October 9, 2025 • 30 mins
Mark talks about the scourge of electric bikes, Belichick and Arch Manning to open. Kevin Stefanski apparently had no idea Flacco was being traded. Josh Yohe joins to talk about the Pens ahead of the home opener
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Mark Mannon show.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Don't ask me, I don't know, and that especially applies
on using the cough button doll eight three three four
one two wxdx.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
That's a three three four one two wxdx. Or do
what the Coole kids do and follow me on Twitter
at mark mann X.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm not sure this does the show any good, but
when hockey gets going, I get so much less interested
in football. You may have noticed that in the conversation
we've had this week, although with the Steelers not having
played a game, you know, for a couple of weeks
now since the game of Dublin.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
That makes it kind of easier to go in the
direction I've chosen.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I understand that everyone thinks the allure of seven offensive
linemen and running a prehistoric offense merits a lot of analysis,
even though it absolutely requires no analysis. It's football one
oh one and then some going backwards. It's almost like
kindergarten football. I'm asking now, and we'll take calls next segment.
(01:04):
Does anybody else find that idiotic to the degree I do?
Using seven offensive line and down now we'll get to
you eight three three four one two wxdx. And how
much do games that are head to head between Garrett
and Watt determine who's better, even when obviously they never
get on the field at the same time. So I
(01:27):
hate the seven offensive line, and you know what else
I hate. Here's my latest pet peeve I should do.
If I ever did a book, it might be not
I don't want to do an autobiography because if I
don't care, why would you. But I might do a
list of my all time pet peeves in joining pickleball
on the most recent list thereof electric bicycles, What the
(01:51):
frick is the point of an electric bicycle? It's bicycling
is something specifically designed to make you use physical effort.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
That's the whole point.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So you're eliminating physical effort, just like pickleball. Pickleball, as
I've said many times, is like playing table tennis while
you're standing on the table. I had a decent night.
If you like what I like. I flipped around on TV.
Check out this list I flipped her on TV between
(02:29):
the baseball playoffs that seventy show NHL Network to see
highlights mostly Montreal and Toronto. Montreal be my mistress team.
Disappointing result there Toronto one five to two, Sachar Blue
a double empty net if you bet that covered? And
(02:51):
also uncut gems that great Sandler kind of gangster, really
visceral movie. I think one of his best efforts because
it's not typical Sandler, you know, laugh.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
A lot comedy. In fact, it was anything but that.
In a lot of spots.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You can watch five things at once if you're a
super genius and if you have the attention span of
a goats.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Okay, so what else? We got?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
More sound later from Paul Finebaum ripping Bill Belichick to
shreds and I guess Belichick might take a buy out
at North Carolina. It's cheap. It's only a million bucks
to buy him out. He said he might do that
if he can get another coaching job or.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
A media job.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, they'll be lined up around the block to hire Bill.
After what's happened to Chapel Hill, No problem there. The
New York Times called Arch spanning quote unquote in an
article it synonymous with failure. And there's been backlash a
lot of stooge media, the usual suspects.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
How can you say that after only five games, he's
a kid? Blah blah blah.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
He making what eight million bucks down there in nil,
he's a paid professional. The stooges are mad because he's
a Manning, and the stooges think the Mannings are teflon
that they should be above criticism, especially the youngest of
the of the lineage. If this kid wasn't a Manning,
(04:21):
it'd be open season and criticizing.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Him would be no biggie.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
He probably wouldn't be starting at Texas, especially after the
way he started. If this kid wasn't a Manning, he
wouldn't be in these conversations. It'd be just another college quarterback.
If this kid wasn't a Manning, he would not be
called a first ground talent, let alone a potential first
(04:48):
go overall pick.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
So let's be honest about all that.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And if you're talking about you know, he shouldn't be
called synonymous with failure. Texas went from rank number one
in the country to three and two and out of
the top twenty five.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
That defines failure.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Speaking of college quarterbacks who ain't doing so good on
the B team, they were talking about if the Steelers
should draft Drew Aller.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Of Penn State next year. They did that.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
While I had sitt on the show. How is the
Steelers draft next year in April? Who they take?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
How is that even a conversation?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Now, for Heck's sake, now here's my bottom line with
the Steelers. And by the way, come watch the game
with me at Big Fellas in Cannonsburg. That's Sunday at
one pm. It's easy to find right on East Pike
in Cannonsburg. Great Wings, any hoodles. The Steelers will win.
They will win. It'll be a one score game, it'll
be a rock fight, but the Steelers will win. Rogers
(05:46):
will navigate. The Steelers under Tom would have always found
out a way to win one score games. And while
that's dangerous, Turf Rogers's presence in his guile makes me
even more confident the Steelers can continue to do.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
That with a high rate of success.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And while I like Cleveland playing five rookies, including Dylan
Gabriel a quarterback, Dylan Gabriel is not beating Aaron Rodgers
in this game.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
That simply has zero chance of happening.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
That Cleveland defense is excellent, like we know with Garrett,
but the Cleveland offense, while it's promising, probably can't do
enough to win this game. And in terms of what's
at stake, Pittsburgh can't lose this game.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Just can't. Just frigg it can't if that means anything.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Now, the Steelers have had mostly good luck except for
that Caleb Johnson faux paus that lost the game against Seattle,
that kickoff air. You just don't want a big injury
like Baltimore and Cincinnati've had at the quarterback position. The
Steelers have had some nickel dime injuries, nothing major to
anybody major. Hopefully that continues. And like I said, the
(06:58):
Steelers have got to win this game. You know it's
on this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
This is the end.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Go go that suckus gots to go. I'll tell you
what happened, Franco. Uh bottom of the are we got
Josh Showy? I want your calls next? H Does the
Garrett want head to head matchup mean anything?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Are you surprised Music is starting Jari in goal instead
of shilloffs? And the most important thing, do you think
using seven offensive linemen is as ridiculous as I think
it is? I got a tweet a response to a
tweet saying, well, they're not technically using seven offensive lineman?
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah they are?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Okay, they got the five offensive linemen, they got the
mammoth tight end, and they got the extra tackle. That
is seven offensive linemen. And you know, I know, like
say Gronk was a big tight end. Kelsey's a big
tight end. They were out there to play tight end.
But Washington's out there to just be a second extra tackle.
(08:07):
Don't forget you eat the bottom of the ir one
oh five nine, stopping.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Going now the super genius Mark Madden Uberghinias.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, Park, welcome show. Well if I won over, Buddy
bedating dust to road Tomican Dream, so be it baby
the ex at one oh five nine. As we talked
about earlier, the Cleveland Bronson doing some weird things. They
traded one dB for another pretty much the same dB,
and of course they traded Flacco to Cincinnati earlier this week.
