Bedard because I think they should have been penalized. But there's really nothing we can do about that now, which is unfortunate. But again, for the Penguins, number 14 pick, I would keep it if you can't trade it for something really good that can help now.

Starting point is 00:09:24 But if you can trade it for something that can help now and it's a really good piece, I would very much do it. maybe I get some hate for that. Maybe I don't, but let me know your thoughts on that and your thoughts on the draft of that as a whole. Down the comments, you can also send me a DM and all that stuff. That's well. Coming up in the second segment, we're going to continue our player season reviews. We're getting to the fourth line.

Starting point is 00:09:47 We'll get into Josh Archibald, how he played this season. Did he live up to my expectations? Should he be brought back next season? We're going to get all into that coming up after this commercial break. But before we get into that, indeed is the hiring platform when you where you can attract, interview, and hire all in one place, and instead of spending hours on multiple job sites searching for candidates with the right skills, Indeed's a powerful hiring platform that can help you do it all.

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Starting point is 00:11:06 I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodesaw. The show's Twitter, Eleanor Store Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen to today. We're free and available on all platforms. So Josh Archibald was Ron Hextall's first free agent signing of last off season. I still get a kick out of that because they had a lot more pressing means at the time. But Hextall decided to go sign Archibald to a one-year low-cap hit signing. And to start the season, he was making me eat a little bit of crop.

Starting point is 00:11:34 Three goals in his first 11 games, looking like they were going to be getting what they paid for because I think the Penguins were looking at his shooting percentage of 13% saying like, okay, you know, we can get something out of that. His goals per 60-year-A, which I believe was around 10. And they're thinking, okay, we're going to definitely get that. But it was not meant to be because after that, he did get a bit banged up, missed some time,

Starting point is 00:11:57 and he definitely was not the same player after that only scored three goals in his final 50-plus games for this season. Ended the year with six goals, 12 points in 62 games. Not good enough. Even for a fourth-liner, I'm sorry, I just don't think that's good enough. He did have some good defensive zone impacts, but overall, not good enough in the offensive zone. Play at the 62 games, 5005 minutes at 5-on-5 when he was on ice.

Starting point is 00:12:26 The Penguins had 50% of the shot attempts. had 21 goals for 16 goals again so that part is good only 16 goals against in 500 minutes in a fourth line roll that is pretty solid that goes to show that his defensive impacts pretty decent this year so 56.7 actual goals right expected goal share 57.1 percent that is the highest mark of his career since 2018 three game sample size that year the penguins but in terms of a full season sample highest mark of his career scoring chances 209 for 209 again so 50 50 50 high danger chances for 106 chances for 70 against 14 high danger goals score seven high danger goals again so really good defensive impacts there glad to see him be on ice for a lot more high danger goals for

Starting point is 00:13:11 even though he wasn't doing the goal scoring but again his defensive impacts were pretty solid sure it was just that he wasn't giving them the depth scoring and normally I would be okay with that because you need at least a player or two like that in your bottom six in my opinion But when you When you put a bottom six full of those kinds of players, that's where you run in to the problem. Because Mikhail Granlin,

Starting point is 00:13:39 he's not good defensively, but he also doesn't score. Jeff Carter, he scored a little bit this year, but not nearly as much as he used to. Ryan Paling, decent defensive impacts. He didn't score as much this season. We'll get to him a little later on this week. Josh Archibald, he didn't really score much this year.

Starting point is 00:13:57 Denton Hinen, thing. You see where I'm getting it. You just have all these kinds of players who, again, they're not bad players by any stretch. I don't think so. But it was just poor roster construction where you're putting a lot of players in here who truly can't finish. And Archibald, you know, I mean, he has a history being able to do it for at least a couple seasons. He can, you know, he has a 13% shooting percentage. But you had to know that was probably going to come down to earth a little bit this season. And it sure did.

Starting point is 00:14:29 Sorry, that well, three goals and 11 games. I was definitely eating some croak because I was not a fan of the signing. But three goals in the final 50 plus games, that's not good enough for me. And I think that's probably going to lead to him getting a job elsewhere. I think the penguins can do a bit better for the fourth line. Again, if it's up to me and I am the GM, I am starting over pretty fresh for the bottom six. I am getting about four to five new players in there. I say four because, you know, Carter I think is going to stay.

Starting point is 00:15:00 I think they're going to re-sign Drew O'Connor. So that's two there. Everyone else, though, maybe you can argue Ryan Paling. Mostly everyone else, they can just leave. You know, for all I can get it. Buy out Gremlin. Everyone else that's down there, Denton Hinen, all those guys, they can walk. You know, maybe they bring back paling.

