October 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Mark continues to talk about that STeelers defense, and plays a humorous take from Bill Cowher regarding Flacco. Pierre McGuire makes his weekly appearance on the show talking Penguins.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Mark Madden Show.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm feeling low, so get me high that number again
eight three, three four one two WXDX where you can
follow the show on.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Twitter at Mark madden X.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I had somebody tweet you opened a sports show by
eulogizing a rock guitar player.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
And at four o'clock I'm joined by Eddie Trunk Metals
number one DJ to talk about the life and impact
of finding member kiss Frehley. Excuse me, finding member of
Kiss Ace Frayley who passed away last week. That's Eddie
Trunk scheduled to join me at at four pm. But
right now we will talk Steelers. That Cincinnati lost was
huge because of who it was too and how it happened,
(00:43):
and because the Steelers needed to be five and one.
And now you've got three tough games Green Bay, Indie
and the LA Chargers. If you go one and two,
you're five and four and bang right back in the
mushy middal. Although that crap Divisi may yet be their
saving grace. But what I Flacco Raley Cincinnati? Is it
(01:06):
impossible to see Cincinnati making a run to challenge the
Steelers for the top of the division, and the usual
suspects are like trade for this white out or that,
why not this guy, that guy the other guy. We've
been hearing that since Brandon Ayuk. They think they're finite
wide out. They're wrong, but that's what they think. And
(01:29):
I say again, there's nothing that fixes these Steelers besides
a new coach. The Steelers made all these personnel changes
like crazy this offseason, and yet they're old and stale
to an alarming and disgusting degree.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
And the old arguments are so tired.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Oh, you're not gonna get a better coach, says who
Lots of better coaches have come around the past several years,
stiking of Indiana for one, Guys who aren't prehistoric, Guys
who understand what the league is, which is score more
and faster, not seven offensive linemen, and not play a
zone so deep you're practically in the parking lot. Uh,
(02:18):
not zone that I mean over the time, you know
what I mean? I mean, look at that play chasemate
at the very end of the game to set up
the field goal. There was no one within a million
yards of him. He had like sixteen catches. How's he
open there? The Steelers get more scared and dull and fossilized.
Every year, rely on the defense that simply can't rely on.
(02:40):
Oh and Cam, I love this Cam. After the game,
he's like, this is unacceptable. G Cam, We're all so
happy you realize it's unacceptable and you're not gonna make
your Oki dunk bonuses. By the way, give him my
regards down at the thrift score, Cam, how can you
expect to feed a family on just fourteen point seventy
(03:02):
five million.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I don't know how you live with yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It's disgusting what's going on with the Steelers again. And
what's even more disgusting is that you dopes think these
guys have done something. What Cam and that ilk watch
lost one zero playoff games? Cam has won one, and
yet you revere them, you wear their jersey, you idolize
(03:28):
them like they've accomplished something. But they haven't accomplished anything
because this is Pittsburgh and we don't care about stats
and individual honors. You know how many times me and
Joe Green made first team All Pro I don't remember.
I only remember that me and Joe Green won four
Super Bowls because that's all.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I need to know. And all mean Joe Green wants
me to know.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
The Steelers franchise has been a relic for how many
years now, a constant disappointment with the.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Ball being lowered all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Somebody asked me on Twitter which Pittsburgh team would be
the next to win a championship. I said the Penguins,
because Kyle Dubas has a plan that goes beyond just
the next game.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Mike Tomlin doesn't.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
He doesn't, and too many games he blows the next
game when he should win it, like this past Thursday
at Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Okay, I've spoken as I predicted.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
It was long and really kind of I mean, I'd
rather talk about as freely. But does anybody want to
dispute any of what I've just said? I mean, Dona
dial one week, they could win the whole thing the
next week they stink.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I've been telling you how it is about this coach.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
About this regime, about the entire organization for years, and
I've been nothing but right. And if you disagree, kiss
my ass in hell. So do you dispute it? At
what point do you accept fact? And the Penguins they're
pissing me off because they're winning too much. Dan Mues
is making more of a positive difference than Mike Tomlin
(05:07):
has for years. We're never gonna get Kavin McKenna, are we.
The Penguins host Vancouver tonight after having won two out
of three in California. If Gunny Malkin and Sidney Crosby
or a wrecking crew the old firm, is it sustainable?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Tristan Jari got to shut out at San Jose. I
know that's not sustainable. So we got a lot to
catch up on. Otani had that big game. We're told
it's the greatest athletic achievement since the time of Christ
or whatever. What did Christ ever do to compare it
to what o'tanni did? That's a good question, right, Okay,
let me think. Let me think. Otani three home runs,
(05:46):
six score less innings, pitched, ten strikeouts, struck out the
side to open the top of the inning. It'll lead
off home run at the bottom of the inning. Christ
fed the masses with the wolves and fishes. That's a
tough one. I'm going, O Tawni. I'm going, O Tawni. No,
(06:10):
I don't know the loaves and fishes thing.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
What do you have?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I think he had like a McDonald's filet of fish
and fed like three thousand people.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
But the Otawni thing, it's great.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
It's it's not comparable to a lot of things we
talked about earlier, like like the Lemu five goals five ways,
and that's because it's only baseball. One let you scored
five goals five ways. He had people hitting him with wood,
okay O Tawni just didn't.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
He didn't. He didn't have people trying to hit him
with the wood.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So I'll talk more about that later. The trip was great,
the result was not for Liverpool. Four losses in a
row and you get to hear me agonize tomorrow Champions
League versus Frankfurt.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
That's okay, I keep the faith. One steal.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
This is hilarious. One Steeler dip Dipstick tweeted at it
at me, like right at the full time whistle Sunday
ha haa Liverpool lost. He couldn't wait, and I'm like, okay,
but we won the league just last season and before
that in twenty twenty, and Champions League at twenty nineteen,
(07:16):
and pretty soon I'll get to chant two thousand and eight.
But that's a tough year to chant. That's where you're lucky.
And we're fourth place now four points out. Not ideal,
but manageable. Just gotta play better. And I'm psyched because
I got that electricity at anfield.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That sports here just don't provide. So we'll get them tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It's not like we lost to the Bengals or to
West Virginia and I get to go watch hockey tonight.
In other news, the WNBA season ended and nobody noticed
one oh five niney X.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
And now the super genius Mark Madden, Hey, Mark, great show.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
When you got a young trophy?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
White os Monday to I can't even quote the big
o'bowski righte, goodbye the exit one O. I would like
to hear from some Steeler fans at eight three three,
four to one two WSDX. I mean, do you think
the season is just heading into the same direction it
always is, or have you managed to fool yourselves yet again.
