October 6, 2025 • 37 mins
Mark is joined by Penguin Kris Letang ahead of the teams season opener. Phil Bourque joins to weigh in on the season. Ask Mark Anything!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
My guest right now is a three time Stanley Cup
champion and entering his twentieth season with the Penguins. It's
always a pleasure to speak with Christopher Letang tang A
twenty years does it seem that long?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
No, I honestly, it goes by so fast. Obviously, you know,
we always for more spart we had, we had a
lot of success, So I guess when you're having fun
and you're doing what you love, it goes fast. So yeah,
it doesn't seem like twenty years.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
A lot of kids are under roster now.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Talk about the energy that brings to the room and
what that does for veterans like you, Well.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's fun. Obviously you're you want to meet you guys
and you want to see guys do well. And obviously
those two guys have actually played really well in training camp.
It's fun to see the evolution of their game and
and what they can do at this level. So it's
going to bring energy, It brings a different type of
(01:14):
atmosphere in the room. So it's going to be fun
to see their their first NHL game tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What's your take on Harrison Brunick, the nineteen year old
defenseman who certainly had a very good training camp.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
He's a great player. Obviously, we all know his skill set.
He can skate, he has a great shot, great great hands.
But I think he also brings a physical elements. He's
a guy that you know plays with a with a
little bit of an edge. So it's going to be
(01:49):
fun to see his evolution as he plays in the NHL.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
You were twenty when you became a full time NHL player,
Tanger Brunick's nineteen. Mean they say it's harder for defensemen.
What was the toughest part for you to adjust back then?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I would say the speed of the game and the
fact that you're playing against man. Everybody's like strong, and
you know, the physical element of the game is different.
I think that's that's the biggest adjustment. But he's a
he's a smart player. Uh, he'll figure it out, and
(02:27):
it just takes game game to get more experience, and
you know you're going to see an improvement as as
the season goes on.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Now, you were a letter, you're an alternate captain. You
talk a lot to the younger guys. What kind of
input do you try to have.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, you try to talk to them, but you don't wanna,
You don't want to fill their heads, and now they don't.
They're not able to be themselves. You know, they they
were drafted for a reason. They were they were brought
on our team for for certain skill sets. So you
want you want them to showcase that, especially in training camp.
But when you see little things that they can actually
(03:05):
see or pay attention a little bit more, Uh, you
don't want to fill their heads. Like I said, you
want to let them play, so but I try sometime
to do just say a little little tips to help
their game.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Now, you guys got a heck of a power play
finished sixth in the league last year. It's basically the
same group this year. That's going to be a big
part of your success. Right, That's a pretty potent group.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I think it's something that if we want to be
competitive this year, the special units will be really important.
I think it could. It could make us win a
lot more games than than we think. So, Uh, it's
going to be a huge part of our of our team.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
How important is a good start tanger with all the changes.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
It's important obviously you wanna you want to start connecting
and create chemistry with with the new guys as quick
as possible, so uh, we can improve faster. So I
think that's gonna be a big, big sparking.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
You have a new coach for the first time in
a long time. What are your impressions to date of
Dan Muse?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Uh, you know, a lots lots of energy, a lot
of pace. Uh doesn't really uh waste time. Uh, you
know at the board and cooling off between drills.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
He likes when the pace and the intensity is really high,
and that's what he wants out of us when we
come playing time. You know, when you're we're gonna be
playing the ranger if you want, say, a high tempo game.
And Uh, I think that's what he tried to bring
Uh during training camp.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Do you think the team will play with a bit
more structure this year? That's kind of what I'm seeing
so far.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Do you mean structure? You mean more more, more and.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
More tight, more systematic. Maybe a different kind of system.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, it's a different type of system. It's not the same. Uh,
there there's more.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Uh. You know, when when you have a coach.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
For that long, you you you try to improve year
after year, try to change little things, try to make
it perfect. As when you have a new coach, you know,
you want to go black and white at the beginning,
and after that you kind of work some some areas
(05:35):
that are kind of more gray. So I think right now, yes,
it's going to be more black and white. You've got
to know your assessment and you have to do your job.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
At thirty seven, how does your game change and your
your conditioning routine too, which is so big for you,
has served you so well?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Well, I'm not thirty seven. I'm actually older, so I'm
thirty eight.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Well let's go with thirty okay, but yeah, but still
same question.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, uh no, I'm just I'm just using you. It's
for for me, it's the same thing. It's uh my conditioning,
My the way I train was always a big part
of my success in the NHL. So I'm still I'm
still writing with the same thing. Uh yeah. So I
(06:23):
don't want to change that. I think it's a competitive
advantage I got and I want to keep it that way.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
How about on the ice, have you changed your game
very much? It still is like mostly the same game
to me.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Uh yeah, I mean, you know, like part of my
game is to be intense physical. Uh two A guide
that go up and down. So you know, I I
like to bring energy. I like to have a complete game.
So that's that's not going to change.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
What was the return Like with with Mark Andre Ferry
for that one game, it seemed like a lot of
fun for you guys, even though he vandalized your cars.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yah, yeah, I know, it was tons of fun. Obviously
spending the whole day, the day before, even after the game.
We had a little get together just remembering all the
all the good times and what it was like when
we were together. And it was kind of weird because
when he opted on the ice, it was it kind
(07:26):
of like it's like we never missed a beat. It
was like he never left. So that was kind of strange,
but at the same time pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He could still play too.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I know he's forty and you know, there's a lot
of reasons to not play, but I wish he would.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I mean, you know a guy like that that
loves the game. I always has a smile in his face.
He's great for a dressing room. He also he also
bring bring a certain element on the ice, the competitiveness
and like the battle of the ads with the other guys.
(08:04):
I think it's uh, it's great. But at one point
when you're when mentally and physically your body is talking
to you and it's time to make a decision and
and do with his family. That's that's the best, Uh,
you know, that's the best thing you can wish for him.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
He put a big number twenty nine dcal on your cars.
It's still on there.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
No, it's not.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Now you've had Sindon Gino as your teammates for every
year of your career, this will.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Be number twenty for you.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Like I said, talk about that bond because it's certainly
very unique in today's world of pro sports where guys
move all the time.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, I mean, uh, I think it's just the fact
that was just since the beginning, we had the same
goal in mind, and it was to be part of
its team that's gonna win championships and be competitive as
every single year to try to to win win a cup.
So I think from from that's some point when you're
(09:06):
all kind of rolling in the same direction, you know,
you create that bond and like today we're we're we're
kind of not surprised that we're still together after twenty years.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
What what's the goal for this season because you're not
exactly being predicted for great things after having missed the
playoffs for a few years.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Yeah, I mean, I don't think we are right now.
We we have a goal set for for our team.
I just think it's it's to to get to our
our game as fast as possible, like be comfortable with
the new system, be comfortable with the new players, and
try to get results now and then we're not gonna
(09:47):
lie like we're gonna We're gonna have a good part play.
We need a good p K, our goalies need to
be great and uh you know, we'll we'll try to
get the best result. That's that's our goal. It's the
goal is to perform every single night, bringing bringing a
certain level of intensity and and we'll see what happens.