Starting point is 00:15:19 Maybe they don't. Maybe they bring back O'Connor. Maybe they don't. But, you know, I'm starting over decently fresh. for the bottom six. I just don't think it's a good idea to bring back Archibald when, you know,

Starting point is 00:15:29 even after he came back from injury and looked to be healthy at times, it just, it was not the same, you know, in terms of this goal scoring. So that's what I would do. Overall, I would give his season,

Starting point is 00:15:43 I think he was average. I'd give him a lot like a B minus C plus. You know, I don't think he was as bad as some people thought he was going to be again. I was not super high on the signing. But he's still surprised me at the early portion portions of the season.

Starting point is 00:15:59 His defensive impacts really surprised me too. I like that part of his game. I just think, you know, he's probably a better fit on a different team. I just don't think he fits what the Penguins are going to be trying to do with the speed and skill game. That Mike Selden wants to play. And I get the other attributes that they liked about him. He can throw his body around. You know, he's fast.

Starting point is 00:16:22 He's just like a wrecking ball, to be honest. but it just, after he came back from the injury, it never really translated over. And I think that's where the pendulum's got a little screwed there. Again, you know, definitely, it was definitely a weird signing from Ron Hex. I was like the first thing he did to start a free agency. But, you know, it's, I mean, I'm not blaming the player.

Starting point is 00:16:43 You know, obviously you'll take that deal on day one or free agency any day of the week. But still, I don't think I would bring him back. Still, give him like a C plus B minus. Let me know your all you. But let me know your thoughts, though, in the comments, and you can send me a DM as well. Do you think Josh Archibald lived up to the hype this year?

Starting point is 00:17:01 Would you bring him back on a cheap one-year contract again? Or would you look to upgrade that position on the fourth line? Let me know now in the comments and all the stuff. That wraps up this segment of the Locktime Penguins podcast. Coming up in the final segment, we're going to get into a funny thing that I saw on cat-friendly. Someone also sent me a couple of proposals and why this player could make sense as a Jason Zucker replacement, And not just because people on Cap Friendly were suggesting. I usually don't go on there that much,

Starting point is 00:17:27 but a couple people sent this to me, but just because he actually does make sense in the Bruin. I just gave that away. And this team, it's the Bruins. They're in a little bit of salary cap trouble heading into next year. They could look to move him if they want to resign some players. So that's coming up right after this commercial break. All right, I'm back in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.

Starting point is 00:17:53 I am your host, Hunter Hode. You know to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter, at Eleanor Scott Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list of the day. We're free and available on all platforms. I apologized yesterday when I was talking about the playoffs because I said the Flyers were the last team to come back from 3-0 down in the series. I completely forgot it was the Los Angeles Kings of 2014 that came back with 3-0-0

Starting point is 00:18:14 down against the same as the sharks because the sharks had all sorts of chokes during that time. And the Kings did come back. Remember, they won the Stanley Cup that year. They beat the New York Rangers in. in five games. So I apologize about that. I don't want to miss that kind of stuff up. But the player that I think the Penguins could go after,

Starting point is 00:18:31 if they decide they don't want to re-sign Jason Zucker, is, drumroll, please, do-do-do-do, Taylor Hall. It may sound a little weird to you all. You make $6 million for the next couple of years, but I went on for the Bruins cat-friendly, which I have directly in front of me, and they will have some interesting decisions to make this upcoming off season.

Starting point is 00:18:54 And right now, their final cash space is only 27,000. But they do have a lot of free agents. For one, Nick Folino, 3.8 million. That comes off the books. I'm not really sure if they want to bring him back. Patrice Bergeron, it all comes down to whether he wants to play. If he comes back, I'm sure he'll sign a pretty cheap deal. Tyler Bertuzi, they're going to really try to throw a bag at him.

Starting point is 00:19:13 He's 28. Only made $2.375 million on the salary cap for this season. Oh, and he was great for them. When he came over at the deadline, wait for them in the playoffs. He will want to sign back there. I think the Bruins are going to really try to win that bidding more. Thomas Nosek, decent debt player, Garnett Hathaway, could see what they do there. David Craycheek, I think they're going to want to bring him back.

