Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Who are some good PTO candidates for the Penguins?

Starting point is 00:00:01 Who are some PTO candidates for the Penguins heading in a training camp? Pat and I are going to discuss that right after this. You're 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 Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am one of your hosts, Hunter Hodes.

Starting point is 00:00:37 That is my co-host, Patrick Damp. You can follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. follow Pat's Twitter at Sinnam for Wet. And of course, you can follow these shows Twitter at Lones for Penguins. Thank you all so much for making this your first listen slash watch of the day. Obviously, I am not in my regular office. For those watching on YouTube, I had to make an unexpected trip up to Beantown, aka Boston.

Starting point is 00:00:59 Seeing a lot of crappy brewing stuff around here, but, you know, that's an episode for another day at this point. But for today's episode, we're really going to dive into some PTO candidates for the team, starting with Nolan Patrick. Again, remember what a PTO is, professional tryout. It doesn't really cost you anything against the cap at the time, but if you want to take that band-aid off, quote-unquote, you will have to sign them,

Starting point is 00:01:19 and then he will count towards your cap. So starting things off, Nolan Patrick was the second overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, right behind Nico Heeshier. And yes, I understand, Juan Hexol gets a lot of crap for that pick. And heck, he should get a lot of crap overall because he's been a horrendous executive

Starting point is 00:01:37 for the couple of teams that he's been to GM for, most recently, of course, of the Penguins. But I really don't think you can fault him for that pick, considering how he was the undisputed number two guy at the time. Obviously, with how McCar has done, without some of these other players have done, you look back and it's like, oh, yeah, you would take those players first. But, you know, I don't think anyone really saw this coming with the players.

Starting point is 00:02:01 Patrick in his first season there, 13 goals, 30 points in 73 games. After that, 13 goals, 31 points in 72 games. And then the last three seasons combined, he's only played in 70, 70 games. He's a belted battle with a lot of injuries, had a migraine disorder, concussions, upper body injuries, you name it. Do you think he makes sense on a PTO pat? I mean, I think if he's healthy, he can maybe bring good value to the bottom six. But again, he just has to say healthy.

Starting point is 00:02:28 Yeah, obviously, we got to add the caveat like you said that it's easy to say in hindsight you should have taken this player, that player, especially because we all know that a lot of guys pop up from the draft that you didn't expect to be as good as they were. And then vice versa in the case of Nolan Patrick. But at the time, he was definitely at least in the top three of that draft. And also, we got to say, too, you bring a guy in like this. It's not us saying this is the piece. This is the one guy that's going to make them contenders, no doubt, push him over the edge.

Starting point is 00:03:01 But I think so. He sat out last year on LTIR with the Vegas Golden Knights. unfortunately isn't getting his name on the cup, despite spending some time with the franchise, but different argument, different day. But you look at it from the perspective of, okay, did that season sitting out help him out? Is he getting healthy? Can he return to some kind of form? And it's a guy now that he's got a very good pedigree, really good player, before he got to the NHL.

Starting point is 00:03:33 Will it translate? It's tough to say at this point. But if you can bring him in on a PTO and tell him, listen, you're going to be a depth option, third, fourth line, you might not play every night, you're not going to get a big deal. If he's healthy, I think he can return to form. It can be a classic contender kind of move where you're not expecting this guy to come in and light the world on fire. And if he does, it's only going to help you. And then another team can say, you know what, you had a great year there. You help them win, put up some big points.

Starting point is 00:04:05 we're going to take a chance on you now and give you that big deal, and you look for that value. So to me, it looks like a guy that if he's available, because with his injury history, there have been reports that he may retire. So health is a huge caveat here. But I mean, 77 points in over 200 games isn't great. But you saw it from his first two seasons. He was able to put up some OK numbers for a rookie. And he dealt with injuries again.

