January 20, 2026 • 31 mins
Mark takes your calls on the Steelers coaching search, and is joined by Pierre McGuire for his weekly hit talking Hockey
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Mark Mannon show, right place, Going nowhere
fast eight three to three four one two w xdx
the number to call, or you can call the super
secret back door number four one two three three three
wxdx and we'll get on the air much faster.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Who is the head coach the Steelers shouldn't hire? I
think the consensus is that Shula is a safe and
likely pick. I'd prefer Shiel Haas, but I wouldn't be
outraged by Shula. I do kind of fear the Steelers, will,
you know, use McCarthy to try to keep Rogers. Although
(00:40):
a story broke to the Bleacher Report about how much
Rogers hates McCarthy, So maybe my presumption in that regard
is wrong. Rogers, who's the pettiest guy ever.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
He's just a dink. He's just an absolute frickin dink.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
He apparently still hates McCarthy because McCarthy was the offensive
coordinator in San Francisco when the Niners passed up Rogers
in the first round to draft Alex Smith. Rogers still
has his knickers in a twist about that. I definitely
wouldn't hire Flores, but they might might hire Anthony Weaver.
(01:19):
Like I said, we can't ignore that the Rooney rule
is named the Rooney rule, and that Art wants to
be just like Granddaddy every chance he gets to the
point of being obsessed by that. But the guy wouldn't
hire would be Flores because even though he's done a
good job as a defensive coordinator in Minnesota, and you know,
he was a linebackers coach here, I guess he did, Okay,
(01:42):
I mean, who knows he's the linebackers coach who cares?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
But he was head coach of Miami. He mangled it.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
They say they don't want to recycle, Well, why would
the one guy you're looking at where would be recycling?
Why would that be the guy that mangled it? Then again,
I guess Karthy, who won a Super Bowl in Green
Bay and like Tom said earlier, did better in Dallas
than we remember. It's just a Dallas is such an
excreman show that because of Jerry it never seems like
(02:13):
they do as good as they should. So anyway, your thoughts,
who's the guy that you would not hire?
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Four one two three three three wxdx or eight three
to three four one two wxdx. Uh We're also talking
about the Penguins. In fact, we haven't really got to
the Penguins yet. The Penguins uh won at Seattle yesterday
afternoon sixty three. It wasn't a masterpiece, but it felt
(02:44):
like kind of a big win. Sid now has three
multipoint games in a row, and the last night was
career game number fourteen hundred.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Sid.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It's like every night is a milestone for Sid, and
he marked the occasion by throwing a big hit, knock
some guy ass over tea kettle with a shoulder check.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Penguins have been a bit more physical lately.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I think part of that is because our guest at
four thirty has added something to that mix. That's defenseman
Connor Clifton, who will join us from the road. Like
I said at four thirty, a deer got two goals
a shorty end into the empty net. I don't very
often validate even the concept of a hero fourth line,
(03:27):
but that line comes close. With the chari Doer and
Blake Lizat Chinnikoff didn't have any points, but he's a player,
he's a threat. He skates, he shoots, he flies around.
Not there, so far, so good with that. Dude, Brazo
with another goal. Skinner decent goal. Like I said, it
feels like a relatively big win. The Penguins are going
(03:51):
to be in the playoff race the whole way, the
whole way, and I feel like Morrishoff could be the
X factor if they call him up and let them,
but I do not think they feel that way. Oh wait,
I'm reading Sid's milestones. He had another one last night,
a couple more last night. He has five hundred and
twelve multipoint games. Now that passes Gordy How. Sid is
(04:17):
passing Gordy How.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
And he is now tied.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
With Mario for career points on the road. I mean
some of these are I mean they're kind of marginal,
but then you see who he passed or tied, Gordy
How and Mario, and suddenly they become really impressive marks.
So any hoodles eight three to three, four, one two WXTX.
(04:45):
There was an article on Awful Announcing, which I don't
like the website, but they have good stuff on it.
Does that make sense. It's like the entirety of the Internet.
I hate the Internet, but it has some good stuff
on it. Articles about the rules, analysts on NFL TV
like Sterotur, who's the best and awful? And Nonsen points
(05:07):
out that these guys almost always agree with the calls
on the field because they don't want to disrupt the brotherhood.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Except for McCauley on NBC.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
He can go in the opposite direction, which is the
direction I prefer. It's better TV. It's better to do
good TV than be honest. Ask Pat McAfee. I'm a
big sterotor fan because he gives in depth explanations that
are accessible and makes sense, even if he is most
often agreeable with the call on the field. It's like
(05:39):
what X players do when they're on the mic. They
forget that they're not players no more, and again they
don't want to disrupt the brotherhood.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I think it's kind of the same with the refs
four one two three three.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Three WXDX to call. We want calls on the fifteens next,
as in right now.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
And at three thirty.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
We got I gotta look at my lett Pieter Maguire
de Fabo at four pegs, defencer Connor Clifton at four thirty.
But right now we want you, that's right, yes, you
to call the show at eight three three, four one
two w xd X one oh five nine.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Cop got game. It's not far, it's not far, it's
not fair.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
The X At one oh five nine, Steimefer calls on
the fifteens, what Steelers coach would be the worst tire?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
What name scares you off? You want to give me
your favorite? You can go ahead with that too. I
think Shula is the safest and most likely candidate. I
think it's gonna be him or shielhas I don't know
why I feel that, but that McVeigh coaching tree, the
Rams success, just everything kind of swirling around has me
pointed in that direction.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Let's go to Brian in South Hills. Brian are on
with double M.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I'm Mark, how you doing today?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Good man up?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Good question for you. So, if you look at the
Steelers and.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
No matter who they hire, do you feel.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That that coach is going to have the autonomy of
the offense, the defense, or is the Rooney's gonna still
have a say in you know, defense first type of
feel for this team.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
I don't think that the Rooneys have that say beyond
who they hire. I think their preference will be reflected
by who they hire, and that has traditionally been a
younger defensive mind. If they hire a shield house, maybe
they're moving away from that. But I don't think the
Rooneys interfere. I mean they gave Tom within total autonomy.
The Ruineyes, don't interfere with the coaching. There are discussions, certainly,
(07:58):
but I think once the hires made, then that guys
the boss.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Let's go to Harry.
Speaker 7 (08:03):
I like you about self because I think he brings
a lot of structure to a team that needs a
lot of structure, and usy.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
To think from a distance, I agree with.
Speaker 7 (08:12):
You, okay. And the other thing is I don't like
the Weaver guy because, Uh, I heard he's a friendly
players coach, and I really don't want one hundred percent
that anymore. And I heard he's real nice with the media,
you know, I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Just nice with the local media anyway.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I mean he kissed eyes his ass and and and
what's his buddy, uh Glazer's ass.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
But yeah, I mean I don't care.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I don't care about that, to be honest, though, I
don't want a player's coach. You're right about that. I
don't want the guy who's their friend. I want a boss.
But we don't know if Shula is that or not that?
