November 18, 2025 • 32 mins
Mark talks about the way Shedeur Sanders is being covered by the national media. Pierre McGuire joins for his weekly hockey talk segment
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Steelers should have started Rudolph the moment been retired,
he should still be starting now. That should have been linear.
The Steelers went down this path of recycling senior citizens
at quarterback, which has not reaped enough reward yet. So
why do you hate Mason Rudolph? Get your calls in
eight three to three, four one two WXDX. The Penguins
(00:22):
question is more positive. I'm talking too fast today. I
had like nineteen diet cokes this morning. I'm like a
machine gun. No, that's my love gun. A bunch of
things have gone right with the Penguins. Shay and Watherspoon
are decent top four defenseman. It took over two years
in a Penguin uniform of Carlson is Carlson or at
(00:43):
least kind of close. Graves is much better under muse.
Shid isn't meshing with linemates besides rust, but that might
be making him shoot more and score more.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
He's got twelve goals.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Gino has been very good on the Jumbo line, which
has been maintained in Brazo's absence, with Kevin Hayes coming
off the injured listen jumping in at left wing special
teams are tremendous. That might be the single biggest factor.
The power playing ranks number one in the league and
the PK ranks number four. H Lazotte and Deer are
(01:17):
decent on the bottom line. Although Deer played with sid
in that second game at Sweden, Kindle is excellent.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It's so far, so good with morishoff.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I still bet Brunnick and Clevenan come around, and I
just like the energy and enthusiasm, the new attitude those
kids have brought to a stale team and dressing room.
The goaltending is mostly okay, and Muse has found a
pretty good handle on the team. So if you'd liked
at or subtract called a three three four to one
(01:48):
two WSDX, or we can talk about the spit ning Spitgate,
which I find hilarious. Pittsburgh has spent the best part
of two days talking about spit like it's a capital crime.
I got another great viewing party Sunday. They love me
in Westmoreland County, they do. There's no denying Marino's American
(02:09):
eatery in Greensburg.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
A lot of Liverpool fans turn off.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
These two kids come with their solid shirts and we
sing the solid song every year. So join me at
Marino's American Eatery in Greensburg Sunday, one pm for the
Steelers Bears game. We're gonna law here. In terms of
actual action, the Penguins don't play again until Friday, Minnesota
(02:32):
at PPG, the first of three straight home games, and
now there's pressure on everybody to spit in every game
because it grabs a headline.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
By the way, nothing has ever been worse than that Manning.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Simulcast, the Manning cast for Monday Night Football. Nothing has
ever been worse. It makes the macffee Show look like
the McLaughlin group. Josana Anderson of a lot of places,
including AASTPN, she blamed the Bronze coach Kevin Stefanski for
playing Sanders Shador Sanders. She should have blamed him for
(03:12):
not recommending he get better home security because it's Hoscot
robbed for two hundred K during the game. But Anderson
blamed Stefanski for putting Shador in the game when he
hadn't had any practice reps. But Sadori went in the
game because Dylan Gabriel got concussed.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
But Josina found fault with that too.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Look the backup don't get snaps. That's the backups job.
The backup don't enter the game unless the starter does
get hurt. That's the backup slot in life. The underlying
message from Josina Anderson is that Stefanski in America doesn't
want to see a black quarterback succeed. She doesn't actually
(03:58):
say that, but you know that's what she means, because
every conversation she has about every situation in sports goes
down a similar direction. And I agree with Josina in
this case, America, Kevin Stefanski, all of you, you don't
want to see a black quarterback succeed, even though sixteen
black quarterbacks are starting in the NFL. Pennix Daniels, Caleb Williams,
(04:21):
Bryce Young, CJ. Stroud, Jordan love Fields, Hurts, Lamar Mahomes,
dak Gino Smith, Camlard, Kyler Murray.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I think Ratler was Russ was Brissette kind of be.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
No, No, nobody wants to see a black quarterback succeed. Meanwhile,
let's list all the white cornerbacks, because there are let
me see here, one, two, three sixteen black quarterbacks, three
white cornerbacks. And hey, let me just point out the
elephant in the room. Why isn't Kaepernick playing? Why doesn't
(04:55):
he have a job? Discrimination? They blackballed him, But it's
racist to say black ball he got blacklisted. I did
it again, God damn. And how come there were no
black kids on that seventy show? And how come there's
not a woman QB And how come josh Allen isn't black?
So thanks to Josina Anderson for relevant social commentary and
(05:17):
for not having the guts to say what she meant.
And Shador is going to take all the snaps this
week and start at Vegas and suck.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
I guarantee it. But I'm white, So what do I know?
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Get your calls in now eight three to three four
one two WXDX. That's eight three three four one two WXDX.
What else do I got? Ab in jail? He's black,
That's why pulled a gun. But it was a white
man's gun. I think the white man. I think the
white cop put the gun in AP's hand and made
them pull the trigger. That's what I think. Jeff Pisan,
(05:56):
white guy, Connor Griffin white, The Pirates are racist? One
oh five nine X.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six on the
X People, Nice day, thank you for making my day. Yeah,
what you said?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
The ex at one nine? Guess by way of clarification,
when I said Kyler Murray, I think I meant I
think he's starting?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Is he? I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Routines like that are really funny, and I thought that
would work.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I don't think anything was offensive.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
No more offensive than Josina Anderson saying that people don't
want to see Well, she didn't say, but her message
is unmistakable that that, you know, everybody's against Shador Sanders,
the implication being that he's black.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I mean Shedor.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Sanders is a rich kid who's never had to work
for anything. But the struggle is real. We're supposed to believe. Uh,
let's go to Josh josh On with double mr.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
What up mine?
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, Uh, let's just talk about the quarterback you gotta start.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Rudolphs never slept on a field yet.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
But no, it's not don to Will. It's not don
to Will Howard.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
It's down to whether Rogers's wrist will permit him to play,
whether he wants to play through it, as he apparently does.
I don't think what the doctors think comes into a
count I think it's Rogers's decision to make, so I
ask you who would you rather see start Rogers with
the broken risk or Rudolph how we saw him against Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I say Rudolph and let Rogers rest up for divisional
games coming up later in the season.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I thank you for the call. I agree with that.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I don't see anything bad and taking your chance with
Rudolf at Chicago. Rogers has looked very weary the past
two weeks. Played really horrible in Los Angeles, played okay
the first half against Cincinnati, but not great. It's not
like he broke the game open, and he's forty one,
(08:07):
almost forty two. I just don't see it being insulting
to him to play Rudolph. I thought when you brought
in an old guy to play quarterback, it would be
a co op between him and the backup. I said
before the season that Rudolph would probably be called on
to play three or four games. So far, it's gone
(08:28):
okay physically for Rogers, But you gotta look big picture here.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
What will enable Rogers to play better?
