Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Why Drew O'Connor SHOULD be guaranteed a roster spot for next year!

Starting point is 00:00:00 Happy Wednesday, the day before May the 4th, which is, of course, National Star Wars Day. I honestly should say International Star Wars Day. I have another jam-packed episode for you all today, continuing our season reviews. We get to the bottom six. We have to start with a player who I think was their best player in the bottom six of season, even though he only played half a season. We're going to touch on that right after this drop. We'll also get into what the new GM should do right when he takes his job.

Starting point is 00:00:28 you know, what's the first and maybe second or third order of business that he means to take care of. He or she, of course, whenever that person takes a job and will, of course, end up with some playoffs off. That's all coming up right after this drop. 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.

Starting point is 00:01:10 I am your host, Hunter Hode. to follow me on Twitter at Honor Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter, at L-Ox or Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first list in the day. We're free to be available on all platforms. Today's episode is bought to you by GameTime, and be down on the GameTime app, create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase.

Starting point is 00:01:29 So let's jump right into a week. So we've already finished the top six. It's crazy how fast this is going. And just, you know, putting this out there. We're not going to be doing, obviously, Brock Ligin, or Teddy Blugger, or Christopher Cabin because they're not here anymore. So, you know, I know they were going to start the season, but we're not going to be really doing them because they're not paying on this right now.

Starting point is 00:01:50 So we're only really doing players that are still on the roster as of right now. And, you know, we're going to jump into it. We're already in the bottom of six. The best bottom six player this year, to me, Drew O'Connor, played 46 games, finally came up for good from Wilkesbury, and he was great. Five goals, 11 points. no 46 games. Of course, he down on a percentage of 52.3%. You know, this was easily his best NHL season by far. Just all of his goals, you know, for all five at even strength. Underlying

Starting point is 00:02:27 wise, when he was on the ice, again, the Penguins at 52%. 52.3% of the shot attempts. 15 goals for, 18 goals against. So a little man there. Expected goals, 53.5% of the expected goal share when he was on the ice for the penguins. Scoring chances, 50.7%, 51.2% of high danger chances, then high danger goals for 11, 4,8 against. That rounds up to about 58%. Shooting percentage, about 6.5 this year,

Starting point is 00:02:54 which is a little step-out from last year, but he shot 5.8. This was the most amount of games that he has played since coming into the NHL, remember, 2020, 2021, and played 10 games that last season played 22. This past season played 46. And I'll continue to say it.

Starting point is 00:03:09 The jump that he, has had honestly ever since that COVID shortened season when he played those 10 games to now it's nothing short of the miracles to be honest you know and he kind of looked like not even an a h-all player when he first came on you know i was intrigued about him but he looked like an eCHL player someone who should be playing and wheeling he went down worked on his game last year came up looked a bit better and then you know this year he worked on more of his game he worked on more of his game down in the minors, even though he only played 22 games here last year. He could play the rest down in Wilkesbury, had a great all season, had a great training

Starting point is 00:03:47 camp, didn't fully make it, then comes up, plays 46 games, was here for good, especially down the stretch. And he had one of the goals of the year, I think, for the Penguins late in the season against Tampa Bay Lightning when they won that wild game down in Tampa. That was the one that Jason Zucker won for them. And over time, you know, he was almost like a shades of Jordan Stahl goal where he went, backhand, forehand on Vasilevsky. I just believe it was six-side.

Starting point is 00:04:16 And celebration was awesome. It was the vintage stalagal from the 2009 in the final against the Red Wings when, you know, that one really changed, you know, the course of that series came for at that point. That was when I felt like it was like, okay, this looks a little different. But, you know, he made so many great strizes here.

Starting point is 00:04:36 His defensive metrics were also rock solid. if there is a player in this bottom six right now that should have a full-time spot ready to go next season, it is him. Outside of that, I mean, I know Carter's probably going to come back, so he's going to be there. So I guess that's too. We'll get some a little later.

Starting point is 00:04:55 But if you're asking me in a perfect world, he should be the only player from this bottom six who has a full-time roster spot guaranteed to him next season. I don't think anyone else, maybe you could argue by impaling. and we'll get to him a little later as well. I don't think anyone else should have a slam dunk roster spot outside of him. He's a young player, fast, skilled, good defensively.