I mean everything we're thinking, we are thinking from a distance.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
What makes it very likely inaccurate? Let's go to John John.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
What's up, hey, Mark? About the Pens?
Speaker 6 (09:00):
If that's cool?
Speaker 5 (09:01):
I don't really care about the Steelers right now. Okay,
So the shootout loss record right now is thirteen games
by the Devils, depends aren't close to that, but they're
also not the only team that's struggling. Colorado's one in
four in the shootout, Vegas is one in five, and
Edmonton's zero to three. Why do you think these teams
that have skilled players are struggling so much? Do they
(09:23):
just not care about it?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I think a lot of teams don't emphasize the shootout,
Like what teams.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Did you mention?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Like in Edmonton, they know they don't need the shootout points,
you know what I mean, so they their preparation for it.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I mean, I can't I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I'm not at their practices, but I would bet it's minimal.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
But some teams really need the shootout points.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
That's like Ray Shiro when he was the GM and
Dan Bosma was the coach of the Penguins. They knew
that the Penguins needed those shootout points. That was after
since first Cup went when things I mean, they were
still good, but not as good, and they had Kristensen
and Jokin and the shooters. Fluri was the best shoot
not goaliever, who they just you know, had from prior,
(10:03):
so they they considered it important. I don't think this
organization yet considers it important enough. I don't think they
yet understand, although I can't see how they don't. You
know what, what's what's you know that they need those points.
Let's go to uh Joe in New York?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
What up?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Man?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (10:26):
I uh, well, I tell you who I don't want.
I do not want whoever Artru any of the second
thinks the best choice is because that'll be wrong.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Oh that no, No, I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I have no faith in who they choose, because these
Rooneys ain't those roonies. That said, Shula seems to be
universally highly regarded in Selhouse, not far behind. I just
hope they don't go off the board for like a
McCarthy or a Flores that I wouldn't trust even a
little bit, because if they, if they are Shula, that
(10:55):
not only reflects Rooney's judgment but the judgment of a
lot of people who think he's a a good head
coach in waiting.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Yeah, and I'll tell you what I don't. I don't
think they'll pick them. I don't like mentor he has
little NFL experience. And I'll tell you remember the last
head coach I hired who had minimal defensive coordinator experience
in the NFL, and how he turned out.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
And I don't want You can't say Tom Win turned
out bad, Bruv. You just can't.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
You.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You can say that how he did, no, no, Bruv.
You can say how he did is vastly overrated.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
But he did, and he did great.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
The first four years with somebody else's roster, culture and leaders.
But you can't say it's a failure. No coach has
ever won a Super Bowl and been a failure. You
can say he did not succeed as much as he
should have. Let's go to Dave Dave.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Rong with Mark.
Speaker 8 (11:45):
Thanks, super genius. So, uh, yeah, you asked about someone
they definitely should not hire. And this name is just
I've only seen it from a couple people, but that's
John Gruden.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, that's the idea, should not hire. Oh right, right right, Oh,
they should not hire. Yeah, but I don't think that's
even being remotely considered. He's not on the interview list.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
On my interview list, who would you say they should
not hire? Definitely?
Speaker 8 (12:13):
Oh yeah, I Brian Flores. I think I don't think
they should hire.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
You would be against recycling a head coach, but give
serious consideration to a guy who failed as a head
coach as your one exception. I don't get that, But
then then again I kind of do.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (12:36):
I definitely think an offensive guy like you're saying they
should hire. So uh, the shieldhas guy. Yeah, I like yours.
I think I like him the best. I think, so.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Good call man, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Up Next, we're gonna talk hockey with Pierre McGuire one
oh five ninety X.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Hey find yourself needing a little post holiday cash infused?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yes, your voice is like week to my ear. The
last thing we need is a lot of I like
it the X at double them on the X.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Peng was with a big win yesterday at least it
seemed like that at Seattle. Joining me now to talk
about it. It's Pierre McGuire. Pierre Duer got two goals
last night that Penguin's fourth line has developed into kind
of a hero fourth line, hasn't it.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
How impactful is it and why, Well.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
We've talked about it for a while now. It's a
great identity line for the Pittsburgh Penguin. Connor de Or,
Blake Wizade and Ala Charity, you're all guys that have
had overachieved and making it in the National Hockey League,
and they really thrived in that role. So if you're
going to be put in that role, you've got to
accept it number one. You've got to practice it. Number two,
And when you're put into the games, you can't deviate
(13:49):
from the role that the coaches asked you to play.
So these guys have all done those three things and
because of that, they're very respective and I think they
really enjoyed playing with one another. It's pretty apparent.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
What makes a good fourth line in general, Pierre. And
how much of it is the line the players knowing
their limitations, Well.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
That's a big part of it, number one. But number two,
we're gonna make it effective as guys that aren't afraid
to be physical, Guys that would win races to get
to loose pucks, Guys that will dominate board battles. Guys
that understand they're not gonna be able to make slick
toad dragon moves at the offensive blue line or the
defensive blue line. They're just gonna chip pucks in. They're
gonna chip pucks out, but they're gonna win races to
(14:30):
recover those bucks, whether they're on the fore check or
whether they're on the backcheck, or whether they're just planning
in the neutral zone. So it's more mind over matter,
and it's guys that really want to have this identity
and thrive in that identity. You know, I talked to
you about this before. Flutterbucks, Zekis and Martin with the
New York Islanders for about a seven to ten year
period that was about as good an identity line as
(14:52):
you could have in the league. Well, this one in
Pittsburgh maybe doesn't have the physical fighting prowess that that
line had with the Honors, But are as good or
as important as that line was for the Isers.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
It's early days, Pierre, but Chinnikoff seems a consistent threat,
and I like him and Malkin together.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Well, yeah, because one number one, there's a respect that
we talked about it, you know, Sena COV's never really
had a Russian mentor U and he has well now
obviously in Pittsford with Malcolm. Malcolm his mentored by to
a big bronchar so he knows exactly how important a
mentorship role is, especially for guys coming to foreign land.
So I think it's great. And Keena Coff's done a
(15:33):
really good job so far. I'm really happy for him.
Brazo just keeps getting better all the time, which is
really good news for the Penguins. And you got to say, Mark,
just to debate for one second, as great as if
getting Malcolm's been and has been his entire career. That
play that Sydney Crasy had just in the for check
with the back pass, the backhand pass to retard Roquel.
There are not a lot of people in the world
(15:54):
that could do that. Like, Pittsburgh's got a lot of
things going on that are really good right now.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Oh, no question. I mean Sid's just doing so much.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I mean he's passing Gordy how for this record time
Mary Lemieux for that record.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
He just keeps putting up numbers, fourteen hundred games.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
It's like there's so many milestones that he reaches like
it seems game by game. Really big ones can get
lost in the shuffle, can't they?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Oh, they really can, you know. And that's the biggest
thing with sid right now. He's not playing because of record.
