00:00:00
Speaker 1: Guinny Malkin's going to remain a Penguin for at least one more year, joining us. How to talk about it? Two time Stanley Cup winner. You hear him on Penguins Radio and see him on Penguins TV. He's the old two nine er Phil Burke Bork who's gonna win the Cup? And how the heck did Vegas sweep Colorado? I saw it, but I still can't keep my mind around it.
00:00:20
Speaker 2: Cause after in double I'm good to be on with you like always. I tell you what man he's looking like Vegas? I mean, if you know, if they can, you know, keep their captain Marks Stilling healthy. He is such a difference maker for them. And I just heard you just before I came on about Carter Hart and he doesn't have to be great. He doesn't have to win it for them. He just can't lose it for them, and he's just been solid making the staves he has to make. I find it interesting with Vegas. You know, they've got all that firepower up front, but they really don't have a number one defenseman. And as you know, Mark, it's it's always tough to win a Cup when you don't have that big horse back there. But they've got enough, right, they've got enough on the backside to you know, maybe not put up the numbers and end up on the score sheet, but they help the offensive players get going north towards the net. And they've got some snarl, they've got some size, and they can all skate, even the big guys like McNabb. But uh man, you see teams that get on a roll the way they are right now, and obviously playing in Vegas, even in the playoffs, it's still not the easiest thing to do. You want to bunker down, you want to just think hockey, hockey, hockey, but it's still a vacation type of area where you know, all you need is a couple of guys distracted.
00:01:42
Speaker 1: I think that that takes away the pressure too, does And I mean, look how Mitch Marner is blossomed being away from the pressure of Toronto. Although he's getting a bad rap. He did fine in the playoffs for Toronto. The Leafs led him down and not vice versa.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: No, and that's that's the kind of the you know, that bear trap that Toronto is where if you are paid the way he was paid, you're expected to be the guy to win the Cup and be the difference maker, and I respectfully disagree with you. He was not that great in the playoffs. He would have some great regular.
00:02:15
Speaker 3: Seasons seventy playoff not bad.
00:02:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, if you're just going hockey dB, then check that box mark. I'm talking about my eyeballs. What my eyeballs showed me in the playoffs, the biggest games where Toronto had to win that game, he was too quiet for me. But to your point that the pressure is off him, that he definitely does not have to be the guy. In fact, he might be the third guy there. As far as you know the importance of of who drives the offense, he might be the third guy there. And with all that being said, he might win the con Smite Trophy as the playoff MVP. He's been that good and has had moments that are that large that that's the thing about Vegas. They've got so many weapons right now. And isn't it funny that Torts goes there and people when what the Holy Moses are they doing changing their coach with eight games to go? But sometimes that round hole needs the right round fit, and that seems to be what Torts is for that team.
00:03:17
Speaker 3: Vegas only won thirty nine games.
00:03:19
Speaker 1: Six teams that made the playoffs did not win one more games than that, and San Jose won just as many. It didn't make it either, But Vegas got seventeen loser points. Does that say something bad? Is that an indictment to the loser point or is that just the way it is?
00:03:38
Speaker 2: What it tells me two things. Number One, that loser point matters. That loser point tells me they were in a lot of games that went pass regulation. So even though you know, you look at the win column and you think, oh, well, this team, you know, isn't that great, it tells me they were in a lot of games. But also it tells me where the league is headed right now, and the parody becomes more and more and more that there is no big dog on the block anymore. You know, when you look at Colorado's record and how unbelievable they were, that you never really felt like, oh, if they are just going to steamroll everybody, And especially in the East, you know there's no big dog anymore, the way that Tampa and Florida were there for a couple of years. So it just tells me, just get in just get in if you can get if you've got some good pieces, and you've got those kind of intangibles, those bottom six guys, and that's the thing that gets teams over the top. You look at that fourth line for the Vegas Golden Knights. They are such difference makers.
00:04:40
Speaker 4: And that's what it is.
00:04:41
Speaker 2: I mean, you go back to you know, sixteen and seventeen talking about HBK. That third line the Penguins had all of a sudden, those intangibles, the things that are not just jumping off the page at you, those become so important come playoff times.