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Like that guy said, with divisional games coming up, not
least December seventh at Baltimore, A day that will live
in infamy. We talked a moment ago about Josia Anderson
and her assertion that Kevin Stefanski doesn't want Shouldee Sanders
(08:58):
to succeed, and Cam new And said that on ESPN
yesterday too, the implication being its because it's a white
coach and a black quarterback. Huh, how could you think
anything else? Why in the frig would a coach not
want a quarterback succeed? So what they say, the implication
is clear, and so is the stupidity. But for Manny Jones,
(09:19):
surprisingly who who you know, mixes race and sports quite
a bit, he sees the reality of the situation.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
I just don't understand why everybody thinks that the world
was against this rich kid. I don't understand the grand
conspiracy against somebody who kind of.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Makes money for people.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
If he gets out there, I would think that they
want him to be good, if anything else.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Now, look, Stefanci.
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Clearly does not believe, and I do believe that Stefanski
probably has an investment in being right. The bottom line is,
they don't think he's got a future. I don't think
that they're trying to run him out of the league.
They don't think that there's a future in him. They
think there's a future Dylan.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Gabriel Bingo Shador Sanders was born on third base and
thinks he hit a triple. The NFL is a business,
not a conspiracy. Sanders dropped to being a fifth round
pick because his talent is worth minimal investment in the
estimation of not just Cleveland, not just Defenski, but the
(10:20):
entire National Football League. Sometimes long shots pay off, but
it didn't look like that's gonna happen watching Shador's NFL debut,
And if it weren't Dion's kid, nobody would care even
a little bit. Let's go to Nick, Nick, you're on
a double.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
M Hey, Mark, uh So, My question is I was
just wondering, what do you think about the Penguins. Do
you think that they are gonna stay strong, maybe end
up the middle of the pack like we've seen the
last past years, or do you think they're gonna they're
gonna start tapering off and fading away.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Well, I think that there's only two lines of demarcation.
You either make the playoffs, you finish low enough to
get a top five pick if they do anything else,
but that it's an absolute disaster, even though I am
excited and entertained by the good start and it getting
legs again with three points out of four in Sweden,
I would have preferred the top five pick. But since
(11:16):
they are right now whatever it is third in the conference.
You know, let's let's see if they can keep it
up and if they made the playoffs, that would not
upset me. What would upset me would be if they
would finish number nine or ten in the Eastern Conference
and get none of the above.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Uh, what do you what do you think about now?
What do you think about the coaching though? Do you
think the coaching has given them this giving them a
lot of this spark or do you just think it's
more of the young young guys or make sure, I think.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
The coaching has been very good. I think the young
guys have provided a spark. But really the only young
guy who's contributing right now in meaningful fashion is Ben
Kindall that's not to say well morrishoff too, but he
just got here.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
You know, Brunic and coven And have been disappointing. Covenan's
on ir, Brunic's begetting scratched. I think ultimately they will
come good, but I think Muse has taken a very
complicated way of playing well, not complicated, but a very well.
I don't want to defecate on Selly here, but he
just didn't get the team he had. Sally was coaching
(12:18):
last year like it was twenty sixteen or seventeen, and
he thought one sage fit all with the defense, with
the pinching and activating. I think Mwes is more systematic
and more realistically so when Eric Carlson said that the
coach now doesn't ask the players to do what they can't,
he wasn't talking about him. Carlston was talking about somebody
(12:40):
like Ryan Graves who can't pitch, can't activate, but had
to because that's what Sully wanted. And look at Ryan
Graves now. Pretty good. Ryan Shay our guest at four thirty,
pretty good. Wotherspoon, pretty good. Thank you for the call up. Next,
more hockey talk with Pierre Maguire at one oh five
to nine.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Hey, we're in your smart speakers.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Listen to the X everywhere you go. Tell your smart
speakers to BLUXA play one oh five point nine The
X on.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
iHeartRadio hits Bunny Diver and I just love good news. Okay,
so this is a great story I just heard about
on a ninety degree day in Racine, Wisconsin.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Genius Mark Madden, Hey, Mark, great shows.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
When you got a young trophy, white owes money to
I can't even quote the big o'bowski right, goodbye the X.
At one oh five nine, it's time to talk hockey,
and there's nobody better to talk about hockey with. And
the man who's done it all in the great Game
joining us as he does weekly, it's Pierre McGuire.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Pierre.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
That felt like a relatively big win Sunday at Stockholm.
The Penguins had been treading sludge for a bit. But
that was a smart sixty minutes, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
It was really smart. It was really well done by
the entire team. I love the athleticism and the response
by Sergei Munershop. I just love the way the entire
team played, including obviously Crosby and Malcolm. I don't think
they wanted to go all the way over to Sweden
not bring back a win. I was talking to Paul
Steige all about this earlier today. I just I was
(14:07):
impressed by the leadership, by the poison the team and
look at Nashville is not a world beater. They're not
any league team. But that's a long way to go.
And both teams wanted to get points. And for Pittsburgh
to take three out of four points this weekend, I
think it's tremendous.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Morishav got that shot out on Sunday and he played
good pier but he really didn't have to do too much.
Did he twenty one saves in very few tests of him.
I thought that was more of a team shut up.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
It was. You can see just the way Blake wast
was playing. You'd see the way that Getting Malkin was playing,
You'd see the way Sid was playing. Everybody was committed
to play a two hundred plot game, supporting the defense.
You know, obviously Parker Weatherspoon and getting a goal was
huge for them. I think, you know, Ryan Shay, and
I'm mean the sincerely Mark, I think Ryan Shay is
(14:52):
the most improved player in the National hockey I really
mean that. And so you know, you see the way
Ryan Graves and Connor lifting her plan and everybody's kind
of getting an identity now on defense, and I think
the Fords are seeing that and they're kind of supporting
it in a good way, not a bad way.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Why is sid scoring more?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I mean he's won two rocket with Shard Trophy, he's
been He's not always a sniper. He's got twelve goals.
He's more shooter than playmaker right now.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Why is that?
Speaker 4 (15:20):
I think because he knows he needs to be a shooter,
and he's taking an advantage of opportunities. He's trying to
leave the team by example. There's nothing wrong with that,
you know. I'm watching John Tobias something in Toronto. Even
though Toronto's off to a real shaky start. John Tavaris
is scoring goals at an amazing pace, and he's more
of a playmaker than a scorer. But I think he
(15:42):
realizes we lost the Matthews out of the lineup with
Mitchell Marner in Vegas, he needs to be a scorer.
And I think Sidney Crosby realizes the same thing, especially
when you look at the injury situation with Rotel not there,
Brazil not there, a charity not there, Jyre not there,
and you look at it they need and I think
sid realizes.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
That let's stay with that, because I think you're onto something, Pierre.
I feel like Sid hasn't been able to adjust to
a new line mate with Raquel out, so he's looking
at more to create his own shot, which he doesn't
always do. Sid always takes the path that's available and
right now that's what he sees.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Oh, we agree on that. One other thing I think
is important to add I did a is that a
big thing for Ray Schuerro, the late Rachiero This weekend
up in Canton, New York, where he went to university
at Saint Lawrence University, got in their Hall of Fame.
It's called the Legends of Appleton, which is the name
of the arena there. Anyways, there were a plethora of
NHL management people there, and I mean a plethora with
(16:44):
a lot of Pittsburgh Penguin ty in and we were
all talking one night about Ben Kindall most of the
guys that were there said, if you had told them
when the season started with Ben kimdll the eleventh overall
pick in last summer's draft and be a main stay
on the Pittsburgh Penguins and be leading the charge in
terms of playmaking, they would say probably not. I think
(17:07):
Sid's been the beneficiary from time to time, was the
creative play of Ben Kindall, and I think that's helped
Turns into the more of a gunner. So I think
it's a double edged sword in a positive way to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, Kindle's off that line now, but I think that
definitely goes for the power play, which we'll get to
it a second bit. Five to five. Who would you
play with Sid besides rust with Kello? Who would you
stick there?