(08:38):
Here's Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland's coach, and he's saying he and
his staff were blindsided by flac Obian swapped to Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
First I tell you is that Joe trade took us
by surprise. That was not something that we saw coming.
You know, they called us and you know that's uh,
it was happened very fast, and happened not too long ago,
so still working through all roster type of things.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
That kind of.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Confirms what I thought all along about what's going on
in Cleveland with the owner in Stefanski maybe not being
on the same page with a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
I thought right at the get go.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
When that choice took place in the fifth round of
the draft, that the owner wanted to draft.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Sanders with the coach not necessarily buying.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
And why would the coach want to draft the fifth
round quarterback when they already drafted a third round quarterback
with Dylan Gabriel. And now the owner wants Shador to play,
so he's clearing that path by eliminating Flacco. But the
coach may still feel different because the word is that
the Brons might make Jabbroni quarterback Bailey Zappi the number
(09:53):
two on Sunday at Pittsburgh, leaves Shadoor as the emergency quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So stay tuned.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
But how often is the head coach not know about
a trade, let alone when it's a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Let's go to Derek. Derek, go to Mark Madden show.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
Hey, Mark, you and Salm were talking about the Islanders
being our bogie team in some of the notable times
they've eliminated us in the playoffs. I feel like you
guys may have omitted twenty nineteen when they swept us
in Round one. That was only, you know, a year
removed from being back to back champions, and we were
legit and tenders still.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
And no, no, they weren't legit contenders anymore.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
You may have thought that.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
I knew they weren't then, and they continued to fade
from there, although they put up a better fight in
series after that, not even against Montreal in the COVID
Cup though, But the Penguins were done as a legit
Stanley Cup contender once they lost an overtime in Game
six of the second round to Washington in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Right, well, if that's the case, then they were even
less of a contender in twenty one when the Islanders
eliminated them. But also that's the first time the islandert
eight team since they won the nineteen Thank.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
You for the call, I heard you the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, but twenty one and nineteen doesn't compare even remotely
to seventy five, eighty two and ninety three, not even remotely.
We were talking about how much I hate the seven
offensive lineman thing with the Steelers. I keep hearing the
offensive line is improving. And in Dublin, okay, Steelers at
(11:27):
one hundred and thirty one yards rushing, that's good and
the average of four point five yards per carry that's good.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Those were both season highs A lot two sacks. That's
not horrible.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Everybody graded out good at Pro Football Focus for what
that's worth. But is did they did they great out
good because they played good?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Or because you use.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Seven offensive linemen when most teams only use five? And
is that why you used seven offensive linemen?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Who's the rat? Am I the rat? I hate all this?
It confuses me. What's the over under?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
By the way, when high Smith gets hurt again, what's
the over Underwe Friarmouth and John who are visibly pissed
and pop off about being on the payano mine list again.
I know the Steelers are three and one and you're
yank and cranking. Don't wake up and thank me. But
I don't understand so much of what's going on. And
(12:18):
the Roman Wilson thing him behind Scronic and Miller, I mean,
just that.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Makes no sense. Is Warren Beck this week?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Does you start ahead of gain well again, how the
figure the Steelers three and one because everything is so haphazard,
And I'll tell you how the biggest factors Rogers, that
guile Rogers is the reason until they draft Drew Aller,
Wat and Hayward have come around. Harmond has helped. Benton
didn't suck for change at Dublin. So I get three
(12:50):
and one. I'm not overestimating three and one. I'm expecting
five and one, but I'm prepared to be disappointed too
in these next two weeks. Up next Hockey Talk with
Josh Won five.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
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Speaker 1 (13:16):
Jesting you can.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
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Speaker 1 (13:27):
This is Aatino Mobi. This is what's trending from Iheartsports Network.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Presented by Levin Furniture and Mattress, It'll be an NFC
showdown to open a new week of NFL action. The
Giants host the Eagles for Thursday Night Football. With the
NFL trade deadline less than a month the way. The
Steelers are rumored to be the top destination for Miami
wideout Jalen Waddle and Saints wide receiver Chris A. Lobbi,
and the Penguins will face the Islanders for their home
(13:50):
opener tonight. Pittsburgh's looking for a tu and oh start
after they took down the Rangers on Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
I'm Scott David said at Levin you'll find the perfect
dining sad for every gather, like for.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Example, this show I want to Now, I'm gonna cut
you off where you can make a jump with the
exit one O five nine. Peng was at home first
home game of the year. They host the New York Islander. Schaeffer,
the first round pick overall in the lineup for the
Isle on defense, joining me now to talk about the
game and about the Penguins. He covers the team for
(14:22):
the Athletic It's Josh, Joey, Josh, Tristan Jarry and Gold
Tonight after shiloffs pitched a shutout at New York on Tuesday.
Does that surprise you at all.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
A little bit?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Mark?
Speaker 7 (14:35):
I think obviously it was pre determined that one guy
would get the opener and the other guy would get
the home opener. And I honestly think this is an
open goaltending competition right now. I think whoever plays better
in the first couple of weeks is going to get
the bulk of the playing time. But I I personally
Mark probably would not have started Jarry and the home opener.
(14:56):
He does not have a good history of playing well
in that building when they're a lot of people in
the building, when there's a big game atmosphere like tonight
will be. And I think there's even more pressure on
him now after the other guy pushes a shutout in
the garden, So everybody's going to be keeping a close
eye on him in the first period given his recent
history in these kinds of moments.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
One shot, one goal. Uh, I'm worried already that Muse
might be too good a coach. He might keep the
Penguins from getting a top five pick.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
What has Mews changed at a glance so far.
Speaker 7 (15:28):
Well, I mean he's got them buying into playing defensive, responsible,
professional two way hockey, and that, frankly, is something that
Mike Sullivan really struggled with. I think the last couple
of years. I think Sullivan wanted him to play that way.
I just don't think he could get them to And
clearly everybody's on the same page right now. And it
was only one game. Of course, maybe they go out
(15:50):
and give up six tonight, who knows. But we saw
throughout preseason training camp everything like there was just more
attention to detail with, you know, the defense aspects of
the game, situational hockey, the areas where the Penguins have
struggled so mightily in the last couple of years. And
I think it starts with Eric Carlson and Crystal Tang.
Both of them were very good the other night. We
(16:11):
didn't see them making the colossal mistakes that we've seen
so much of the last couple of years. It always
starts with those two with the Penguins.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, I just the Carlson thing. You wrote about that
at length. I was amazed by how well he played
and how he played the right way and didn't really
put a foot wrong. It's amazing that a coach who's
never been a head coach for even one game in
the NHL before got Eric Carlson to change his game
to that degree first time out.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
And I don't think it's just a fluky one night thing,
because he looked great in the preseason games as well.