(08:20):
I just don't see things being much better this year
than last year, than the year before that, then the
year before that, et cetera, et cetera. I don't if
they had been five and one by beating Cincy, Okay,
it still wouldn't have felt that different, but they would
have been exactly where they needed to be, and with
(08:46):
tough games coming up, they would have had legitimate cushion
if things went bad. Now that cushion's not there like
it was. You go one and two over the next
three games, as I think they well might, You're five
and four, and again I keep saying right back in
that mushy mintal, is there a reason to be more optimistic?
You tell me a three, three, four one two wxtx
(09:10):
and if not, that's okay too. There's never been a
better time to not listen. Thursday Penguin's Viewing Party at
Sharky's and Latrobe, not for Steeler training camp, but for
the Penguins and defending Stanley Cup champ in Florida Panthers.
And get this, It's Prime Rib Night at sharkis Prime Rib,
(09:32):
the Penguins, the super genius watching hockey eating meats. Can't
beat it. That's Thursday Night at Sharky's in Latrobe. Double
m with a Penguin's Viewing Party. Aaron Rodgers will face
his original team on Sunday, Green Bay for the first
time since leaving the Packers.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Matt Lafleur, the Green Bay coach. He says it's no
biggie Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Before apparently just clammed up. No little problem there. We'll
get to that SoundBite a little bit later. Let's see
what else we got here. Uh, here's Bill Carr on
CBS with a great idea for the Steelers. Sign Joe Flacco.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Think about this.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
There are only quarterbacks who have played my Tom ten
times or more who have winning records are Tom Brady
and Joe Fla. So my advice to Mike, I know,
I got upset about it, as I says, just sign
him in the offseason.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, right, I get it. If he's on your team,
you never have to play against him. I'm sure kyr
was kidding, probably, but I don't want to ever play
Flacco again if I'm the Steelers and I'm not gonna
guarantee Flacco beats the Steelers at Pittsburgh at a month
when the Bengals trapper here the return match from Thursday night.
(11:01):
But it's certainly the way I'm gonna bet. I mean,
how could you not bet that way. Flacco had a
better game last Thursday for Cincinnati against the Steelers after
barely having joined the team and learned to playbook a
better game last Thursday than Rogers has had all year
for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Now that's because Cincinnati lets Flacco play.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Aaron outs and Pittsburgh has made Rogers a game manager.
Like I keep saying, in Pittsburgh, it's about the coach.
The coach uber allis above everything else. His impact has
to be seen. It has to be done his way,
because that way we know how smart he is. Unless
he doesn't win a playoff game for uh seven years
(11:45):
going on eight. Let's go to Nick, Nick, you're old doublem. Okay,
we lost Nick, We've lost control of the radio station.
As I mentioned the WNBA season end, did nobody noticed
the River Hunts clinched the playoff.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Spot and they won their final regulars.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
If they win excuse me this coming Saturday night, I
think it is at home their final regular season game.
They get a home game in the playoffs, and that
would be certainly bouncing back to some degree after an
up and down season.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
But they maybe they've saved their best for last. That'd
be great.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Uh pitt one again, yahoo, Uh, Penn State lost again.
That is a mess beyond James Franklin. James frank was
on ESPN on game Danny wind Nick Saban wined two
on Franklin's behalf and said the firing was unfair, and
it was, but nobody likes a liner. What happens if
(12:47):
you fire Franklin and Penn State just keeps on losing.
Maybe it wasn't Franklin who hit a wall. Maybe it's
the program it hit a wall. Okay up, now we're
gonna talk hockey with the great Pierre Maguire later on,
I want to ask you what would take for the.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Steelers to win a playoff game.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I think their only chances to win the division get
a home game and get the right opponent, and the
right opponent would not be Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
One five ninety x one oh five nine.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
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Speaker 1 (13:24):
See what I did there.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
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Speaker 1 (13:44):
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Speaker 2 (14:02):
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Speaker 1 (14:08):
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Speaker 2 (14:14):
Penguins hosting Vancouver tonight at PPG. Paint Serena joining us
out of tak Hockey. He's done everything possible in the
Great Game. He is Pierre Maguire, Pierre Pengwins are foign
too and not playing badly. What's been the primary catalyst
to them holding their own so far?
Speaker 6 (14:30):
We're habits, coaching and a sense of belief internally that
even though they might not have a lot of big
players on their roster, they can still get.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
The job done.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
I love the line of Mattha, Malcolm and Brenzolmark. It's
made a huge difference the early start to the year,
and I think the energy of a player like Ryan Chay,
I think the energy of a player like Connor Doer,
I think the passion of a player like Blake Lazat.
It all resonates with the older guys that have been around,
and then you compound, which Arthur Seawock has been great
(15:02):
since opening. Then I know people say, what about the
game against the Rangers at home? Don't fault them on that,
that was a weird game. And then Tristan Jarry with
a neat sense of enthusiasm to be the guy that
makes a difference. I think there's a lot of different things.
I think it's coaching, energy, passion, and work habits.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Dan Muse is rotating shilloffs and Jari shilloffs and goal
tonight with Vancouver visiting. Can you do that in the
long run or do you got to decide on the
number one at some point.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
I think a lot of teams around the league now
are probably going one a one D type of situation
and they'll ride in the hot hand. But I don't
think the days of Marty broder Mark, you know, ten
straight years of seventy plus starts, and he actually did
that those days are long gone. It's just too hard
to lead. Too much traveled, too many compressed, sed those
(15:54):
too many back to backs. So I'm going to say
that a lot of teams aren't. It's not going to
be a foreign concept for most teams anyways. To see
the split be maybe fifty thirty two or fifty two thirty.
You know, I could see where that kind of split
does happen. And I do think you're going to see
a lot of teams with a one A and one
B situation.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
You mentioned that Mokin line is Brazo for real? Can
he keep it up playing top six? Oh?
Speaker 6 (16:21):
Yeah? The biggest thing. And people are going to say, well,
he's a big guy, and you know he's got hanton.
You can get to the front of the neck. He
really can do that. I agree. So they're going to say,
and they're going to question, well, what about his skating.