Speaker 4 (17:30):
I'd either go with Melvak or Doer, And the reason
why I dose either one of those guys is because
they got real good legs, and I think Doer in
particular can be physical on the fore check. It's a
little bit. He's not as good as Chris Konan, so
please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. But there's a similarity
in the way Kuonich used to approach the game with Doer,
and I think the same thing with Novak, even though
(17:53):
I don't think Novak process is a game as well
as Kunich used to do. But they give Sid some
legs on the outside where his creativity can come into play.
And also they can generate a lot of turnos because
of their steeds. So if you were to ask me
either one of those two guys, but probably Connor do
it right now.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Good move by Muse with Brazo out.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Kevin Hayes jumped on that line with Malkin and Manta
and that kind of keeps the line big. I think
that's a good similarity the way that line had been
playing well.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
I like that Bob and the other part for Kevin who.
I hope Kevin's listening. I need no disrespect at all.
I've been friends with them a long time. It's easier
for him to play in the wing with board play
and being a confined area of being all that open ice.
His legs don't move as well as they once did.
And for a big man, he used to really be
able to get up and down the ice. He doesn't
(18:45):
do that as well anymore. So I think playing on
the wing with Gino and with Anthony Map is actually
a good thing, not a bad thing. And it also
opens up some room. As you correctly said, to move
King of Locha line with Crosby and down to plane
with Novak and and potentially you will see pooland or
somebody else. Is a true mark to Thomas. You don't
got put on waivers today.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I think that happened just moments ago. Puland got called up,
and I think that's a good move. I know Puhlan's
been I hate to say disappointing for a number one
pick because he's not gotten the opportunity I might have
given him. But I want to see what he can
do coming up, because I'll say this, since the kid
conquered some off ice problems a while back, he's had
a perfect attitude and always did work hard well.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I coached his father when his dad was a nineteen
year old and had twenty goals for me in Hertford.
I'm a big fan of the family and know the
mother and father really well. We're habits are exceptional there.
The kids had been on a heater down there. He's
almost at a point of game in the American Hockey
League over the last ten games. So I'm really happy
for Samuel that way. And look at Wilsebury's been a
(19:49):
tremendous story in the in the American Hockey League. You know,
their first place in the Atlantic Division and they look
really really comfortable. So unhappy the young man is gett
an opportun and you hope you takes advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
We're talking to Pierre Maguire here on one oh five
to nine the x per rock to was by always
say flagging and traffic control.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Pierre, you talked about Ryan Shay how great he's been.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I agree. He's on the show at four thirty. Same
thing with Watherspoon. But let's look at Ryan Graves on
a big ticket, who started the year in the minors.
Why has he done a one to eighty and been
a solid defenseman under Dan.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Muse because he went down and did his chores for
a short period of time. Sometimes you just need a reset.
The game needs to be a little bit slower. People
need to communicate with you, maybe a little bit different manner.
You don't sense the frustration of upper management or the
coaching staff at the NHL level. When you go down
to the American Hockey League. You just take a deep breath.
(20:45):
You recalibrate yourself. I've seen it so many times. You know.
My last NHL job, I was in Autawa. I'm for
about I don't know, maybe two or three weeks. I
just left the NHL team and went and worked with
our American league team, and I could just see what
the guys doing and it was really cool. To see
how they were developing and evolving and spending time talking
(21:05):
in a positive reinforcement kind of way with the coaches.
So I think that helped with Ryan Graves. And he
didn't go down there and pout, which a lot of
guys do, especially when they're on one way tickets. He
went down there and worked, and I really respect that.
Ryan Graves has always been a hardy soul and a
good person, a good teammate, and I think he got
his mojo back because he did go down with such
(21:26):
a good attitude.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I agree with all that.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Let me throw this out there because Eric Carlson alluded
to this. I think with Mike Suliman, he wanted all
the defensemen to pinch and activate. That's not Ryan Graves's game.
I think he's allowed to keep it simple under muse
and he's benefiting from that.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Well, that's definitely possible. I mean, I'm not going to
take shots at Mike Sullivan after he's gone to New York,
but I would say this, wait, sometimes everybody needs a
fresh voice in the drudging room, and sometimes the coach
needs fresh faces to speak to. And I think that's
where Pittsburgh was known been there a long time. He'd
had a lot of success early on sixteen and seventeen
(22:04):
in particular, obviously winning the Cup back to back years,
but since seventeen it hasn't been that rusie around there.
And in the last three years of Mike's tenure there
there were no playoffs. So I get it. I understand,
and there's frustration from everybody, and I think it's just
human nature where there was a split up. And I
think News is going to help Graves, and I think
Graves is going to help use the other thing too,
(22:26):
And this is really important. I think Todd Nelson had
the honor of coaching and Pittsburgh, and also Mike Stuthers,
who I watched playing coached against when he was playing.
I think both those guys have helped all the defects
in Pittsburgh and they deserve a pat on the back,
both those guys.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
I agree.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I think it's an elite coaching staff under Muse here
in Pittsburgh, and I think they're reaping the benefit from that.
Here's the maybe the biggest story, uh, Pierre. The PK
is number four in the league and the power play
is number one. What's making those two units tick well?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Nellie will problem with Todd Nelson will probably take charge
of the power play, and I'm sure Southers and Coach
News are going to be a big part of the
and Nick Benino be a big part of the penalty kill.
You know, News did a real good job in New
York with the penalty kill. He and Michael Pecker worked
together and they were very good on the penalty kill
with the Rangers. So robbyo Lette was there, and I
(23:24):
would say that, so those are the guys in the
PK in Pittsburgh, and then obviously Nelly would be a
big part. Todd Nelson would be a huge part of
the power play.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Yeah, I think that they're keeping it simple in the
power play. And here's an underestimated thing, Pierre, and I
bet it's something you stressed as a coach. They get
clears on the PK. You know a lot of the
stuff with the PK. They do everything but get the
clear right. And the Penguins are getting the clears right.
They're they're really hitting the white spots, those creases where
(23:55):
the puck can get out.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Well, that's a really smart statement and it's actually factual,
which is really cool that you would say that. But
here's here's the big there's there's certain things that are
not negotiab on the penalty kill. One, win the initial
draw right. Two, when you do win, it clear to
Mark's points. Three, make sure you're always in the lane physically,
so don't let tucks get through you to the net,
(24:18):
and if they do, make sure everybody boxes out the
no second and third chance opportunities. And then the final
one is active stick positioning and understanding when to press
and when to back up. If you follow those simple guidelines,
it's not that convoluted. But if you follow those simple guidelines,
your penalty kill should be in the top ten every
single season. It's not that complicated.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Pierre, How bad does the Jack Hughes injury hurt New Jersey?
It seems crippling because he's their catalyst, isn't he?