(10:07):
But right now, there's no like we didn't put on
on a piece of paper what our goal is. It's
just to come to the ring, compete, get better every
single day. That's it.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Tanger, Thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
You've been a faithful servant to the cause here and
done great things.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
And good luck tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
That's Chris Latang. I'm Mark Madden, You're listening to one
O five nine the X.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
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But they have no real impact in this world, unless,
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Speaker 6 (10:55):
The exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Baltimore got killed by Houston at Buffalo at Baltimore rather.
You know that Cincinnati lost to Detroit at Sincy, but
there's no shame there. Detroit's real good. Cleveland lost in
Minnesota at London. Then Cleveland played okay, but the Browns
is the Browns, so the whole afc.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
North lost this week.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Baltimore's one and four, Cleveland's won and four, Cincinnati's two
and three, but Burrow is out and they've lost three
straight and they've quit, and maybe the Ravens have two.
Having watched both teams play a bit yesterday, so it'd
be very difficult for the Steelers to not win the division.
Ten and seven was the AFC North. Nine and eight
(11:50):
might win the AFC North. You should go six to
zero in the division stacked on what they've done. That's
a presumed nine and one right there. Even five and
one gets you to eight and two you split the
other games. That's eleven or twelve wins. The Steelers need
to get the number one seed in the AFC, which
I think will require thirteen or fourteen wins. It might
(12:13):
be a little bit out of their range, but I
don't know who they might. You want to make a
run in the playoffs, you need that week off in
the wild card round because you got an old team West.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
And I honestly don't think the Steelers are very good.
I don't. I bet you don't really either.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
And they're gonna win the division by default because somebody
has to. And if it's possible to get the number
one seed for the same reason, I say, make the
most of it.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Why ask why opportunity is knocking.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I have said that the Steelers will be in control
of the division by the time they play at Baltimore
on December seventh. I have no doubt about that that
they'll be ahead by a game and hopefully two. The
Steelers host Buffalo on November thirtieth. That's huge, could be
hope it is.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
The Bengals and Ravens, like I said, just look like
they've quit, just get routed every week since Burrow got hurt.
I think the Cleveland game at Akroshore this sun is
going to be easier than the Cincinnati game in Sincy.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
The following Thursday.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Like I said, why ask why, opportunity is knocking, So
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Speaker 6 (13:48):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. They were first round picks
in the same draft. You may recall first and third
pickover on twenty eighteen. Donald struggled for a long time.
Baker struggled for a while. But last night they became.
(14:11):
It became the first game in NFL history last night
Bucks and Seahawks were both quarterbacks threw for over three
hundred and twenty five yards and completed eighty percent or
more of their passes. Baker Mayfield twenty nine for thirty three.
That's an eighty eight completion percentage. Three hundred and seventy
nine yards, Donald twenty eight for thirty four eighty two
(14:33):
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Speaker 3 (14:35):
Good for those guys.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Could have been counted out, could have turned into Kenny
Pickett said, Oh no, not that anything with Kenny Pickett.
And now they're two real good quarterbacks and they're getting paid.
Let's go to Tom and Aspinwall or wherever you're from. Tom
and Hopewell, who cares?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
What's up?
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Tom?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Hey? Mark, what's up?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
I just wanted to get your thoughts on the Buffalo's
Bill game. Do you think that to it? Are gonna
look better now because they beat the Bills? And do
you think they expose them a little bit?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
They didn't expose the Bill. They didn't expose the Bills.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
They just had a real good game and they're an
improving team and the Bills had a bad game. But
the Bills will still walk away from that division. Tom,
I think what might have happened is maybe New England
a serve notice.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
They're going to be in the playoff race. Thank you
for the call.
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Speaker 1 (17:21):
When my guest is back in this show's saddle calling
live from New York. A two times Stanley Cup champion.
He is the old two niner Phil Bourg two nine er.
Where are you at New York? You walk in the streets.
I bet you can't give it away on seventh Avenue.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Actually, I'm looking at seventh Avenue right now. We're at
seventh and fifty fourth. It is a absolute maam in
downtown New York. I just literally thirty seconds ago, jumped
off the bus. We just pulled into the hotel and
uh yeah, man, I'll tell you what. There's a there's
a buzz man, there's a buzz on the plane, a
buzz on the bus. So everybody's excited about tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Has them mine.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
And while while I see borky some holes in this
Penguins roster, it's not as bad as I thought it
would be, and I see a lot of promise to
get better.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Yeah, it's hard to really. I mean, we try to
speculate where the team might end up. I don't think
anybody can. I think you're guessing if you can, because
number one, we don't really know how good the goaltending
is going to be. I mean that's safe to say that, right,
there's a giant question mark there. But I think more
than anything else going into the season, I think hope
it's alive. I think it's the first time we can
(18:29):
say there's another wave of players, young, fast, tough players
in the pipeline that are really knocking on the NHL door.
You know when we kept we talked before in the past,
you know, we would say this guy and that guy,
and we were more like just just hope, like really hoping,
like fingers and toes cross that maybe he can crack
(18:49):
the lineup. And now we're seeing it that these young
kids get ready for prime time.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
What are your expectations for Harrison Brunnick on defense at nineteen,
because defense is a adjustment more than forward, certainly at
the NHL level.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
No, I agree, this gets different though. There's something different
about him Mark He's he just gets it. And even
you know that last home game against Buffalo where he
had a bad turnover and then the next shift on
the ice he scores that great goal from the goal
line and just you know, dusting himself off and went
back to work. He's got great skating ability which can
(19:27):
not only get him out of trouble, but it's it's
tied into his hands and tied into his mind. And
so it's one that we've seen lots of defense and
that can skate well, but they don't have the other
two and intangibles. He's got it all. And I'm not
saying that he's going to be here all season. I
think for the time being, he's going to get a
really good look for those first nine games. But for one,
(19:49):
I'm understanding Mark that Kyle Dubis and the coaches and
the rest of the staff, they're thinking that these guys
are ready for to be here for longer and they're
not worried about burning that first year on the entry level.
That they think, if these guys are good enough, we're
just going to keep them here all year, and if
things happen, you know, at forty games and there's a
tail off, then we can always send them back to junior.
(20:11):
But in the meantime, they have every intention to keep
them here all year, I believe.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
So I think if they play more than nine, you've
got to keep them here all year.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I think that's the rule.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
But but I would keep brune heure period bork He
because we've both seen enough major junior to know that
he's outgrown it.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Well, that's the thing, and that's you know that that
rule is going to change next year where you know
you can put one player to the American Hockey League
one old correct one exempt yeah, one one exemption yeah.
And so you're right, what's he going to accomplish? And
I think that's where you know, not only you know
what seven hundred eight hundred grand of dollars in his
(20:51):
bank account for Gavin McKenna playing for Penn State. But
I think that's what happened to McKenna, right. He figured, listen,
I need to be against men here. I need begin
against guys that have that man strength and and I'm
more closer to the NHL, where you know, in the
Western Hockey League, each team's got maybe two or three
guys that are that type. So you're right, I don't
(21:12):
know what he would accomplish by going back to the
Western Hockey League. And he's better fit for here because
I think that he's got the mind, he's got the skating.
The only thing is is that strength in an eighty
two game schedule.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I'm glad Kendall made it in eighteen. I think it's
only till some injured forwards get back. I think he'll
play the nine games then go. But Kendall earned it,
had a great training camp, and he's certainly not afraid,
is he.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
You said it, Yeah, that's a that's a great word.