Sid's playing because he wants to try to win. And
a lot of people said, no, they can't do this,
No they can't do that. Remember the beginning of the year,
market here goes like where Sidney Croft gonna end up
this year because he's probably going to get traded at
the deadline. Well, most people didn't think Pittsburgh would even
be in a playoff position right now. They thought they'd
(16:40):
be double digits out of the playoff spot. The Pittsburgh
Penguins that the playoffs started today would be the third
rated team in the Metropolitan Division, and I think only
three teams from the Metro are going to make it.
I think we'll see five teams. Just like last year.
It's in the Atlantics. So it's really important for Pittsburgh
to maintain where they are in the next two games.
They're obviously really important in Calgary in Edmonton in a
(17:03):
back to back situation. Finished camp the trip in Vancouver.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, I thought they should beat Seattle. I think they
should be Calgary, but Calgary beat him here last week. Edmonton,
I think that's a lost Costpier McDavid kills the Penguins
because you can tell he gets extra psych to play
against sid Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Think that's a good point too. But the biggest thing
with Edmonton they don't know the kind of team they
want to be yet. They don't have dry settle right now.
They don't know if they want to be a team
waring and a defensive team, if they just want to
go full board offense. They're kind of caught in the
middle right now. It's really an interesting thing to watch.
They're gonna have to get better as a group that
(17:43):
they're gonna win. But I agree with you on the
fact they should be Calgary and Calgary. The thing that
allows Calgary to compete is a lot of boys. Pittsburgh
able to compete, and that is they played structured sound
Neutral's own defense. They don't give a lot of odd
man rushes and so that really helps their team compete.
And I think it's gonna be interesting on this trip,
in particular with Kulak going back to Alberta and with
(18:06):
Skinner going back to Alberta. Both those guys obviously former
Redmonton Oilers. To have them play in that environment and
it's gonna be pretty neat for them, and the chould
jazz up their teammates as well.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
No question about that. I think Skinner's done real well.
I think Qulex done well. I think Qulex a good
partner for Latang because Latang deceptively so you wouldn't think,
but he needs somebody to move the pockey. He doesn't
like playing with the pure defensive guy. And Skinner was
real solid yesterday. It's five wins Pierre in his last
(18:39):
six starts. Should he be the number one goalie or
should they stick with rotating him and shill offs equally.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I think at some point here you're gonna see one
of those two guys you're going to carry the ball
a lot more than the other. And right now I
think Skinner's got a bit of an advantage. But we'll see,
we'll see how this trip ends up. Late to think
in the three games they have left in Western Canada
that Skinner would probably get two of the three and
(19:08):
see hoofs we get one of the three. Well, we'll
see how it plays out.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
You know, it's weird.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I think Skinner's done real well, but he's an easy study.
Whenever I talked to opposition coaches after they play the Penguins,
they say, well, we couldn't get a moving side to side.
He can't do that, but we couldn't make him do it.
If you just let him be big and play the angles,
he's real efficient.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
That's the biggest thing about him. I remember when I
was working in Audiwa, that was one of the things
we really try to focus in on him. I remember
one time Adam got that, who was on our team
and now he's playing for San Jose. We got Skinner
moving side to side and got that scored a beautiful
backhand Ruth Gold because Skinner just couldn't try out the
puck one from his left to his right and allowed
(19:49):
god That to score in the upper part of the
That but that's clearly been a book on him for
a while, and I don't think that's going to change
anytime soon.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
The Penguins have cut down their goals against a lot,
Pierre since the holiday.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Where does that come from?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Neutral zone defense? The forwards are committing and helping one
another out. You correctly talked about the line with door
was out in the charity. That line's really made a
big impact. But I think the biggest thing again is
just they stabilize the neutral zone and makes it an
easier game for their defense to play. And because of that,
they can have tighter gaps so they can trust the
(20:22):
Forge to be there to fill in if they step up.
It's really it's a team that's working well together.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Right now, we're talking to Pierre Maguire.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Pierre brought to us by Always Say Flagging and Traffic Control.
Kendall hasn't scored in seventeen games. Pier, Is that a
worry or is he just eighteen?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
It's part of the deal. It's he's eighteen. Usually these
guys hit the wall right around Christmas time. They don't
realize that the temple of the game picks up right
after US Thanksgiving and so they got about a ten
to twelve day grace period and all of a sudden
they're into Christmas and they don't realize all them only
this thing's way hard. And I thought guys are bigger,
they're faster, they're stronger, and those young kids, especially the
(21:03):
eighteen and nineteen year olds, they're just worn out. They
really are markets that hard, and it's that pronounced, and
it's almost one hundred percent predictable with a lot of
young employers that this is about when they hit the wall, what.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Would you do? Would you send him a game?
Speaker 1 (21:19):
The break at the Olympics is going to be welcome
for him, but what do you do between now and then?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I'm just going to make sure that I'm probably monitoring
the amount of games he played. I don't think there's
a team that's done it better than what Anaheim did
with Leo Carlson in his first year in the league,
and I think Kindall well, I don't think I know,
Kimdall's not as big and not as strong physically as Leo,
and they did a really good job in Anaheim, I thought,
really protecting him. I think that's kind of where Pisker's
(21:46):
got to get to with Ben going forward. I was
really happy to see that they put Harrison Brunnick obviously
down back to junior, which I think is really important,
and he's can to be part of a really good
team in camberll Whi's a team that's actually owned by
Mark Reki and Jerome Aginla, which is good news. And
I know how excited they are to have them there.
So young players need mentorships, they need futelage, and they
(22:08):
need rest, they need to learn, And I think this
will be really good for Kendall going forward to say,
I think it would be really good for Brune going
forward to being in that cameras.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
It's weird, Pierre, because Eric Carlson is out, although he
is on the trip and is expected to play at
some point during it. But I feel that Latang is
playing better in Carlson's absence, and then.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Watherspoon and Q like both score yesterday. Like I said,
it's kind of weird.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
No, it's a good point though, because it does have relevance.
Christopher looks more composed with the Puck's making easier decisions,
not making harder decisions. He's not trying to be too cute.
When he gets himself into trouble, it's because he's trying
to be too cute deep in his own zone and
turns of puck over. He tries to make bad reads.
So yeah, no, I agree with that, and Eric will
(22:55):
come back and he'll help the team, and I think
one of the things that's happened there again, I'm really
proud of, you know, Todd Nelson what he's been able
to do there with their defense. Guys are getting better,
Shade getting better, Roterston has gotten better. You see le
Tang is getting better. I think Eric Carlson was having
a tremendous year. There's you know, there's something that's got
(23:17):
to be quantified in this is that they're getting coached up.
You know, they're getting coached up. And that's a good
piece in this. You know, if you're the New York Rangers,
they're a fan of the Rangers, your guys aren't getting better.