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Oh my gosh, between him and Beggie Hamilton, you got
a lot out of the line up right now. I mean,
people don't realize those guys matter. Cody Glass is another
one that came back, and you don't know what's gonna
happen with Cody. You know, there's a lot about that.
But Jack and I talked to somebody in the NHL
this morning about this. You know, they're saying, oh, Jack
Hugh's gonna fence you know this guy and that guy said, no,
(25:08):
it's gonna affect six guys because it's gonna it's gonna
affect the second line as well, because now people start
to move around in the lineup, and so it doesn't
just affect one line, it affects two lines. And so
that's a problem for New Jersey. They obviously had a
tremendous start, they got a lot of team speed. Jack's
been a big part of that. But without him, and
(25:28):
that's gonna be a long injury. It doesn't just affect
New Jersey. I think it affects Team USA going to
the Olympics as well.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
No question about that.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And to get to your point about the lineup being
switched around, my big example is Nicoheshier is a very
good number two center, but now he's got to do
more and I think he can, but I'm not sure,
and maybe it makes him less of a two hundred
foot player on the second line.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Oh, no question, Mark, That's exactly what I'm talking about.
I mean, people don't realize every they say, oh yeah,
one guy is out. No, it's not. It's not one guy.
One guy affects six guys, and that's the way it goes.
That's why you Okay, let's use Yesper Brock as an example,
who's been a tremendous player for the New Jersey Devils.
(26:12):
He's got this great chemistry going with Jackie. You don't
think that's gonna affect Yesper Brown, who's an undersized player
to begin with. He's got to square most of his
stuff off the rush. That's not gonna happen right now.
So no, there's a lot. It's gonna affect a lot
of guys here. It's unfortunate. I hope jack keels up. Well.
I'm knowing him and I know his family. I mean
the father and mother. I had the mother in hockey
(26:33):
camp when she was a very young lady before the
ninety eight Olympics. And I've known my father since he
was a player at Problem With College way back in
the nineteen eighties. So I've known the family a long time.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Now, we don't want to get nobody fired, Pier, and
it is only mid November, but what coach is in
the most danger right now? Because some seats are certainly
heating up.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Well, I gotta think Andrew Burnett. That pains me to
say that too. Again, you know, for so long in
this business, and Andrew is a really serviceable player called
a Cup champion with Barry Trots up in Maine way
back in the day. To show you how far back
I go with say, I watch him playing online in
on Sound, Ontario and the Ontario Hockey League with Scottie Walker,
(27:15):
who had a really distinguished career in Kirk Malty, the
multiple Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings. It
breaks my heart. But I think Nashals, there's going to
be at some point something's going to a given Nashal.
I know. I know they've endorsed the coaching staff in
Toronto and I would as well. I just don't know.
At some point here if they can't get this thing
(27:37):
to turn around, and let's just say they lose twelve
games in a row, I don't know what direction they go.
The biggest problem, and this is this is for everybody
out there, the biggest problem this year. There's one elite
coach that knows how to win, and he hasn't won
the Cup yet, but he knows how to win and
it's peaked the board. And when you got a guy
that's out there circling and he's not doing any wrong,
(28:00):
but when his name's out there, that's a problem if
you're a coach. Is not winning right now.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Pierre, I feel like every team in the Eastern Conference
is either pretty good or maybe none of them are.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Which is it. The standings are so tight, there's no
room to move.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
The Atlanta's really good, the Metro's mediocre atest. The Atlantic's
really good and it's tough, every game's a dogfight, but
the Metro's not as good. And then if you go
out West, you obviously look at it and they say, okay,
you know what's going on out there, I'd say that
the Central is okay. I would say the Pacific is
(28:36):
really getting better, and that's why you've seen Calgary fall
so far behind. It's just that the Pacific has gotten
so much better, with Anaheim being improved, la and really
doing a good job. Santel's a being improved and under
Lane Lambert, Seattle's done a good job. So it's kind
of like the West has one division that's really good,
the Pacific, and the Central's mediocre. In the East, it's
(28:58):
the same thing. You know, the Metro is mediocre and
the Atlantic is pretty un good.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Pierre, what about Colorado only one loss in regulation thirteen
one and six. What's allowed them to make a step
up besides the usual suspects. I mean, we knew they
were good, but they're even better, aren't they?
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Well?
Speaker 4 (29:19):
Getting Nate just signed to a contract, bringing in brock
Nelson last year was good. Having the valoring at Chuskin
right from the start of the year, no off ice.
Bringing in Brent Burns not enough. I was shocked more
people weren't talking about that, especially people in Carolina where
he left. Brent Burns was a really good tick up
for them. And then last year, people forget McKenzie Blackwood
(29:40):
and Scott Rudgwood, the two Woods, those guys going in
there really created a great one two tandem and they
found some found money. I'm not kidding it, and I
know that's kind of an awkward statement, but Sam Malynski
was a tremendous player out of Minnesota. He went to
Cornell University as a free agent and he has been tremendous.
(30:01):
He's a lot like Ryan Shane in terms of improving.
So they got they got a lot going on and
it's really positive. They've got role players like Parker Kelly
and Jack Turry and Ross Colton that are really good.
Getting Gavin Brimley from Columbus was really good. Like they've
done some really smart things with their roster in terms
of team building exercise, Pierre, we.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Got Minnesota here Friday night. They signed Caprasoft to that
huge deal. I think they go to good roster. Let's
hold them back because I expected better than their record.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
They've dealt with some injuries, Mark, and they're starting to
get a little bit more healthy. They've got some young
players like Daneil Duroff that's really starting to evolve. They
really missed Nico Stern. Marco Ross he's been hurting Meam
Wultler is a really good young player. They've got a
lot going on that's more positive and negative there. They
just got to get healthy and start to play. Yes
(30:51):
for walst at a goal, he's really started to evolve.
He's backed up and playing with Philip Gustis, and they've
got a lot. I just don't like to talk too
much about Minnie because my kid's part of their organization,
so I don't want to get him in trouble.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Well, Pierre, if guys keep getting hurt, maybe he gets
a call up.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
What do you think he's one.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
Of their hurt guys right now he's got a broken foot.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Well, let's say that was an ironic laugh, because we
wish him a quick and speedy recovery.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
I get listen. As I told his mother, who was
very disappointed, said look, if this is part of the business,
you have to adapt and overcome him. And so he's
living in the weight room every day and working on
things he can work on so he can get back
on the ice. That's just the way it is.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Pierre has always great stuff. A pleasure to work with you,
and we'll do it again next week. Enjoy the hockey.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
You are an amazing friend and professional. I'm so grateful
for every single Tuesday we get to talk.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Thank you, Mark, Right back at you, Pierre.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Pierre brought to us by Always Safe Flagging and Traffic Control,
making traffic safe again. Call four one two three oh
one twenty three hundred or visit us online at awsafe
dot net for a quote today. Also last Hour the
Trifecta brought to us by Danny's Pizzs and Hogies, which
is great on Route eighty eight in Bethel Park one
oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Every weekday at ten am is Travis et. Don't tell
me what I know. Travis Pittsburgh's rocket alternative. This hour
the Mark Maddon Shows, brought to you by by light.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Probably served a blinks in green tree stopping Blinkies and
enjoy three fifty
The Steelers should have started Rudolph the moment been retired,
he should still be starting now. That should have been linear.