He earned it. And you know, if you remember when
he came to prospect camp, Mark everybody's kind of like,
oh boy, like where is it? You know? And I
think it's just been kind of this slow, gradual, one
step in front of another and adapting and adjusting to
(21:57):
the NHL game. And I think that's what's impressed us
the most is he he hasn't really taken any giant
step backward. Yeah, he had a turnover in that Buffalo game,
but also bounce back and just kept on keeping on.
And so you hope that that confidence and that mental
fortitude continues when he makes bigger mistakes at the NHL level,
(22:18):
because he's going to make them right Mark. But you know,
his size, his size doesn't seem to be a big
factor because you know, it's Ryans me a lot of
Jake Gensel. If you remember when Jake Genzel first came
into the league, he was getting punished, he was getting
absolutely blown up, but he kept bouncing up right, He
kept bouncing right back in and go right back to
the front of the net. And I think that Ben
(22:39):
Kindall kind of has that same, uh, not only mental
toughness but physical toughness that he can endure big hits
and he'll figure out, oh, I can't put myself in
that position again because with my size, I'm not going
to be ill. I'm not going to be here for
a very long time if I keep taking those kinds
of hits, because I think he's got the smarts, the
(22:59):
hockey marks to figure it out quick.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Now, you mentioned that Kendall has a lot of comm
with with Gens in terms of approach. I think Coyven
has a lot of comma with Gensel In even more
ways than that, I think he could be that kind
of player. I love that he's going to be on
the line with Sid. They play that close quarters two
on two game, don't they.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
They do. I actually interviewed Sid today for my pregame
two minute interview and I just asked it about players
that he's played with, and Mark, you've been there the
whole way, You'll know what I'm talking about. Whether it's
Andy Hilbert and Kolbe Armstrong or Pascal Dupuix and Chris Kunis.
I'm not talking about Marion Hosa because Host is a
different animal, right, I'm talking about players that just externally
(23:44):
quick snapshot. You think, ah, he can't play with Sid,
but then once he starts playing with Sid, he figures
out that little give and go game, that little five
to eight pass game. He figures out those little tick
moves you know, on the fore check to read off
of Sid. Of oh, like, he just gave me a
little look. He wants me to go in first, and
then he's gonna roll off of me and just almost
(24:05):
in unison. And it's more between the brains than it
is your actual skill set to try to think and
anticipate what Sid wants. That takes a very special player.
And what I've seen so far, and to be continued
here is Corven has that because number one, he's got
the wheels, okay, so he can keep up with Sid.
Number two he's got the hands to keep up with
(24:27):
the wheels, and number three he's got the mind to
keep up with the other two. And so we'll see
if he can do it on a consistent basis. That's
the challenge because now he's going to be seeing it,
because he's going to be riding let's win with Sid.
He's gonna see the other team's best center, and he's
also going to see the other team's best defense pairing
shift in and shift out, night in and night out,
(24:47):
and that can take a toll on you unless you're
a special player, like we talked about and even Brian Rush.
When Rusty first started playing with Sid, he didn't have
it figured it out right away, but he figured it
out quickly. And you know, the one thing that stood
out in my interview with Sid, it was just about
that those a little closer you talked about proximity passes,
those little eight passes, eight foot passes and the give
(25:08):
and go. Those are things that Sid really stressed you
need to be exceptional at to play with him.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
We're talking to Phil Bork here on the Home of
the Penguins one oh five ninety x.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
You mentioned talking to Sid and I spoke to them
a bit Friday after the exhibition game, and he seems
energized by the kids.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Do you think that's true?
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Will that carry over to Gino Latang and Eric Carlson.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Let me start with Carlson first. Uh, this is the
best I've seen Eric Carlson plays at Pittsburgh Penguin. And
so maybe a combination of a different coach, a freshet device,
a different voice, and not only Dan Mues, but also
you know Mike Suthers, who's runs the defense, and if
(25:52):
there's some kind of a connection there because I don't
think you have to coddle Eric Carlson, but I think
you do have to coach him a little bit different.
But as far as Gino and Tanger and say they'll
kind of lump them all together, yes, I think all
three of them do get energized by a couple things.
Number one, by young players that can play. They're not
just young players, They're not just young fast players. Young
(26:14):
players that could actually contribute and for Traice a better words,
kind of lighten their load, right mark that they don't
feel like it has to be them to win the
hockey game that on any given night, or maybe they
have their B game or maybe even their C game,
that the young kids are the ones that get them
the two points on any given night. So I think
the three of them really enjoy young players that can
(26:36):
contribute because they were all young players that con contribute
very quickly, right with Letang and obviously sitting in Gino
that it didn't take them to figure out the NHL game,
you know, it didn't take them that long. And I
think they really appreciate young players that figure it out early,
like McGroarty, like Coyven, and like Brunette that they see
(26:58):
a little bit of themselves back when they were, you know,
nineteen twenty twenty one years old.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
What we haven't talked about goaltending yet, BORKI, Uh, what's
your level of faith and Jari and shilloffs? Because I
think Morishov's their best goalie, but I understand why they
send him to Wilkes, and in fact I agree with it.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
I concur Yeah, I think if you just looked at
the preseason games, then you have to rank your goaltendings.
I think you'll agree with me. It was Marischoff, shea
LOFs and then Jari. But with all that being said,
I still don't know who you're I'm still to find
sure who the goaltender is going to be town night
against the Rangers. I'm just gonna assume Jari, and they're
going to just see if he can run with it
(27:38):
here and then I think they'll quickly go to Shee
Loss if he stumbles at all. And if he continues
to stumble, they sent him down to American League twice
last year, so I don't think they'll hesitate to do
it again and bring Marishoff out here up here. So
it's all that being said, this is another year, you know,
for now Christin Jari in his thirties to be the
(28:00):
We've never denied what kind of talent he has, but
we have questioned the times how he plays the position,
how aggressive or a lack of being aggressive in the
goals going to be aggressive? Focus and its focused right
and right, That focus and that consistency that should be
lined up with the talent, and it just hasn't been
(28:22):
over the years.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Well, the peng was being more structured and Cincinnati and
systematic borking with Dan Mws's coach, because I believe that's
the intent, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
Yes, here's the word you're gonna hear a lot from
Dan muars and and from your broadcasters too, the word
connected and he uses it all the time. And that's
what and I think that would resonate for me as
a player in that locker room, be connected with my linemates,
be connected with my defense pairing work as a five
man unit. I know these are a little bit cliches,
(28:53):
but they're so true for a team that was a
bit scattered at times on the ice in their defensive
structure in the last couple of years. So I think
the one thing I've noticed in the preseason doesn't matter
who's in the lineup, that when they're playing their best,
that they're connected. It's hard to get through the neutral zone.
And once we do get through the neutral zone, you
(29:13):
find that there's multiple layers of defense in the Penguins
defensive zone structure, and it's just everybody buying into one thing. Listen,
one of the most overused terms in hockey is systems.