Starting point is 00:05:19 You can put him on the PK. Second power, we don't really need to put him there unless a bunch of injuries happen. Good and even strength. There's all the little things well. He's everything you want in a bottom six-winger. He's just that plug-in-play guy. He can, you know, crap, four-check hard. crash the net, win puck battles along the boards.

Starting point is 00:05:45 Third, fourth line, it doesn't matter where you put him. I just really enjoyed his game this season. And, you know, if you can honestly get a bottom six, you know, if a couple of a couple Drew O'Connor's in there, similar type players, maybe you see O'Connor score a bit more. I know five goals in 46 games. It's not going to write a whole about, but, you know, still five goals and, you know, if you subtract five games from there,

Starting point is 00:06:07 and that's 41, you know, it rounds up to about 9 to 10 goals for O'Connor, which, you know, I would take from it. If he can have double-digit goals for this team next season, I would be happy. Yeah, if we want to get there, yeah. In terms of expectations next season, you know, so he had 11 points in 46 teams a season, you know, for a full season, that's around what, 20, 22, if you want to maybe bump that up to 25. You know, if he can have like 10 to 12, 13 goals next season, then it'll be. whole year with, you know, 10 to 15 assists, maybe have 25, 30 points. You know, that's what I'm looking for right now. When it comes to O'Connor, it doesn't matter which line you put him on third or fourth. But, you know, if the Penguins need to get younger, especially forward-wise,

Starting point is 00:06:54 outside of the top six, you know, he is an easy player, you know, to bring back in the full and is guaranteeing the roster off because, you know, I don't think he's going to learn anything by playing any more games of Wilker. You know, he showed that he belongs with the major club. And, you know, I just, I don't see him, you know, going down at all. And, you know, he is an RFA right now. So, 750K. Neelander, they just signed him to 775K.

Starting point is 00:07:24 I don't think he's going to be asking for too much on this contract. You can probably get him for less than a million, 11 points. I mean, come on, people. You know, I think you're going to get him for 775, but I think you could probably get him for, what, $900, 950K. That should be, I think, a pretty easy negotiation, if you ask me. Honestly, honestly, would not be surprised if Mike Sullivan and the interim guys get him done next.

Starting point is 00:07:49 You know, they just got Alex Neander done. Maybe they, you know, get O'Connor done. So just, you know, so that new gym doesn't have to deal with the RFAs. Because honestly, they don't really have too many RFAs right now. you look at it they just got an Alex Neely underdone they have Ryan Paley who makes $750K and Drew O'Connor to make $750K and that's it

Starting point is 00:08:12 those are the only RFAs this team has going into the offseason honestly you could probably ask the interim guys and Mike Sullivan to work out deals with both those players they're not going to be asking for that much money and we'll get to Ryan Paling a little bit later but in terms of Drew O'Connor you know they maybe will sign them to like a two-year deal

Starting point is 00:08:29 1.8 million total it would be something around my guess and I think it'll be very well to deserve. Yes, one-way deal doesn't really mean much, but I don't think he's going to be going back to Wilkesbury anyway. He's earned the right to be here full-time. I really liked his game this season, and I'm really excited to see where it goes next year.

Starting point is 00:08:48 I'm high on him than some others are, and I think you all have probably noticed that throughout my episodes during the season, and then now all the season review. So, you know, in my opinion, in terms of a bottom six, I'll give him like a solid B-plus B around that range. You know, room for improvement,

Starting point is 00:09:03 but steady as she goes, very solid player like the season, that he had good metrics, just an all-around good player. So that wraps up this segment as we touched on Drew O'Connor's season review. Coming up in the second segment, we are going to discuss what the first order of business should be for the GM. And no, it's not making a trade. I can say that.

Starting point is 00:09:26 That's going to come a little bit later. But before we do get to that, we do have to discuss game time, buying tickets to your favorite events should not be stressful. Game time is the fast and easiest way to buy tickets for all the sports, music, comedy, and theater near you. With killer deals on last minute tickets and their best price guarantee, you can stop stressing over their tickets and start getting hyped for the fun that you will have. It is the place for last minute ticket deals. Forget planning once in advance. Game time has deals on tickets right up to the daily event.

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Starting point is 00:10:19 Download game time today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. All right, I'm back in this episode of the Locktime Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at Alist for Payments. and, of course, thank you so much for making this your first list in the day, I'm freeing available on all platforms.