The Steelers went down this path of recycling senior citizens
at quarterback, which has not reaped enough reward yet. So
why do you hate Mason Rudolph? Get your calls in
eight three to three, four one two WXDX. The Penguins
(00:22):
question is more positive. I'm talking too fast today. I
had like nineteen diet cokes this morning. I'm like a
machine gun. No, that's my love gun. A bunch of
things have gone right with the Penguins. Shay and Watherspoon
are decent top four defenseman. It took over two years
in a Penguin uniform of Carlson is Carlson or at
(00:43):
least kind of close. Graves is much better under muse.
Shid isn't meshing with linemates besides rust, but that might
be making him shoot more and score more.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
He's got twelve goals.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Gino has been very good on the Jumbo line, which
has been maintained in Brazo's absence, with Kevin Hayes coming
off the injured listen jumping in at left wing special
teams are tremendous. That might be the single biggest factor.
The power playing ranks number one in the league and
the PK ranks number four. H Lazotte and Deer are
(01:17):
decent on the bottom line. Although Deer played with sid
in that second game at Sweden, Kindle is excellent.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It's so far, so good with morishoff.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I still bet Brunnick and Clevenan come around, and I
just like the energy and enthusiasm, the new attitude those
kids have brought to a stale team and dressing room.
The goaltending is mostly okay, and Muse has found a
pretty good handle on the team. So if you'd liked
at or subtract called a three three four to one
(01:48):
two WSDX, or we can talk about the spit ning Spitgate,
which I find hilarious. Pittsburgh has spent the best part
of two days talking about spit like it's a capital crime.
I got another great viewing party Sunday. They love me
in Westmoreland County, they do. There's no denying Marino's American
(02:09):
eatery in Greensburg.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
A lot of Liverpool fans turn off.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
These two kids come with their solid shirts and we
sing the solid song every year. So join me at
Marino's American Eatery in Greensburg Sunday, one pm for the
Steelers Bears game. We're gonna law here. In terms of
actual action, the Penguins don't play again until Friday, Minnesota
(02:32):
at PPG, the first of three straight home games, and
now there's pressure on everybody to spit in every game
because it grabs a headline.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
By the way, nothing has ever been worse than that Manning.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Simulcast, the Manning cast for Monday Night Football. Nothing has
ever been worse. It makes the macffee Show look like
the McLaughlin group. Josana Anderson of a lot of places,
including AASTPN, she blamed the Bronze coach Kevin Stefanski for
playing Sanders Shador Sanders. She should have blamed him for
(03:12):
not recommending he get better home security because it's Hoscot
robbed for two hundred K during the game. But Anderson
blamed Stefanski for putting Shador in the game when he
hadn't had any practice reps. But Sadori went in the
game because Dylan Gabriel got concussed.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
But Josina found fault with that too.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Look the backup don't get snaps. That's the backups job.
The backup don't enter the game unless the starter does
get hurt. That's the backup slot in life. The underlying
message from Josina Anderson is that Stefanski in America doesn't
want to see a black quarterback succeed. She doesn't actually
(03:58):
say that, but you know that's what she means, because
every conversation she has about every situation in sports goes
down a similar direction. And I agree with Josina in
this case, America, Kevin Stefanski, all of you, you don't
want to see a black quarterback succeed, even though sixteen
black quarterbacks are starting in the NFL. Pennix Daniels, Caleb Williams,
(04:21):
Bryce Young, CJ. Stroud, Jordan love Fields, Hurts, Lamar Mahomes,
dak Gino Smith, Camlard, Kyler Murray.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I think Ratler was Russ was Brissette kind of be.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
No, No, nobody wants to see a black quarterback succeed. Meanwhile,
let's list all the white cornerbacks, because there are let
me see here, one, two, three sixteen black quarterbacks, three
white cornerbacks. And hey, let me just point out the
elephant in the room. Why isn't Kaepernick playing? Why doesn't
(04:55):
he have a job? Discrimination? They blackballed him, But it's
racist to say black ball he got blacklisted. I did
it again, God damn. And how come there were no
black kids on that seventy show? And how come there's
not a woman QB And how come josh Allen isn't black?
So thanks to Josina Anderson for relevant social commentary and
(05:17):
for not having the guts to say what she meant.
And Shador is going to take all the snaps this
week and start at Vegas and suck.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
I guarantee it. But I'm white, So what do I know?
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Get your calls in now eight three to three four
one two WXDX. That's eight three three four one two WXDX.
What else do I got? Ab in jail? He's black,
That's why pulled a gun. But it was a white
man's gun. I think the white man. I think the
white cop put the gun in AP's hand and made
them pull the trigger. That's what I think. Jeff Pisan,
(05:56):
white guy, Connor Griffin white, The Pirates are racist? One
oh five nine X.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six on the
X People, Nice day, thank you for making my day. Yeah,
what you said?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
The ex at one nine? Guess by way of clarification,
when I said Kyler Murray, I think I meant I
think he's starting?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Is he? I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Routines like that are really funny, and I thought that
would work.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I don't think anything was offensive.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
No more offensive than Josina Anderson saying that people don't
want to see Well, she didn't say, but her message
is unmistakable that that, you know, everybody's against Shador Sanders,
the implication being that he's black.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I mean Shedor.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Sanders is a rich kid who's never had to work
for anything. But the struggle is real. We're supposed to believe. Uh,
let's go to Josh josh On with double mr.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
What up mine?
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, Uh, let's just talk about the quarterback you gotta start.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Rudolphs never slept on a field yet.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
But no, it's not don to Will. It's not don
to Will Howard.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
It's down to whether Rogers's wrist will permit him to play,
whether he wants to play through it, as he apparently does.
I don't think what the doctors think comes into a
count I think it's Rogers's decision to make, so I
ask you who would you rather see start Rogers with
the broken risk or Rudolph how we saw him against Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I say Rudolph and let Rogers rest up for divisional
games coming up later in the season.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I thank you for the call. I agree with that.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
I don't see anything bad and taking your chance with
Rudolf at Chicago. Rogers has looked very weary the past
two weeks. Played really horrible in Los Angeles, played okay
the first half against Cincinnati, but not great. It's not
like he broke the game open, and he's forty one,
(08:07):
almost forty two. I just don't see it being insulting
to him to play Rudolph. I thought when you brought
in an old guy to play quarterback, it would be
a co op between him and the backup. I said
before the season that Rudolph would probably be called on
to play three or four games. So far, it's gone
(08:28):
okay physically for Rogers, But you gotta look big picture here.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
What will enable Rogers to play better?
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Like that guy said, with divisional games coming up, not
least December seventh at Baltimore, A day that will live
in infamy. We talked a moment ago about Josia Anderson
and her assertion that Kevin Stefanski doesn't want Shouldee Sanders
(08:58):
to succeed, and Cam new And said that on ESPN
yesterday too, the implication being its because it's a white
coach and a black quarterback. Huh, how could you think
anything else? Why in the frig would a coach not
want a quarterback succeed? So what they say, the implication
is clear, and so is the stupidity. But for Manny Jones,
(09:19):
surprisingly who who you know, mixes race and sports quite
a bit, he sees the reality of the situation.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
I just don't understand why everybody thinks that the world
was against this rich kid. I don't understand the grand
conspiracy against somebody who kind of.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Makes money for people.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
If he gets out there, I would think that they
want him to be good, if anything else.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Now, look, Stefanci.
