Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Who's impressing in the training camp scrimmages?

Episode Date: January 8, 2021

We're just five days away from the start of the Penguins season and there are some players already impressing in some intra-squad scrimmages at training camp! Has Tristan Jarry looked the part so far? Does Evan Rodrigues deserve a fair shot on the top line till Kapanen comes back? Hunter also touches on a Kapanen update as he won't be in Pittsburgh till Saturday which means he'll have to miss the first few games due to quarantine. After that, Hunter remembers Jeff Zatkoff as he officially announced his retirement and how that Game One was one of the most important games of the Penguins 2016 Stanley Cup run. Finally, the show ends with a Mike Lange update as he won't be calling games on the radio to start the season and why needs to be protected at all costs.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. 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.

You're Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hey, everyone. Welcome to this Friday episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.

Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Guys, you know, clearly there are events transpiring of great importance right now. You know, sports are at the back front of our minds, you know, and I want to acknowledge that, but, you know, I hope that I can provide you some respite at this time. So thank you so much for joining. I really do appreciate it. For this episode, you're just going to go over some more training camp stuff. You know, I watched the scrimmage on, I think it was Tuesday, Wednesday.

I think the episode that came out, it was on Tuesday that I was like, yeah, you know, they should stream the scrimmage, you know, the next day they streamed it. So, you know, go over some thoughts from that. Payman let's also had an intra-squad scrimmage today. Watch that. I'm going to give some thoughts on who I thought stood out with everything like that. So that'll be touched on. We'll also touch on some news around the league.

I saw some Cory Crawford news. He may be out indefinitely due to personal reasons. And the stars had to have three games postponed because of their COVID outbreak. You know, just that was always bound to happen. I'm going to touch on that deeper end of this episode. And then for the final segment, I think we're going to open up the mailback and have some mailback listener questions. So that'll basically be today's episode. And then next week, we'll finally get the games going.

Have an episode Monday. Tuesday we'll preview the game against Philadelphia. Then Wednesday, I'll probably have an episode after the game, since it's a 530 game, the game will be over by 8. Geez, I cannot speak today. So I'll probably have an episode starting up right after 8 just to recap the game. And then, you know, just from there on now, you know, game recaps, have guests on during the season, talk about who's standing out, who played well, who didn't play well.

Maybe we'll dump on Cody C.C if he plays that, which is probably going to happen. So we're really excited. The season's five days away. So let's just get right into it right now with some thoughts on the scrimmages. From the one from the other day, I thought Tristan Jari looked really sharp, but it's moving very great, laterally, seeing the puck. He made a couple of 10 bills saves on Jake Gensel.

He was just robbing him left and right. I think he made a great save on Malken, too. The Zulker Malkin-Russ line is probably going to be the best second line in the league guys. It would be very surprising to find a second line better than that. They were just buzzing the entire scrimmage.

Zucker had a really nice goal in the scrimmage. If you listen to the Wednesday's episode with Jesse Marshall, he's predicting him to score on a 40-goal pace. It would not surprise me. at all in the slightest if he does do that just because even in that 15 games stint last season with the Penguins

12 points, 15 games and in the playoffs two goals in the four games he had no assist but you know he just looked very comfortable right from the get-go from arriving from Minnesota and I think you will see big things from Zooker this season. I thought Russ looked great in the scrimmage too. I'm just

and I know I said the whole line but you know Russ himself looked great. Probably will not be a 30 goal scorer next year but it wouldn't surprise me to see him be you know, 20, 25 goals, 40, 45 points. I know he had 56 points and 55 games for the Penguins this past year. Not going to score a point per game pace. I just, you know, he was also the victim of a very high shooting percentage.

I wouldn't, just didn't say victim, you know, the beneficiary of a very high suiting percentage. I think it was at like 15% or something like that. I would expect that to regress a bit down to maybe 10 to 11%. You know, he's not going to, like I say, he's not going to be a 30 goal score this season. It would be awesome if he were, but, you know, just, shooting at like 15, 16% again. It's just likely not going to happen. I still thought Sid looked a step slow.