If you're a fan of the Penguins and you're around
the team and you see your guys are getting better,
and that's a sign that the coaches is doing a
good job.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Another defenseman I want to mention is Connor Clifton, who
wasn't in the lineup much early in the year, but
he's done okay lately. He joins the show at four thirty,
and he has kind of a little edge that not
a lot of Penguins have, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
He first time I saw Connor play is playing for
Quinnipiac and he was a nasty piece of business in college,
and you know, you see him go out. He's risinal
drafted a lead by Arizona, but I remember correctly, never
found his way there, but definitely found his way out
of the booms Rosser. He's physically, he's tough, He has
a ton of fun plan He got a lot of
(24:06):
respect for the way he carries himself around his teammates.
He has a ton of fun with the game and
he makes it fun for his teammates. And I think
the biggest thing is when you're around stars like they
have in Pittsburgh, you can learn a lot from those guys.
And I think Connor has learned a lot from the
guys that he's around in Pittsford, which is kind of
neat to watch.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
I want to get back to Sid for a second.
He has three straight multiple point games after and during
a brief slump, and it's amazing how how he bounces
back from not playing great. He doesn't get mad or frustrated.
He just gets going. It's inevitable.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
It's so cool to watch Sid right now, at this
advanced stage of his career. And you know, you look
at his age, you know, pushing close to forty, and
he just he's got so much game. Left Mark. And
part of it is, you know how most fans don't
realize and you do know Did is as committed to
the game as he when he was thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.
(25:02):
I mean, his workouts are legendary and he's always pushing
and he's always trying to find ways to get better,
whether it's a based off plays, moving the puck in
the backhand, learning how to take a one timer, shooting
quicker releases on a snapshot, dominating board play by having
a good lower hand on a stick. There's so many
things that Sid keeps getting better at all the time
(25:23):
because he's addicted to wanting to be great. I have
so much respected ways carried himself as a person but
also as a player. It's just phenomenal to watch.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Do you sense McDavid.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I mean he always tries Pierre, but since he tries
emotionally to turn it up a bit against Sid. Not
that he hates Sid, I mean, my god, their teammates
on Canada, but you know what I mean that he's
the guy now.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Oh yeah, think about what Sid used to do when
they play against Boston and Patrice bergerom. Those guys are
best of friends, best of friends, but they used to
go after one another big times. You know, Sid's got
a lot of respect for a lot of guys, and
a lot of guys really respect Sid, but they also
want to beat them because he's the measuring stick in
the league. You know, he's a winner. He always has been,
he always will be. So yeah, I would. I think
(26:11):
you're onto something there. I think when McKinnon plays against it,
he always wants to prove a point. When Nick David
plays against it, he wants to prove a point. You know,
you can go around the league all to start played.
I think one Quist when he was a goalie with
the Rangers, he wanted to prove something to Sid. I
think gets Lap and Perry when they were in Anaheim,
they wanted to pooh something to Sid, Caine and Tays
(26:32):
in Chicago League. The list goes on and on. Yeah,
star players want to prove a lot to Sea.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Absolutely, Pierre.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
The Penguins do things that make me crazy, like their
failure in shootouts.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
But they kind of look like the playoff team right now,
don't they.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Because they're structured, they're buying them what their coaches tell
and they're coming together on the road, which is really important. That.
It's great to have a solid home record, but they
have a good road record that they have is really good,
you know, going on long streets. So you know, you
look at their last ten games or six two and two,
that's a great record. If they can do that the
rest of the way, they're not only going to be
(27:07):
a playoff team, they're gonna be a very tough team
to play against in the playoffs. So there's certain things
you want to try to establish. Have a good record
on home ice. They do have a good record on
the road, they do, and keep rolling off winks every
ten game segment, and so in this last ten game
segment there's six two and two. That's a really good record.
That's a really good record.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
You saw that letter the Drewlery put out there the
Rangers GM, which is you might as well light your
franchise on fire with crap like that.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
But it seems like they're going to trade Paneran. Do
you think that's going to happen?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
And do you expect to flurry of trades by by anybody?
Because every team almost literally like maybe two or three
teams Pierre aren't in the playoff race, So how many
big trades are possible, and where do you think Paneren
might go.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
I'm gonna say where I think Panera will go. I
think Panera will win nothing. Detroit Detroite hasn't played a
playoff game in almost decade and they need to make
the playoffs. And I think Paneren fits in on their team.
They had plenty of young prospects. Their American Hockey League
team in Grand Rapids is just ripping the league up
right now because of all those great young players and
some older players that they have there. So I think
(28:15):
Detroit might be a likely landing spot. I wouldn't look
past the Florida Panthers, who are desperately trying to go
in three pete to win the Cup and four peete
to get to the final. They're not in the playoffs
if they start today, so I wouldn't be surprised if
Florida would be proactive on him, and maybe, just maybe
the Tampa Bay Lightning, you know, they might be proactive
(28:36):
on him as well. So we'll see. On Paneren, I
do think you're going to see more trades. I think
the Rangers are going to start the loose some bodies out.
The Autama Centers are interesting. They play in Columbus tonight
and then down in Nashville in two days. If they
lose both those games, I think they might start moving
people out too, so that'll be one to watch. They
think New Jersey will eventually start moving guys out, and
(28:59):
in the West, if you look at it, Vancouver has
already started. They won't stop. Winnipeg, I think we'll start
moving guys. Saint Louis is definitely going to be moving guys.
And I think in Chicago and Calgary lose a couple
more yards south Calgary and make a trade. I wouldn't
be surprised to see them make more trades. I wouldn't
be surprised to see Chicago start movingsy people too.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Perre.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Starting next week, we're going to do a little pre
Olympic analysis in each segment right now, real quick, a
little tease.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Who are your favorites to be in the gold medal game?
Speaker 2 (29:28):
I Sweden in the USA was my favorites. If Canada
had the more stability and goal and more depth on defense,
I'd probably have them in there against the Americans. The
only caveat I have on Sweden if Carlson can't come
and play for Sweden because he's hurt, which he is
right now. I would not have them in the gold
medal game, but I think quietly they're the team that
(29:48):
could cause a lot of problems. I did a breakdown
of the schedules Mark, and I would tell you right now,
the easiest schedule in the preliminary round to do it
lost to the United States. They play Latvia Mark in Germany.
They should win all three of those games handily. Canada's
got cechiev Swiss and France. The Chechia game will not
be easy for Canada, it's their first game. Sweden has
(30:11):
a real tough schedule after their first game with Italy.