Starting point is 00:04:34 So again, find out if he's healthy, see if the juice is worth the squeeze, so to speak. And I don't think it's a bad option if available. At least, again, if he's available, see what he can do during camp, play him in a few preseason games, excuse me. That would be fine. He's also still young enough. He's 24. For a team that is obviously on a bit of an older side, that can work. I mean, you want to bring in some more youth to this lineup, as many people also want.

Starting point is 00:05:04 be my guest. He can play center. He can play wing. He can play all over the lineup, to be honest. So I do think something could be there if they want to see what he can bring. I mean, in the game, the game he can play, he's got some foot speed. He obviously has offensive instincts, which as we've talked about on this show multiple times now, that's something the penguins are going to need in their bottom six. The top six is set. Top six is going to be able to score. No ifs, zands, or butts about it. If you can add a another guy who can chip in 10, 15 goals in the bottom six, fill in as a band-aid on the second line, should there be injuries or even regressions for some guys, give him a little bit of an

Starting point is 00:05:45 elevated role and see how he does with it. I think that's worth the risk, so to speak. If Dubas can get in touch with this guy and his agent and his people and say, hey, listen, Vegas didn't qualify you. You sat out last year. How's your health? How are you feeling? Do you still want to keep giving this a shot? And if so, bring him in next month in Cranberry and see, why not? See what he does. You took the words right out of my mouth with the offensive instincts for the bottom six. I mean, we've discussed this.

Starting point is 00:06:15 I feel like every episode at this point that the Penguins badly need some more offense for their bottom six, considering the defensive options that they brought in over the off season. And I've already given those names so many times, people are going to be sick and tired of me saying them. But for a player who can, like him, who can come in, give you a 12. 12, 15 goals, maybe even more than that, maybe 16, 17 goals if he's fully healthy and maybe has a career year. I mean, maybe that's a little bit of, you know, copium there. But I think that could be worth it if he's healthy and if he's back to the level that we've seen him at during his early years in Philly or potentially even more than that. And again, you know, like you said,

Starting point is 00:06:50 24 years old. So if he's healthy, and these are all big caveats again, like we said, it's PTO, it's guys you're taking a chance on, guys who might need a rehab. somewhere to kind of get their career back on track. But even if he ends up being productive and he's a guy you get on a PTO, sign him to a minimum deal, maybe next summer you say, hey, what if we go two, three years from here and see if you can keep it going? Right. And he's not going to cost you much even after a PTO if they sign them.

Starting point is 00:07:20 It's going to be what? I mean, not even a million. I would say, 850K, 900K. I think it's going to be somewhere in that range. And for that value, if he produces in the double digits for goals, you have yourself a steel right there. Rare is it that a PTO turns into a million or more. Usually the only cases where PTO goes to a million or more is if it's a guy that you know you want to sign, but you got to get the rest of the cap in order and then give him the deal.

Starting point is 00:07:49 Most of the time, like we said, it's guys who are looking for a rehabilitation project, somebody you want to try to get back on track. and if that doesn't check all the boxes of Nolan Patrick and the guy we're going to talk about next. Right. And speaking of that, that's a beautiful segue into the second segment. So we're going to discuss Yassie Poole, Rva, a player who a lot of people in this fan base, and I think in the media as well, have been wanting the penguins to get Carolina made a really nice add on him at the trade deadline, even though he didn't really do that much. I think the hurricanes were also just a super deep team.

Starting point is 00:08:23 But that is also a player that could be a PTO option for the day of penguins. we're going to discuss that coming up after this break. But before that, let's talk about AG1, the daily foundation of nutrition supplement that supports whole body health. I drink it literally every day, right when I wake up in the morning, 8.30, 9 a.m. I like to drink it before my coffee. Just gives me my boost to start every single weekday before I start my full-time job. All great athletes have one thing in common. They take care of their bodies.