00:04:55
Speaker 1: Now, what about in the East, Carolina leads two games to one after a couple of overtime wins. I'm winning for the Hurricanes because I'm rooting for Stallsey and I think Carolina in Vegas would be a better matchup, a more hard hitting matchup. I think Vegas would be able to slow Montreal down and take advantage of their experience over Montreal's inexperience.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think this is a this is a great moment for the Montreal Canadians, but they're not going to get there. I think the series is going to go down. I just think the Carolina Number one. I think Frederick Anderson, the goaltender. That's the best I've ever seen Anderson play. He's just been solid back there. Number one. Number two, They've moved a lot of pieces around on the chess board over the last what six seven eight years trying to get to the Stanley Cup Final. They have been not been able to get over the hump. I think now they have the right pieces there. And also, I just think that this is not Montreal's time. It's a giants step forward for them in their development of all those great young players that they've drafted. But I just don't think it's their time to get to the Stanley Cup Final. And then, selfishly, I'm with you Mark, I think it'll be better. Fear it'll be a better series. I still am leaning into Vegas because of the role they're on right now. But when you think of the structure and the suffocating defense that Carolina can play, they're going to take down the Montreal and they might really frustrate those high skilled players for the Vegas gold Knights, which will make a better series.
00:06:27
Speaker 1: We're talking to Phil Bork here on the Xporky give me the pros and cons of re upping Gino.
00:06:33
Speaker 3: I'm sure you agree with me that it was inevitable.
00:06:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do agree with you, And I'm now to the point where I'm celebrating it. I'm glad it happened. I don't want to think of the what ifs, or the conversations that we would have if he did not sign, the awkwardness of just and you and I talked about just walking into that locker room and all year. Yeah, it would have been awful. It would have been awful. So let me give you the pros. Here's a guy that came out of the gate just absolutely on fire. For while he was leaving the National Hontey League and scoring and doing it the right way. Was not cheating, was not taking shortcuts, was playing strong defensively while playing in the center rights position. Gino was playing like a guy playing for a contract. But it felt like it was more than that. That he had a chip on his shoulder, a healthy chip, and a swagger to his game. Early on, the injury occurs, he's out for a while. You remember he comes back and was against that Colorad against Colorado. You remember that game, Mark he was shot out of the canton. Coming back from the upper body injury, had two goals and assist, and so he had a lot of those moments, and even coming back from his five game suspension, he looked really good in that and Kyle du was mentioned in his postseason comments just how good Gino was in those two or three times when he missed a little time, the way he was able to come back. What I like is the dedication that I'm seeing from Gino on the ice and off the ice. I think he has rounded some of the rough edges off his game. I think playing the wing position has allowed him to do that, to just be responsible defensively, seeing less of the gambling, less of the shortcuts, less of those big parking lot turns, which he's been guilty of the past. He seemed to be more buttoned up, if you will. And then off the ice, I've seen some things, you know, with the luxury of being able to travel with the team, and the way he's taking young players, you know, taking them out to dinner, taking them under his wing, and just been a more you know, approachable, a leader, if you will. And to me, listen, he's never going to be that guy, but that he's trying different things. He's trying to be more of a leader, says a lot to where his heart is at. I'm never going to doubt his compete. I'm never going to doubt how much he absolutely loves living in Pittsburgh and being in the Pittsburgh Penguin and how much he wants to win. And I think now that he's going to be the Big four to zero in the last day of July. I think he can see the finish line. I don't know how far away it is.
00:09:05
Speaker 4: Is it just this year?
00:09:06
Speaker 2: Is it another year? Is the year after that?
00:09:08
Speaker 1: Oh, I've said another year. I mean then he's Aaron freakin' Rodgers.
00:09:12
Speaker 2: Okay, okay, well we just we just never know. We might be at this point again next year. Who knows? What if he has eighty points and eighty games?
00:09:20
Speaker 1: Mark, what if the sun falls out of the sky. Now, Borky, I agree with almost everything you said. I do, and I understand why they're doing it. But it's an old team, Okay, given that, should they trade future to try to win?
00:09:32
Speaker 2: That?
00:09:33
Speaker 3: Should they trade kids?
00:09:34
Speaker 1: Because that sounds ridiculous, but you can't split the difference, and at least that would be picking a direction long last.
00:09:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know, why would you have to trade any of the kids.
00:09:44
Speaker 3: They're not close to winning. Now you see the playoffs?
00:09:48
Speaker 2: Okay, okay, well that's the definition, Like what's what's success? Are you still top er busts? Because I'm not there, you know. So I'm at the point now where I just want to get to the playoffs. And now that we get to the playoff last year with this group, now I want to win a series and to me that's successful and maybe not in some people's eyes, but I'm a realist and I think if you can win a series, and we talked about just a little while ago, but if you can win one series, anything could happen in the National Hockey League now, so you can say, well this team you just never know. Mark, and I just think that this team with the Giants, stepped forward from last year the playoff, Carlson, the playoffs, did the play off Malkin and the young kids and the injection of you. I don't think there's any of these young guys with John and a Horklow or or mcgrorty or any of these other young guys. There's no reason to rush them and there's no reason to move them to try to unless there's this perfect storm, unless this is this unbelievable player where maybe you move Rusher McGorty and the first round pick to get X. I'm out for that if you can make your team better with something like that. But in the meantime, I think we're okay in the past we're taking which.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: Is the should definitely get a shot next year. Who should start the team to start the season in Pittsburgh.