There's not all these crazy systems. Yeah, you can play
man on man, you can play zone. That's that's a
big system thing right there, the way your neutral zone
for check codes, that's the system things. But after that,
(29:35):
there's not all these these you know, hard to understand
type of systems. Everybody kind of uses the same type
of quote unquote system. But for damn muse, the biggest
thing he wants to do, I think is when he's
watching the video, to hit the pause button and be
able to see five Penguins around the puck.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Poor guy.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I feel like you and I are going to be
diametrically opposed on this one. I think the most important
thing this season is to get a talk pick. I
bet you'd rather sneak into the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
This is what I want. I don't know if it's
gonna answer your question, I don't. I don't want to
be in the middle, you know what I mean either,
if you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Go for it, go for it, man, go all in for.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
It and make the playoffs. And listen, I'm if they
lose the first round of the playoffs, I'll be I'll
be okay with that. I just want them to go
for it. But it's if you finish, you know, twentieth
in the league. That's that's It's right, it's the muddy middle, right,
What do you get for that? You know? I mean, listen,
that's that's exactly almost exactly where the New York Island
(30:38):
is finished. And they worked for them. But that's very
rare that you move up ten spots like they did,
uh and win that kind of the lottery bingo balls
and get a player like Matthew Schaffer. That's very rare
that's gonna happen. So listen, I still I look at
this team on paper. To me, it's the playoff team.
And this isn't me putting on the you know, the
(30:58):
black and gold pomp post.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
But the Eastern Conference is awful. That's what makes what
you think a wild card.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Yeah, I still think it's the playoff team that could
absolutely give into the wild card because you're you look
at the even the metro. You talk about the East,
that's one thing, because we don't know what's going on
with Florida. They have a couple of major injuries down there.
You know, Tampa is always going to be relevant, so
is Toronto. Right, you don't know what's going on with
the teams in the other division in the Eastern Conference.
But when you just look at the metro, who's the
(31:28):
best in the Metro? Who's the best? Can you say?
You think I.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Can tell you this. I don't trust Brendan Moore as
a coach. I think the Rangers are overrated. I think
the Islanders don't have a great coach either, although I
love Patty. I think there's a lot of room to
move around.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Right, And you're like, nobody saw Washington doing what they
did last year, you know, so why can't the Penguins
do something of like like Washington did? And I know
the answer is going to be goalkender. That's exactly what
it to me. That is the giant question mark of
this season for the Pittsburgh Penguins and where they finished
in the Metro and then East and if they get
to the playoffs, if they can get any kind of
(32:07):
consistent goaltending, I think everything else will be fine.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Porky, What are you planning for tonight in Manhattan?
Speaker 4 (32:15):
You know what I'm thinking of doing? I think, Uh,
I need, I need a really cold beverage. I've had
a couple of stressful days, Mark, I need to kick
off the shoes. I need to get the easy clothes on.
And uh, I'm gonna go search for a comedy club
and the coldest beer in midtown Manhattan.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Not bad for me to Let me see just keen
steak cosh ever been there? You say, King's Keynes k
Ee and apostrophes.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Catch it to me.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
I'm there, I'm done.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
You can get a get a drink there too, Porky.
They they have pictures of people who sat in their
booths back when the old timey thing. I sat in
the same place Babe Ruth did. How cool was that?
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Oh my god, tetch me the name, text me here,
I'm there. I'll send you a picture.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Think about it, Think about a porky, uh, the super Genius,
some babe Ruth, two fat guys who liked them drink.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Of a steak.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You can't beat it right.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Oh my god, I hear. I just pulled my eyes
out A great visual of the two of you. Donkey's
sitting there eating your filamings and your prime ribs. I
could see it like it was yesterday.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
I'll Textion thirty seconds, have fun and thanks for coming on.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Well. I enjoy our time together. This was good, lucky cock.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
That's Phil Burke up next, it's time to ask Mark Anything.
Four one two excuse me eight three three four one
two I was doing so good eight three three four
one two ninety nine thirty nine eight three three four
one two ninety nine thirty nine. Or you can leave
a cock back via the microphone icon it the iHeartMedia app.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
I'm Mark Man. One oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
It's time to submit your questions for Ask Mark Anything.
Use your free iHeartRadio app and sap the microphone. I
go on to send your questions to the super Genius instantly.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
This hour, the Mark.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Madden shows rot funding to I can't even quote the
big Oboski right, goodbye, d Exiti not ask Mark, anything
brought to us by People's Natural Gas peoples in the
sensual Utilities Company, safe reliable natural gas energy. That's People's
(34:16):
hyphengas dot Com. Let's go out of our good friend
immediately because he likes to come on fast.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
He is the Hebrew hammer hammer yuck schemas.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Yucko much Mark.
Speaker 5 (34:24):
Thanks for getting me in.
Speaker 4 (34:26):
Hey, do you think the act by changing the phone
number was a management toxic to force you out?
Speaker 3 (34:35):
That's none of your business.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
Good enough? Hey, the Steelers, So now that we can
talk playoffs, what do you think we' who do you
think the Steelers can.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Match up with?
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Well, put it this way, there are a bunch of
teams they could play. It would be a death sentence.
They could never beat Buffalo, even though Kansas City are struggling.
In a playoff game, Kansas City would torch him. I
think if they played Baltimore, Baltimore could regroup Baltimore and
beat him.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I think they'd have a hard.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Time against Indianapolis, but we'll find that out during the
regular season. I'm still not convinced this team is very good.
I just think they're catching a wave. They're getting a
good circumstance because the division's falling apart.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Well, here's the thing, is the season so long.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
The Steelers could be catching their wave now, but then
Baltimore could catch it in November, just like.
Speaker 9 (35:29):
This year has last year in this year are very
mirror in many aspects.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Now, I have a question for you. Where standing man
Gabou being your brother?
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Uh, he's coaching the defensive line for the Fox Shop
High school football team.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
That's your cue. Let's go to Alex. Alex ask Mark anything.
Speaker 9 (35:52):
What I mean?
Speaker 4 (35:54):
What up? Man? Go?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Uh?
Speaker 9 (35:57):
Would you rather see Liverpool win the Champions League and
the Premier League before Van Dijk and Sala leave or
Sid win a cup before he leaves?
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Sid win a cup? Me too, but I think I
have a better chance at the former. Let's go to
a talkback, Mark.
Speaker 8 (36:24):
Do you still predict the Chiefs won't make it to
the postseason? And do you think it's more likely that
the Steelers win the AFC North or that the Ravens
missed the playoffs?
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Well, the last two aren't necessarily mutually inclusive. I think
the Steelers will win the AFC North. I think the
Chiefs will win the playoffs, although tonight at Jacksonville a
team on the rise.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
That'll tell a tale. One more talkback.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
With retirement on your near horizon, are you going to
stay local? Had to Vegas? What's your playing there?
Speaker 1 (36:58):
I don't know if I'm ever going to retire. I mean,
I'm going to get more time off all the time.
Maybe they'll retire me when I don't want to, But
I don't know. I'm working for another how many months?
For another twenty two months. We'll see from there. We'll
see how my health is. My health is always a concern.