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Starting point is 00:09:49 I know. Like I said, very unexpected trip. My last full vacation that was actually planned starts next Thursday, as I teased last Friday because Pat's going to be solo for a couple of episodes. he's going to bring it on some good guests. I got some fun planned. Yes. That's a good tease for everyone out there. Now, our second PTO option, Yassie Pall Jarvie, a player who really wasn't getting the credit that he deserved

Starting point is 00:10:13 when he was with the Edmonton Oilers, had three seasons of double-digit goals, 2017, 18, had 12 goals, 20 points, and 65 games in 2020, 2021, had 15 goals, 25 points in 55 games, right after that, 14 goals, 36 points, and then this past season played in a little over 70 games, had 16 points, 5 of those or goals. If you look at his underwings, ranked in the 60th percentile for a 5-on-5 offense, 90-second percentile for a 5-on-5 even-strike defense.

Starting point is 00:10:45 That's per J. Fresh's model. And so you would be getting a player who, like some of these other players that the Penguin signed very good defensively, but unlike them, I think you're getting a player who can add more of an offensive upside as we just discussed in Nolan Patrick. What are your thoughts on Pull Yarby? Unless your name is Connor McDavid or Leon Drysidal, I just I don't have faith anymore, or at least not yet,

Starting point is 00:11:13 in the Edmonton Oilers ability to develop talent. Because Pull Yarvey is a fourth overall pick the year before Nolan Patrick, the 2016 draft. And I just don't think they ever really utilized him correctly. Yeah, fourth overall pick, you expect him to step in and be great instantly, which is a fair assessment and a fair thing to think. But you look at the guy's underlines, despite the top line statistics. And if put in the right scenario, he can produce. And he's not going to be your kind of top six winger that is a black hole defensively and you're only

Starting point is 00:11:53 going to rely on him to play in the offensive zone. He can play a two-way game. He can play a two-way game. name. And if there is, you know, we have, we have evidence of the penguins taking a cast away from the Edmonton Oilers and turning him into a big contributor in Justin Schultz when they went back to back in 1617. And again, that's a Mike Sullivan coached team. So who's to say that Yesy Poi RV could be yet another rehabilitation project from Edmonton to Pittsburgh? I like this guy a lot. I have since He came into the league. I like the way he plays. He has, again, similar to Nolan Patrick, just with less injuries,

Starting point is 00:12:34 really good offensive instincts. He has the ability to find the net and find his teammates. You just got to give him the right recipe and the right utilization. So another guy that he's just sitting there this summer waiting for a deal from anyone, Carolina didn't bring him back, Edmonton isn't bringing him back. Why not take a flyer on him? It's a guy that, you know, it's funny to say, but he has all the markings of a guy that would be a Pittsburgh penguin. And it's funny.

Starting point is 00:13:05 I loved how you brought up the Oilers and their draft development history because we've seen this before even with Neil Yakupov, with how he was picked super high. Look what happened to him, right? And with Paul Yarvey, number four overall pick in 2016 was fine, but obviously didn't live up to the hype. And I think a lot of that does have to do with the Oilers, as you said, because, you know, it's McDavid, dry, siddle. I will say Ryan Nugent Hopkins, after a while, finally did figure it out.

Starting point is 00:13:31 He was outstanding for them this past season. So they do have a little bit of recent history with that. But overall, the Oilers with their development, it's not good. I kind of compare it to the Rangers of the Eastern Conference because the Rangers are horrendous with developing their talent. Heck, we don't even know if Alexei Luffrinier is good over there. Capo Cocoa, Philophe.

Starting point is 00:13:49 He'll still got to see if he's going to take a big step. So I kind of compare it to something like that. With Poli, again, a smart front office, you know, like Carolina just did, they took a chance on him. Yes, it didn't work, but I think it was still a smart bet for them to take, considering the numbers that he put up in Edmonton with how smart, I think Kyle Dubus and this new front office is. It will be smart to just give him a look, see what he can do in camp, give more players some competition because camp is already going to be super competitive as it is.