Just watching him and training camp, he looked like a
different guy. And Eric has never told me this, and
Mike Sullivan never told me this. But I don't think
those two guys ever saw eye to eye. I really
don't think Carlson like playing for Sullivan for whatever reason.
(17:03):
I don't think he likes playing for most coaches, but
obviously he seems willing to embrace what Dan muses is
coaching at the moment. And no, he looks like a
different guy to me. And I will say this in
his defense, and those of them haven't really not offending
the way he's played the last two years. But last
year specifically, he did not have a training camp. Carlson,
he was hurt and he was unbelievably bad in October
(17:25):
and November. I do think that probably played a role.
I think having a camp and being healthy entering the season.
I'm man as he looked different, and if nothing less,
mark it makes them more tradable. It really does, and
then there's something to be said for that if that's
what it ultimately comes to.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I like coven and with Sid.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I think Covenan has a bit of the Jake Denzil
about him. I might put Kindle with Sid for a
game they move Kindle to wing because Kendall seems to
think the game a bit like Sid.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
What do you think, boy, it's the first shift the
other night? Is any indicating any indication? I would say yes.
And I didn't think Coyvenan was very good the other night.
But I do think he has a really high hockey
IQ it he'll play well with other players. Kendall is
I think, maybe even an extreme version of that. He's
not that big, he's not that fast, but he always
(18:14):
has the puck and he always knows where to go
and he always makes the right decision, which for an
eighteen year old is especially rare. I'd love to see it.
I'd be all for it. Kendall is fascinating to me. Mark.
He wasn't really that great in the rookie camp in July,
didn't really jump out. Beginning of training camp. He was fine.
He didn't really notice it, and then about a week
into training camp, like something just switched to him and
(18:37):
every single day he got better and better and better,
and everyone who's you know, at practices were kind of
like looking at each other like, geez, where did this
guy come from all of a sudden And for an
eighteen year old Another thing about him, Mark like, usually
eighteen year old forwards, Yeah, they've got the skill level
and they think the game whatever. They're usually not very
good defensively. He was exceptional the other night in New York.
(18:57):
He won four to five base offs. He was really
good defensively. You don't see that from a player that
aged that position very often.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
How would you.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Break down all three kids in that game? He just
did kindle go a little deeper with and Brunick.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
Uh Brunick. You know, he took the bad penalty on
his first shift, and he looked a little nervy to
me in the first period, and he admitted as much
after the game. But boy, I thought he kept getting
better and better, and it's that skating ability of his.
You saw it in the third period. It looked like
the Penguins were in trouble. Trouble on a couple of ships,
and he just skated his way out of trouble. He
(19:31):
has that ability. I thought he was very good. I
didn't love Coven's game. I thought he was forcing the
puck to sit a little too much. He probably should
have shot more. Remember, though, he's never really played with
Sid before. And some guys can play with Sid and
some can't, and it's still, you know, a learning process.
I'm curious to see what happens when Brian Russ comes back,
which could be as soon as this weekend. He's very
(19:54):
close to being ready. H Maybe if they just put
Russ and Raquel right back on the top line with
Sid and Sli.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Or maybe not.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
I don't know. They're gonna have some decisions to make though.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
See I know Sid will want rust and Raquel.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I wouldn't do that because part of Sid's job is
to develop the kids. And that means to me, either
Coyvenin or Kindle while he's still here, plays on his line.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
I don't disagree with that, And you know, look at
the depth that can give you. I mean that they've
got a pretty decent looking forward set right now, and
that's not including Brian Rustin, Rucker McGorty, who I don't
think is that far away from being ready to play either.
That's how you win in this league when you can
have three really good lines, Believe it or not. There's
(20:39):
a chance they can have that with the collection of
talent to it, which makes things all the more interesting
right now, Mark, because I think in the minds of
so many people the goal is to get a top
five pick. And I know it's only been one game,
but you can see that this is a team that's
on the same page right now, that's been good defensively,
and then you look at the group of forwards they have.
It doesn't really look like a bottom five NHL team
(21:00):
to me.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
No, not right now, but that defensive group could change
that in the wink of an eye and in my tonight,
but I hope not. What do you think Kendall has
any chance to stick all year? I think Brunick likely
will because he's clearly not grown juniors, but I wonder
if Kendall hasn't too, at least mentally.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
I still will say that I think it's unlikely that
Kendall stays, but I also think he can have a
say in that, Mark if he plays the next eight
games the way he did the other night at the Garden. Like,
I don't think they're against the idea of keeping him.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I really don't.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
I think the odds are he still goes back down
to junior for a year, but we'll see he is.
I think he has surprised even the Penguins with how
quickly he has progressed, and it's nothing less. This is
a kid with clearly a very bright future, and Brunick,
my guess, says he will stay number one. I just
think he's ready to play in the NHL. He'll make
his mistakes, he can have some growing pains. I think
(22:00):
he will stay because he's earned it, and frankly, their
blue line is so bad there's room for him to
play twenty minutes a night this season, and I think
there's a chance that he will.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
We're talking to Josh Joy the athletic here on one
oh five ninety x uh. I like Tamalkin centering two
other six foot five guys. Maybe with Gino's speed, diminishing
size matters more. I don't know if that's a long
term thing. I do like that they tried it and
look decent on Tuesday.
Speaker 7 (22:29):
Yeah, kind of an interesting philosophical thing. Because as Gino
slowed down in the last couple of years, Mike Sullivan's
believe was always to flank him with fast wingers, that
that would help him. And you could understand the thinking there,
whereas Dan muses more along the lines of you know what,
it's going to be a slow line with Gino on it.
But Gino's still a big man, so basically more of
(22:50):
a half court offense approach. We're not going to score
on the rush on that line, but we got three
really big guys and maybe it'll work. I don't know.
I mean, there's no denying that was the Penguin's best
line in New York the other night in Malkin just
a magnificent play on the first goal going forward on
the faceoff, and by the way, he did that against
Vince Trochuck is one of the best face off guys
in the league. That was a great play Malkin made.
(23:12):
We'll see if it works. But Gino has always been
pretty adaptable. He's played with power forwards like Bugsy Malone
and had a lot of success, and he's played with smaller,
quicker guys as well and had success. So he can
really play with anybody and if one night is any
indication that line was pretty impressive, I'm curious to see
how it does tonight against the Islanders and again in
(23:34):
the rematch against the Rangers on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
As I mentioned, I still don't trust the defensive corps.
Although I thought, you know, we talked about Carlson, I
thought the tang was actually pretty good, and I think
Bruni can be pretty good as the left side. I
wonder about how will that left side ultimately shake down
and at what point are they tempted to move Dumba
to the left side, who did not play the other night.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
And I think we'll see that at some point. I'm
not a huge Caleb Jones fan. I think he's an
AHL defenseman, quite honestly, and Witherspoon's you know, okay, but
really just okay. He's really more of a seven defenseman.