I'm an old, fat guy with two stints. I'm surprised
(37:18):
I'm still alive now
My guest right now is a three time Stanley Cup
champion and entering his twentieth season with the Penguins. It's
always a pleasure to speak with Christopher Letang tang A
twenty years does it seem that long?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
No, I honestly, it goes by so fast. Obviously, you know,
we always for more spart we had, we had a
lot of success, So I guess when you're having fun
and you're doing what you love, it goes fast. So yeah,
it doesn't seem like twenty years.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
A lot of kids are under roster now.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Talk about the energy that brings to the room and
what that does for veterans like you, Well.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's fun. Obviously you're you want to meet you guys
and you want to see guys do well. And obviously
those two guys have actually played really well in training camp.
It's fun to see the evolution of their game and
and what they can do at this level. So it's
going to bring energy, It brings a different type of
(01:14):
atmosphere in the room. So it's going to be fun
to see their their first NHL game tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What's your take on Harrison Brunick, the nineteen year old
defenseman who certainly had a very good training camp.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
He's a great player. Obviously, we all know his skill set.
He can skate, he has a great shot, great great hands.
But I think he also brings a physical elements. He's
a guy that you know plays with a with a
little bit of an edge. So it's going to be
(01:49):
fun to see his evolution as he plays in the NHL.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
You were twenty when you became a full time NHL player,
Tanger Brunick's nineteen. Mean they say it's harder for defensemen.
What was the toughest part for you to adjust back then?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I would say the speed of the game and the
fact that you're playing against man. Everybody's like strong, and
you know, the physical element of the game is different.
I think that's that's the biggest adjustment. But he's a
he's a smart player. Uh, he'll figure it out, and
(02:27):
it just takes game game to get more experience, and
you know you're going to see an improvement as as
the season goes on.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Now, you were a letter, you're an alternate captain. You
talk a lot to the younger guys. What kind of
input do you try to have.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, you try to talk to them, but you don't wanna,
You don't want to fill their heads, and now they don't.
They're not able to be themselves. You know, they they
were drafted for a reason. They were they were brought
on our team for for certain skill sets. So you
want you want them to showcase that, especially in training camp.
But when you see little things that they can actually
(03:05):
see or pay attention a little bit more, Uh, you
don't want to fill their heads. Like I said, you
want to let them play, so but I try sometime
to do just say a little little tips to help
their game.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Now, you guys got a heck of a power play
finished sixth in the league last year. It's basically the
same group this year. That's going to be a big
part of your success. Right, That's a pretty potent group.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I think it's something that if we want to be
competitive this year, the special units will be really important.
I think it could. It could make us win a
lot more games than than we think. So, Uh, it's
going to be a huge part of our of our team.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
How important is a good start tanger with all the changes.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
It's important obviously you wanna you want to start connecting
and create chemistry with with the new guys as quick
as possible, so uh, we can improve faster. So I
think that's gonna be a big, big sparking.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
You have a new coach for the first time in
a long time. What are your impressions to date of
Dan Muse?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Uh, you know, a lots lots of energy, a lot
of pace. Uh doesn't really uh waste time. Uh, you
know at the board and cooling off between drills.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
He likes when the pace and the intensity is really high,
and that's what he wants out of us when we
come playing time. You know, when you're we're gonna be
playing the ranger if you want, say, a high tempo game.
And Uh, I think that's what he tried to bring
Uh during training camp.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Do you think the team will play with a bit
more structure this year? That's kind of what I'm seeing
so far.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Do you mean structure? You mean more more, more and.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
More tight, more systematic. Maybe a different kind of system.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, it's a different type of system. It's not the same. Uh,
there there's more.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Uh. You know, when when you have a coach.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
For that long, you you you try to improve year
after year, try to change little things, try to make
it perfect. As when you have a new coach, you know,
you want to go black and white at the beginning,
and after that you kind of work some some areas
(05:35):
that are kind of more gray. So I think right now, yes,
it's going to be more black and white. You've got
to know your assessment and you have to do your job.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
At thirty seven, how does your game change and your
your conditioning routine too, which is so big for you,
has served you so well?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Well, I'm not thirty seven. I'm actually older, so I'm
thirty eight.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Well let's go with thirty okay, but yeah, but still
same question.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, uh no, I'm just I'm just using you. It's
for for me, it's the same thing. It's uh my conditioning,
My the way I train was always a big part
of my success in the NHL. So I'm still I'm
still writing with the same thing. Uh yeah. So I
(06:23):
don't want to change that. I think it's a competitive
advantage I got and I want to keep it that way.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
How about on the ice, have you changed your game
very much? It still is like mostly the same game
to me.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Uh yeah, I mean, you know, like part of my
game is to be intense physical. Uh two A guide
that go up and down. So you know, I I
like to bring energy. I like to have a complete game.
So that's that's not going to change.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
What was the return Like with with Mark Andre Ferry
for that one game, it seemed like a lot of
fun for you guys, even though he vandalized your cars.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yah, yeah, I know, it was tons of fun. Obviously
spending the whole day, the day before, even after the game.
We had a little get together just remembering all the
all the good times and what it was like when
we were together. And it was kind of weird because
when he opted on the ice, it was it kind
(07:26):
of like it's like we never missed a beat. It
was like he never left. So that was kind of strange,
but at the same time pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He could still play too.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I know he's forty and you know, there's a lot
of reasons to not play, but I wish he would.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, I mean, you know a guy like that that
loves the game. I always has a smile in his face.
He's great for a dressing room. He also he also
bring bring a certain element on the ice, the competitiveness
and like the battle of the ads with the other guys.
(08:04):
I think it's uh, it's great. But at one point
when you're when mentally and physically your body is talking
to you and it's time to make a decision and
and do with his family. That's that's the best, Uh,
you know, that's the best thing you can wish for him.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
He put a big number twenty nine dcal on your cars.
It's still on there.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
No, it's not.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Now you've had Sindon Gino as your teammates for every
year of your career, this will.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Be number twenty for you.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Like I said, talk about that bond because it's certainly
very unique in today's world of pro sports where guys
move all the time.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, I mean, uh, I think it's just the fact
that was just since the beginning, we had the same
goal in mind, and it was to be part of
its team that's gonna win championships and be competitive as
every single year to try to to win win a cup.
So I think from from that's some point when you're
(09:06):
all kind of rolling in the same direction, you know,
you create that bond and like today we're we're we're
kind of not surprised that we're still together after twenty years.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
What what's the goal for this season because you're not
exactly being predicted for great things after having missed the
playoffs for a few years.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Yeah, I mean, I don't think we are right now.
We we have a goal set for for our team.
I just think it's it's to to get to our
our game as fast as possible, like be comfortable with
the new system, be comfortable with the new players, and
try to get results now and then we're not gonna
(09:47):
lie like we're gonna We're gonna have a good part play.
We need a good p K, our goalies need to
be great and uh you know, we'll we'll try to
get the best result. That's that's our goal. It's the
goal is to perform every single night, bringing bringing a
certain level of intensity and and we'll see what happens.
(10:07):
But right now, there's no like we didn't put on
on a piece of paper what our goal is. It's
just to come to the ring, compete, get better every
single day. That's it.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Tanger, Thank you for taking the time.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
You've been a faithful servant to the cause here and
done great things.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
And good luck tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
That's Chris Latang. I'm Mark Madden, You're listening to one
O five nine the X.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
One thirty six at Locust Avenue, Parkway East ounbound, pretty
heavy Oakland, the squirrel Hill Tunnel inbound Second Avenue to
the Fort pitt Bridge, Brendon Joseph, total traffic. Why is
NJM Insurance silent in an industry full of catchy jingles?