Starting point is 00:14:18 This would really, I think, up a notch for someone who has contributed multiple seasons of 10, 11, 12 plus goals. He can bring you offense for the bottom of six. He can play defensively. He can play on your penalty kill as well. I mean, not as much as some of the other guys can, but I think he's still an option there. Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:14:37 And I will say, as much as we love to speak out against the quote unquote old hockey men, the dinosaurs, Ken Holland was what that front office needed. Because regardless of what you think of him, he has a really good track record of drafting and developing as seen by his time with the Red Wings in the 90s and 2000s. So he's going to be able to do things a little bit better for that front office and that organization, especially when you have Connor McDavid and Leon Dricyel. As for Poy-R-V, I think there's more of a chance here for him than there would have been in Carolina. You said it already.

Starting point is 00:15:17 Deep, deep roster in Carolina. A lot of talent up and down. That's why they're going to be one of the best teams in the Metro this year and moving forward. So on the flip side of that, you look at the Penguins and what they're trying to retool on the fly here, a deep roster at the NHL level. Having a Jesse Poi-R-V gives them more depth, but there's enough of a need at the Penguins' bottom six that he will get more of a chance. He'll get more consistent time. He'll get more consistent ice.

Starting point is 00:15:47 And with that, I think, in an organization, like the Penguins, a coach like Mike Sullivan, a captain like Sidney Crosby, a defenseman like Chris LaTang, and just, if there is one thing in sports, whether it's the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, a winning culture is contagious. Seeing someone like Crosby who has remained at the pinnacle of the sport for as long as he has, but never rests on it, that's infectious. You don't come to Pittsburgh and become lazy. You come to Pittsburgh and go, Oh, wow. If that's how Sidney Crosby operates on a daily basis, what am I going to do when I'm here?

Starting point is 00:16:28 I love that point. I mean, I didn't even consider that. And then you just put it out there. I'm like, well, that actually makes, this is, again, people, this is why Pat is on the show right now. But I love that point that you made. I think it's very good. Also, you can slide pull Yarvey up to the top six if needed with injuries. He's shown an ability to play up there at times.

Starting point is 00:16:48 You don't want him up there for 20, 20, 20. five games, anything like that. But he's still not a bad option if you need him in a pinch or something like that. One more option before we head to a break. And he's been on the team before. What about Zach Asson Reese with the Kyle Dubas connection? I think that's kind of a last ditch one, you know, because I went to cap friendly and I looked at all the current UFAs and it's not a lot. It's not a lot.

Starting point is 00:17:13 It's also super redundant. Yeah. But he's a good option. But at the same time, he's already what they've done with the bottom six. Defensively accountable players who aren't going to get caved in, guys who can play a really solid two-way game, help your penalty kill. And they kind of already have that. They've filled that need.

Starting point is 00:17:37 It would be a nice little return, comfortability for the player, familiarity with the front office and the organization. Maybe if we get later on in the year and he's somebody, that you need to bring in to help out because of injuries and a lack of depth. Not a bad option. But if I'm dubous in the front office right now, hey, thanks for everything, but it's not going to be here. Right.

Starting point is 00:18:01 And he had his shot with the Penguins. And I remember that fourth line like it was yesterday, him, Brandon Tanev, and Teddy Bluger. That was one of the best shut down fourth lines in the league. They don't have any of those players anymore, but both offensively and defensively, that line was so free. making good. Aspenrys was the defensive guru, can win the draws, and then Tannup can provide the offense. I don't think there were many four lines that were better than that one.

Starting point is 00:18:28 And they were fast. Yes. Like they were great in the defensive zone, but man, if they got to top speed through the neutral zone, you were not catching them. And I think especially after just, you know, one of them left. I don't think Ashton Reese was the same. You know, I mean, you know, he left after then Bluger left off.

Starting point is 00:18:48 obviously, I just don't think that line was the same, you know, after, you know, just, you know, obviously Tanna have left for the expansion draft and then Axtor goes and then Bluey gets traded. It just wasn't the same after one of them left. But again, I agree. I think it's a last-ditch thing. They already have so many of those defensive gurus down there in the players that they signed this all season.