Starting point is 00:10:42 So getting into this segment here is something I thought of. Papadena, I figured, oh, let's just talk about it on the show. So when the new jam is hired, and I don't know who that's going to be, I was watching the Carolina New Jersey game earlier, and what Carolina did to the Devils there was nothing short of spectacular. They really live into the Devils scoring chances against. The Devils really didn't have any high danger chances. And the Carolina will suffocate you.

Starting point is 00:11:08 It doesn't matter who's in their lineup. No Satchnikov, no Chervine, and no Patcheretti. They took, they blew the devils out and they're up one-nothing in the series. You know, maybe I underestimated Carolina a little bit going into series because I did pick the devils in seven games via my Twitter. But, no, I was really impressed about Carolina played. And again, Eric Tolski is sitting right there. His hands are all over that roster. They have a lot of cheap debt players contributing on nightly.

Starting point is 00:11:36 basis. You know, it's not just Sebastian O'HO and Marty Natchez and Brent Burns. How she score. Jordan Stahl is still playing his butt off. He's been there forever, though, but you know, Stefan Nason's playing well, Derek Stefan, Yesper Foss, players like that, you know, they get the system, they know their role, and they execute it to a T. So I'll keep saying it. Hire Eric Tolski. Hopefully, Carolina lets them interview, it lets him interview the Penguins. It will be such a spectacular new. Anyway, whoever this new GM is, he or she,

Starting point is 00:12:11 they're going to have a lot on their plate when they take this job. You have to get this roster back to being a playoff team next season. You're going to have to set some catfaces. You're going to have to add to this team, make other trades and all that stuff. I think the first bit of business this new GM will have to do is deciding on the coach step.

Starting point is 00:12:30 I don't just mean Mike Sullivan. Because I do think Sullivan's coming back. I was reading today from Michael Blake McCurdy of Hockey Viz, and he has, his model actually rates Mike Sullivan and Jay Woodcroft, the lawyer's coaches, the two best coaches in the league. So it's like, oh, okay, that's at least nice to see from the analytics community. It'll show how high they are on him. But I do expect Sullivan to be back.

Starting point is 00:12:53 I don't think this is going to be like a Dan Bilesma situation that you saw in 2014 when Mario and Ron Berkel, they dismissed Ray Sherro and his assistance, but they kept Biosma. I think that's a little different, in my opinion. I think everyone was ready for Bowlesman to be fired there. I think a lot of people here, I know there's a decent chunk in the fan base right now that does want Mike's all been fired,

Starting point is 00:13:14 but I think there's also a good chunk that does not, and I personally don't think he's going to get fired. That's just my opinion, though. But I mainly, the assistance. What is Mike Volucci's future? What is Tar Reardon's future? What are the other assistant futures on the staff? Because, you know, I had a lot of other people,

Starting point is 00:13:33 and the fan base, media who cover the team, everyone in the Penguins community. I think a good majority of them were not happy with how the assistants perform this season. Michael Lucci's penalty killing unit, I'm sorry, it is not that good. They run that diamond. That is just way too passive, in my opinion. It's not aggressive enough as you see, like some of the other better penalty kills in the league. Boston's, for example, Carolyn is very good. New Jersey's is pretty decent.

Starting point is 00:14:03 And the Penguins need to run a penalty kill similar to that, you know, where they are all over the puck carriers. And they're not letting easy access to the zone. You know, it's just it's night and day when I watch the Penguins power play when they fail to gain the zone all the time. And versus when I watch their penalty kill and they let easy entries go in. Again, it's literally just night and day. It's crazy to me, to be honest. So, you know, that's something I really want to see improved going into next season. And I don't know if Alucci is going to be the one to do that.

Starting point is 00:14:33 that's why I do think that Volucci, you know, he can be shown the door at the GM. It's not like what he or she thinks season that. And then Charberty, you know, I do know the organization thinks very highly of him. His work with a defenseman is usually very good. But I also know that his power play this season, I know I've looked at the numbers. It's, you know, outside the top 10 about league average. It did not feel like it was league average. You know, Mike Sullivan talked about expected goals and how they ranked top 10 in terms of that

Starting point is 00:15:00 the main advantage. I am sorry, you know, that makes a lot of the main advantage. be true and I and I'm a number I'm a big numbers guy but a lot of other times it looked like total poop they need to find a fix for the zone entries for that unit the overpassing you know everything involved the perimeter play that stupid drop pass all of it you know and especially that slingshot play they have in the zone it's it's really just flat out annoying so you know that's that's I think the main order of business that this new gym will have is looking at the coaching staff, especially the assistance, and seeing if there are going to be some changes made there.