00:11:07
Speaker 2: Wow, that's a tough question. I don't see anybody on the backside except maybe Brunick. I do want to see more of Brunick at the NHL level. I've liked what he has shown in the American Hockey League since playing you know, junior hockey out West. After that, I have a tough time thinking of any other defense that are ready for prime time. As far as the forwards, I mean, I know it's only been a few games, but you gotta be a little giddy about Bill's on and in the way that he plays and how big he looks on the ice, will hawkoff, I think he's gonna need some time. Okay, I think that's that's a bit of a project. He's a big guy. But I don't know if he moves well enough to be NHL ready, But you never know, he might come in and blow your socks off, you know, the way that Ben Kindall did. Kristin Brose is a really interesting player. Avery Hayes is a player I love. And if you're not going to bring back you know, Cookie and Nola CHERI. I think Avery Hayes is that standpaper guy that could be uh the guy to play in your fourth line. But but after that, I have a tough time to give any of the other guys that are really really knocking on that door.
00:12:19
Speaker 3: Okay, let me play devil's advocate.
00:12:21
Speaker 1: I think McGroarty has to start the season with the team and Avery Hayes, I disagree.
00:12:25
Speaker 2: I disagree with you. I strongly disagree.
00:12:27
Speaker 3: Okay, then we'll never what about Coven?
00:12:31
Speaker 2: No, thank you. I don't think I.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Never gonna.
00:12:34
Speaker 5: I don't.
00:12:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, he said he's what he played fit the NHL games. He's way too quiet, way too quiet. He's chasing the game. I don't know if he's an NHL player.
00:12:46
Speaker 3: I'm being honest. I don't know either, but.
00:12:49
Speaker 2: That the numbers at EURO He's always a really good American Hockey League player, but none of it translates to the NHL.
00:12:56
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, Ry, I hate to be cynical, and I'm not giving you a hard time, but yeah, let's just hope old guys do good. I remember when we never find out about Nasma and he went to Vancouver and excelled.
00:13:06
Speaker 3: Never found out about morosof.
00:13:08
Speaker 1: Made him a fourth liner, and he went to the KHL and led the league.
00:13:11
Speaker 3: Now that's only the KHL.
00:13:13
Speaker 1: But but I mean, this team hasn't won a playoff series since twenty eighteen.
00:13:17
Speaker 3: I want to find.
00:13:17
Speaker 2: Out what I gave you, bros. And even Donning okay, and and now now just because I didn't, you know, blow your skirt up with McGroarty. You know, you know, I'm just telling you, there's gotta be more. He's got to pick a lane. He's gotta tell me what what are you, Rutger, what are you okay? The stuff you can do in America League, can you do it in the NHL? Because his skating is an issue. Listen, I love the kid. I want that kid to wear that number two in black and gold as much as you do. But I don't want to hand it to him. I want him to earn it. I want him to pick a lane. Decide what kind of player are you? Because if you think you're, you know, just the numbers guy, you got another thing coming. You're gonna be more of a Chris Koonitz. You're gonna be more of a Patrick Hornquish. You gotta be more of a son of a gun out there if you really want to carve yourself an NHL career.
00:14:08
Speaker 3: Poorky, I love it when we clash.
00:14:09
Speaker 1: It's great radio, great input as always, and we'll do it again real soon.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: Enjoy the playoffs, you too, Double, I'm enjoyed it like always, good hockey talk.
00:14:18
Speaker 1: We got Matt Barkowski talking hockey at the bottom of the hour.
00:14:23
Speaker 3: Up next, what do I have up next?
00:14:26
Speaker 1: Oh, we're gonna talk about that that uh loser point and how it got Vegas in and should it?
00:14:34
Speaker 3: Should that be remedied? I think so.
00:14:37
Speaker 1: We're else gonna talk about Drew Aller one O five nine xpac in and out with the psychotic version, the pokey pokey Mark.
00:14:45
Speaker 2: You are super genius.