Again, you know, it's training camp, so I guess that's a bit to be expected, but I'm sure he'll be fine going into the season. Casey DeSmith also looked good. He was getting just barraged by the Penguins' top line, virtually all game. I mean, I think the game ended in what, like a two-to-one score or something like that, but he made into some nice 10-Bell saves too. I thought he's looked good in that scrimmage. And even today, too, I thought he was making some nice saves again.

Jari looked great today as well. And also, you know, going to today's scrimmage, Evan Rodriguez, had a nice goal, just a beautiful shot. You know, they're going to give him a shot, I think, on that top line when the season starts on Wednesday of next week against the Flyers and probably on Friday, too. See what he's made of. I mean, this is really his first chance, I think,

to just really show the coaching staff and also a team in general, like, what he has. Because in Buffalo, he never really got that shot. I know he played one season, I think, like 70 games, but, you know, he's also healthy. scratch in some of those games. And then the rest of the time there, he just, like, hardly got any playing time in all. But, you know, it's good to see that they're actually seeing what they have in this player.

You know, I don't really think Jim Rutherford wanted to trade him in that conspiracy cap and deal. He ended up doing it anyway. And then, of course, when Toronto didn't give him a qualifying offer, he just said, you know, I don't just sign him on market for 700K because, you know, he wants to see more of the player. And, you know, I wish he played in the playoff series. I really don't know why that they had to play Patrick Marlowe or even Sam Lafferty for a game. I would have wanted to see Rodriguez a bit more.

Honestly, I would have wanted to see him in each of those games. So really nice goal from Rodriguez today. One of the kids got in on the action. Drew O'Connor actually got his first school training camp. I think he was set up by Nathan McGarry. Really nice setup from him. I think that was what gave Team Gold the 1-0 lead. And I think who scored to win the game or the scrimmage.

I think it was Jared McCann, if I'm not mistaken. And, you know, what a flow he has going right now. You know, he's really growing his hair out. You know, so is Brandon Tanev. So is Trista Teng. You know, the Penguins just have a team of flow right now with all these players. just having long hair. I guess they just wanted to grow out out during quarantine,

but still, you know, I see Jared McCann get on the board, you know, even though it is training camp. Hopefully, he doesn't have a stretch during the season where he goes, goalless in his last 23 games or, like, one goal in his last 24 games, something like that. It was just so terrible to see. You know, I definitely think it impacted his confidence

during that last season. And in case anyone wanted the lines from today's scrimmage, team black, the lineup was Gensel, Crosby, Rodriguez, is McCandgen, Kalski, Lafferty, Pulin, Goodro, Angelo, Zohorna was the extra forward on that team. Then for that defense, Pedersen, Marino,

Matheson, Cici, Joseph and Manascalo, DeSmith started, and then for Team Gold, Zulkar, Malkin, Ross, Tanna, Bluerre, O'Connor, Curie, Ligary, Nolan, Ligary, Nol, is the extra forward, the Dumlin, Latang, Rika Lurudel, Lee, and Trotman, Jari, and DeOrio.

So that was the lineup for today. I think Jari, most of the time, DeSmith, most of the time, but then the backups did come in. towards the later stages of their scrimmage. I wish I honestly had more to talk about from these scrimmages and more about this team from training camp. There is just honestly nothing out there.

There's really no big training camp battles. You know who's going to be on the team opening night. I guess there is an update from Kaspari Kappen. I think he's going to be making his way to Pittsburgh tomorrow. Looks like they got the immigration thing. I'm settled, but he will have to quarantine for seven days before he is allowed to play, which means I think he will be out for the first,

at least two games of the season, perhaps three. He probably will not make his debut. until next weekend at the earliest, potentially the week that week, going in that next Monday for the Penguins. So that's going to be a big loss. You know, like I said, you're going to see Evan Rodriguez on the top line, I would think, for the first two or three games. I don't know how many practices it's going to take for Kaepinan to get up to speed.