I think we will see Dumba in the lineup. Dumba
had a really good training camp Mark and even though
he's right handed, he has played on the left side before.
(24:16):
I think he's capable of being pretty functional over there,
and I just like the muscle that he plays with.
He's got a nasty edge about him, which that Blue
line so badly needs. I was surprised he wasn't somewhere
in the lineup to begin in New York, just given
the training camp that he had. He's absolutely one of
the penguins six best defensemen. I he'll be in the
lineup pretty quickly, I would think, and I think they
(24:37):
can use him because that left side mark. I mean,
it's a real problem. When Ryan Shay's your most reliable
defenseman on the left side, that's not a good sign.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I know it's only one game, but I thought the
biggest development from Tuesday, Josh was the Penguins don't feel
stale anymore, and that's on so many levels, and the
kids have clearly invigorated the veterans.
Speaker 7 (25:00):
Yeah, completely agree. I can't tell you how many fans
have said to me in the last week, like, I'm
more excited for the season than I have been in years.
I don't know why, And I think that's it. I
think when you have a new coaching staff, there's something
exciting about that. But even more importantly, when you have
a couple of teenagers, not just teenagers, but teenagers with
real potential who are actually getting to play, and I
(25:21):
think you're getting a coaching staff that isn't doing the
same old thing, that isn't just going to start Triston
Jarry and Opening Night because that's what they've always done
the last five years. I think there's something to be
said for that. And the Penguins are still very much
in a rebuilding phase. And I would caution people about
getting too excited just because of what you saw in
one night, because I think the Rangers might really stink,
(25:42):
but no, things are starting to progress. There is even
more real talent on the way. I think just the
presence mark of Sergei Miroshov and people getting to see
him in the preseason, I think that adds to it too,
because you see that guy, it's like, boy, we might
really have a number one goaltender here in the next
one months. And so you put it all together. Yes,
there is a feeling of excitement that hasn't been here
(26:05):
the last two or three years.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
No question.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Well here's a weird question, and I'm maybe getting carried
away here. The traditional line of demarcation for whether or
not you have a chance to make the playoffs is Thanksgiving.
Very rarely, when a team's not in a playoff spot
at Thanksgiving, do they make it. Let's say the Penguin
somehow in a crappy division, in a crappy conference, or
in let's say third place in the metro come Thanksgiving,
(26:30):
do you call Morishov up?
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Then if he's playing well in Wilkes.
Speaker 7 (26:35):
Well, if they're in third place, then I have to
assume the goaltenders here aren't playing poorly.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
So he is sparkling, sparkling in Wilkes and maybe one
goalie here is playing worse than the other.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
I would do it, but I suspect Kyle Douglas would
be a little more patient than that. But I will say,
at some point, I think Thanksgiving might be too early.
But if there's on a playoff, spot's say, come January,
that that's a little different. If you get to the
halfway point of the season or past that and they
are like whether they want a top five pick or not.
If they get off to a great start, everything is
(27:11):
rolling and you know, expectations are being exceeded. Yeah, at
some point they're going to say, okay, if we have
a chance to make the playoffs, but we're not going to,
you know, deny our fans and deny Sidney Crosby of
that chance, we're not going to thank And yeah, at
some point they would bring him up. It's a matter
of time before mirror shops up.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Anyway.
Speaker 7 (27:30):
I do think, by the way, regardless of how they're
doing in the standings, that we will see him at
some point this season. He's not far away, yea.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
If only for a cup of coffee.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Another weird question giving giving the muses is supplanted Sullivan.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Sully never played kids in overtime.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
If a game goes to overtime, like I'm predicting tonight's
will Josh, just because I'm asking this question, will he
play Brunick Kindall or Clavenon.
Speaker 7 (27:55):
I think he will. And I've been told by people
are on the Penguins since literally the day he was
hired that in regards to the twenty five to twenty
sixth season, they are going young.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
You are going to.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
See young guys playing in situations when you never thought
you would. So, Yes, Brudock was made for three on three.
Kendall probably as well. I'm telling you the young guys,
as long as they're here, they're going to play. This
isn't going to be like Alexei Morozov playing six minutes
to night on the fourth line, you know, twenty five
years ago. It's not going to be like that at all. Yeah,
(28:29):
he is going to sink or swing with those kids.
He knows, that's why he was brought here to develop them.
And they're frankly ahead of schedule in some cases. I
don't think he's going to shy away from that one bit.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
What did they start up three and zero because they
could next two games at home?
Speaker 1 (28:45):
The Rangers are here Saturday. They stink. The Islanders tonight
aren't really much better, are they?
Speaker 7 (28:51):
No, they're not. I mean two of the three California
teams aren't very good, and that's where they play next
week too. It's not a brutal start schedule wise for
the Penguins. It wouldn't shock me. I mean, granted, they
look good the other night, so it's easy to say now.
But sometimes Mark, when there's a new coach, you know,
it just has a way of triggering good things for
hockey teams. I don't know why it is that way
in hockey more than other sports, it teems like, but
(29:14):
that absolutely is the case. And I will say this
about the Penguins. I certainly don't think they're a playoff team.
But two things. Number One, I think they're probably a
little better on paper that people give them credit for,
even though I don't like the blue line. And number two,
the Eastern Conference really stinks. It is not good at all.
Like as bad as the Penguins have been the last
two or three years, if they would have had average
(29:36):
NHL goaltending, they're still probably a playoff team. So there's
an argument to be made that they're not quite as
bad as people necessarily think.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And the X factor like always a Sid because he
seems clearly and obviously energized by these kids. And if
he can maintain that and it trickles down to the
other veterans, that could be interesting.
Speaker 7 (29:57):
He always plays well when there's a surge of young
players around, like I really think he embraces the role
now of being the old guy and showing them the
way Mark I wish I could have had been able
to take a picture of it outside of the locker room.
After the morning skate at the garden on Tuesday, Ben
Kendall was on an exercise bike and I just saw
Sid standing there talking with him for about fifteen or
twenty minutes, Like he just does that kind of thing
(30:19):
with young players. You can't put a price on that
kind of thing. The way he's grooming these young guys.
He has energized right now. And he didn't get a
point the other night. He didn't play poorly. I bet
you he does something big tonight. It's just the kind
of occasion of which he almost always does.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Josh you're the man. I'll see it tonight at the game.
Speaker 7 (30:38):
All I see tonight mark.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
That josh Oey the athletic.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
By the way, a couple segments back was brought to
us by Danny's Pizzor and Hogies on Rudy eighty eight
and Bethel Park. If I miss you the first time,
I'll get you the next time.