And how do they do what's right when things go wrong?
Tune into baffling mysteries to find what.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Boy idiots drop and happy.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But they have no real impact in this world, unless,
of course, they're quick enough to make the NFL.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
The exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Baltimore got killed by Houston at Buffalo at Baltimore rather.
You know that Cincinnati lost to Detroit at Sincy, but
there's no shame there. Detroit's real good. Cleveland lost in
Minnesota at London. Then Cleveland played okay, but the Browns
is the Browns, so the whole afc.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
North lost this week.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Baltimore's one and four, Cleveland's won and four, Cincinnati's two
and three, but Burrow is out and they've lost three
straight and they've quit, and maybe the Ravens have two.
Having watched both teams play a bit yesterday, so it'd
be very difficult for the Steelers to not win the division.
Ten and seven was the AFC North. Nine and eight
(11:50):
might win the AFC North. You should go six to
zero in the division stacked on what they've done. That's
a presumed nine and one right there. Even five and
one gets you to eight and two you split the
other games. That's eleven or twelve wins. The Steelers need
to get the number one seed in the AFC, which
I think will require thirteen or fourteen wins. It might
(12:13):
be a little bit out of their range, but I
don't know who they might. You want to make a
run in the playoffs, you need that week off in
the wild card round because you got an old team West.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
And I honestly don't think the Steelers are very good.
I don't. I bet you don't really either.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
And they're gonna win the division by default because somebody
has to. And if it's possible to get the number
one seed for the same reason, I say, make the
most of it.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Why ask why opportunity is knocking.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I have said that the Steelers will be in control
of the division by the time they play at Baltimore
on December seventh. I have no doubt about that that
they'll be ahead by a game and hopefully two. The
Steelers host Buffalo on November thirtieth. That's huge, could be
hope it is.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
The Bengals and Ravens, like I said, just look like
they've quit, just get routed every week since Burrow got hurt.
I think the Cleveland game at Akroshore this sun is
going to be easier than the Cincinnati game in Sincy.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
The following Thursday.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Like I said, why ask why, opportunity is knocking, So
give me a call A three three four one two
thirty nine.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. They were first round picks
in the same draft. You may recall first and third
pickover on twenty eighteen. Donald struggled for a long time.
Baker struggled for a while. But last night they became.
(14:11):
It became the first game in NFL history last night
Bucks and Seahawks were both quarterbacks threw for over three
hundred and twenty five yards and completed eighty percent or
more of their passes. Baker Mayfield twenty nine for thirty three.
That's an eighty eight completion percentage. Three hundred and seventy
nine yards, Donald twenty eight for thirty four eighty two
(14:33):
percent three hundred and forty one yards.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Good for those guys.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Could have been counted out, could have turned into Kenny
Pickett said, Oh no, not that anything with Kenny Pickett.
And now they're two real good quarterbacks and they're getting paid.
Let's go to Tom and Aspinwall or wherever you're from. Tom
and Hopewell, who cares?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
What's up?
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Tom?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Hey? Mark, what's up?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
I just wanted to get your thoughts on the Buffalo's
Bill game. Do you think that to it? Are gonna
look better now because they beat the Bills? And do
you think they expose them a little bit?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
They didn't expose the Bill. They didn't expose the Bills.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
They just had a real good game and they're an
improving team and the Bills had a bad game. But
the Bills will still walk away from that division. Tom,
I think what might have happened is maybe New England
a serve notice.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
They're going to be in the playoff race. Thank you
for the call.
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Speaker 3 (17:13):
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Speaker 8 (17:14):
If you're Pittsburgh Steels, then check out the latest potou.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You can tell Penguin seasons upon us.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
When my guest is back in this show's saddle calling
live from New York. A two times Stanley Cup champion.
He is the old two niner Phil Bourg two nine er.
Where are you at New York? You walk in the streets.
I bet you can't give it away on seventh Avenue.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Actually, I'm looking at seventh Avenue right now. We're at
seventh and fifty fourth. It is a absolute maam in
downtown New York. I just literally thirty seconds ago, jumped
off the bus. We just pulled into the hotel and
uh yeah, man, I'll tell you what. There's a there's
a buzz man, there's a buzz on the plane, a
buzz on the bus. So everybody's excited about tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Has them mine.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
And while while I see borky some holes in this
Penguins roster, it's not as bad as I thought it
would be, and I see a lot of promise to
get better.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Yeah, it's hard to really. I mean, we try to
speculate where the team might end up. I don't think
anybody can. I think you're guessing if you can, because
number one, we don't really know how good the goaltending
is going to be. I mean that's safe to say that, right,
there's a giant question mark there. But I think more
than anything else going into the season, I think hope
it's alive. I think it's the first time we can
(18:29):
say there's another wave of players, young, fast, tough players
in the pipeline that are really knocking on the NHL door.
You know when we kept we talked before in the past,
you know, we would say this guy and that guy,
and we were more like just just hope, like really hoping,
like fingers and toes cross that maybe he can crack
(18:49):
the lineup. And now we're seeing it that these young
kids get ready for prime time.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
What are your expectations for Harrison Brunnick on defense at nineteen,
because defense is a adjustment more than forward, certainly at
the NHL level.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
No, I agree, this gets different though. There's something different
about him Mark He's he just gets it. And even
you know that last home game against Buffalo where he
had a bad turnover and then the next shift on
the ice he scores that great goal from the goal
line and just you know, dusting himself off and went
back to work. He's got great skating ability which can
(19:27):
not only get him out of trouble, but it's it's
tied into his hands and tied into his mind. And
so it's one that we've seen lots of defense and
that can skate well, but they don't have the other
two and intangibles. He's got it all. And I'm not
saying that he's going to be here all season. I
think for the time being, he's going to get a
really good look for those first nine games. But for one,
(19:49):
I'm understanding Mark that Kyle Dubis and the coaches and
the rest of the staff, they're thinking that these guys
are ready for to be here for longer and they're
not worried about burning that first year on the entry level.
That they think, if these guys are good enough, we're
just going to keep them here all year, and if
things happen, you know, at forty games and there's a
tail off, then we can always send them back to junior.
(20:11):
But in the meantime, they have every intention to keep
them here all year, I believe.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
So I think if they play more than nine, you've
got to keep them here all year.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I think that's the rule.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
But but I would keep brune heure period bork He
because we've both seen enough major junior to know that
he's outgrown it.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Well, that's the thing, and that's you know that that
rule is going to change next year where you know
you can put one player to the American Hockey League
one old correct one exempt yeah, one one exemption yeah.
And so you're right, what's he going to accomplish? And
I think that's where you know, not only you know
what seven hundred eight hundred grand of dollars in his
(20:51):
bank account for Gavin McKenna playing for Penn State. But
I think that's what happened to McKenna, right. He figured, listen,
I need to be against men here. I need begin
against guys that have that man strength and and I'm
more closer to the NHL, where you know, in the
Western Hockey League, each team's got maybe two or three
guys that are that type. So you're right, I don't
(21:12):
know what he would accomplish by going back to the
Western Hockey League. And he's better fit for here because
I think that he's got the mind, he's got the skating.