I would guess maybe two to three or something like that. But, you know, he's a good enough player where it should be able to work, but, you know, playing with Sydney Crosby is also no easy task. So, you know, it could be potentially be more. It just sucks. You know, as Jesse Marshall said, on the podcast on Wednesday, you know, this is valuable time that he's missing because of these immigration issues, you know, that he's just going to be that much further behind when the

season ultimately starts on Wednesday, and he's just not going to be here for that. So yeah, it definitely sucks for him. And like I said, man, you know, I wish there was more training camp out to talk about. You know what your top four on defense is going to look like. You know who your starting goaltender is going to be. You know what your top six is going to look like when everyone's healthy. We all know the big question marks for the team. I've been discussing that all offseason. I've been discussing it all week. And you just, you know who the extras are going to be. So, I mean, I literally just have nothing for you.

I mean, that's the son of that funny thing about it. The line rushes before the scrimentsiazsche, Roderriguez, Zulker, Malkin-Russ, Mekhankov, Javier, Tenev, Lugar, Severe, defense was the same. Rico Rueh Roodoo, Matheson, C, C, Pedersen, Marino, Duman, Jari. Apparently, Drew O'Connor rotated in on the fourth line. So, yeah, I mean, these are going to be the lines. Honestly, I would guess, going into their first game against Philadelphia,

especially without Aston Rees. I think when Ashton Rees comes back, you probably see Sam Lafferty be bumped out of the lineup. And then when Kaepernan comes in, I would guess it's one of Rodriguez or Xavier that gets bumped out. I might guess it's that it's Sevier because I think they would run Gensel, Crosby, Kaepernan, Zulker, Malkin, Rousse, McCann, and Kalski, Rodriguez,

and then Tannibbue, or Aston Reese, and then the defense would be the same. That's basically what the lineups look like. So, yeah, I mean, that's basically it for this segment. I also thought Marino looked good at the scrimmage. La Tang looks fine. Duman looks great. Latang is going to really benefit from having Duman play for full season.

Knock on wood. Of course, hopefully he doesn't break his ankle again. Just because, you know, that day for him, I think arguably one of the three best top hearings in the league. So you just, with what Lattang does offensively and what Dumlin does defensively zone, how he can move the puck up the ice and take some of the stress off of Lattang, they are just perfect for each other. and I'm really excited to see that pairing for a full 56 games. But before we do get to our next segment,

it's time to talk about bet online. There's only one place that has you covered in one place we trust. Betonline.ag. You can sign up today for a free account at that site and use the promo code locked on for your 50% off. Welcome bonus. You can do NFL games of the week. You can do the national championship for college football.

Don't just sit on the sidelines anymore, guys. Get in on the action. Don't forget to use that promo code locked on to receive a 50% off. Welcome bonus with your first deposit. Bet online, your online sportsbook experts. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L-O-I-W-Nscore Penguins.

So it's time to go around the league a bit with some news. First off, best wishes to Corey Crawford with the New Jersey Devils. He's taking some time away from the team due to personal reasons. Hope everything is okay with him and that he's able to make a return whenever he feels like it. and hope just whatever is bothering him and stuff like that is resolved as quickly as possible. Also, we had our first outbreak for COVID-19 in the NHL. Guys, this was always going to happen. It happened in the NFL.

It happened in the MLB. It hasn't happened really, well, it happened a little bit in the NBA, but not to this extent yet. The Dallas Stars basically six players and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. They have to have three games of theirs delayed. So I think the earliest that they can open their season is January 19th, which I believe. leave is, if I can get the date right, 11 days from now. I'm just going to go look at the calendar real quick to see when that day is. So not this coming Tuesday, but the following Tuesday is the earliest they can open their season. Again, guys, this was always, this was a formality.