Starting point is 00:19:08 I think, as I said, it would kind of be redundant at this point. But that wraps up this second segment. Coming up to end the show, looks like Chicago's core three has gone out with a whimper. Pat and I can discuss that. right after this. All right, we're back to on this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am Hunter Hodes. That is Patrick Damp.

Starting point is 00:19:27 So last week, Jonathan Taves announced via Instagram and then took it to the media that he will be taking this season off and he will be reassessing his future after the season. I just don't think he is fully invested in the game for the season. He basically said it just needs a break from the game of hockey. And with that, Jonathan Taves gone from the Blackhawks. Patrick Kane, traded. gone. Duncan Keith gone. Their big three went out with kind of a whimper. And this team has not really been the same since what 2015. Because after that they had the playoffs where they made it for a year

Starting point is 00:20:04 or two, but they got schooled pretty badly. And then even after that, the team went down really fast. And Kane's game wasn't the same. Tave's game was not the same. And especially Duncan Keith's game, you know, before he went to what Edmonton wasn't the same either. So I think with this being the case, people need to really look themselves in the mirror and be like, think about the core that the penguins have right now and how good Sidney Crosby, Evgeny, Malkin, and Crystal Tangerplank, because in some alternate reality, we just went into the multiverse last week. In some alternate reality, that is the Penguins Core 3. And we should be blessed that they did not go out on a wimper like that.

Starting point is 00:20:48 Yeah, and I said it on Twitter. You know, I obviously hope that Jonathan Taves has his health because, you know, he went through it when the pandemic was really ripping through and it caused him to have. He didn't. I don't, I can't remember if they ever said if he got COVID-19 or not, but I know that he had some kind of ailment that was related to the pandemic and it really ripped through his body. and the fact that he was able to come back is truly a testament to him as a hockey player and a person. But yeah, I mean, you know, Adam Gretz and I talked about it briefly, basically just that their reign at the top was incredible, but it was not as long as people think.

Starting point is 00:21:38 It was 2010 to 2015. It was about five years. And away from that, they were always competitive. but then now you look at they have Connor Bedard, which we can talk about why they probably shouldn't, but that's a whole different episode. But I mean, yeah, like in my head, I really hope that if nothing else, Crosby, Malkin, LaTang go out guns blazing. They go out together.

Starting point is 00:22:05 They go out at the same time or around the same time. And it's all one big kick at the can because you look at Chicago up until they get Bedard last this past summer. They were in that mushy middle. They weren't until last year, they were never bad enough to tank, but never really good enough to contend. And you have these, you know, because Duncan Keith left, you have these two franchise icons in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Taves just wasting away.

Starting point is 00:22:34 And I don't ever want to see that happen for our big three because everything they've done, three Stanley Cups, everything else in between it and how great they've. been individually and as a collective, you don't want that to end as meekly as it has for Chicago. And you don't want to see the father time just creep in right away. Just how do I want to phrase this? It can creep in, I guess, slowly, but you don't want to just see the wheels fall off like it did with Taves, like it did with Kane, especially this past season. I think at five on five, Kane is cooked right now.

Starting point is 00:23:08 That hip, coming back from hip surgery, that's no small feet. and he's not going to be ready until the middle of the season. I don't know. For someone who is going through that, his 5-on-5 numbers were not good this past season. I know they were on a bad Chicago team. I don't think he's going to provide that much value to whoever signs him. Keith, obviously, I mean, that's down the road.

Starting point is 00:23:28 But, you know, you look at also, you said it best that their 2010 to 2015 was their window. After that, their seasons, they lose to the blues. They get swept by the predators. They miss the playoffs a couple of years. they then make the playoffs during the COVID year. They got crushed by the nights after they beat the Oilers in the qualifying round. And then the final three seasons after that, they got sixth, seventh, and eighth. So this past season was obviously awful because they tanked.