They play Finland in Slovakia. That's tough for Sweden. But
those hard games get you ready to play in the
Metal Round. But I like where the Americans are right now,
and I do think that they're going to be deep
enough and goal, They're going to be very good on defense,
and I think they're going to have some very underrated
(30:31):
firecar The only caveat I have on them, a little
like Sweden, if they can't get Matt Boldie back in
the lineup, I think that's going to hurt the United
States but Boldie should be a breakout player this Olympics
for a team USA if he's healthy.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Pierre your number one, great stuff. As always, we'll talk
more next week. Enjoy the hockey.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I can't wait, my man. Thank you so much for
having me on your show. Mark. I can't believe it's
almost four years now. I just love doing this. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
You're the best, per best hockey talking anywhere. That's peer
maguire brought to us by Always Say Flagging and Traffic Control.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
We got
This is the Mark Mannon show, right place, Going nowhere
fast eight three to three four one two w xdx
the number to call, or you can call the super
secret back door number four one two three three three
wxdx and we'll get on the air much faster.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Who is the head coach the Steelers shouldn't hire? I
think the consensus is that Shula is a safe and
likely pick. I'd prefer Shiel Haas, but I wouldn't be
outraged by Shula. I do kind of fear the Steelers, will,
you know, use McCarthy to try to keep Rogers. Although
(00:40):
a story broke to the Bleacher Report about how much
Rogers hates McCarthy, So maybe my presumption in that regard
is wrong. Rogers, who's the pettiest guy ever.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
He's just a dink. He's just an absolute frickin dink.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
He apparently still hates McCarthy because McCarthy was the offensive
coordinator in San Francisco when the Niners passed up Rogers
in the first round to draft Alex Smith. Rogers still
has his knickers in a twist about that. I definitely
wouldn't hire Flores, but they might might hire Anthony Weaver.
(01:19):
Like I said, we can't ignore that the Rooney rule
is named the Rooney rule, and that Art wants to
be just like Granddaddy every chance he gets to the
point of being obsessed by that. But the guy wouldn't
hire would be Flores because even though he's done a
good job as a defensive coordinator in Minnesota, and you know,
he was a linebackers coach here, I guess he did, Okay,
(01:42):
I mean, who knows he's the linebackers coach who cares?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
But he was head coach of Miami. He mangled it.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
They say they don't want to recycle, Well, why would
the one guy you're looking at where would be recycling?
Why would that be the guy that mangled it? Then again,
I guess Karthy, who won a Super Bowl in Green
Bay and like Tom said earlier, did better in Dallas
than we remember. It's just a Dallas is such an
excreman show that because of Jerry it never seems like
(02:13):
they do as good as they should. So anyway, your thoughts,
who's the guy that you would not hire?
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Four one two three three three wxdx or eight three
to three four one two wxdx. Uh We're also talking
about the Penguins. In fact, we haven't really got to
the Penguins yet. The Penguins uh won at Seattle yesterday
afternoon sixty three. It wasn't a masterpiece, but it felt
(02:44):
like kind of a big win. Sid now has three
multipoint games in a row, and the last night was
career game number fourteen hundred.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Sid.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It's like every night is a milestone for Sid, and
he marked the occasion by throwing a big hit, knock
some guy ass over tea kettle with a shoulder check.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Penguins have been a bit more physical lately.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I think part of that is because our guest at
four thirty has added something to that mix. That's defenseman
Connor Clifton, who will join us from the road. Like
I said at four thirty, a deer got two goals
a shorty end into the empty net. I don't very
often validate even the concept of a hero fourth line,
(03:27):
but that line comes close. With the chari Doer and
Blake Lizat Chinnikoff didn't have any points, but he's a player,
he's a threat. He skates, he shoots, he flies around.
Not there, so far, so good with that. Dude, Brazo
with another goal. Skinner decent goal. Like I said, it
feels like a relatively big win. The Penguins are going
(03:51):
to be in the playoff race the whole way, the
whole way, and I feel like Morrishoff could be the
X factor if they call him up and let them,
but I do not think they feel that way. Oh wait,
I'm reading Sid's milestones. He had another one last night,
a couple more last night. He has five hundred and
twelve multipoint games. Now that passes Gordy How. Sid is
(04:17):
passing Gordy How.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
And he is now tied.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
With Mario for career points on the road. I mean
some of these are I mean they're kind of marginal,
but then you see who he passed or tied, Gordy
How and Mario, and suddenly they become really impressive marks.
So any hoodles eight three to three, four, one two WXTX.
(04:45):
There was an article on Awful Announcing, which I don't
like the website, but they have good stuff on it.
Does that make sense. It's like the entirety of the Internet.
I hate the Internet, but it has some good stuff
on it. Articles about the rules, analysts on NFL TV
like Sterotur, who's the best and awful? And Nonsen points
(05:07):
out that these guys almost always agree with the calls
on the field because they don't want to disrupt the brotherhood.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Except for McCauley on NBC.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
He can go in the opposite direction, which is the
direction I prefer. It's better TV. It's better to do
good TV than be honest. Ask Pat McAfee. I'm a
big sterotor fan because he gives in depth explanations that
are accessible and makes sense, even if he is most
often agreeable with the call on the field. It's like
(05:39):
what X players do when they're on the mic. They
forget that they're not players no more, and again they
don't want to disrupt the brotherhood.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
I think it's kind of the same with the refs
four one two three three.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Three WXDX to call. We want calls on the fifteens next,
as in right now.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
And at three thirty.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
We got I gotta look at my lett Pieter Maguire
de Fabo at four pegs, defencer Connor Clifton at four thirty.
But right now we want you, that's right, yes, you
to call the show at eight three three, four one
two w xd X one oh five nine.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Cop got game. It's not far, it's not far, it's
not fair.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
The X At one oh five nine, Steimefer calls on
the fifteens, what Steelers coach would be the worst tire?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
What name scares you off? You want to give me
your favorite? You can go ahead with that too. I
think Shula is the safest and most likely candidate. I
think it's gonna be him or shielhas I don't know
why I feel that, but that McVeigh coaching tree, the
Rams success, just everything kind of swirling around has me
pointed in that direction.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Let's go to Brian in South Hills. Brian are on
with double M.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
I'm Mark, how you doing today?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Good man up?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Good question for you. So, if you look at the
Steelers and.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
No matter who they hire, do you feel.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
That that coach is going to have the autonomy of
the offense, the defense, or is the Rooney's gonna still
have a say in you know, defense first type of
feel for this team.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
I don't think that the Rooneys have that say beyond
who they hire. I think their preference will be reflected
by who they hire, and that has traditionally been a
younger defensive mind. If they hire a shield house, maybe
they're moving away from that. But I don't think the
Rooneys interfere. I mean they gave Tom within total autonomy.
The Ruineyes, don't interfere with the coaching. There are discussions, certainly,
(07:58):
but I think once the hires made, then that guys
the boss.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Let's go to Harry.
Speaker 7 (08:03):
I like you about self because I think he brings
a lot of structure to a team that needs a
lot of structure, and usy.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
To think from a distance, I agree with.
Speaker 7 (08:12):
You, okay. And the other thing is I don't like
the Weaver guy because, Uh, I heard he's a friendly
players coach, and I really don't want one hundred percent
that anymore. And I heard he's real nice with the media,
you know, I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Just nice with the local media anyway.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I mean he kissed eyes his ass and and and
what's his buddy, uh Glazer's ass.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
But yeah, I mean I don't care.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
I don't care about that, to be honest, though, I
don't want a player's coach. You're right about that. I
don't want the guy who's their friend. I want a boss.
But we don't know if Shula is that or not that?
I mean everything we're thinking, we are thinking from a distance.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
What makes it very likely inaccurate? Let's go to John John.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
What's up, hey, Mark? About the Pens?