You know, you saw what happened with the Steelers. You know, two of their games had to be pushed back because teams had big COVID outbreaks. Of course, that's the Titans and the Ravens. There could have been one really bad this week with their playoff game with the Browns. They've been ravaged with COVID-19. They're going to be without, I think, like seven, rate starters and their head coach for that game. So that's going to be interesting for the Steelers. And then, you know, you saw it in baseball at the beginning of the season as some teams. I think the Marlins had a huge opportunity that went on for like a week or a week and a half

before they finally got it under control. And then I think they were mostly fine for the rest of the way. And then other teams were as well. So it was a formality. You just got to stop the spread. Hopefully these players, they recover as quickly as possible. And they were also going to make a full recovery. Honestly, Greg Wiginski had a great tweet about it.

You know, this is one reason why the NHTS. and the PA said they're on the 56 games. You know, they can reschedule, shift games. You know, they saw what happened in the NFL and the MLB. They knew what it was ahead for them. I know it is a bit early that this is happening. I know the NFL, some of the NFL's outbreaks didn't happen until week four, week six, week seven, you know, even week 13.

But, you know, they still happen. The NFL got through it, and now they're in the playoffs, and they're only about, what, four or five weeks away now from Super Bowl Sunday. So they're very close to finishing their season. And then with baseball, too. They agreed with their season. They had some outbreaks with teams. They were able to get through it.

They stop the spread of it. And then going into the playoffs, I think it was mostly smooth sailing for that, thankfully, at least. And I think today with the Blue Jackets, Aaron Portsline came out with a tweet. I think there's like 17 players not practicing or something like that. I'm just going to try to find the tweet right now to make sure. Yeah, 17 players are out of training camp right now due to COVID-19 concerns.

I'm trying to find out which players there are. If I just looked at the story out on the athletic, there was rumors that Max Domi was one of them. Well, actually there's the whole list right now. Oliver Borkstrawny. Max Domi, Nick Felino, Nathan Gerby, Mikhail Grigorenko, Bungener, Miko Koiivu, Alexander Texier for the defenseman,

Del Zotto, Seth Jones, David Savard, Adam Klendening. So, yeah, there's a ton of blue jackets missing practice. It's unknown that they tested positive, but it sounds like, you know, maybe they were close contacts with someone who did. I'm not really sure, though,

but, you know, best wishes to all of them, hopefully they don't test positive for COVID-19, and that, you know, the blue jacket season doesn't. doesn't have to be delayed either. But again, you know, it sucks that this is happening. Five days before the season is supposed to start. But also, you know, like I said, this was bound to happen at some point like it did with the two other sports that came back. And I'm also sure, guys, that this is going to happen with the NBA at some point, too.

There's going to be games that have to be postponed due to the pandemic. It's just the world we live in right now, man. It's going to be like this probably well into this year. Honestly, maybe well into next year, potentially. I don't know when the vaccine is going to be widely, widely distributed. But, you know, it's going to be like this for a while now. still, I would think. We just got to keep chugging along. I know we're going to beat this thing and that, you know, life will return to normal at some point. And hopefully there'll be, you know, fans packed into arenas, pack into all sporting events, stadiums and all that. And, you know, just back to concerts, eating out and everything. You know, just got to go one day at a time and I think we will be back there at some point. And also, you know, some breaking news. Mike Sullivan has officially confirmed that Casperi Kappen is arriving in Pittsburgh tomorrow.

Apparently it will be at least a week, like I said, before we can participate. He will be tested on day one. day three, day five, and day seven. Also, Sullivan said he can't say for sure when Capon will be game ready. He's going to introduce the team consents virtually and evaluate Capon and his fitness levels before making that decision. So, like I said, he's definitely not playing next week. He may not even be playing into the next week after that. It might be a while before we see Capon on the ice.