Starting point is 00:15:35 The second order of business for me is honestly, you know, probably getting to work, you know, on getting his assistant, his or her assistance in here. I apologize. I keep correcting myself from just me. I'm being an idiot. But, you know, it's just getting the assistance in. You know, who is going to accompany this person over, building out of front office, obviously very important. You don't please, for the love of God, I don't want, you know, the neptism in his run office. I don't need to see Ron Hexel hiring his kid to run scouting or Chris Pryor hiring his son to help run scouting. Please, for the love of God, stop hiring your kids, bring people in who are actually qualified for these positions.

Starting point is 00:16:19 They're going to be building out their analytics department. I'm really curious to see how that goes, but building out a strong front office that is cohesive, that gets along, that understands what the main mission is for this team, that is also very important to me. Honestly, you can say this as a 1A, 1B with, you know, getting the assistant management right and figuring out what to do with the coaching staff.

Starting point is 00:16:42 The thorough business to me, and now we'll start to get into other stuff, is Jason Zucker's contract. You look at cat-friendly, and, you know, there's some free agents out there. You know, obviously, you know, Kristen Jarney, $3.5 million. Kula Kov is gone.

Starting point is 00:16:56 Ryan Duman's going to walk. Josh Archibald, I doubt is coming back. Dan Hine and Nick Ninos, see ya. The two UFAs that mean the most are Tristan Jari and Jason Zucker. No one else really means that much to me. And, you know, Zucker is the one that I would look at first. Because, you know, the goaltending can wait a little bit. You know, you don't have to deal with that, you know, right as you come in.

Starting point is 00:17:24 Zucker, I think, is, you know, a little more important right now. because I expect they're tired to be made well before a free agency starts. So you'll have time to negotiate with Tristan Jari, if you choose a short-term deal or trade for a goalie, offer sheet one, whatever. My third order business is, you know, starting contract discussions with Jason Zucker and seeing if you can come to agreement with him. If that fails and you see him go to market, I think then you will see them maybe start negotiations with Jari on a short-term deal or look to trading for a goalie,

Starting point is 00:17:56 something like that. But I think Zoka right now is a higher priority than Jari. And I honestly don't really think it's that close. They may seem like a hot take to some of you all, but to me, in terms of how Zoker played this season, and I know the team needs a starting goal center for next season. They're not going to go out with that one. But in terms of the free agent market,

Starting point is 00:18:17 not being super good in terms of replacement, you'll probably have to trade for one for Zoker. I would start negotiations. right then and there. So, you know, those are my main things that I would do right away in terms of, you know, the GM. We'll get to what I would do, you know, a little later on maybe this week or next week in terms of, you know, putting stuff on the back burner.

Starting point is 00:18:41 But in terms of right when the person is hired, those are the first few things that I would really be, you know, getting started outside of obviously getting to know everyone in the organization and all that stuff, you know, introductory readings and all that. but that does it for this segment of the Lockdown Penguins podcast coming up in our final segment of course it's a little playoff recap here can you continue talking about these games for a series left I have a lot of fun doing it I love watching these games that's all coming up to end this episode stick around after this commercial break all right I'm back here on this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast I am your host hunter hoodies I'm gonna follow me on Twitter or Hunter Hodes

Starting point is 00:19:22 saw all the shows Twitter Ellors for Penguins of course thank you so much for making this your first listen to the day we're free and available on all platforms. So tonight, kicked off day two of round two. There's not a lot of playoffs. And Vegas is right now up three to two that's going to be changed by the time that you listen to this episode or watch it. That's been a really fun game to watch. I want seven games of that. I already touched on Carolina, New Jersey.

Starting point is 00:19:47 You're seeing how Carolina smothered New Jersey. The devil's only had 18 shots tonight. It's very rare. We're a high-flying team like that is limited like that. But the hurricanes, they're still. so good at what they do. They forecheck hard. They get in the way of shooting lanes. They don't give you anything in terms of high danger chances.

Starting point is 00:20:04 This is going to be a really tough series of the devils to win. And I pick them too because I think they have what it takes. And they've gone down to O2 before. So they're probably not really worried right now. But they're going to have to change up their tactics a little bit. They're not going to beat the hurricanes the way they beat the Rangers because the hurricanes are much better defensively, even though they're banged up.