Skating's not that good, and you know, can that hold
up when the big teams come into town and you know,
the fast teams And the biggest thing I can tell
(16:42):
you I watched this player play for North Day Battalion
and the Ontario Hockey League, and I know that he
had a couple of seasons where he was well over
thirty five goals and one year I think he was
over sixty goals. He's a scorer. He always has it,
you know, has it translated exactly that the NHL level
them know it can be a big body presence and
(17:03):
in the slot playing with a creative player, they get
Genny malkoln and a shooter like Anthony Manka. The answer
Jesse Ken and that's where you're going to see him
get all those goals from right in front, on top
of the crease. Kyle Dupas is the guy that signed
him as a free agent out of the Ontario Hockey
League and they put him in and they put him
in East Coast Hockey with in Newfoundland and that's what
kind of took off, and he's been really good ever since.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Should the Penguins keep Brunick and Kendall or returned them
to juniors?
Speaker 1 (17:29):
What are the pros and cons up here?
Speaker 6 (17:31):
This is what I would say with both these players,
And I've talked to our very good friend Paul Stiderald
about this on the Pittsburgh Penguins pregame show, Mark, I
believe the president's been set and it really was in
Pittsburgh with Mark Andre Flurry way back when in two
thousand and three, where Mark Andre was the first overall pick.
They didn't want to break him down, you know, with
a team that was marginal to just okay, and so
(17:54):
in two thousand and four they let him go represent
Canada the World Junior if you remember, in Helsinki, Finland,
and I would think very seriously about keeping both these
players up, put them on the same kind of a
time management schedule that you saw Leo Carlson go through
in Anaheim a couple of years ago. And the only
reason I know what they did with Leo is because
(18:14):
his agent, Matt Kager, is a very good friend of mine,
and they did that in negotiation with Pat would beat
the GM, the coach at the time, Greg Cronin, and
their training staff, and it's worked fantastically well. And then
I would really think about in December letting both Brunneck
and Kindle go represent Canada at the World Junior. So
they leave for about three weeks and then they come
(18:35):
back after hopefully dominating, which they should, they're both East
Elite players at that level in particular, and then they
come back, but they never go back to their junior teams.
That's probably the best compromise I could come up with.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
That sounds like a pretty good plan to meet Pierre.
Let me throw in a disclaimer with Kendall. If they
keep him, he needs to get some top six minutes,
better line mates, and even some power play time, because
that's the player you need him to be.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
You need to coach to be that.
Speaker 6 (19:02):
Well. I'll give you an example to back you up.
Emmittt Finney is a guy who was a seventh round
pick out of the Kamloops Blazers, a team that our
good friend Mark Reki's part owner with Jerome mcginnl and
Shane Doe, and emittt Finny has a seventh round pick
is not playing as a first line player in Detroit
with you know, Raymond and Larkin. And that kid just
(19:24):
is coming off a two goal, one to six game,
and I can't tell you he's one of the best
seventh round picks I've seen in a long time, a
really good player. Chris Draper found him when he was
going to watch another player play for the Vancouver Giants,
and this kid just stood out because of the skating.
I agree with you on Kindall it's the same kind
of thing. What has surprised me the most about Ben Kimball,
(19:44):
and I don't know if it's surprising to you or not, Mark,
is that I knew that he was really smart, and
I knew he had hands, and I knew that great
purple vision. I wasn't sure that his skating was going
to be as good as it has been, and he
deserves a lot of credit. He's really found his way
that this kid's going to be a really good player
in the league.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Here's an example I would cite too to back up
my thoughts on Kendall Pierre, when the Penguins drafted a
Lexay Moroso back in nineteen ninety five. He was so
highly regarded offensively, but they played him bottom six so
long that he eventually became a bottom six had to
go back to Russia to find his touch again.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
Well, it's a great one because I was there broadcasting
all those games, so I remember the day. If I
agree with you one hundred percent, that's why you know
the old Bowman school of higher learning at the pro
level is if a guy's at a top six forward
in the American Hockey League and you're bringing them up
to your NHL team. Don't stick him on the last
two lines. Put him on the first two lines, because
(20:43):
that's his organizational strength. That's what you wanted to be
at point Getter. If he's a checker playing as a checker,
If he's a scorer playing as a scorer, and I
think you're onto something there, especially with Kimball.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
We're talking to Pierre Maguire here on the Mark Madden Show, Pierre,
talk of the Devil. We got the PE's Hall of
Fame induction this Saturday, and it's great to see obviously
Ronnie Francis and Kevin Stevens get recognized, but especially so
to see Scotti.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Bowman and EJ get recognition. I think I would agree
with you.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
I'm so proud of the Penguins organization for doing this
number one, for them to really be broad based and
not just making about the players, but making about the
people that brought the good players in. And you know,
EJ did a magnificent job during his stewardship of the
Pittsburgh Penguins as a general manager, as a coach, as
a senior advisor, as part of being a member of
(21:36):
three Stanley Cup winning teams in Pittsburgh as a senior
advisor to Ratio and then obviously to Jimmy Rifford. So
I had a ton of respect for Eddie and obviously
with Scottie were roommates, we were coaching mates. I'm not
sure that I could ever have been given a better
gift in life than to I've worked for him. So
I can just tell you the Penguins are a Marquee franchise,
(21:58):
and this is another example of why they're a Marquis franchise.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Here's kind of an interesting footnote regarding EJ's tenure in Pittsburgh,
and obviously he's never broken Omerta regarding the Tanks job
in eighty four. But drafting Mario wasn't as easy as
people think. At the time, Pierre Ej got flooded with
big offers from a bunch of teams and one of
his own Scots wanted to draft Kirk Muller instead.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
That was one hundred percent true. I know that it's
not urban legend. That's one hundred percent factual marks reported.
And you know the biggest thing is I think Eddie
had so much internal knowledge because of where Mario was
from in Montreal, vill Lamart and Eddie grew up with
his brothers not far from there, so the legend of
Maryland was really no from the time Marrio was probably
(22:43):
eight or nine years old in Montreal, so everybody knew
and that made a big difference. I mean, then you
watch some of his performances playing for Laval in the
Quebec Major Junior League and you're just like, this guy's
not even human. I mean, it's crazy how good he is.
So Eddie was aware of that. There were a lot
of people pushing for Kurt Muller. I know that. I
(23:04):
was in training camp with him as a player in
New Jersey in nineteen eighty four when he did get drafted.
But he as good a player as Kirk was, and
he's a really good player. He was nowhere near mary
And when you're not even.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Close, Vancouver's in time tonight, Pierre. The Canucks are four
and too. Just like the Penguins, they had a lot
of offseason turnover.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Where the Canucks stand right now in your eyes, you
know the.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
Movie Mash, and you remember the TV show Mash. Of
course they're kind of mass right now. They have more
injuries than any team in the league. They have been
decimated by injuries. If they didn't have all these injuries,
I think that they would be a team that people
would say, Wow, this is one of the better turnaround
stories in the league. Adam Foot deserves a lot of credit.