I would assume, though, guys, maybe by the fifth game of the regular season, you see him, maybe the sixth game or something like that. Who knows with Mike Sullivan, but, you know, it sounds like he's not going to put him in the lineup until, you know, he knows assistive. He knows the drills and the concepts and all that. And, you know, also he has to be fitness ready and all that. So still, good news that Kaplan is arriving in Pittsburgh tomorrow and that he'll be ready for, you know, some of the start of the season. But, you know, he'll obviously be delayed by a few games.

Well, I think that's basically it for this segment. Before we do get to the next segment, though, before I just want to touch on, please, if you guys are subscribed to the Athletic, go read Dom's preview for the Penguins. He's been doing all the previews for all the NHL teams. The Penguins one came out the other day. he did a hell of a job just writing it for a guy who does not watch this team every day like me

and a bunch of the media members and all you guys as fans he did one hell of a job with it. It's a lot of database but he makes advanced stats and analytics very easy to understand just a couple things about the the article that I wanted to share

just for how bad Jack Johnson was this year I really wanted to touch on that just because of how it affected the team. much. So Cindy Crosby, we all know how great of a passer he is, you know, led to league last year by a wide margin high danger passes according to it on 5.5 per 60. But despite that, you know, a player in Jack Johnson actually tore Cindy Crosby down so bad that he had a 37% expected goals share rate with him on the ice with the worst actual goals rate and away from Jack Johnson, 57% expected goals and actual goals, his usual stuff. That is just how bad Jack Johnson was for

this team. It is nearly impossible to bring down Sidney Crosby, arguably the best player in the world to a level of 37% expected goals rate, but Jack Frickin Johnson was able to do that. So a round of applause is here for Jack Johnson for just being so bad at the Penguins again.

I will never forgive Jen Rutherford for that signing, and I think that was also be the last time that I talked about Jack Johnson, either before the season or during the season, unless he actually does something hilarious when the Penguins play the Rangers. And then I also wanted to touch on Afghani Malkin season. I don't think many people realize just how good Gina was this passing game for the Penguins and why there's

the potential that he could be just as good again. 74 points, 55 games. At 5E5 guys, he had a 3.3 points per 60 according to Dom that led the league. Sixth highest rate in the league since 2008. He also had a 59% expected goals share. 3.28 expected goals 4 per 60, 6th highest mark in the league. He ranks, he's very elite in entering the zone and exiting the zone. He is just absolutely lethal with that. And just basically, guys, the summary of this little statement here, no one could really get the puck off. Gino stick this past season. And I don't really expect anyone to this season as well. I think we're going to see a big season from Gino. And then, last of it, at least, there is one big thing that I read about John Marino. And this was, you know,

a stingy team leading 1.88 expected goals against per 60 while he was on the ice. Only four other defensemen last season were better than that. So while he was on the ice, the team, he only allowed 1.88 expected goals against. That is just how good defensively that he is and just shows that he was shutting down every player, every line that came on in the ice. He was just that freaking good for the Penguins last season. And he basically saved the defensive course. And Dom even wrote that with this last sentence about talking about Marino. He single-handedly changed the entire complexion of the defense and it made it much more formidable with his play last season.

Again, guys, I don't think you will find five top fours in the league better than the Penguins. So I just wanted to touch on that with Tom's preview. Again, guys, please go check it out on the athletic. They're very long, but they're very detail-oriented, and they just, he hits the nail on the head with everything he's saying, even though he does not watch the team as much as some others do. He makes you think he does. He's just that freaking good of a writer, so please go check that out. And coming up in the next segment, I changed my mind on the mailbag thing.

Jeff Sackoff, Mr. Game 1 announced his retirement. The other day, Seth Rolba wrote a story about that. We're going to go through that story and look at some really nice quotes that he had to say and touch on a former penguin, so stay tuned with us. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodey. So yes, backup goaltender Jeff Sackoff, Mr. Game 1 from 2016 has officially announced his retirement. And I remember that game like it was yesterday, man.