This is the Mark Mannon show.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Don't ask me, I don't know, and that especially applies
on using the cough button doll eight three three four
one two wxdx.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
That's a three three four one two wxdx. Or do
what the Coole kids do and follow me on Twitter
at mark mann X.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm not sure this does the show any good, but
when hockey gets going, I get so much less interested
in football. You may have noticed that in the conversation
we've had this week, although with the Steelers not having
played a game, you know, for a couple of weeks
now since the game of Dublin.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
That makes it kind of easier to go in the
direction I've chosen.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I understand that everyone thinks the allure of seven offensive
linemen and running a prehistoric offense merits a lot of analysis,
even though it absolutely requires no analysis. It's football one
oh one and then some going backwards. It's almost like
kindergarten football. I'm asking now, and we'll take calls next segment.
(01:04):
Does anybody else find that idiotic to the degree I do?
Using seven offensive line and down now we'll get to
you eight three three four one two wxdx. And how
much do games that are head to head between Garrett
and Watt determine who's better, even when obviously they never
get on the field at the same time. So I
(01:27):
hate the seven offensive line, and you know what else
I hate. Here's my latest pet peeve I should do.
If I ever did a book, it might be not
I don't want to do an autobiography because if I
don't care, why would you. But I might do a
list of my all time pet peeves in joining pickleball
on the most recent list thereof electric bicycles, What the
(01:51):
frick is the point of an electric bicycle? It's bicycling
is something specifically designed to make you use physical effort.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
That's the whole point.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So you're eliminating physical effort, just like pickleball. Pickleball, as
I've said many times, is like playing table tennis while
you're standing on the table. I had a decent night.
If you like what I like. I flipped around on TV.
Check out this list I flipped her on TV between
(02:29):
the baseball playoffs that seventy show NHL Network to see
highlights mostly Montreal and Toronto. Montreal be my mistress team.
Disappointing result there Toronto one five to two, Sachar Blue
a double empty net if you bet that covered? And
(02:51):
also uncut gems that great Sandler kind of gangster, really
visceral movie. I think one of his best efforts because
it's not typical Sandler, you know, laugh.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
A lot comedy. In fact, it was anything but that.
In a lot of spots.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You can watch five things at once if you're a
super genius and if you have the attention span of
a goats.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Okay, so what else? We got?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
More sound later from Paul Finebaum ripping Bill Belichick to
shreds and I guess Belichick might take a buy out
at North Carolina. It's cheap. It's only a million bucks
to buy him out. He said he might do that
if he can get another coaching job or.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
A media job.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, they'll be lined up around the block to hire Bill.
After what's happened to Chapel Hill, No problem there. The
New York Times called Arch spanning quote unquote in an
article it synonymous with failure. And there's been backlash a
lot of stooge media, the usual suspects.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
How can you say that after only five games, he's
a kid? Blah blah blah.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
He making what eight million bucks down there in nil,
he's a paid professional. The stooges are mad because he's
a Manning, and the stooges think the Mannings are teflon
that they should be above criticism, especially the youngest of
the of the lineage. If this kid wasn't a Manning,
(04:21):
it'd be open season and criticizing.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Him would be no biggie.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
He probably wouldn't be starting at Texas, especially after the
way he started. If this kid wasn't a Manning, he
wouldn't be in these conversations. It'd be just another college quarterback.
If this kid wasn't a Manning, he would not be
called a first ground talent, let alone a potential first
(04:48):
go overall pick.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
So let's be honest about all that.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And if you're talking about you know, he shouldn't be
called synonymous with failure. Texas went from rank number one
in the country to three and two and out of
the top twenty five.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
That defines failure.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Speaking of college quarterbacks who ain't doing so good on
the B team, they were talking about if the Steelers
should draft Drew Aller.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Of Penn State next year. They did that.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
While I had sitt on the show. How is the
Steelers draft next year in April? Who they take?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
How is that even a conversation?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Now, for Heck's sake, now here's my bottom line with
the Steelers. And by the way, come watch the game
with me at Big Fellas in Cannonsburg. That's Sunday at
one pm. It's easy to find right on East Pike
in Cannonsburg. Great Wings, any hoodles. The Steelers will win.
They will win. It'll be a one score game, it'll
be a rock fight, but the Steelers will win. Rogers
(05:46):
will navigate. The Steelers under Tom would have always found
out a way to win one score games. And while
that's dangerous, Turf Rogers's presence in his guile makes me
even more confident the Steelers can continue to do.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
That with a high rate of success.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
And while I like Cleveland playing five rookies, including Dylan
Gabriel a quarterback, Dylan Gabriel is not beating Aaron Rodgers
in this game.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
That simply has zero chance of happening.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
That Cleveland defense is excellent, like we know with Garrett,
but the Cleveland offense, while it's promising, probably can't do
enough to win this game. And in terms of what's
at stake, Pittsburgh can't lose this game.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Just can't. Just frigg it can't if that means anything.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Now, the Steelers have had mostly good luck except for
that Caleb Johnson faux paus that lost the game against Seattle,
that kickoff air. You just don't want a big injury
like Baltimore and Cincinnati've had at the quarterback position. The
Steelers have had some nickel dime injuries, nothing major to
anybody major. Hopefully that continues. And like I said, the
(06:58):
Steelers have got to win this game. You know it's
on this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
This is the end.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Go go that suckus gots to go. I'll tell you
what happened, Franco. Uh bottom of the are we got
Josh Showy? I want your calls next? H Does the
Garrett want head to head matchup mean anything?
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Are you surprised Music is starting Jari in goal instead
of shilloffs? And the most important thing, do you think
using seven offensive linemen is as ridiculous as I think
it is? I got a tweet a response to a
tweet saying, well, they're not technically using seven offensive lineman?
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah they are?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Okay, they got the five offensive linemen, they got the
mammoth tight end, and they got the extra tackle. That
is seven offensive linemen. And you know, I know, like
say Gronk was a big tight end. Kelsey's a big
tight end. They were out there to play tight end.
But Washington's out there to just be a second extra tackle.
(08:07):
Don't forget you eat the bottom of the ir one
oh five nine, stopping.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Going now the super genius Mark Madden Uberghinias.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, Park, welcome show. Well if I won over, Buddy
bedating dust to road Tomican Dream, so be it baby
the ex at one oh five nine. As we talked
about earlier, the Cleveland Bronson doing some weird things. They
traded one dB for another pretty much the same dB,
and of course they traded Flacco to Cincinnati earlier this week.
(08:38):
Here's Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland's coach, and he's saying he and
his staff were blindsided by flac Obian swapped to Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
First I tell you is that Joe trade took us
by surprise. That was not something that we saw coming.