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Clearly does not believe, and I do believe that Stefanski
probably has an investment in being right. The bottom line is,
they don't think he's got a future. I don't think
that they're trying to run him out of the league.
They don't think that there's a future in him. They
think there's a future Dylan.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Gabriel Bingo Shador Sanders was born on third base and
thinks he hit a triple. The NFL is a business,
not a conspiracy. Sanders dropped to being a fifth round
pick because his talent is worth minimal investment in the
estimation of not just Cleveland, not just Defenski, but the
(10:20):
entire National Football League. Sometimes long shots pay off, but
it didn't look like that's gonna happen watching Shador's NFL debut,
And if it weren't Dion's kid, nobody would care even
a little bit. Let's go to Nick, Nick, you're on
a double.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
M Hey, Mark, uh So, My question is I was
just wondering, what do you think about the Penguins. Do
you think that they are gonna stay strong, maybe end
up the middle of the pack like we've seen the
last past years, or do you think they're gonna they're
gonna start tapering off and fading away.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Well, I think that there's only two lines of demarcation.
You either make the playoffs, you finish low enough to
get a top five pick if they do anything else,
but that it's an absolute disaster, even though I am
excited and entertained by the good start and it getting
legs again with three points out of four in Sweden,
I would have preferred the top five pick. But since
(11:16):
they are right now whatever it is third in the conference.
You know, let's let's see if they can keep it
up and if they made the playoffs, that would not
upset me. What would upset me would be if they
would finish number nine or ten in the Eastern Conference
and get none of the above.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Uh, what do you what do you think about now?
What do you think about the coaching though? Do you
think the coaching has given them this giving them a
lot of this spark or do you just think it's
more of the young young guys or make sure, I think.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
The coaching has been very good. I think the young
guys have provided a spark. But really the only young
guy who's contributing right now in meaningful fashion is Ben
Kindall that's not to say well morrishoff too, but he
just got here.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
You know, Brunic and coven And have been disappointing. Covenan's
on ir, Brunic's begetting scratched. I think ultimately they will
come good, but I think Muse has taken a very
complicated way of playing well, not complicated, but a very well.
I don't want to defecate on Selly here, but he
just didn't get the team he had. Sally was coaching
(12:18):
last year like it was twenty sixteen or seventeen, and
he thought one sage fit all with the defense, with
the pinching and activating. I think Mwes is more systematic
and more realistically so when Eric Carlson said that the
coach now doesn't ask the players to do what they can't,
he wasn't talking about him. Carlston was talking about somebody
(12:40):
like Ryan Graves who can't pitch, can't activate, but had
to because that's what Sully wanted. And look at Ryan
Graves now. Pretty good. Ryan Shay our guest at four thirty,
pretty good. Wotherspoon, pretty good. Thank you for the call up. Next,
more hockey talk with Pierre Maguire at one oh five
to nine.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Hey, we're in your smart speakers.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Listen to the X everywhere you go. Tell your smart
speakers to BLUXA play one oh five point nine The
X on.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
iHeartRadio hits Bunny Diver and I just love good news. Okay,
so this is a great story I just heard about
on a ninety degree day in Racine, Wisconsin.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Genius Mark Madden, Hey, Mark, great shows.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
When you got a young trophy, white owes money to
I can't even quote the big o'bowski right, goodbye the X.
At one oh five nine, it's time to talk hockey,
and there's nobody better to talk about hockey with. And
the man who's done it all in the great Game
joining us as he does weekly, it's Pierre McGuire.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Pierre.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
That felt like a relatively big win Sunday at Stockholm.
The Penguins had been treading sludge for a bit. But
that was a smart sixty minutes, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
It was really smart. It was really well done by
the entire team. I love the athleticism and the response
by Sergei Munershop. I just love the way the entire
team played, including obviously Crosby and Malcolm. I don't think
they wanted to go all the way over to Sweden
not bring back a win. I was talking to Paul
Steige all about this earlier today. I just I was
(14:07):
impressed by the leadership, by the poison the team and
look at Nashville is not a world beater. They're not
any league team. But that's a long way to go.
And both teams wanted to get points. And for Pittsburgh
to take three out of four points this weekend, I
think it's tremendous.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Morishav got that shot out on Sunday and he played
good pier but he really didn't have to do too much.
Did he twenty one saves in very few tests of him.
I thought that was more of a team shut up.
Speaker 4 (14:32):
It was. You can see just the way Blake wast
was playing. You'd see the way that Getting Malkin was playing,
You'd see the way Sid was playing. Everybody was committed
to play a two hundred plot game, supporting the defense.
You know, obviously Parker Weatherspoon and getting a goal was
huge for them. I think, you know, Ryan Shay, and
I'm mean the sincerely Mark, I think Ryan Shay is
(14:52):
the most improved player in the National hockey I really
mean that. And so you know, you see the way
Ryan Graves and Connor lifting her plan and everybody's kind
of getting an identity now on defense, and I think
the Fords are seeing that and they're kind of supporting
it in a good way, not a bad way.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Why is sid scoring more?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I mean he's won two rocket with Shard Trophy, he's
been He's not always a sniper. He's got twelve goals.
He's more shooter than playmaker right now.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Why is that?
Speaker 4 (15:20):
I think because he knows he needs to be a shooter,
and he's taking an advantage of opportunities. He's trying to
leave the team by example. There's nothing wrong with that,
you know. I'm watching John Tobias something in Toronto. Even
though Toronto's off to a real shaky start. John Tavaris
is scoring goals at an amazing pace, and he's more
of a playmaker than a scorer. But I think he
(15:42):
realizes we lost the Matthews out of the lineup with
Mitchell Marner in Vegas, he needs to be a scorer.
And I think Sidney Crosby realizes the same thing, especially
when you look at the injury situation with Rotel not there,
Brazil not there, a charity not there, Jyre not there,
and you look at it they need and I think
sid realizes.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
That let's stay with that, because I think you're onto something, Pierre.
I feel like Sid hasn't been able to adjust to
a new line mate with Raquel out, so he's looking
at more to create his own shot, which he doesn't
always do. Sid always takes the path that's available and
right now that's what he sees.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Oh, we agree on that. One other thing I think
is important to add I did a is that a
big thing for Ray Schuerro, the late Rachiero This weekend
up in Canton, New York, where he went to university
at Saint Lawrence University, got in their Hall of Fame.
It's called the Legends of Appleton, which is the name
of the arena there. Anyways, there were a plethora of
NHL management people there, and I mean a plethora with
(16:44):
a lot of Pittsburgh Penguin ty in and we were
all talking one night about Ben Kindall most of the
guys that were there said, if you had told them
when the season started with Ben kimdll the eleventh overall
pick in last summer's draft and be a main stay
on the Pittsburgh Penguins and be leading the charge in
terms of playmaking, they would say probably not. I think
(17:07):
Sid's been the beneficiary from time to time, was the
creative play of Ben Kindall, and I think that's helped
Turns into the more of a gunner. So I think
it's a double edged sword in a positive way to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, Kindle's off that line now, but I think that
definitely goes for the power play, which we'll get to
it a second bit. Five to five. Who would you
play with Sid besides rust with Kello? Who would you
stick there?