The only thing is is that strength in an eighty
two game schedule.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I'm glad Kendall made it in eighteen. I think it's
only till some injured forwards get back. I think he'll
play the nine games then go. But Kendall earned it,
had a great training camp, and he's certainly not afraid,
is he.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
You said it, Yeah, that's a that's a great word.
He earned it. And you know, if you remember when
he came to prospect camp, Mark everybody's kind of like,
oh boy, like where is it? You know? And I
think it's just been kind of this slow, gradual, one
step in front of another and adapting and adjusting to
(21:57):
the NHL game. And I think that's what's impressed us
the most is he he hasn't really taken any giant
step backward. Yeah, he had a turnover in that Buffalo game,
but also bounce back and just kept on keeping on.
And so you hope that that confidence and that mental
fortitude continues when he makes bigger mistakes at the NHL level,
(22:18):
because he's going to make them right Mark. But you know,
his size, his size doesn't seem to be a big
factor because you know, it's Ryans me a lot of
Jake Gensel. If you remember when Jake Genzel first came
into the league, he was getting punished, he was getting
absolutely blown up, but he kept bouncing up right, He
kept bouncing right back in and go right back to
the front of the net. And I think that Ben
(22:39):
Kindall kind of has that same, uh, not only mental
toughness but physical toughness that he can endure big hits
and he'll figure out, oh, I can't put myself in
that position again because with my size, I'm not going
to be ill. I'm not going to be here for
a very long time if I keep taking those kinds
of hits, because I think he's got the smarts, the
(22:59):
hockey marks to figure it out quick.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Now, you mentioned that Kendall has a lot of comm
with with Gens in terms of approach. I think Coyven
has a lot of comma with Gensel In even more
ways than that, I think he could be that kind
of player. I love that he's going to be on
the line with Sid. They play that close quarters two
on two game, don't they.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
They do. I actually interviewed Sid today for my pregame
two minute interview and I just asked it about players
that he's played with, and Mark, you've been there the
whole way, You'll know what I'm talking about. Whether it's
Andy Hilbert and Kolbe Armstrong or Pascal Dupuix and Chris Kunis.
I'm not talking about Marion Hosa because Host is a
different animal, right, I'm talking about players that just externally
(23:44):
quick snapshot. You think, ah, he can't play with Sid,
but then once he starts playing with Sid, he figures
out that little give and go game, that little five
to eight pass game. He figures out those little tick
moves you know, on the fore check to read off
of Sid. Of oh, like, he just gave me a
little look. He wants me to go in first, and
then he's gonna roll off of me and just almost
(24:05):
in unison. And it's more between the brains than it
is your actual skill set to try to think and
anticipate what Sid wants. That takes a very special player.
And what I've seen so far, and to be continued
here is Corven has that because number one, he's got
the wheels, okay, so he can keep up with Sid.
Number two he's got the hands to keep up with
(24:27):
the wheels, and number three he's got the mind to
keep up with the other two. And so we'll see
if he can do it on a consistent basis. That's
the challenge because now he's going to be seeing it,
because he's going to be riding let's win with Sid.
He's gonna see the other team's best center, and he's
also going to see the other team's best defense pairing
shift in and shift out, night in and night out,
(24:47):
and that can take a toll on you unless you're
a special player, like we talked about and even Brian Rush.
When Rusty first started playing with Sid, he didn't have
it figured it out right away, but he figured it
out quickly. And you know, the one thing that stood
out in my interview with Sid, it was just about
that those a little closer you talked about proximity passes,
those little eight passes, eight foot passes and the give
(25:08):
and go. Those are things that Sid really stressed you
need to be exceptional at to play with him.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
We're talking to Phil Bork here on the Home of
the Penguins one oh five ninety x.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
You mentioned talking to Sid and I spoke to them
a bit Friday after the exhibition game, and he seems
energized by the kids.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Do you think that's true?
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Will that carry over to Gino Latang and Eric Carlson.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Let me start with Carlson first. Uh, this is the
best I've seen Eric Carlson plays at Pittsburgh Penguin. And
so maybe a combination of a different coach, a freshet device,
a different voice, and not only Dan Mues, but also
you know Mike Suthers, who's runs the defense, and if
(25:52):
there's some kind of a connection there because I don't
think you have to coddle Eric Carlson, but I think
you do have to coach him a little bit different.
But as far as Gino and Tanger and say they'll
kind of lump them all together, yes, I think all
three of them do get energized by a couple things.
Number one, by young players that can play. They're not
just young players, They're not just young fast players. Young
(26:14):
players that could actually contribute and for Traice a better words,
kind of lighten their load, right mark that they don't
feel like it has to be them to win the
hockey game that on any given night, or maybe they
have their B game or maybe even their C game,
that the young kids are the ones that get them
the two points on any given night. So I think
the three of them really enjoy young players that can
(26:36):
contribute because they were all young players that con contribute
very quickly, right with Letang and obviously sitting in Gino
that it didn't take them to figure out the NHL game,
you know, it didn't take them that long. And I
think they really appreciate young players that figure it out early,
like McGroarty, like Coyven, and like Brunette that they see
(26:58):
a little bit of themselves back when they were, you know,
nineteen twenty twenty one years old.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
What we haven't talked about goaltending yet, BORKI, Uh, what's
your level of faith and Jari and shilloffs? Because I
think Morishov's their best goalie, but I understand why they
send him to Wilkes, and in fact I agree with it.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
I concur Yeah, I think if you just looked at
the preseason games, then you have to rank your goaltendings.
I think you'll agree with me. It was Marischoff, shea
LOFs and then Jari. But with all that being said,
I still don't know who you're I'm still to find
sure who the goaltender is going to be town night
against the Rangers. I'm just gonna assume Jari, and they're
going to just see if he can run with it
(27:38):
here and then I think they'll quickly go to Shee
Loss if he stumbles at all. And if he continues
to stumble, they sent him down to American League twice
last year, so I don't think they'll hesitate to do
it again and bring Marishoff out here up here. So
it's all that being said, this is another year, you know,
for now Christin Jari in his thirties to be the
(28:00):
We've never denied what kind of talent he has, but
we have questioned the times how he plays the position,
how aggressive or a lack of being aggressive in the
goals going to be aggressive? Focus and its focused right
and right, That focus and that consistency that should be
lined up with the talent, and it just hasn't been
(28:22):
over the years.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Well, the peng was being more structured and Cincinnati and
systematic borking with Dan Mws's coach, because I believe that's
the intent, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
Yes, here's the word you're gonna hear a lot from
Dan muars and and from your broadcasters too, the word
connected and he uses it all the time. And that's
what and I think that would resonate for me as
a player in that locker room, be connected with my linemates,
be connected with my defense pairing work as a five
man unit. I know these are a little bit cliches,
(28:53):
but they're so true for a team that was a
bit scattered at times on the ice in their defensive
structure in the last couple of years. So I think
the one thing I've noticed in the preseason doesn't matter
who's in the lineup, that when they're playing their best,
that they're connected. It's hard to get through the neutral zone.
And once we do get through the neutral zone, you
(29:13):
find that there's multiple layers of defense in the Penguins
defensive zone structure, and it's just everybody buying into one thing. Listen,
one of the most overused terms in hockey is systems.