Starting point is 00:20:23 This is still going to be a really tough series in New Jersey to win. and I was really impressed with how Carolina shut down the top players on New Jersey's night. So that was a lot of fun. Panthers, four two of the Maple Leafs. And Panthers just have like that team of destiny vibe. I don't know, but they are playing some very strong hockey right now. Sergei Mirovsky has turned the clock back to like 2014 or 2015. He's playing out of his mind for someone that usually stinks in the playoffs.

Starting point is 00:20:48 I am just stunned by this. But, you know, he's been awesome. and you know say you say what you want about oh hunter their ratings might not need that good if the pandas make the eastern norman final whatever it's cool it's cool for the sport they have been to a conference final since 96 so i mean come on but they did a really nice job on the maple leaves that game was two two for a little bit before carter brahagi who seems like scores every freaking game scored again brayne and montore he feels like he scored like he scored every game, which he has, he scored again. The Panthers, you know, and they got Montour for a third round pick. They got Carver for Hege for free. Now, some of those players, they are reaping the rewards, and that team is, I don't think Paul Maurice is that good of a coach.

Starting point is 00:21:38 I think this team wins in spite of him, but, you know, this Panthers team is, you know, compared to the last couple of years, something just feels different about them. And they're giving me that team of destiny vibe right now and then Cracken, beat the Stars five four and overtime, thanks to Yon Igor winning it. Joe Hubelliske did everything he could. Five, four, he scored, actually, excuse me, he scored all four of the stars goals and the five four loss. Last player to score four in a playoff game, I believe, was, like, Keevianta?

Starting point is 00:22:09 I believe it was Y'O L. Kvi Ronta that last scored four roles in a playoff game. Last player to score five in a playoff game, Mario. Yep. The last player to score five in a playoff game was Mario Lemieux. So I don't know when that's ever going to be done again, but Delsky hit four. Again, I believe that was, I believe he was the first one since Kiwi Ranta from the COVID-shorten season. I believe that's actually when the stars went to the final. So, last player I do was a star.

Starting point is 00:22:38 Now it happened here. Jake Gottinger looked really shaking the first period, rebounded in the last two. The Cracken, they would stood a barrage of shots in the third period. But they were able to win that game. The Cracken, they don't have a lot of. you know, star firepower, even with McCann in the lineup. But man, are they deep? They can run four lines at anyone.

Starting point is 00:22:59 That's what their lineup is, Yins. It's a bunch of really good depth forwards. That's 40-gold scored McCann in there when he's healthy. He's obviously very good. But in terms of like that game-breaking superstar, they don't really have that. It doesn't matter. They have the depth.

Starting point is 00:23:14 Philip Grubauer is still playing really well. Their defense is very mobile. No, it's not too surprising. to see them here. I mean, I was a little surprised that they'd be the avalanche. Just because I thought even without Laneis Cog and to chew skin with whoever is going on with him, and that's a really messy story. Go look that up, by the way. You know, I still thought the avalanche would win, but, you know, the Cracken were a good team this season. And, you know, if they beat the stars here, that's going to be really something else. But they're a, they're a

Starting point is 00:23:45 fun team to watch. I was never really high on Dave Haxall, especially being their coach. He's making me eat some crow right now because he has them playing. A very fun style of hockey to watch. And again, they are so mobile on the back end. Their defensemen are getting into the goal scoring. Their forwards are very deep. They're getting good goal-tending. I don't know if it's going to be enough to beat Dallas

Starting point is 00:24:05 because I do think Dallas is better equipped right now to beat them. But as long as they keep playing like this, they're going to be a really tough out. Every series so far has gone off to a really fun start, and I'm really happy about it. So that wraps up this segment for the playoff update. do have a couple of games tomorrow, Florida, Toronto, and then, of course, Seattle, Dallas. Those will be on TNT, 7 o'clock for the first one, 930 for the second one.

Starting point is 00:24:31 That does it for this episode, the Logged on Penguins podcast. I'll have done with another episode for you all, and also just a few hours on Thursday. We'll continue our season reviews, plus dive into some other topics relating to Penguins. I promise you, we are going to touch on more stuff as more news comes out. It's just a very slow time right now. But, again, that does not mean that we will not do shows because that is not how this operates. know, there's always stuff to talk about when it comes to this team. But thank all so much for tuning in.

Starting point is 00:24:56 Really appreciate it. Would you another one of these for you all on Thursday?

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Why Drew O'Connor SHOULD be guaranteed a roster spot for next year!

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