Starting point is 00:19:38 He only made a million for this season. It's the Bruins or retirement for him. And then Demetri Orlov, I think he might walk, though. He only made $1.275 million for them just because of the caps rating of a salary. And then the big one for them is Jeremy Swamon. He's an RFA only made 9-on-25,000. He is going to command a big freaking raise in the ruins. Again, they will be in some salary cap, hell this summer,

Starting point is 00:20:02 if they want to bring some of these guys back. They're not going to have all the room in the world. And someone like Taylor Hall, I could see them potentially dealing if they want to make some cap-if-they-want because he does make $6 million for the next two seasons. They're not going to trade Posternuk. They're not going to trade Marshawn. Charlie Coyle, I also could see him as an option.

Starting point is 00:20:22 He signed for three more years at 5.25. million. Jake Debross, he's signed for one more year at four million. I don't think they would deal him. Pavel Zaka, no. Charlie McAvoy, Hamppes-Linholm, no. Brandon Carlo, probably not. Taylor Hall seems like a pretty decent option, and he would be a great fit for the Penguins. This year, 16 goals, 36 points in 61 games. Yes, I understand. He did miss a little bit of time, but in the playoffs against the Panthers. Five goals, eight points. in the seven games for his playoff career he's played in 39 games 14 goals 29 points in 39 games he is a big game player you know maybe he hasn't live up to the hype at times but he is

Starting point is 00:21:05 still a pretty damn good player when he came over during the 2020 2020 2021 season for the in the Bruins in that trade from buffalo played 16 games eight goals 14 points played a full season last year 20 goals 61 points 81 games though that is some solid production And yeah, six million. It's a big cap hit. Maybe the Penguins could ask the Bruins see some salary, but also probably not. I think the Penguins would have to include some salary going back the other way.

Starting point is 00:21:35 Someone on cap-friendly, I think some Bruins fans had, this is fun. I don't usually bring this up on my show, but I thought it was funny. Some Bruins fans had them sending call to Pittsburgh for Yon Ruda in like a third round pick. I do that. Sign me up yesterday.

Starting point is 00:21:49 If they can't bring back Jason Zucker and I'm only giving up Yon Ruda in a third round pick oh i'm doing that any day of the week i'm sorry that that's not reality i don't think but i'm still making that trade any any day and he fits the penguin speed and skill game he can score he can pass he can forecheck he can play aggressive defense he can play well defensively he may not be that total team leader that jason's uncle was especially in a locker room how so many people have looked up to him and respected him but i think he could be definitely at least match his production, if not go over Zucker's production from this season. Again, I would love to re-sign Zucker.

Starting point is 00:22:33 He was so great for the Penguins this season on and off the ice. But in terms of replacement, you could do a lot worse and probably not much better than Taylor Hall. Again, that's if they can't bring him back in. Again, I will be calling the Bruins no matter what, especially because I am on board of the Penguins wanting to go out and get Jeremy Swayman. trading for his RFA rights. But if they go out and get another goalie who's pretty decent and they're able to replace Zucker that way and call them about Taylor Hall,

Starting point is 00:23:06 that's kind of like almost like a dream right there. Probably not going to happen. But, you know, the Penguins will be cooking with some gas at that point. But let me know your thoughts about that. Do you think Taylor Hall will be a good Jason Zooker replacement? Do you think it's realistic that the Penguins could call them, assuming, you know, whoever the new GM is, Let me know down the comments.

Starting point is 00:23:25 You know, it's silly season here for a reason. We're in almost mid-May people. I got two more months of this stuff. Come on. We're going to continue to do some silly seasons business. We also have a small GM search update for today. According to Rob Rossi, the Penguins, they requested permission to interview Chicago Blackhawks,

Starting point is 00:23:44 Associate General Manager Jeff Greenberg. But according to his sources, the Blackhawks denied permission. So he will not be involved in the search for the Penguins, no general manager. The Penguins will have to look elsewhere as interviews are shaping up to start this week. Remember, Jeff Greenberg, he was a finalist for the position in Chicago before Kyle Davidson got the full-time job a little over a year ago.

Starting point is 00:24:09 So that is a little bit of an update on the GM search for today. We'll have to see who they start interviewing as the week goes on. And as honestly the next few weeks, go on. I'll be back with another episode for you all on Wednesday. continue to discuss the playoffs. It could be Maple Leafs Elimination Day, which means Kyle Dubis could be getting an interview with the Penguins at some point. We will have to see when it comes to that. We'll also continue our player season reviews and a whole lot more when it comes to the team team. So keep it right here on Locked on Penguins. Really appreciate all of you

Starting point is 00:24:38 listening slash watching. Again, thank you all so much. I'll talk with you all on Wednesday.

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - What to do with the No. 14 pick? Plus, a look at a potential Jason Zucker replacement if the Penguins don't sign him!

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