Speaker 6 (09:00):
If that's cool?
Speaker 5 (09:01):
I don't really care about the Steelers right now. Okay,
So the shootout loss record right now is thirteen games
by the Devils, depends aren't close to that, but they're
also not the only team that's struggling. Colorado's one in
four in the shootout, Vegas is one in five, and
Edmonton's zero to three. Why do you think these teams
that have skilled players are struggling so much? Do they
(09:23):
just not care about it?
Speaker 1 (09:25):
I think a lot of teams don't emphasize the shootout,
Like what teams.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Did you mention?
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Like in Edmonton, they know they don't need the shootout points,
you know what I mean, so they their preparation for it.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I mean, I can't I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
I'm not at their practices, but I would bet it's minimal.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
But some teams really need the shootout points.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
That's like Ray Shiro when he was the GM and
Dan Bosma was the coach of the Penguins. They knew
that the Penguins needed those shootout points. That was after
since first Cup went when things I mean, they were
still good, but not as good, and they had Kristensen
and Jokin and the shooters. Fluri was the best shoot
not goaliever, who they just you know, had from prior,
(10:03):
so they they considered it important. I don't think this
organization yet considers it important enough. I don't think they
yet understand, although I can't see how they don't. You
know what, what's what's you know that they need those points.
Let's go to uh Joe in New York?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
What up?
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Man?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (10:26):
I uh, well, I tell you who I don't want.
I do not want whoever Artru any of the second
thinks the best choice is because that'll be wrong.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Oh that no, No, I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
I have no faith in who they choose, because these
Rooneys ain't those roonies. That said, Shula seems to be
universally highly regarded in Selhouse, not far behind. I just
hope they don't go off the board for like a
McCarthy or a Flores that I wouldn't trust even a
little bit, because if they, if they are Shula, that
(10:55):
not only reflects Rooney's judgment but the judgment of a
lot of people who think he's a a good head
coach in waiting.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Yeah, and I'll tell you what I don't. I don't
think they'll pick them. I don't like mentor he has
little NFL experience. And I'll tell you remember the last
head coach I hired who had minimal defensive coordinator experience
in the NFL, and how he turned out.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
And I don't want You can't say Tom Win turned
out bad, Bruv. You just can't.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
You.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You can say that how he did, no, no, Bruv.
You can say how he did is vastly overrated.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
But he did, and he did great.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
The first four years with somebody else's roster, culture and leaders.
But you can't say it's a failure. No coach has
ever won a Super Bowl and been a failure. You
can say he did not succeed as much as he
should have. Let's go to Dave Dave.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Rong with Mark.
Speaker 8 (11:45):
Thanks, super genius. So, uh, yeah, you asked about someone
they definitely should not hire. And this name is just
I've only seen it from a couple people, but that's
John Gruden.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Yeah, that's the idea, should not hire. Oh right, right right, Oh,
they should not hire. Yeah, but I don't think that's
even being remotely considered. He's not on the interview list.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
On my interview list, who would you say they should
not hire? Definitely?
Speaker 8 (12:13):
Oh yeah, I Brian Flores. I think I don't think
they should hire.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
You would be against recycling a head coach, but give
serious consideration to a guy who failed as a head
coach as your one exception. I don't get that, But
then then again I kind of do.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (12:36):
I definitely think an offensive guy like you're saying they
should hire. So uh, the shieldhas guy. Yeah, I like yours.
I think I like him the best. I think, so.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Good call man, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Up Next, we're gonna talk hockey with Pierre McGuire one
oh five ninety X.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Hey find yourself needing a little post holiday cash infused?
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yes, your voice is like week to my ear. The
last thing we need is a lot of I like
it the X at double them on the X.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Peng was with a big win yesterday at least it
seemed like that at Seattle. Joining me now to talk
about it. It's Pierre McGuire. Pierre Duer got two goals
last night that Penguin's fourth line has developed into kind
of a hero fourth line, hasn't it.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
How impactful is it and why, Well.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
We've talked about it for a while now. It's a
great identity line for the Pittsburgh Penguin. Connor de Or,
Blake Wizade and Ala Charity, you're all guys that have
had overachieved and making it in the National Hockey League,
and they really thrived in that role. So if you're
going to be put in that role, you've got to
accept it number one. You've got to practice it. Number two,
And when you're put into the games, you can't deviate
(13:49):
from the role that the coaches asked you to play.
So these guys have all done those three things and
because of that, they're very respective and I think they
really enjoyed playing with one another. It's pretty apparent.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
What makes a good fourth line in general, Pierre. And
how much of it is the line the players knowing
their limitations, Well.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
That's a big part of it, number one. But number two,
we're gonna make it effective as guys that aren't afraid
to be physical, Guys that would win races to get
to loose pucks, Guys that will dominate board battles. Guys
that understand they're not gonna be able to make slick
toad dragon moves at the offensive blue line or the
defensive blue line. They're just gonna chip pucks in. They're
gonna chip pucks out, but they're gonna win races to
(14:30):
recover those bucks, whether they're on the fore check or
whether they're on the backcheck, or whether they're just planning
in the neutral zone. So it's more mind over matter,
and it's guys that really want to have this identity
and thrive in that identity. You know, I talked to
you about this before. Flutterbucks, Zekis and Martin with the
New York Islanders for about a seven to ten year
period that was about as good an identity line as
(14:52):
you could have in the league. Well, this one in
Pittsburgh maybe doesn't have the physical fighting prowess that that
line had with the Honors, But are as good or
as important as that line was for the Isers.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
It's early days, Pierre, but Chinnikoff seems a consistent threat,
and I like him and Malkin together.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Well, yeah, because one number one, there's a respect that
we talked about it, you know, Sena COV's never really
had a Russian mentor U and he has well now
obviously in Pittsford with Malcolm. Malcolm his mentored by to
a big bronchar so he knows exactly how important a
mentorship role is, especially for guys coming to foreign land.
So I think it's great. And Keena Coff's done a
(15:33):
really good job so far. I'm really happy for him.
Brazo just keeps getting better all the time, which is
really good news for the Penguins. And you got to say, Mark,
just to debate for one second, as great as if
getting Malcolm's been and has been his entire career. That
play that Sydney Crasy had just in the for check
with the back pass, the backhand pass to retard Roquel.
There are not a lot of people in the world
(15:54):
that could do that. Like, Pittsburgh's got a lot of
things going on that are really good right now.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Oh, no question. I mean Sid's just doing so much.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I mean he's passing Gordy how for this record time
Mary Lemieux for that record.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
He just keeps putting up numbers, fourteen hundred games.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
It's like there's so many milestones that he reaches like
it seems game by game. Really big ones can get
lost in the shuffle, can't they?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Oh, they really can, you know. And that's the biggest
thing with sid right now. He's not playing because of record.