There's not all these crazy systems. Yeah, you can play
man on man, you can play zone. That's that's a
big system thing right there, the way your neutral zone
for check codes, that's the system things. But after that,
(29:35):
there's not all these these you know, hard to understand
type of systems. Everybody kind of uses the same type
of quote unquote system. But for damn muse, the biggest
thing he wants to do, I think is when he's
watching the video, to hit the pause button and be
able to see five Penguins around the puck.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Poor guy.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I feel like you and I are going to be
diametrically opposed on this one. I think the most important
thing this season is to get a talk pick. I
bet you'd rather sneak into the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
This is what I want. I don't know if it's
gonna answer your question, I don't. I don't want to
be in the middle, you know what I mean either,
if you're gonna.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Go for it, go for it, man, go all in for.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
It and make the playoffs. And listen, I'm if they
lose the first round of the playoffs, I'll be I'll
be okay with that. I just want them to go
for it. But it's if you finish, you know, twentieth
in the league. That's that's It's right, it's the muddy middle, right,
What do you get for that? You know? I mean, listen,
that's that's exactly almost exactly where the New York Island
(30:38):
is finished. And they worked for them. But that's very
rare that you move up ten spots like they did,
uh and win that kind of the lottery bingo balls
and get a player like Matthew Schaffer. That's very rare
that's gonna happen. So listen, I still I look at
this team on paper. To me, it's the playoff team.
And this isn't me putting on the you know, the
(30:58):
black and gold pomp post.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
But the Eastern Conference is awful. That's what makes what
you think a wild card.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Yeah, I still think it's the playoff team that could
absolutely give into the wild card because you're you look
at the even the metro. You talk about the East,
that's one thing, because we don't know what's going on
with Florida. They have a couple of major injuries down there.
You know, Tampa is always going to be relevant, so
is Toronto. Right, you don't know what's going on with
the teams in the other division in the Eastern Conference.
But when you just look at the metro, who's the
(31:28):
best in the Metro? Who's the best? Can you say?
You think I.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
Can tell you this. I don't trust Brendan Moore as
a coach. I think the Rangers are overrated. I think
the Islanders don't have a great coach either, although I
love Patty. I think there's a lot of room to
move around.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Right, And you're like, nobody saw Washington doing what they
did last year, you know, so why can't the Penguins
do something of like like Washington did? And I know
the answer is going to be goalkender. That's exactly what
it to me. That is the giant question mark of
this season for the Pittsburgh Penguins and where they finished
in the Metro and then East and if they get
to the playoffs, if they can get any kind of
(32:07):
consistent goaltending, I think everything else will be fine.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Porky, What are you planning for tonight in Manhattan?
Speaker 4 (32:15):
You know what I'm thinking of doing? I think, Uh,
I need, I need a really cold beverage. I've had
a couple of stressful days, Mark, I need to kick
off the shoes. I need to get the easy clothes on.
And uh, I'm gonna go search for a comedy club
and the coldest beer in midtown Manhattan.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Not bad for me to Let me see just keen
steak cosh ever been there? You say, King's Keynes k
Ee and apostrophes.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Catch it to me.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
I'm there, I'm done.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
You can get a get a drink there too, Porky.
They they have pictures of people who sat in their
booths back when the old timey thing. I sat in
the same place Babe Ruth did. How cool was that?
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Oh my god, tetch me the name, text me here,
I'm there. I'll send you a picture.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Think about it, Think about a porky, uh, the super Genius,
some babe Ruth, two fat guys who liked them drink.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Of a steak.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
You can't beat it right.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Oh my god, I hear. I just pulled my eyes
out A great visual of the two of you. Donkey's
sitting there eating your filamings and your prime ribs. I
could see it like it was yesterday.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
I'll Textion thirty seconds, have fun and thanks for coming on.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Well. I enjoy our time together. This was good, lucky cock.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
That's Phil Burke up next, it's time to ask Mark Anything.
Four one two excuse me eight three three four one
two I was doing so good eight three three four
one two ninety nine thirty nine eight three three four
one two ninety nine thirty nine. Or you can leave
a cock back via the microphone icon it the iHeartMedia app.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
I'm Mark Man. One oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
It's time to submit your questions for Ask Mark Anything.
Use your free iHeartRadio app and sap the microphone. I
go on to send your questions to the super Genius instantly.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
This hour, the Mark.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Madden shows rot funding to I can't even quote the
big Oboski right, goodbye, d Exiti not ask Mark, anything
brought to us by People's Natural Gas peoples in the
sensual Utilities Company, safe reliable natural gas energy. That's People's
(34:16):
hyphengas dot Com. Let's go out of our good friend
immediately because he likes to come on fast.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
He is the Hebrew hammer hammer yuck schemas.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Yucko much Mark.
Speaker 5 (34:24):
Thanks for getting me in.
Speaker 4 (34:26):
Hey, do you think the act by changing the phone
number was a management toxic to force you out?
Speaker 3 (34:35):
That's none of your business.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
Good enough? Hey, the Steelers, So now that we can
talk playoffs, what do you think we' who do you
think the Steelers can.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Match up with?
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Well, put it this way, there are a bunch of
teams they could play. It would be a death sentence.
They could never beat Buffalo, even though Kansas City are struggling.
In a playoff game, Kansas City would torch him. I
think if they played Baltimore, Baltimore could regroup Baltimore and
beat him.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
I think they'd have a hard.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
Time against Indianapolis, but we'll find that out during the
regular season. I'm still not convinced this team is very good.
I just think they're catching a wave. They're getting a
good circumstance because the division's falling apart.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Well, here's the thing, is the season so long.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
The Steelers could be catching their wave now, but then
Baltimore could catch it in November, just like.
Speaker 9 (35:29):
This year has last year in this year are very
mirror in many aspects.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Now, I have a question for you. Where standing man
Gabou being your brother?
Speaker 4 (35:40):
Uh, he's coaching the defensive line for the Fox Shop
High school football team.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
That's your cue. Let's go to Alex. Alex ask Mark anything.
Speaker 9 (35:52):
What I mean?
Speaker 4 (35:54):
What up? Man? Go?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
Uh?
Speaker 9 (35:57):
Would you rather see Liverpool win the Champions League and
the Premier League before Van Dijk and Sala leave or
Sid win a cup before he leaves?
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Sid win a cup? Me too, but I think I
have a better chance at the former. Let's go to
a talkback, Mark.
Speaker 8 (36:24):
Do you still predict the Chiefs won't make it to
the postseason? And do you think it's more likely that
the Steelers win the AFC North or that the Ravens
missed the playoffs?
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Well, the last two aren't necessarily mutually inclusive. I think
the Steelers will win the AFC North. I think the
Chiefs will win the playoffs, although tonight at Jacksonville a
team on the rise.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
That'll tell a tale. One more talkback.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
With retirement on your near horizon, are you going to
stay local? Had to Vegas? What's your playing there?
Speaker 1 (36:58):
I don't know if I'm ever going to retire. I mean,
I'm going to get more time off all the time.
Maybe they'll retire me when I don't want to, But
I don't know. I'm working for another how many months?
For another twenty two months. We'll see from there. We'll
see how my health is. My health is always a concern.
I'm an old, fat guy with two stints. I'm surprised
(37:18):
I'm still alive now
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