You know, they called us and you know that's uh,
it was happened very fast, and happened not too long ago,
so still working through all roster type of things.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
That kind of.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Confirms what I thought all along about what's going on
in Cleveland with the owner in Stefanski maybe not being
on the same page with a lot of stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
I thought right at the get go.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
When that choice took place in the fifth round of
the draft, that the owner wanted to draft.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Sanders with the coach not necessarily buying.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
And why would the coach want to draft the fifth
round quarterback when they already drafted a third round quarterback
with Dylan Gabriel. And now the owner wants Shador to play,
so he's clearing that path by eliminating Flacco. But the
coach may still feel different because the word is that
the Brons might make Jabbroni quarterback Bailey Zappi the number
(09:53):
two on Sunday at Pittsburgh, leaves Shadoor as the emergency quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So stay tuned.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
But how often is the head coach not know about
a trade, let alone when it's a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Let's go to Derek. Derek, go to Mark Madden show.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
Hey, Mark, you and Salm were talking about the Islanders
being our bogie team in some of the notable times
they've eliminated us in the playoffs. I feel like you
guys may have omitted twenty nineteen when they swept us
in Round one. That was only, you know, a year
removed from being back to back champions, and we were
legit and tenders still.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
And no, no, they weren't legit contenders anymore.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
You may have thought that.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
I knew they weren't then, and they continued to fade
from there, although they put up a better fight in
series after that, not even against Montreal in the COVID
Cup though, But the Penguins were done as a legit
Stanley Cup contender once they lost an overtime in Game
six of the second round to Washington in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Right, well, if that's the case, then they were even
less of a contender in twenty one when the Islanders
eliminated them. But also that's the first time the islandert
eight team since they won the nineteen Thank.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
You for the call, I heard you the first time.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, but twenty one and nineteen doesn't compare even remotely
to seventy five, eighty two and ninety three, not even remotely.
We were talking about how much I hate the seven
offensive lineman thing with the Steelers. I keep hearing the
offensive line is improving. And in Dublin, okay, Steelers at
(11:27):
one hundred and thirty one yards rushing, that's good and
the average of four point five yards per carry that's good.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Those were both season highs A lot two sacks. That's
not horrible.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Everybody graded out good at Pro Football Focus for what
that's worth. But is did they did they great out
good because they played good?
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Or because you use.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Seven offensive linemen when most teams only use five? And
is that why you used seven offensive linemen?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Who's the rat? Am I the rat? I hate all this?
It confuses me. What's the over under?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
By the way, when high Smith gets hurt again, what's
the over Underwe Friarmouth and John who are visibly pissed
and pop off about being on the payano mine list again.
I know the Steelers are three and one and you're
yank and cranking. Don't wake up and thank me. But
I don't understand so much of what's going on. And
(12:18):
the Roman Wilson thing him behind Scronic and Miller, I mean,
just that.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Makes no sense. Is Warren Beck this week?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Does you start ahead of gain well again, how the
figure the Steelers three and one because everything is so haphazard,
And I'll tell you how the biggest factors Rogers, that
guile Rogers is the reason until they draft Drew Aller,
Wat and Hayward have come around. Harmond has helped. Benton
didn't suck for change at Dublin. So I get three
(12:50):
and one. I'm not overestimating three and one. I'm expecting
five and one, but I'm prepared to be disappointed too
in these next two weeks. Up next Hockey Talk with
Josh Won five.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Nine one oh five nine d X says your shot
at extra cash because we're nice. Thirteen times a day,
nine am through nine pm, The X will give you
the keyword at the top of every hour. Enter it
at wxdx dot com and you can win one thousand dollars.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Jesting you can.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Spread it on the bed and roll around at one thousand.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Dollars or whatever. This is your money.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Listen all day for your chansit some extra cash on
one oh five nine the X.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
This is Aatino Mobi. This is what's trending from Iheartsports Network.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Presented by Levin Furniture and Mattress, It'll be an NFC
showdown to open a new week of NFL action. The
Giants host the Eagles for Thursday Night Football. With the
NFL trade deadline less than a month the way. The
Steelers are rumored to be the top destination for Miami
wideout Jalen Waddle and Saints wide receiver Chris A. Lobbi,
and the Penguins will face the Islanders for their home
(13:50):
opener tonight. Pittsburgh's looking for a tu and oh start
after they took down the Rangers on Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
I'm Scott David said at Levin you'll find the perfect
dining sad for every gather, like for.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Example, this show I want to Now, I'm gonna cut
you off where you can make a jump with the
exit one O five nine. Peng was at home first
home game of the year. They host the New York Islander. Schaeffer,
the first round pick overall in the lineup for the
Isle on defense, joining me now to talk about the
game and about the Penguins. He covers the team for
(14:22):
the Athletic It's Josh, Joey, Josh, Tristan Jarry and Gold
Tonight after shiloffs pitched a shutout at New York on Tuesday.
Does that surprise you at all.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
A little bit?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Mark?
Speaker 7 (14:35):
I think obviously it was pre determined that one guy
would get the opener and the other guy would get
the home opener. And I honestly think this is an
open goaltending competition right now. I think whoever plays better
in the first couple of weeks is going to get
the bulk of the playing time. But I I personally
Mark probably would not have started Jarry and the home opener.
(14:56):
He does not have a good history of playing well
in that building when they're a lot of people in
the building, when there's a big game atmosphere like tonight
will be. And I think there's even more pressure on
him now after the other guy pushes a shutout in
the garden, So everybody's going to be keeping a close
eye on him in the first period given his recent
history in these kinds of moments.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
One shot, one goal. Uh, I'm worried already that Muse
might be too good a coach. He might keep the
Penguins from getting a top five pick.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
What has Mews changed at a glance so far.
Speaker 7 (15:28):
Well, I mean he's got them buying into playing defensive, responsible,
professional two way hockey, and that, frankly, is something that
Mike Sullivan really struggled with. I think the last couple
of years. I think Sullivan wanted him to play that way.
I just don't think he could get them to And
clearly everybody's on the same page right now. And it
was only one game. Of course, maybe they go out
(15:50):
and give up six tonight, who knows. But we saw
throughout preseason training camp everything like there was just more
attention to detail with, you know, the defense aspects of
the game, situational hockey, the areas where the Penguins have
struggled so mightily in the last couple of years. And
I think it starts with Eric Carlson and Crystal Tang.
Both of them were very good the other night. We
(16:11):
didn't see them making the colossal mistakes that we've seen
so much of the last couple of years. It always
starts with those two with the Penguins.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, I just the Carlson thing. You wrote about that
at length. I was amazed by how well he played
and how he played the right way and didn't really
put a foot wrong. It's amazing that a coach who's
never been a head coach for even one game in
the NHL before got Eric Carlson to change his game
to that degree first time out.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
And I don't think it's just a fluky one night thing,
because he looked great in the preseason games as well.