Sid's playing because he wants to try to win. And
a lot of people said, no, they can't do this,
No they can't do that. Remember the beginning of the year,
market here goes like where Sidney Croft gonna end up
this year because he's probably going to get traded at
the deadline. Well, most people didn't think Pittsburgh would even
be in a playoff position right now. They thought they'd
(16:40):
be double digits out of the playoff spot. The Pittsburgh
Penguins that the playoffs started today would be the third
rated team in the Metropolitan Division, and I think only
three teams from the Metro are going to make it.
I think we'll see five teams. Just like last year.
It's in the Atlantics. So it's really important for Pittsburgh
to maintain where they are in the next two games.
They're obviously really important in Calgary in Edmonton in a
(17:03):
back to back situation. Finished camp the trip in Vancouver.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Yeah, I thought they should beat Seattle. I think they
should be Calgary, but Calgary beat him here last week. Edmonton,
I think that's a lost Costpier McDavid kills the Penguins
because you can tell he gets extra psych to play
against sid Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Think that's a good point too. But the biggest thing
with Edmonton they don't know the kind of team they
want to be yet. They don't have dry settle right now.
They don't know if they want to be a team
waring and a defensive team, if they just want to
go full board offense. They're kind of caught in the
middle right now. It's really an interesting thing to watch.
They're gonna have to get better as a group that
(17:43):
they're gonna win. But I agree with you on the
fact they should be Calgary and Calgary. The thing that
allows Calgary to compete is a lot of boys. Pittsburgh
able to compete, and that is they played structured sound
Neutral's own defense. They don't give a lot of odd
man rushes and so that really helps their team compete.
And I think it's gonna be interesting on this trip,
in particular with Kulak going back to Alberta and with
(18:06):
Skinner going back to Alberta. Both those guys obviously former
Redmonton Oilers. To have them play in that environment and
it's gonna be pretty neat for them, and the chould
jazz up their teammates as well.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
No question about that. I think Skinner's done real well.
I think Qulex done well. I think Qulex a good
partner for Latang because Latang deceptively so you wouldn't think,
but he needs somebody to move the pockey. He doesn't
like playing with the pure defensive guy. And Skinner was
real solid yesterday. It's five wins Pierre in his last
(18:39):
six starts. Should he be the number one goalie or
should they stick with rotating him and shill offs equally.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I think at some point here you're gonna see one
of those two guys you're going to carry the ball
a lot more than the other. And right now I
think Skinner's got a bit of an advantage. But we'll see,
we'll see how this trip ends up. Late to think
in the three games they have left in Western Canada
that Skinner would probably get two of the three and
(19:08):
see hoofs we get one of the three. Well, we'll
see how it plays out.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
You know, it's weird.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I think Skinner's done real well, but he's an easy study.
Whenever I talked to opposition coaches after they play the Penguins,
they say, well, we couldn't get a moving side to side.
He can't do that, but we couldn't make him do it.
If you just let him be big and play the angles,
he's real efficient.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
That's the biggest thing about him. I remember when I
was working in Audiwa, that was one of the things
we really try to focus in on him. I remember
one time Adam got that, who was on our team
and now he's playing for San Jose. We got Skinner
moving side to side and got that scored a beautiful
backhand Ruth Gold because Skinner just couldn't try out the
puck one from his left to his right and allowed
(19:49):
god That to score in the upper part of the
That but that's clearly been a book on him for
a while, and I don't think that's going to change
anytime soon.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
The Penguins have cut down their goals against a lot,
Pierre since the holiday.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Where does that come from?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Neutral zone defense? The forwards are committing and helping one
another out. You correctly talked about the line with door
was out in the charity. That line's really made a
big impact. But I think the biggest thing again is
just they stabilize the neutral zone and makes it an
easier game for their defense to play. And because of that,
they can have tighter gaps so they can trust the
(20:22):
Forge to be there to fill in if they step up.
It's really it's a team that's working well together.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Right now, we're talking to Pierre Maguire.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Pierre brought to us by Always Say Flagging and Traffic Control.
Kendall hasn't scored in seventeen games. Pier, Is that a
worry or is he just eighteen?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
It's part of the deal. It's he's eighteen. Usually these
guys hit the wall right around Christmas time. They don't
realize that the temple of the game picks up right
after US Thanksgiving and so they got about a ten
to twelve day grace period and all of a sudden
they're into Christmas and they don't realize all them only
this thing's way hard. And I thought guys are bigger,
they're faster, they're stronger, and those young kids, especially the
(21:03):
eighteen and nineteen year olds, they're just worn out. They
really are markets that hard, and it's that pronounced, and
it's almost one hundred percent predictable with a lot of
young employers that this is about when they hit the wall, what.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Would you do? Would you send him a game?
Speaker 1 (21:19):
The break at the Olympics is going to be welcome
for him, but what do you do between now and then?
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I'm just going to make sure that I'm probably monitoring
the amount of games he played. I don't think there's
a team that's done it better than what Anaheim did
with Leo Carlson in his first year in the league,
and I think Kindall well, I don't think I know,
Kimdall's not as big and not as strong physically as Leo,
and they did a really good job in Anaheim, I thought,
really protecting him. I think that's kind of where Pisker's
(21:46):
got to get to with Ben going forward. I was
really happy to see that they put Harrison Brunnick obviously
down back to junior, which I think is really important,
and he's can to be part of a really good
team in camberll Whi's a team that's actually owned by
Mark Reki and Jerome Aginla, which is good news. And
I know how excited they are to have them there.
So young players need mentorships, they need futelage, and they
(22:08):
need rest, they need to learn, And I think this
will be really good for Kendall going forward to say,
I think it would be really good for Brune going
forward to being in that cameras.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
It's weird, Pierre, because Eric Carlson is out, although he
is on the trip and is expected to play at
some point during it. But I feel that Latang is
playing better in Carlson's absence, and then.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Watherspoon and Q like both score yesterday. Like I said,
it's kind of weird.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
No, it's a good point though, because it does have relevance.
Christopher looks more composed with the Puck's making easier decisions,
not making harder decisions. He's not trying to be too cute.
When he gets himself into trouble, it's because he's trying
to be too cute deep in his own zone and
turns of puck over. He tries to make bad reads.
So yeah, no, I agree with that, and Eric will
(22:55):
come back and he'll help the team, and I think
one of the things that's happened there again, I'm really
proud of, you know, Todd Nelson what he's been able
to do there with their defense. Guys are getting better,
Shade getting better, Roterston has gotten better. You see le
Tang is getting better. I think Eric Carlson was having
a tremendous year. There's you know, there's something that's got
(23:17):
to be quantified in this is that they're getting coached up.
You know, they're getting coached up. And that's a good
piece in this. You know, if you're the New York Rangers,
they're a fan of the Rangers, your guys aren't getting better.
If you're a fan of the Penguins and you're around
the team and you see your guys are getting better,
and that's a sign that the coaches is doing a
good job.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Another defenseman I want to mention is Connor Clifton, who
wasn't in the lineup much early in the year, but
he's done okay lately. He joins the show at four thirty,
and he has kind of a little edge that not
a lot of Penguins have, doesn't.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
He first time I saw Connor play is playing for
Quinnipiac and he was a nasty piece of business in college,
and you know, you see him go out. He's risinal
drafted a lead by Arizona, but I remember correctly, never
found his way there, but definitely found his way out
of the booms Rosser. He's physically, he's tough, He has
a ton of fun plan He got a lot of
(24:06):
respect for the way he carries himself around his teammates.