Scottie Young, the former Penguin and Stanley Cup winner in
(23:49):
ninety one with Pittsburgh, deserves credit. Ret McClain, another assistant
coach who came over from Minnesota, and Kevin Dean who's
been a tremendous coach and developer of defense, and that
coaching staffs in a nice job in Vancouver, but they're
decimated by injury right now. You're not seeing the real
Vancouver Connect team. They'll play hard, they'll play in your face,
(24:09):
they'll skate really well. I don't know how much talent
they're gonna have to be able to finish plays off tonight.
They got a lot of guys playing where they shouldn't
be playing just because of all the injuries. But I'll
tell you what, Adam puts on a magnificent job with
his staff getting these guys on board, a lot like
what Dan Hughes has done with his staff in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
In that injury Vain Perre Pittsburgh is at Florida Thursday night.
Florida zero and four on the road, three and four
in the season, and you know, I'm hoping for the best,
and they have the character of a two time champion,
But they really do seem crippled by injury, don't They
Maybe even worse than we suspected.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
Way worse than what we suspect. Barkoff was a devastating blow.
Katick not being back until at least the first of
the year, that's devastating. The injury to Koola Kop in
the back end is gigantic. Losing Nat Schmid and unrestricted
free agency was massive. They're absolutely decimated by injury and
the team too. They think most of those players have
(25:05):
been in the final three straight years. That's unbelievably difficult
to believe that they can have a resurgent year again
this year, especially with all the injuries. I think it's
gonna be a very difficult season for Florida. It doesn't
mean they can't win again, but I think they'll be
hard pressed to win again.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Beer.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
I think the toughest thing for them to be to
make the playoffs. I think if they get in and
get some guys back. They'll contend, but they might not
make it.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Well, you can lose all these points at the beginning
of the year. I think you're gonna get them back.
The problem is that you're not gonna get them back.
Two points in October is as valuable as two points
in March, So that's part of the problem. And I
don't think anybody's counting on Detroit to be five and
one out of the game. I don't think that too
many people would counting on Pittsburgh to be four and
two out of the game. And I don't think too
(25:50):
many people thought that the New York Rangers would win
three other four games on the road but lose four
straight games on home mikes, three of them being shut out.
So this has been a topsy turvy start to the
year for a lot of these teams. Otto and Tampa
at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Market's just so
real to think about. So yeah, no, I think they
(26:11):
can be in big trouble for if they don't get
on their horse get pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Ohb one goal in six games for Washington, is that
yet anything to worry about?
Speaker 6 (26:20):
Not yet. We talked about this last year too. I
remember when he got hurt the people that I thought,
I'll never make it this year, I'll never make it.
And he started going when he came back from the
broken leg and he started ripping it. I just think
that it's kind of a slow start for Washington. There's
still if the playoffs started today, they'd be in the playoffs.
The one thing I'm concerned about with them a little
(26:41):
bit more than maybe but I was last year is
what you just talked about. They usually score a little
bit more freely and a little bit more easily. They're
not getting that done at the level I thought they would.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Conor McDavid no goals in six games, does have seven helpers?
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Anything to worry about there?
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Yeah, not too much with them because simply don't get
it going. I could tonight when they play in autiwa
Auto was really struggling. But here's the biggest thing with Edverton.
I've watched all their games on this Eastern trip at
Madison Square Garden, at Ubs Arena on Long Island, and
at New Jersey. This team is not playing team defense.
They don't look organized, they don't look orchestrated. It's almost
(27:19):
as if they were accounting on all their offense to
win them games rather than playing structured team defense. They
got to get it going and right direction here. If
not this, you know, we tell you about Florida. Hey,
Edgington's been in the final the last two years and
they struck out both times. This is a hard thing,
you know. I don't think a lot of people didn't
think Chicago would get off to the start they are.
(27:40):
A lot of people didn't think Seattle would get off
to the start that they are. And I knew that
Utah would have the better team, but they've had a
really good start and I'm not surprised by Colorado winning.
Take So when you start doing that in Vegas, when
you start doing that, you start to get yourself into trouble.
And Mark, just remember Pittsburgh just saw these guys. I
think Anaheim's really going to cause problems. So a team
(28:02):
like Edmonton, they better get on their horseship pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
You mentioned Vegas, Pierre, like you, I watch a ton
of games. They don't have quite the best record, but
I think they look better than anybody, and I think Ichael.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Looks like the MVP.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
I know it's real early, but now sometimes you see
a guy feeling it and you feel it too.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
That's what I get from Jack Eichel.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
So far, so with the year that Nathan McKinnon won
the MVP, and I kept saying that the entire year
of the year that McDavid won the MVP, I kept
saying that it's that vibe aget. I know exactly what
you're talking about when you watch a lot of games.
And one of the things that's happened in Dave is
which I think is really tremendous, is Mitchell Marner quietly
(28:42):
has done an amazing job being his awesome setup guy.
But dorop Fiez, I mean his scoring ability, and he's
clearly quicker than he was a year ago. He's definitely
faster than he was a year ago. This could be
a fifty five plus goal scorer this year. He keeps
us up kidding. So you have him, an Ico and Marner,
(29:02):
and then you got William Carlson all these other guys
in there, and then winning without Mark Stone, who did
at his risk. I mean, this team's really good. Vegas.
I thought Vegas would play Toronto in the final before
the season started. Mark We'll see whether that holds, but
I do think Vegas got a legitimate chance to get.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
To the final.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Pierre here was the first in my career.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Last year I referred to Dori Feyev as Deus Skloyevsky.
I confused him with the author of The Brothers, Karra Matsoff.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
You know what, for anybody in sports and even knows
that that's impressive, that's Pierre.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
You are the man, great stuff as always. Uh, we'll
talk talk to you next week. Enjoyed the hockey, Yeah,
I can't wait.
Speaker 6 (29:44):
I'm almost stagging it in in the pregame show. Can't wait.
Love doing that, and that's a big reason why I
appreciate everything you do. You're an amazing hockey man. Mark,
thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
I'll be listening to Pierre. That's peer Maguire brought to us.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
But always say flagging in traffic control, making traffic safe again.
Call four one two three zero one twenty three hundred
or visit us online at AWSAF dot net to get
a quote today.