Mark Andre Fleury was, everyone was saying, oh, he's going to start, he's been practicing. Nope, he's not. Matt Murray, of course, is out still, I think, with the concussion symptoms. Jeff Zackoff, of all people, comes in. Everyone's like, oh, well, here we go. The Rangers are just going to take control of the series, but nope, Zackoff had better ideas. I think the Penguins won that game. 5-2, if my memory serves me right, it was other 5-2 or 6-3.

I know the Penguins put up a ton of goals in that game, but Zachoff was just unbelievable. That was also the game, I think, where Lunkwist had to leave because he got poked in the eye. Maybe it was by one of his own teammates. I think it was actually Mark Stahl that did it, if I'm not mistaken. And then, of course, you know, Zachov started game, too, but that was the game. I think the Rangers beat them five to. When talking to Seth Rolbaugh, he said, you know, it was accelerated by the pandemic. I had another year to go back to Germany.

The season was cut short last year. There was no clear start date. There was a lot of proposed salary cuts, and it just came to a point where it wasn't really financially worthwhile for my family in terms of quarantining and all that stuff, and I just wanted to just call it a career. And thankfully, I did get it right, 35 saves on 37 shots in that 5-2 win against New York Rangers in game one. I remember when the penguins were doing all the champagne

after they won the cup that year. You know, they ended up chanting after the We Are the Champions Wade. Mr. Game 1, Mr. Game 1, and Jeff was just loving it because he was, well, you know, he was Mr. Game 1 because he started out the playoffs in style with that 5 to win.

When Zachoff was asked about that by Rorbaugh, he said, you know, that's all right, that's a great memory. I have the stick that I used for that game. I have the puck game puck. I have some pictures from the game after the game. That will always be a special memory.

Have a special place in my heart when I look back on my hockey pier. and honestly should probably be his best memory outside of winning the Stanley Cup because that was their first win in the quest for 16 wins to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2009 and he just pulled something out of his ass just to win that game he was just that freaking good that's basically it on the Jeff Zackoff run also some breaking news in the Penguins community on hall of famer broadcaster Mike Lang who I think is the greatest hockey broadcaster of all time he will not be starting the upcoming season

the radio booth added abundance of caution during the pandemic You know, there's no surprise there with how old he is. Someone needs to get that legend of vaccine immediately. Obviously, I understand where he's coming from with his decision. His health and well-being is of the utmost importance. And if anyone disagrees with that, you're pretty weird. And a statement on the Fangles official website, he says, I've decided to opt out at the start of the season

after huddling with doctors about the course of COVID-19. They've suggested probably his best to receive the vaccine before going back in the booth. Again, someone needs to get the legend of the vaccine immediately. Josh Getsoff will take over all radio play-by-play duties in Lake's absence. Timing with Phil Bork on 105.9EX. And he will do that until Lang is cleared to return. He said, you know, keep smiling like a butcher's dog. I'll see you soon.

So, you know, can't wait till he returns. They also said in the press release that he's expected to make occasional phone and appearances during intermissions and other Penguins radio programming. So he won't be fully away from us, though. He will not be calling the games to start the season. So, you know, best wishes to Mike. and I can't wait for his return whenever that will be. So that will do it for this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast.

Josh Getsoff does do a great job on the radio for the road games when Mike is not doing those because he hasn't traveled as much through the last couple years. So he is next in line when Mike eventually retires. He will be getting that job full time. Absolutely. And he's really good at describing the game on the radio too. So some of you guys don't want to watch the broadcast on 18C Sports Night with Steve Mears. You guys can just listen to it with Josh Getsoff and full Borky.

Like I said, that would do it for this episode. of Locked on Penguins podcast. I really appreciate you guys listening to this episode, even though sports is just, you know, not important right now with what's going on in this country and all that. But I really do appreciate it. And next time we talk, you know, it'll be game week for the Penguin. So another episode coming up on Monday.

Go Stewards. Hopefully they beat the Browns this weekend. And hopefully, you know, they'll go to Buffalo next weekend so I can go troll one of my friends who's a big Bills fan. But anyways, hope you all have a great rest of your weekend. And I will talk to you that.