He has a ton of fun with the game and
he makes it fun for his teammates. And I think
the biggest thing is when you're around stars like they
have in Pittsburgh, you can learn a lot from those guys.
And I think Connor has learned a lot from the
guys that he's around in Pittsford, which is kind of
neat to watch.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
I want to get back to Sid for a second.
He has three straight multiple point games after and during
a brief slump, and it's amazing how how he bounces
back from not playing great. He doesn't get mad or frustrated.
He just gets going. It's inevitable.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
It's so cool to watch Sid right now, at this
advanced stage of his career. And you know, you look
at his age, you know, pushing close to forty, and
he just he's got so much game. Left Mark. And
part of it is, you know how most fans don't
realize and you do know Did is as committed to
the game as he when he was thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.
(25:02):
I mean, his workouts are legendary and he's always pushing
and he's always trying to find ways to get better,
whether it's a based off plays, moving the puck in
the backhand, learning how to take a one timer, shooting
quicker releases on a snapshot, dominating board play by having
a good lower hand on a stick. There's so many
things that Sid keeps getting better at all the time
(25:23):
because he's addicted to wanting to be great. I have
so much respected ways carried himself as a person but
also as a player. It's just phenomenal to watch.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Do you sense McDavid.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I mean he always tries Pierre, but since he tries
emotionally to turn it up a bit against Sid. Not
that he hates Sid, I mean, my god, their teammates
on Canada, but you know what I mean that he's
the guy now.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Oh yeah, think about what Sid used to do when
they play against Boston and Patrice bergerom. Those guys are
best of friends, best of friends, but they used to
go after one another big times. You know, Sid's got
a lot of respect for a lot of guys, and
a lot of guys really respect Sid, but they also
want to beat them because he's the measuring stick in
the league. You know, he's a winner. He always has been,
he always will be. So yeah, I would. I think
(26:11):
you're onto something there. I think when McKinnon plays against it,
he always wants to prove a point. When Nick David
plays against it, he wants to prove a point. You know,
you can go around the league all to start played.
I think one Quist when he was a goalie with
the Rangers, he wanted to prove something to Sid. I
think gets Lap and Perry when they were in Anaheim,
they wanted to pooh something to Sid, Caine and Tays
(26:32):
in Chicago League. The list goes on and on. Yeah,
star players want to prove a lot to Sea.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Absolutely, Pierre.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
The Penguins do things that make me crazy, like their
failure in shootouts.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
But they kind of look like the playoff team right now,
don't they.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Because they're structured, they're buying them what their coaches tell
and they're coming together on the road, which is really important. That.
It's great to have a solid home record, but they
have a good road record that they have is really good,
you know, going on long streets. So you know, you
look at their last ten games or six two and two,
that's a great record. If they can do that the
rest of the way, they're not only going to be
(27:07):
a playoff team, they're gonna be a very tough team
to play against in the playoffs. So there's certain things
you want to try to establish. Have a good record
on home ice. They do have a good record on
the road, they do, and keep rolling off winks every
ten game segment, and so in this last ten game
segment there's six two and two. That's a really good record.
That's a really good record.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
You saw that letter the Drewlery put out there the
Rangers GM, which is you might as well light your
franchise on fire with crap like that.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
But it seems like they're going to trade Paneran. Do
you think that's going to happen?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
And do you expect to flurry of trades by by anybody?
Because every team almost literally like maybe two or three
teams Pierre aren't in the playoff race, So how many
big trades are possible, and where do you think Paneren
might go.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
I'm gonna say where I think Panera will go. I
think Panera will win nothing. Detroit Detroite hasn't played a
playoff game in almost decade and they need to make
the playoffs. And I think Paneren fits in on their team.
They had plenty of young prospects. Their American Hockey League
team in Grand Rapids is just ripping the league up
right now because of all those great young players and
some older players that they have there. So I think
(28:15):
Detroit might be a likely landing spot. I wouldn't look
past the Florida Panthers, who are desperately trying to go
in three pete to win the Cup and four peete
to get to the final. They're not in the playoffs
if they start today, so I wouldn't be surprised if
Florida would be proactive on him, and maybe, just maybe
the Tampa Bay Lightning, you know, they might be proactive
(28:36):
on him as well. So we'll see. On Paneren, I
do think you're going to see more trades. I think
the Rangers are going to start the loose some bodies out.
The Autama Centers are interesting. They play in Columbus tonight
and then down in Nashville in two days. If they
lose both those games, I think they might start moving
people out too, so that'll be one to watch. They
think New Jersey will eventually start moving guys out, and
(28:59):
in the West, if you look at it, Vancouver has
already started. They won't stop. Winnipeg, I think we'll start
moving guys. Saint Louis is definitely going to be moving guys.
And I think in Chicago and Calgary lose a couple
more yards south Calgary and make a trade. I wouldn't
be surprised to see them make more trades. I wouldn't
be surprised to see Chicago start movingsy people too.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Perre.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Starting next week, we're going to do a little pre
Olympic analysis in each segment right now, real quick, a
little tease.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Who are your favorites to be in the gold medal game?
Speaker 2 (29:28):
I Sweden in the USA was my favorites. If Canada
had the more stability and goal and more depth on defense,
I'd probably have them in there against the Americans. The
only caveat I have on Sweden if Carlson can't come
and play for Sweden because he's hurt, which he is
right now. I would not have them in the gold
medal game, but I think quietly they're the team that
(29:48):
could cause a lot of problems. I did a breakdown
of the schedules Mark, and I would tell you right now,
the easiest schedule in the preliminary round to do it
lost to the United States. They play Latvia Mark in Germany.
They should win all three of those games handily. Canada's
got cechiev Swiss and France. The Chechia game will not
be easy for Canada, it's their first game. Sweden has
(30:11):
a real tough schedule after their first game with Italy.
They play Finland in Slovakia. That's tough for Sweden. But
those hard games get you ready to play in the
Metal Round. But I like where the Americans are right now,
and I do think that they're going to be deep
enough and goal, They're going to be very good on defense,
and I think they're going to have some very underrated
(30:31):
firecar The only caveat I have on them, a little
like Sweden, if they can't get Matt Boldie back in
the lineup, I think that's going to hurt the United
States but Boldie should be a breakout player this Olympics
for a team USA if he's healthy.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Pierre your number one, great stuff. As always, we'll talk
more next week. Enjoy the hockey.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I can't wait, my man. Thank you so much for
having me on your show. Mark. I can't believe it's
almost four years now. I just love doing this. Thank
you so much.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
You're the best, per best hockey talking anywhere. That's peer
maguire brought to us by Always Say Flagging and Traffic Control.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
We got
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