This is the Mark Madden Show.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I'm feeling low, so get me high that number again
eight three, three four one two WXDX where you can
follow the show on.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Twitter at Mark madden X.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I had somebody tweet you opened a sports show by
eulogizing a rock guitar player.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
And at four o'clock I'm joined by Eddie Trunk Metals
number one DJ to talk about the life and impact
of finding member kiss Frehley. Excuse me, finding member of
Kiss Ace Frayley who passed away last week. That's Eddie
Trunk scheduled to join me at at four pm. But
right now we will talk Steelers. That Cincinnati lost was
huge because of who it was too and how it happened,
(00:43):
and because the Steelers needed to be five and one.
And now you've got three tough games Green Bay, Indie
and the LA Chargers. If you go one and two,
you're five and four and bang right back in the
mushy middal. Although that crap Divisi may yet be their
saving grace. But what I Flacco Raley Cincinnati? Is it
(01:06):
impossible to see Cincinnati making a run to challenge the
Steelers for the top of the division, and the usual
suspects are like trade for this white out or that,
why not this guy, that guy the other guy. We've
been hearing that since Brandon Ayuk. They think they're finite
wide out. They're wrong, but that's what they think. And
(01:29):
I say again, there's nothing that fixes these Steelers besides
a new coach. The Steelers made all these personnel changes
like crazy this offseason, and yet they're old and stale
to an alarming and disgusting degree.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
And the old arguments are so tired.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Oh, you're not gonna get a better coach, says who
Lots of better coaches have come around the past several years,
stiking of Indiana for one, Guys who aren't prehistoric, Guys
who understand what the league is, which is score more
and faster, not seven offensive linemen, and not play a
zone so deep you're practically in the parking lot. Uh,
(02:18):
not zone that I mean over the time, you know
what I mean? I mean, look at that play chasemate
at the very end of the game to set up
the field goal. There was no one within a million
yards of him. He had like sixteen catches. How's he
open there? The Steelers get more scared and dull and fossilized.
Every year, rely on the defense that simply can't rely on.
(02:40):
Oh and Cam, I love this Cam. After the game,
he's like, this is unacceptable. G Cam, We're all so
happy you realize it's unacceptable and you're not gonna make
your Oki dunk bonuses. By the way, give him my
regards down at the thrift score, Cam, how can you
expect to feed a family on just fourteen point seventy
(03:02):
five million.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I don't know how you live with yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
It's disgusting what's going on with the Steelers again. And
what's even more disgusting is that you dopes think these
guys have done something. What Cam and that ilk watch
lost one zero playoff games? Cam has won one, and
yet you revere them, you wear their jersey, you idolize
(03:28):
them like they've accomplished something. But they haven't accomplished anything
because this is Pittsburgh and we don't care about stats
and individual honors. You know how many times me and
Joe Green made first team All Pro I don't remember.
I only remember that me and Joe Green won four
Super Bowls because that's all.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I need to know. And all mean Joe Green wants
me to know.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
The Steelers franchise has been a relic for how many
years now, a constant disappointment with the.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Ball being lowered all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Somebody asked me on Twitter which Pittsburgh team would be
the next to win a championship. I said the Penguins,
because Kyle Dubas has a plan that goes beyond just
the next game.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Mike Tomlin doesn't.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
He doesn't, and too many games he blows the next
game when he should win it, like this past Thursday
at Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Okay, I've spoken as I predicted.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
It was long and really kind of I mean, I'd
rather talk about as freely. But does anybody want to
dispute any of what I've just said? I mean, Dona
dial one week, they could win the whole thing the
next week they stink.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I've been telling you how it is about this coach.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
About this regime, about the entire organization for years, and
I've been nothing but right. And if you disagree, kiss
my ass in hell. So do you dispute it? At
what point do you accept fact? And the Penguins they're
pissing me off because they're winning too much. Dan Mues
is making more of a positive difference than Mike Tomlin
(05:07):
has for years. We're never gonna get Kavin McKenna, are we.
The Penguins host Vancouver tonight after having won two out
of three in California. If Gunny Malkin and Sidney Crosby
or a wrecking crew the old firm, is it sustainable?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Tristan Jari got to shut out at San Jose. I
know that's not sustainable. So we got a lot to
catch up on. Otani had that big game. We're told
it's the greatest athletic achievement since the time of Christ
or whatever. What did Christ ever do to compare it
to what o'tanni did? That's a good question, right, Okay,
let me think. Let me think. Otani three home runs,
(05:46):
six score less innings, pitched, ten strikeouts, struck out the
side to open the top of the inning. It'll lead
off home run at the bottom of the inning. Christ
fed the masses with the wolves and fishes. That's a
tough one. I'm going, O Tawni. I'm going, O Tawni. No,
(06:10):
I don't know the loaves and fishes thing.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
What do you have?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I think he had like a McDonald's filet of fish
and fed like three thousand people.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
But the Otawni thing, it's great.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
It's it's not comparable to a lot of things we
talked about earlier, like like the Lemu five goals five ways,
and that's because it's only baseball. One let you scored
five goals five ways. He had people hitting him with wood,
okay O Tawni just didn't.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
He didn't. He didn't have people trying to hit him
with the wood.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So I'll talk more about that later. The trip was great,
the result was not for Liverpool. Four losses in a
row and you get to hear me agonize tomorrow Champions
League versus Frankfurt.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
That's okay, I keep the faith. One steal.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
This is hilarious. One Steeler dip Dipstick tweeted at it
at me, like right at the full time whistle Sunday
ha haa Liverpool lost. He couldn't wait, and I'm like, okay,
but we won the league just last season and before
that in twenty twenty, and Champions League at twenty nineteen,
(07:16):
and pretty soon I'll get to chant two thousand and eight.
But that's a tough year to chant. That's where you're lucky.
And we're fourth place now four points out. Not ideal,
but manageable. Just gotta play better. And I'm psyched because
I got that electricity at anfield.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That sports here just don't provide. So we'll get them tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It's not like we lost to the Bengals or to
West Virginia and I get to go watch hockey tonight.
In other news, the WNBA season ended and nobody noticed
one oh five niney X.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
And now the super genius Mark Madden, Hey, Mark, great show.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
When you got a young trophy?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
White os Monday to I can't even quote the big
o'bowski righte, goodbye the exit one O. I would like
to hear from some Steeler fans at eight three three,
four to one two WSDX. I mean, do you think
the season is just heading into the same direction it
always is, or have you managed to fool yourselves yet again.
(08:20):
I just don't see things being much better this year
than last year, than the year before that, then the
year before that, et cetera, et cetera. I don't if
they had been five and one by beating Cincy, Okay,
it still wouldn't have felt that different, but they would
have been exactly where they needed to be, and with
(08:46):
tough games coming up, they would have had legitimate cushion
if things went bad. Now that cushion's not there like
it was. You go one and two over the next
three games, as I think they well might, You're five
and four, and again I keep saying right back in
that mushy mintal, is there a reason to be more optimistic?