Just watching him and training camp, he looked like a
different guy. And Eric has never told me this, and
Mike Sullivan never told me this. But I don't think
those two guys ever saw eye to eye. I really
don't think Carlson like playing for Sullivan for whatever reason.
(17:03):
I don't think he likes playing for most coaches, but
obviously he seems willing to embrace what Dan muses is
coaching at the moment. And no, he looks like a
different guy to me. And I will say this in
his defense, and those of them haven't really not offending
the way he's played the last two years. But last
year specifically, he did not have a training camp. Carlson,
he was hurt and he was unbelievably bad in October
(17:25):
and November. I do think that probably played a role.
I think having a camp and being healthy entering the season.
I'm man as he looked different, and if nothing less,
mark it makes them more tradable. It really does, and
then there's something to be said for that if that's
what it ultimately comes to.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I like coven and with Sid.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I think Covenan has a bit of the Jake Denzil
about him. I might put Kindle with Sid for a
game they move Kindle to wing because Kendall seems to
think the game a bit like Sid.
Speaker 7 (17:52):
What do you think, boy, it's the first shift the
other night? Is any indicating any indication? I would say yes.
And I didn't think Coyvenan was very good the other night.
But I do think he has a really high hockey
IQ it he'll play well with other players. Kendall is
I think, maybe even an extreme version of that. He's
not that big, he's not that fast, but he always
(18:14):
has the puck and he always knows where to go
and he always makes the right decision, which for an
eighteen year old is especially rare. I'd love to see it.
I'd be all for it. Kendall is fascinating to me. Mark.
He wasn't really that great in the rookie camp in July,
didn't really jump out. Beginning of training camp. He was fine.
He didn't really notice it, and then about a week
into training camp, like something just switched to him and
(18:37):
every single day he got better and better and better,
and everyone who's you know, at practices were kind of
like looking at each other like, geez, where did this
guy come from all of a sudden And for an
eighteen year old Another thing about him, Mark like, usually
eighteen year old forwards, Yeah, they've got the skill level
and they think the game whatever. They're usually not very
good defensively. He was exceptional the other night in New York.
(18:57):
He won four to five base offs. He was really
good defensively. You don't see that from a player that
aged that position very often.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
How would you.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Break down all three kids in that game? He just
did kindle go a little deeper with and Brunick.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
Uh Brunick. You know, he took the bad penalty on
his first shift, and he looked a little nervy to
me in the first period, and he admitted as much
after the game. But boy, I thought he kept getting
better and better, and it's that skating ability of his.
You saw it in the third period. It looked like
the Penguins were in trouble. Trouble on a couple of ships,
and he just skated his way out of trouble. He
(19:31):
has that ability. I thought he was very good. I
didn't love Coven's game. I thought he was forcing the
puck to sit a little too much. He probably should
have shot more. Remember, though, he's never really played with
Sid before. And some guys can play with Sid and
some can't, and it's still, you know, a learning process.
I'm curious to see what happens when Brian Russ comes back,
which could be as soon as this weekend. He's very
(19:54):
close to being ready. H Maybe if they just put
Russ and Raquel right back on the top line with
Sid and Sli.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Or maybe not.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
I don't know. They're gonna have some decisions to make though.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
See I know Sid will want rust and Raquel.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I wouldn't do that because part of Sid's job is
to develop the kids. And that means to me, either
Coyvenin or Kindle while he's still here, plays on his line.
Speaker 7 (20:18):
I don't disagree with that, And you know, look at
the depth that can give you. I mean that they've
got a pretty decent looking forward set right now, and
that's not including Brian Rustin, Rucker McGorty, who I don't
think is that far away from being ready to play either.
That's how you win in this league when you can
have three really good lines, Believe it or not. There's
(20:39):
a chance they can have that with the collection of
talent to it, which makes things all the more interesting
right now, Mark, because I think in the minds of
so many people the goal is to get a top
five pick. And I know it's only been one game,
but you can see that this is a team that's
on the same page right now, that's been good defensively,
and then you look at the group of forwards they have.
It doesn't really look like a bottom five NHL team
(21:00):
to me.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
No, not right now, but that defensive group could change
that in the wink of an eye and in my tonight,
but I hope not. What do you think Kendall has
any chance to stick all year? I think Brunick likely
will because he's clearly not grown juniors, but I wonder
if Kendall hasn't too, at least mentally.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
I still will say that I think it's unlikely that
Kendall stays, but I also think he can have a
say in that, Mark if he plays the next eight
games the way he did the other night at the Garden. Like,
I don't think they're against the idea of keeping him.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I really don't.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
I think the odds are he still goes back down
to junior for a year, but we'll see he is.
I think he has surprised even the Penguins with how
quickly he has progressed, and it's nothing less. This is
a kid with clearly a very bright future, and Brunick,
my guess, says he will stay number one. I just
think he's ready to play in the NHL. He'll make
his mistakes, he can have some growing pains. I think
(22:00):
he will stay because he's earned it, and frankly, their
blue line is so bad there's room for him to
play twenty minutes a night this season, and I think
there's a chance that he will.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
We're talking to Josh Joy the athletic here on one
oh five ninety x uh. I like Tamalkin centering two
other six foot five guys. Maybe with Gino's speed, diminishing
size matters more. I don't know if that's a long
term thing. I do like that they tried it and
look decent on Tuesday.
Speaker 7 (22:29):
Yeah, kind of an interesting philosophical thing. Because as Gino
slowed down in the last couple of years, Mike Sullivan's
believe was always to flank him with fast wingers, that
that would help him. And you could understand the thinking there,
whereas Dan muses more along the lines of you know what,
it's going to be a slow line with Gino on it.
But Gino's still a big man, so basically more of
(22:50):
a half court offense approach. We're not going to score
on the rush on that line, but we got three
really big guys and maybe it'll work. I don't know.
I mean, there's no denying that was the Penguin's best
line in New York the other night in Malkin just
a magnificent play on the first goal going forward on
the faceoff, and by the way, he did that against
Vince Trochuck is one of the best face off guys
in the league. That was a great play Malkin made.
(23:12):
We'll see if it works. But Gino has always been
pretty adaptable. He's played with power forwards like Bugsy Malone
and had a lot of success, and he's played with smaller,
quicker guys as well and had success. So he can
really play with anybody and if one night is any
indication that line was pretty impressive, I'm curious to see
how it does tonight against the Islanders and again in
(23:34):
the rematch against the Rangers on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
As I mentioned, I still don't trust the defensive corps.
Although I thought, you know, we talked about Carlson, I
thought the tang was actually pretty good, and I think
Bruni can be pretty good as the left side. I
wonder about how will that left side ultimately shake down
and at what point are they tempted to move Dumba
to the left side, who did not play the other night.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
And I think we'll see that at some point. I'm
not a huge Caleb Jones fan. I think he's an
AHL defenseman, quite honestly, and Witherspoon's you know, okay, but
really just okay. He's really more of a seven defenseman.