Speaker 4 (17:30):
I'd either go with Melvak or Doer, And the reason
why I dose either one of those guys is because
they got real good legs, and I think Doer in
particular can be physical on the fore check. It's a
little bit. He's not as good as Chris Konan, so
please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. But there's a similarity
in the way Kuonich used to approach the game with Doer,
and I think the same thing with Novak, even though
(17:53):
I don't think Novak process is a game as well
as Kunich used to do. But they give Sid some
legs on the outside where his creativity can come into play.
And also they can generate a lot of turnos because
of their steeds. So if you were to ask me
either one of those two guys, but probably Connor do
it right now.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Good move by Muse with Brazo out.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Kevin Hayes jumped on that line with Malkin and Manta
and that kind of keeps the line big. I think
that's a good similarity the way that line had been
playing well.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
I like that Bob and the other part for Kevin who.
I hope Kevin's listening. I need no disrespect at all.
I've been friends with them a long time. It's easier
for him to play in the wing with board play
and being a confined area of being all that open ice.
His legs don't move as well as they once did.
And for a big man, he used to really be
able to get up and down the ice. He doesn't
(18:45):
do that as well anymore. So I think playing on
the wing with Gino and with Anthony Map is actually
a good thing, not a bad thing. And it also
opens up some room. As you correctly said, to move
King of Locha line with Crosby and down to plane
with Novak and and potentially you will see pooland or
somebody else. Is a true mark to Thomas. You don't
got put on waivers today.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I think that happened just moments ago. Puland got called up,
and I think that's a good move. I know Puhlan's
been I hate to say disappointing for a number one
pick because he's not gotten the opportunity I might have
given him. But I want to see what he can
do coming up, because I'll say this, since the kid
conquered some off ice problems a while back, he's had
a perfect attitude and always did work hard well.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I coached his father when his dad was a nineteen
year old and had twenty goals for me in Hertford.
I'm a big fan of the family and know the
mother and father really well. We're habits are exceptional there.
The kids had been on a heater down there. He's
almost at a point of game in the American Hockey
League over the last ten games. So I'm really happy
for Samuel that way. And look at Wilsebury's been a
(19:49):
tremendous story in the in the American Hockey League. You know,
their first place in the Atlantic Division and they look
really really comfortable. So unhappy the young man is gett
an opportun and you hope you takes advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
We're talking to Pierre Maguire here on one oh five
to nine the x per rock to was by always
say flagging and traffic control.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Pierre, you talked about Ryan Shay how great he's been.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I agree. He's on the show at four thirty. Same
thing with Watherspoon. But let's look at Ryan Graves on
a big ticket, who started the year in the minors.
Why has he done a one to eighty and been
a solid defenseman under Dan.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Muse because he went down and did his chores for
a short period of time. Sometimes you just need a reset.
The game needs to be a little bit slower. People
need to communicate with you, maybe a little bit different manner.
You don't sense the frustration of upper management or the
coaching staff at the NHL level. When you go down
to the American Hockey League. You just take a deep breath.
(20:45):
You recalibrate yourself. I've seen it so many times. You know.
My last NHL job, I was in Autawa. I'm for
about I don't know, maybe two or three weeks. I
just left the NHL team and went and worked with
our American league team, and I could just see what
the guys doing and it was really cool. To see
how they were developing and evolving and spending time talking
(21:05):
in a positive reinforcement kind of way with the coaches.
So I think that helped with Ryan Graves. And he
didn't go down there and pout, which a lot of
guys do, especially when they're on one way tickets. He
went down there and worked, and I really respect that.
Ryan Graves has always been a hardy soul and a
good person, a good teammate, and I think he got
his mojo back because he did go down with such
(21:26):
a good attitude.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I agree with all that.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Let me throw this out there because Eric Carlson alluded
to this. I think with Mike Suliman, he wanted all
the defensemen to pinch and activate. That's not Ryan Graves's game.
I think he's allowed to keep it simple under muse
and he's benefiting from that.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Well, that's definitely possible. I mean, I'm not going to
take shots at Mike Sullivan after he's gone to New York,
but I would say this, wait, sometimes everybody needs a
fresh voice in the drudging room, and sometimes the coach
needs fresh faces to speak to. And I think that's
where Pittsburgh was known been there a long time. He'd
had a lot of success early on sixteen and seventeen
(22:04):
in particular, obviously winning the Cup back to back years,
but since seventeen it hasn't been that rusie around there.
And in the last three years of Mike's tenure there
there were no playoffs. So I get it. I understand,
and there's frustration from everybody, and I think it's just
human nature where there was a split up. And I
think News is going to help Graves, and I think
Graves is going to help use the other thing too,
(22:26):
And this is really important. I think Todd Nelson had
the honor of coaching and Pittsburgh, and also Mike Stuthers,
who I watched playing coached against when he was playing.
I think both those guys have helped all the defects
in Pittsburgh and they deserve a pat on the back,
both those guys.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
I agree.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I think it's an elite coaching staff under Muse here
in Pittsburgh, and I think they're reaping the benefit from that.
Here's the maybe the biggest story, uh, Pierre. The PK
is number four in the league and the power play
is number one. What's making those two units tick well?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Nellie will problem with Todd Nelson will probably take charge
of the power play, and I'm sure Southers and Coach
News are going to be a big part of the
and Nick Benino be a big part of the penalty kill.
You know, News did a real good job in New
York with the penalty kill. He and Michael Pecker worked
together and they were very good on the penalty kill
with the Rangers. So robbyo Lette was there, and I
(23:24):
would say that, so those are the guys in the
PK in Pittsburgh, and then obviously Nelly would be a
big part. Todd Nelson would be a huge part of
the power play.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Yeah, I think that they're keeping it simple in the
power play. And here's an underestimated thing, Pierre, and I
bet it's something you stressed as a coach. They get
clears on the PK. You know a lot of the
stuff with the PK. They do everything but get the
clear right. And the Penguins are getting the clears right.
They're they're really hitting the white spots, those creases where
(23:55):
the puck can get out.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Well, that's a really smart statement and it's actually factual,
which is really cool that you would say that. But
here's here's the big there's there's certain things that are
not negotiab on the penalty kill. One, win the initial
draw right. Two, when you do win, it clear to
Mark's points. Three, make sure you're always in the lane physically,
so don't let tucks get through you to the net,
(24:18):
and if they do, make sure everybody boxes out the
no second and third chance opportunities. And then the final
one is active stick positioning and understanding when to press
and when to back up. If you follow those simple guidelines,
it's not that convoluted. But if you follow those simple guidelines,
your penalty kill should be in the top ten every
single season. It's not that complicated.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Pierre, How bad does the Jack Hughes injury hurt New Jersey?
It seems crippling because he's their catalyst, isn't he?