You tell me a three, three, four one two wxtx
(09:10):
and if not, that's okay too. There's never been a
better time to not listen. Thursday Penguin's Viewing Party at
Sharky's and Latrobe, not for Steeler training camp, but for
the Penguins and defending Stanley Cup champ in Florida Panthers.
And get this, It's Prime Rib Night at sharkis Prime Rib,
(09:32):
the Penguins, the super genius watching hockey eating meats. Can't
beat it. That's Thursday Night at Sharky's in Latrobe. Double
m with a Penguin's Viewing Party. Aaron Rodgers will face
his original team on Sunday, Green Bay for the first
time since leaving the Packers.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Matt Lafleur, the Green Bay coach. He says it's no
biggie Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Before apparently just clammed up. No little problem there. We'll
get to that SoundBite a little bit later. Let's see
what else we got here. Uh, here's Bill Carr on
CBS with a great idea for the Steelers. Sign Joe Flacco.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Think about this.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
There are only quarterbacks who have played my Tom ten
times or more who have winning records are Tom Brady
and Joe Fla. So my advice to Mike, I know,
I got upset about it, as I says, just sign
him in the offseason.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, right, I get it. If he's on your team,
you never have to play against him. I'm sure kyr
was kidding, probably, but I don't want to ever play
Flacco again if I'm the Steelers and I'm not gonna
guarantee Flacco beats the Steelers at Pittsburgh at a month
when the Bengals trapper here the return match from Thursday night.
(11:01):
But it's certainly the way I'm gonna bet. I mean,
how could you not bet that way. Flacco had a
better game last Thursday for Cincinnati against the Steelers after
barely having joined the team and learned to playbook a
better game last Thursday than Rogers has had all year
for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Now that's because Cincinnati lets Flacco play.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Aaron outs and Pittsburgh has made Rogers a game manager.
Like I keep saying, in Pittsburgh, it's about the coach.
The coach uber allis above everything else. His impact has
to be seen. It has to be done his way,
because that way we know how smart he is. Unless
he doesn't win a playoff game for uh seven years
(11:45):
going on eight. Let's go to Nick, Nick, you're old doublem. Okay,
we lost Nick, We've lost control of the radio station.
As I mentioned the WNBA season end, did nobody noticed
the River Hunts clinched the playoff.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Spot and they won their final regulars.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
If they win excuse me this coming Saturday night, I
think it is at home their final regular season game.
They get a home game in the playoffs, and that
would be certainly bouncing back to some degree after an
up and down season.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
But they maybe they've saved their best for last. That'd
be great.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Uh pitt one again, yahoo, Uh, Penn State lost again.
That is a mess beyond James Franklin. James frank was
on ESPN on game Danny wind Nick Saban wined two
on Franklin's behalf and said the firing was unfair, and
it was, but nobody likes a liner. What happens if
(12:47):
you fire Franklin and Penn State just keeps on losing.
Maybe it wasn't Franklin who hit a wall. Maybe it's
the program it hit a wall. Okay up, now we're
gonna talk hockey with the great Pierre Maguire later on,
I want to ask you what would take for the.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Steelers to win a playoff game.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I think their only chances to win the division get
a home game and get the right opponent, and the
right opponent would not be Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
One five ninety x one oh five nine.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
The ex as your shot at extra cash.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
See what I did there.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
Thirteen times a day, nine am through nine pm, d
X will give you the keyword at the top of
every hour. Enter it at wxdx dot com and you
could win one thousand dollars. With that much money, you
could buy like ten coffees. You know what I was,
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for your chance at some extra cash on one.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Oh five nine The x Terry. We're doing us here
from a gateway Clipper.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
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on a spine chilling river adventure as Rod Zombie unleashes
Pittsburgh's creepiest and most mysterious tails. Take You're Vanishing Fast
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Speaker 2 (14:02):
If you can't get enough, if you're Pittsburgh Steelers, then
check out the latest podcast from Steelers Nation.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Eight Legal Nowhere but bet I E and d Exit
one oh five nine.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Penguins hosting Vancouver tonight at PPG. Paint Serena joining us
out of tak Hockey. He's done everything possible in the
Great Game. He is Pierre Maguire, Pierre Pengwins are foign
too and not playing badly. What's been the primary catalyst
to them holding their own so far?
Speaker 6 (14:30):
We're habits, coaching and a sense of belief internally that
even though they might not have a lot of big
players on their roster, they can still get.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
The job done.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
I love the line of Mattha, Malcolm and Brenzolmark. It's
made a huge difference the early start to the year,
and I think the energy of a player like Ryan Chay,
I think the energy of a player like Connor Doer,
I think the passion of a player like Blake Lazat.
It all resonates with the older guys that have been around,
and then you compound, which Arthur Seawock has been great
(15:02):
since opening. Then I know people say, what about the
game against the Rangers at home? Don't fault them on that,
that was a weird game. And then Tristan Jarry with
a neat sense of enthusiasm to be the guy that
makes a difference. I think there's a lot of different things.
I think it's coaching, energy, passion, and work habits.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Dan Muse is rotating shilloffs and Jari shilloffs and goal
tonight with Vancouver visiting. Can you do that in the
long run or do you got to decide on the
number one at some point.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
I think a lot of teams around the league now
are probably going one a one D type of situation
and they'll ride in the hot hand. But I don't
think the days of Marty broder Mark, you know, ten
straight years of seventy plus starts, and he actually did
that those days are long gone. It's just too hard
to lead. Too much traveled, too many compressed, sed those
(15:54):
too many back to backs. So I'm going to say
that a lot of teams aren't. It's not going to
be a foreign concept for most teams anyways. To see
the split be maybe fifty thirty two or fifty two thirty.
You know, I could see where that kind of split
does happen. And I do think you're going to see
a lot of teams with a one A and one
B situation.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
You mentioned that Mokin line is Brazo for real? Can
he keep it up playing top six? Oh?
Speaker 6 (16:21):
Yeah? The biggest thing. And people are going to say, well,
he's a big guy, and you know he's got hanton.
You can get to the front of the neck. He
really can do that. I agree. So they're going to say,
and they're going to question, well, what about his skating.