I think we will see Dumba in the lineup. Dumba
had a really good training camp Mark and even though
he's right handed, he has played on the left side before.
(24:16):
I think he's capable of being pretty functional over there,
and I just like the muscle that he plays with.
He's got a nasty edge about him, which that Blue
line so badly needs. I was surprised he wasn't somewhere
in the lineup to begin in New York, just given
the training camp that he had. He's absolutely one of
the penguins six best defensemen. I he'll be in the
lineup pretty quickly, I would think, and I think they
(24:37):
can use him because that left side mark. I mean,
it's a real problem. When Ryan Shay's your most reliable
defenseman on the left side, that's not a good sign.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I know it's only one game, but I thought the
biggest development from Tuesday, Josh was the Penguins don't feel
stale anymore, and that's on so many levels, and the
kids have clearly invigorated the veterans.
Speaker 7 (25:00):
Yeah, completely agree. I can't tell you how many fans
have said to me in the last week, like, I'm
more excited for the season than I have been in years.
I don't know why, And I think that's it. I
think when you have a new coaching staff, there's something
exciting about that. But even more importantly, when you have
a couple of teenagers, not just teenagers, but teenagers with
real potential who are actually getting to play, and I
(25:21):
think you're getting a coaching staff that isn't doing the
same old thing, that isn't just going to start Triston
Jarry and Opening Night because that's what they've always done
the last five years. I think there's something to be
said for that. And the Penguins are still very much
in a rebuilding phase. And I would caution people about
getting too excited just because of what you saw in
one night, because I think the Rangers might really stink,
(25:42):
but no, things are starting to progress. There is even
more real talent on the way. I think just the
presence mark of Sergei Miroshov and people getting to see
him in the preseason, I think that adds to it too,
because you see that guy, it's like, boy, we might
really have a number one goaltender here in the next
one months. And so you put it all together. Yes,
there is a feeling of excitement that hasn't been here
(26:05):
the last two or three years.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
No question.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Well here's a weird question, and I'm maybe getting carried
away here. The traditional line of demarcation for whether or
not you have a chance to make the playoffs is Thanksgiving.
Very rarely, when a team's not in a playoff spot
at Thanksgiving, do they make it. Let's say the Penguin
somehow in a crappy division, in a crappy conference, or
in let's say third place in the metro come Thanksgiving,
(26:30):
do you call Morishov up?
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Then if he's playing well in Wilkes.
Speaker 7 (26:35):
Well, if they're in third place, then I have to
assume the goaltenders here aren't playing poorly.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
So he is sparkling, sparkling in Wilkes and maybe one
goalie here is playing worse than the other.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
I would do it, but I suspect Kyle Douglas would
be a little more patient than that. But I will say,
at some point, I think Thanksgiving might be too early.
But if there's on a playoff, spot's say, come January,
that that's a little different. If you get to the
halfway point of the season or past that and they
are like whether they want a top five pick or not.
If they get off to a great start, everything is
(27:11):
rolling and you know, expectations are being exceeded. Yeah, at
some point they're going to say, okay, if we have
a chance to make the playoffs, but we're not going to,
you know, deny our fans and deny Sidney Crosby of
that chance, we're not going to thank And yeah, at
some point they would bring him up. It's a matter
of time before mirror shops up.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Anyway.
Speaker 7 (27:30):
I do think, by the way, regardless of how they're
doing in the standings, that we will see him at
some point this season. He's not far away, yea.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
If only for a cup of coffee.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Another weird question giving giving the muses is supplanted Sullivan.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Sully never played kids in overtime.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
If a game goes to overtime, like I'm predicting tonight's
will Josh, just because I'm asking this question, will he
play Brunick Kindall or Clavenon.
Speaker 7 (27:55):
I think he will. And I've been told by people
are on the Penguins since literally the day he was
hired that in regards to the twenty five to twenty
sixth season, they are going young.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
You are going to.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
See young guys playing in situations when you never thought
you would. So, Yes, Brudock was made for three on three.
Kendall probably as well. I'm telling you the young guys,
as long as they're here, they're going to play. This
isn't going to be like Alexei Morozov playing six minutes
to night on the fourth line, you know, twenty five
years ago. It's not going to be like that at all. Yeah,
(28:29):
he is going to sink or swing with those kids.
He knows, that's why he was brought here to develop them.
And they're frankly ahead of schedule in some cases. I
don't think he's going to shy away from that one bit.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
What did they start up three and zero because they
could next two games at home?
Speaker 1 (28:45):
The Rangers are here Saturday. They stink. The Islanders tonight
aren't really much better, are they?
Speaker 7 (28:51):
No, they're not. I mean two of the three California
teams aren't very good, and that's where they play next
week too. It's not a brutal start schedule wise for
the Penguins. It wouldn't shock me. I mean, granted, they
look good the other night, so it's easy to say now.
But sometimes Mark, when there's a new coach, you know,
it just has a way of triggering good things for
hockey teams. I don't know why it is that way
in hockey more than other sports, it teems like, but
(29:14):
that absolutely is the case. And I will say this
about the Penguins. I certainly don't think they're a playoff team.
But two things. Number One, I think they're probably a
little better on paper that people give them credit for,
even though I don't like the blue line. And number two,
the Eastern Conference really stinks. It is not good at all.
Like as bad as the Penguins have been the last
two or three years, if they would have had average
(29:36):
NHL goaltending, they're still probably a playoff team. So there's
an argument to be made that they're not quite as
bad as people necessarily think.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And the X factor like always a Sid because he
seems clearly and obviously energized by these kids. And if
he can maintain that and it trickles down to the
other veterans, that could be interesting.
Speaker 7 (29:57):
He always plays well when there's a surge of young
players around, like I really think he embraces the role
now of being the old guy and showing them the
way Mark I wish I could have had been able
to take a picture of it outside of the locker room.
After the morning skate at the garden on Tuesday, Ben
Kendall was on an exercise bike and I just saw
Sid standing there talking with him for about fifteen or
twenty minutes, Like he just does that kind of thing
(30:19):
with young players. You can't put a price on that
kind of thing. The way he's grooming these young guys.
He has energized right now. And he didn't get a
point the other night. He didn't play poorly. I bet
you he does something big tonight. It's just the kind
of occasion of which he almost always does.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Josh you're the man. I'll see it tonight at the game.
Speaker 7 (30:38):
All I see tonight mark.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
That josh Oey the athletic.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
By the way, a couple segments back was brought to
us by Danny's Pizzor and Hogies on Rudy eighty eight
and Bethel Park. If I miss you the first time,
I'll get you the next time.
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