Speaker 4 (24:47):
Oh my gosh, between him and Beggie Hamilton, you got
a lot out of the line up right now. I mean,
people don't realize those guys matter. Cody Glass is another
one that came back, and you don't know what's gonna
happen with Cody. You know, there's a lot about that.
But Jack and I talked to somebody in the NHL
this morning about this. You know, they're saying, oh, Jack
Hugh's gonna fence you know this guy and that guy said, no,
(25:08):
it's gonna affect six guys because it's gonna it's gonna
affect the second line as well, because now people start
to move around in the lineup, and so it doesn't
just affect one line, it affects two lines. And so
that's a problem for New Jersey. They obviously had a
tremendous start, they got a lot of team speed. Jack's
been a big part of that. But without him, and
(25:28):
that's gonna be a long injury. It doesn't just affect
New Jersey. I think it affects Team USA going to
the Olympics as well.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
No question about that.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And to get to your point about the lineup being
switched around, my big example is Nicoheshier is a very
good number two center, but now he's got to do
more and I think he can, but I'm not sure,
and maybe it makes him less of a two hundred
foot player on the second line.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
Oh, no question, Mark, That's exactly what I'm talking about.
I mean, people don't realize every they say, oh yeah,
one guy is out. No, it's not. It's not one guy.
One guy affects six guys, and that's the way it goes.
That's why you Okay, let's use Yesper Brock as an example,
who's been a tremendous player for the New Jersey Devils.
(26:12):
He's got this great chemistry going with Jackie. You don't
think that's gonna affect Yesper Brown, who's an undersized player
to begin with. He's got to square most of his
stuff off the rush. That's not gonna happen right now.
So no, there's a lot. It's gonna affect a lot
of guys here. It's unfortunate. I hope jack keels up. Well.
I'm knowing him and I know his family. I mean
the father and mother. I had the mother in hockey
(26:33):
camp when she was a very young lady before the
ninety eight Olympics. And I've known my father since he
was a player at Problem With College way back in
the nineteen eighties. So I've known the family a long time.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Now, we don't want to get nobody fired, Pier, and
it is only mid November, but what coach is in
the most danger right now? Because some seats are certainly
heating up.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
Well, I gotta think Andrew Burnett. That pains me to
say that too. Again, you know, for so long in
this business, and Andrew is a really serviceable player called
a Cup champion with Barry Trots up in Maine way
back in the day. To show you how far back
I go with say, I watch him playing online in
on Sound, Ontario and the Ontario Hockey League with Scottie Walker,
(27:15):
who had a really distinguished career in Kirk Malty, the
multiple Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings. It
breaks my heart. But I think Nashals, there's going to
be at some point something's going to a given Nashal.
I know. I know they've endorsed the coaching staff in
Toronto and I would as well. I just don't know.
At some point here if they can't get this thing
(27:37):
to turn around, and let's just say they lose twelve
games in a row, I don't know what direction they go.
The biggest problem, and this is this is for everybody
out there, the biggest problem this year. There's one elite
coach that knows how to win, and he hasn't won
the Cup yet, but he knows how to win and
it's peaked the board. And when you got a guy
that's out there circling and he's not doing any wrong,
(28:00):
but when his name's out there, that's a problem if
you're a coach. Is not winning right now.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Pierre, I feel like every team in the Eastern Conference
is either pretty good or maybe none of them are.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Which is it. The standings are so tight, there's no
room to move.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
The Atlanta's really good, the Metro's mediocre atest. The Atlantic's
really good and it's tough, every game's a dogfight, but
the Metro's not as good. And then if you go
out West, you obviously look at it and they say, okay,
you know what's going on out there, I'd say that
the Central is okay. I would say the Pacific is
(28:36):
really getting better, and that's why you've seen Calgary fall
so far behind. It's just that the Pacific has gotten
so much better, with Anaheim being improved, la and really
doing a good job. Santel's a being improved and under
Lane Lambert, Seattle's done a good job. So it's kind
of like the West has one division that's really good,
the Pacific, and the Central's mediocre. In the East, it's
(28:58):
the same thing. You know, the Metro is mediocre and
the Atlantic is pretty un good.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Pierre, what about Colorado only one loss in regulation thirteen
one and six. What's allowed them to make a step
up besides the usual suspects. I mean, we knew they
were good, but they're even better, aren't they?
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Well?
Speaker 4 (29:19):
Getting Nate just signed to a contract, bringing in brock
Nelson last year was good. Having the valoring at Chuskin
right from the start of the year, no off ice.
Bringing in Brent Burns not enough. I was shocked more
people weren't talking about that, especially people in Carolina where
he left. Brent Burns was a really good tick up
for them. And then last year, people forget McKenzie Blackwood
(29:40):
and Scott Rudgwood, the two Woods, those guys going in
there really created a great one two tandem and they
found some found money. I'm not kidding it, and I
know that's kind of an awkward statement, but Sam Malynski
was a tremendous player out of Minnesota. He went to
Cornell University as a free agent and he has been tremendous.
(30:01):
He's a lot like Ryan Shane in terms of improving.
So they got they got a lot going on and
it's really positive. They've got role players like Parker Kelly
and Jack Turry and Ross Colton that are really good.
Getting Gavin Brimley from Columbus was really good. Like they've
done some really smart things with their roster in terms
of team building exercise, Pierre, we.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
Got Minnesota here Friday night. They signed Caprasoft to that
huge deal. I think they go to good roster. Let's
hold them back because I expected better than their record.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
They've dealt with some injuries, Mark, and they're starting to
get a little bit more healthy. They've got some young
players like Daneil Duroff that's really starting to evolve. They
really missed Nico Stern. Marco Ross he's been hurting Meam
Wultler is a really good young player. They've got a
lot going on that's more positive and negative there. They
just got to get healthy and start to play. Yes
(30:51):
for walst at a goal, he's really started to evolve.
He's backed up and playing with Philip Gustis, and they've
got a lot. I just don't like to talk too
much about Minnie because my kid's part of their organization,
so I don't want to get him in trouble.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Well, Pierre, if guys keep getting hurt, maybe he gets
a call up.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
What do you think he's one.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
Of their hurt guys right now he's got a broken foot.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Well, let's say that was an ironic laugh, because we
wish him a quick and speedy recovery.
Speaker 4 (31:20):
I get listen. As I told his mother, who was
very disappointed, said look, if this is part of the business,
you have to adapt and overcome him. And so he's
living in the weight room every day and working on
things he can work on so he can get back
on the ice. That's just the way it is.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Pierre has always great stuff. A pleasure to work with you,
and we'll do it again next week. Enjoy the hockey.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
You are an amazing friend and professional. I'm so grateful
for every single Tuesday we get to talk.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Thank you, Mark, Right back at you, Pierre.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Pierre brought to us by Always Safe Flagging and Traffic Control,
making traffic safe again. Call four one two three oh
one twenty three hundred or visit us online at awsafe
dot net for a quote today. Also last Hour the
Trifecta brought to us by Danny's Pizzs and Hogies, which
is great on Route eighty eight in Bethel Park one
oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Every weekday at ten am is Travis et. Don't tell
me what I know. Travis Pittsburgh's rocket alternative. This hour
the Mark Maddon Shows, brought to you by by light.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Probably served a blinks in green tree stopping Blinkies and
enjoy three fifty
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