Skating's not that good, and you know, can that hold
up when the big teams come into town and you know,
the fast teams And the biggest thing I can tell
(16:42):
you I watched this player play for North Day Battalion
and the Ontario Hockey League, and I know that he
had a couple of seasons where he was well over
thirty five goals and one year I think he was
over sixty goals. He's a scorer. He always has it,
you know, has it translated exactly that the NHL level
them know it can be a big body presence and
(17:03):
in the slot playing with a creative player, they get
Genny malkoln and a shooter like Anthony Manka. The answer
Jesse Ken and that's where you're going to see him
get all those goals from right in front, on top
of the crease. Kyle Dupas is the guy that signed
him as a free agent out of the Ontario Hockey
League and they put him in and they put him
in East Coast Hockey with in Newfoundland and that's what
kind of took off, and he's been really good ever since.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Should the Penguins keep Brunick and Kendall or returned them
to juniors?
Speaker 1 (17:29):
What are the pros and cons up here?
Speaker 6 (17:31):
This is what I would say with both these players,
And I've talked to our very good friend Paul Stiderald
about this on the Pittsburgh Penguins pregame show, Mark, I
believe the president's been set and it really was in
Pittsburgh with Mark Andre Flurry way back when in two
thousand and three, where Mark Andre was the first overall pick.
They didn't want to break him down, you know, with
a team that was marginal to just okay, and so
(17:54):
in two thousand and four they let him go represent
Canada the World Junior if you remember, in Helsinki, Finland,
and I would think very seriously about keeping both these
players up, put them on the same kind of a
time management schedule that you saw Leo Carlson go through
in Anaheim a couple of years ago. And the only
reason I know what they did with Leo is because
(18:14):
his agent, Matt Kager, is a very good friend of mine,
and they did that in negotiation with Pat would beat
the GM, the coach at the time, Greg Cronin, and
their training staff, and it's worked fantastically well. And then
I would really think about in December letting both Brunneck
and Kindle go represent Canada at the World Junior. So
they leave for about three weeks and then they come
(18:35):
back after hopefully dominating, which they should, they're both East
Elite players at that level in particular, and then they
come back, but they never go back to their junior teams.
That's probably the best compromise I could come up with.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
That sounds like a pretty good plan to meet Pierre.
Let me throw in a disclaimer with Kendall. If they
keep him, he needs to get some top six minutes,
better line mates, and even some power play time, because
that's the player you need him to be.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
You need to coach to be that.
Speaker 6 (19:02):
Well. I'll give you an example to back you up.
Emmittt Finney is a guy who was a seventh round
pick out of the Kamloops Blazers, a team that our
good friend Mark Reki's part owner with Jerome mcginnl and
Shane Doe, and emittt Finny has a seventh round pick
is not playing as a first line player in Detroit
with you know, Raymond and Larkin. And that kid just
(19:24):
is coming off a two goal, one to six game,
and I can't tell you he's one of the best
seventh round picks I've seen in a long time, a
really good player. Chris Draper found him when he was
going to watch another player play for the Vancouver Giants,
and this kid just stood out because of the skating.
I agree with you on Kindall it's the same kind
of thing. What has surprised me the most about Ben Kimball,
(19:44):
and I don't know if it's surprising to you or not, Mark,
is that I knew that he was really smart, and
I knew he had hands, and I knew that great
purple vision. I wasn't sure that his skating was going
to be as good as it has been, and he
deserves a lot of credit. He's really found his way
that this kid's going to be a really good player
in the league.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Here's an example I would cite too to back up
my thoughts on Kendall Pierre, when the Penguins drafted a
Lexay Moroso back in nineteen ninety five. He was so
highly regarded offensively, but they played him bottom six so
long that he eventually became a bottom six had to
go back to Russia to find his touch again.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
Well, it's a great one because I was there broadcasting
all those games, so I remember the day. If I
agree with you one hundred percent, that's why you know
the old Bowman school of higher learning at the pro
level is if a guy's at a top six forward
in the American Hockey League and you're bringing them up
to your NHL team. Don't stick him on the last
two lines. Put him on the first two lines, because
(20:43):
that's his organizational strength. That's what you wanted to be
at point Getter. If he's a checker playing as a checker,
If he's a scorer playing as a scorer, and I
think you're onto something there, especially with Kimball.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
We're talking to Pierre Maguire here on the Mark Madden Show, Pierre,
talk of the Devil. We got the PE's Hall of
Fame induction this Saturday, and it's great to see obviously
Ronnie Francis and Kevin Stevens get recognized, but especially so
to see Scotti.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
Bowman and EJ get recognition. I think I would agree
with you.
Speaker 6 (21:13):
I'm so proud of the Penguins organization for doing this
number one, for them to really be broad based and
not just making about the players, but making about the
people that brought the good players in. And you know,
EJ did a magnificent job during his stewardship of the
Pittsburgh Penguins as a general manager, as a coach, as
a senior advisor, as part of being a member of
(21:36):
three Stanley Cup winning teams in Pittsburgh as a senior
advisor to Ratio and then obviously to Jimmy Rifford. So
I had a ton of respect for Eddie and obviously
with Scottie were roommates, we were coaching mates. I'm not
sure that I could ever have been given a better
gift in life than to I've worked for him. So
I can just tell you the Penguins are a Marquee franchise,
(21:58):
and this is another example of why they're a Marquis franchise.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Here's kind of an interesting footnote regarding EJ's tenure in Pittsburgh,
and obviously he's never broken Omerta regarding the Tanks job
in eighty four. But drafting Mario wasn't as easy as
people think. At the time, Pierre Ej got flooded with
big offers from a bunch of teams and one of
his own Scots wanted to draft Kirk Muller instead.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
That was one hundred percent true. I know that it's
not urban legend. That's one hundred percent factual marks reported.
And you know the biggest thing is I think Eddie
had so much internal knowledge because of where Mario was
from in Montreal, vill Lamart and Eddie grew up with
his brothers not far from there, so the legend of
Maryland was really no from the time Marrio was probably
(22:43):
eight or nine years old in Montreal, so everybody knew
and that made a big difference. I mean, then you
watch some of his performances playing for Laval in the
Quebec Major Junior League and you're just like, this guy's
not even human. I mean, it's crazy how good he is.
So Eddie was aware of that. There were a lot
of people pushing for Kurt Muller. I know that. I
(23:04):
was in training camp with him as a player in
New Jersey in nineteen eighty four when he did get drafted.