Starting point is 00:23:55 But before that, they were kind of in that we're not good enough to make the playoffs. We're also not bad enough to be a full-on lottery team. And I would hope that the penguins don't fall into that category. I would rather them being, A, a contender, or be a. just be bad enough to be a lottery team. Being stuck in the middle, especially with these three players, Crosby, Malk, and Latang,

Starting point is 00:24:17 that's never a good thing because you have to make a decision one way or another. You can't be a middling team for years to come. And I understand that franchises and individuals always find themselves in different positions.

Starting point is 00:24:32 So dealing Patrick Kane to the Rangers understandable. Because Patrick Kane, at least there was some belief, both in Chicago and in New York that he had something left to give, we can debate whether or not there is. Stranger things have happened, guys finding a renaissance late in their late years, but you never want to be in a position where you have to say,

Starting point is 00:24:54 you know what, we're going to deal a guy that brought us back to glory for spare parts and pennies on the dollar. I never want to see Sidney Crosby wearing another jersey. I never want to see Evgeny Malkin wearing another jersey. I never want to see Chris Leten. wearing another jersey. I want 87, 71, and 58 to play their entire careers in Pittsburgh. And if that means that eventually they have a year where the wheels fall off, I hope that both they and the organization decide, you know what, it's time. Right. I think at that point

Starting point is 00:25:30 with how competitive both are, and I think all three are, I think they would come to a point where it's like, okay, we know we've lost a step. We don't want to just be a middling. team, we'll go out on our own terms so you guys can really kickstart this rebuild process and you know, be bad enough to be a lottery team or just do whatever it takes to rebuild this team back to a contender. I don't want these three players just playing like a bunch of grandpas, to be honest. Yeah. And again, you know, to put the final point on it, I really do hope Jonathan Taves has his health with everything he's had to deal with the past three, four years with both injuries in the pandemic.

Starting point is 00:26:10 And here's the hope and we get at least one more good kick at the can with Crosby, Malkin, and Latang. Right. I couldn't agree more. I echo your sentiments with Taves. I really hope he takes this year off, just refreshes himself. I do think there will be interest in him next year

Starting point is 00:26:25 if he decides to play. He'll be definitely a good bottom six option for a team that's maybe trying to contend. Kane, if he can prove me wrong, that'll be great. And obviously, Keith, he retired a little over a year ago after a really great career, down a little bit when he was a member of the Oilers. He was not the shutdown defenseman that

Starting point is 00:26:41 Edwin remembers him being when he was with the Oilers, but when he was with Chicago, I think for most of those years, they were not five defensemen in the league better than him. And just real quick, like with Taves, I mean, there was a couple years span where like, yeah, he wasn't Crosby, but man, was he good? Like, just an absolute force. Right. And I never bought into the weird notion. that he was better than Cindy Crosby. I don't know where that started, why that started.

Starting point is 00:27:13 Great player, don't get me wrong. Better than Cindy Crosby, I thought that was a little much of a stretch at a time, but he was still one of the best two-way centers and the game, especially when he was like his power. I would have absolutely, at the height of his powers, put him in the same conversation as not better, but one of those guys, we go, man, if you don't have Sid,

Starting point is 00:27:30 like, Taves ain't a bad backup option. I don't think he ever truly had the offense, to be, I guess, considered in that conversation. That's just also my opinion. Yeah. I can hopefully see what you're coming from. Defensively, though, he was awesome. And he did provide some offense,

Starting point is 00:27:46 but it wasn't at the level that Sid provided, I think. But that would do it for this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. Thank you all so much for listening to slash watching this one. I'll be back in my home office on Wednesday. Pat and I will be back in his studio on Wednesday. And we'll have a brand new episode for you all. Then again, hope you all have a great rest of your Monday. And we'll talk with you all on Wednesday.

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Who are some good PTO candidates for the Penguins?

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