But he as good a player as Kirk was, and
he's a really good player. He was nowhere near mary
And when you're not even.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
Close, Vancouver's in time tonight, Pierre. The Canucks are four
and too. Just like the Penguins, they had a lot
of offseason turnover.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Where the Canucks stand right now in your eyes, you
know the.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
Movie Mash, and you remember the TV show Mash. Of
course they're kind of mass right now. They have more
injuries than any team in the league. They have been
decimated by injuries. If they didn't have all these injuries,
I think that they would be a team that people
would say, Wow, this is one of the better turnaround
stories in the league. Adam Foot deserves a lot of credit.
Scottie Young, the former Penguin and Stanley Cup winner in
(23:49):
ninety one with Pittsburgh, deserves credit. Ret McClain, another assistant
coach who came over from Minnesota, and Kevin Dean who's
been a tremendous coach and developer of defense, and that
coaching staffs in a nice job in Vancouver, but they're
decimated by injury right now. You're not seeing the real
Vancouver Connect team. They'll play hard, they'll play in your face,
(24:09):
they'll skate really well. I don't know how much talent
they're gonna have to be able to finish plays off tonight.
They got a lot of guys playing where they shouldn't
be playing just because of all the injuries. But I'll
tell you what, Adam puts on a magnificent job with
his staff getting these guys on board, a lot like
what Dan Hughes has done with his staff in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
In that injury Vain Perre Pittsburgh is at Florida Thursday night.
Florida zero and four on the road, three and four
in the season, and you know, I'm hoping for the best,
and they have the character of a two time champion,
But they really do seem crippled by injury, don't They
Maybe even worse than we suspected.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
Way worse than what we suspect. Barkoff was a devastating blow.
Katick not being back until at least the first of
the year, that's devastating. The injury to Koola Kop in
the back end is gigantic. Losing Nat Schmid and unrestricted
free agency was massive. They're absolutely decimated by injury and
the team too. They think most of those players have
(25:05):
been in the final three straight years. That's unbelievably difficult
to believe that they can have a resurgent year again
this year, especially with all the injuries. I think it's
gonna be a very difficult season for Florida. It doesn't
mean they can't win again, but I think they'll be
hard pressed to win again.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Beer.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
I think the toughest thing for them to be to
make the playoffs. I think if they get in and
get some guys back. They'll contend, but they might not
make it.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
Well, you can lose all these points at the beginning
of the year. I think you're gonna get them back.
The problem is that you're not gonna get them back.
Two points in October is as valuable as two points
in March, So that's part of the problem. And I
don't think anybody's counting on Detroit to be five and
one out of the game. I don't think that too
many people would counting on Pittsburgh to be four and
two out of the game. And I don't think too
(25:50):
many people thought that the New York Rangers would win
three other four games on the road but lose four
straight games on home mikes, three of them being shut out.
So this has been a topsy turvy start to the
year for a lot of these teams. Otto and Tampa
at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Market's just so
real to think about. So yeah, no, I think they
(26:11):
can be in big trouble for if they don't get
on their horse get pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Ohb one goal in six games for Washington, is that
yet anything to worry about?
Speaker 6 (26:20):
Not yet. We talked about this last year too. I
remember when he got hurt the people that I thought,
I'll never make it this year, I'll never make it.
And he started going when he came back from the
broken leg and he started ripping it. I just think
that it's kind of a slow start for Washington. There's
still if the playoffs started today, they'd be in the playoffs.
The one thing I'm concerned about with them a little
(26:41):
bit more than maybe but I was last year is
what you just talked about. They usually score a little
bit more freely and a little bit more easily. They're
not getting that done at the level I thought they would.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Conor McDavid no goals in six games, does have seven helpers?
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Anything to worry about there?
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Yeah, not too much with them because simply don't get
it going. I could tonight when they play in autiwa
Auto was really struggling. But here's the biggest thing with Edverton.
I've watched all their games on this Eastern trip at
Madison Square Garden, at Ubs Arena on Long Island, and
at New Jersey. This team is not playing team defense.
They don't look organized, they don't look orchestrated. It's almost
(27:19):
as if they were accounting on all their offense to
win them games rather than playing structured team defense. They
got to get it going and right direction here. If
not this, you know, we tell you about Florida. Hey,
Edgington's been in the final the last two years and
they struck out both times. This is a hard thing,
you know. I don't think a lot of people didn't
think Chicago would get off to the start they are.
(27:40):
A lot of people didn't think Seattle would get off
to the start that they are. And I knew that
Utah would have the better team, but they've had a
really good start and I'm not surprised by Colorado winning.
Take So when you start doing that in Vegas, when
you start doing that, you start to get yourself into trouble.
And Mark, just remember Pittsburgh just saw these guys. I
think Anaheim's really going to cause problems. So a team
(28:02):
like Edmonton, they better get on their horseship pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
You mentioned Vegas, Pierre, like you, I watch a ton
of games. They don't have quite the best record, but
I think they look better than anybody, and I think Ichael.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Looks like the MVP.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
I know it's real early, but now sometimes you see
a guy feeling it and you feel it too.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
That's what I get from Jack Eichel.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
So far, so with the year that Nathan McKinnon won
the MVP, and I kept saying that the entire year
of the year that McDavid won the MVP, I kept
saying that it's that vibe aget. I know exactly what
you're talking about when you watch a lot of games.
And one of the things that's happened in Dave is
which I think is really tremendous, is Mitchell Marner quietly
(28:42):
has done an amazing job being his awesome setup guy.
But dorop Fiez, I mean his scoring ability, and he's
clearly quicker than he was a year ago. He's definitely
faster than he was a year ago. This could be
a fifty five plus goal scorer this year. He keeps
us up kidding. So you have him, an Ico and Marner,
(29:02):
and then you got William Carlson all these other guys
in there, and then winning without Mark Stone, who did
at his risk. I mean, this team's really good. Vegas.
I thought Vegas would play Toronto in the final before
the season started. Mark We'll see whether that holds, but
I do think Vegas got a legitimate chance to get.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
To the final.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Pierre here was the first in my career.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Last year I referred to Dori Feyev as Deus Skloyevsky.
I confused him with the author of The Brothers, Karra Matsoff.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
You know what, for anybody in sports and even knows
that that's impressive, that's Pierre.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
You are the man, great stuff as always. Uh, we'll
talk talk to you next week. Enjoyed the hockey, Yeah,
I can't wait.
Speaker 6 (29:44):
I'm almost stagging it in in the pregame show. Can't wait.
Love doing that, and that's a big reason why I
appreciate everything you do. You're an amazing hockey man. Mark,
thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
I'll be listening to Pierre. That's peer Maguire brought to us.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
But always say flagging in traffic control, making traffic safe again.
Call four one two three zero one twenty three hundred
or visit us online at AWSAF dot net to get
a quote today.
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