00:14:46
Speaker 3: I know it's the ex at one O five nine. It's maddening on the X and Okay, this is odd.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: Washington the Islanders, New Jersey, Detroit, Columbus in Florida each had more wins than Vegas in the regular season. San Jose had the same number of wins as Vegas thirty nine, but none of them teams made the playoffs, and Vegas is in the Stanley Cup Final with thirty nine wins and forty three losses and seventeen loser points. You gotta get rid of the loser point or go with the three two one model. Three points for a regulation win, two points if you win in overtime or a shootout, one point if you lose in overtime or a shootout. It's absurd that Vegas is in the Stanley Cup Final after having a regular season record under real five hundred. Speaking of crazy, here's Ben Roethlisberger losing his mind on his podcast.
00:16:05
Speaker 5: I think this team has a like is a is a legit playoff team. And I think, and I'll say this because we always have to talk about injuries will always play a factor, so not in this preseason. As we sit right now, this is a legit playoff team. I think they're going to They have a legit chance to win games in the playoffs, and I hate though I hate to say, like a super Bowl with tender, I think that that is a it's always a bold statement. But this is a team that has the potential to to get to the super Bowl, for sure.
00:16:39
Speaker 3: He's talking about the Steelers.
00:16:42
Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger just said the Steelers are a team that has the potential to get to the super Bowl. For sure. That's just crazy talk. It's a fun kind of crazy. But how could you say that an old team with Grandpa game Manager at quarterback, a team that ain't won a playoff game in nine seasons, how could you possibly say that team has the potential to get to the super Bowl. It is part of the annual overestimation of the Steelers. I'd say they're more likely to finish last in the AFC North than to make it to the super Bowl.
00:17:18
Speaker 3: Far more likely. In fact, here's.
00:17:21
Speaker 1: Colin Coward on Fox expressing doubt about Drew Aller.
00:17:26
Speaker 3: The Steelers rookie quarterback.
00:17:29
Speaker 6: Drew Aller is one of those guys I just don't see the instincts. He's a big kid, he can move a little, he's got a big arm. Now, if he gets the right coach and it works with Mike McCarthy is a very good offensive coach, really helps quarterbacks. But I when I watched him play, I just didn't There's a there's something about guys that just have a feel. There is an instinctive feel to it. Some guys, just like when I watch Mahomes, he just has a feel when to go.
00:17:58
Speaker 3: He just knows this.
00:18:00
Speaker 6: Guys can't see the damn field, you know, they just can't see the field. Other guys see the entire field. And I just don't Drew Allur To me, I just felt like just something was missing.
00:18:12
Speaker 1: There is something missing, and it's Mike McCarthy. Mike McCarthy will build a toolbox for Drew Aller, and Aler has all the tools. Aler isn't a finished product. He's not NFL ready. Who said that he is and who said he's Mahomes. That's an unfair comparison for Coward to make. What Aler is is the Steelers' best bet at quarterback long term, and if he doesn't work out, you draft somebody else. But I bet Aler does work out two or three years from now, you're gonna realize the Super Teniers was right, like always when he said Mike McCarthy and Drew Aller will save the Steelers. Here's Dan Pleisak, the former big league pitcher. He's on MLB Network talking about his cy Young Award rankings in the National League right now.
00:19:08
Speaker 7: So I would go Miserowski, Sanchez, Otani has had a marvelous year on the mound, Chris Sale at number four, and Paul Skeens at number five. The reason I would put Skeens at five, he's had He'll go through that. He's done this really since opening day. A good start, then a little bit of a subpar performance, then a couple of really good starts, and he just hasn't strung together, in my opinion, the consistency that Sanchez or Miserowski or Otani have had up to this point from opening Day to hear this last week of May.
00:19:44
Speaker 1: Wow, Skeens at fifth and all y'all pretty much assumed Skeens was going to win the cy Young every year in perpetuity. Please, Ac is right. The consistency ain't been there for Skeens. Miss Eroski of Milwaukee, he's red hot, He's the soup de jure. And I'd give the cy Young right out of Sanchez from Philadelphia just because he's got the balls to go deep.
00:20:09
Speaker 3: That came out kind.
00:20:10
Speaker 1: Of porny, But look at his last four starts, eight innings, nine innings. That was the complete game win against the Pirates seven innings, eight innings. It's odd what's happening because everybody said Skins was the goat me too, and suddenly he's not. Join me Mark Madden right now and make your downtime fun time. Download to bet Parks online casino in Sportsbook Gap, Immediate Mont and play online craps, blackjack, and roulette, or play hundreds of online slots like the Huff and Puff Games and much more. You can also live bet on Bucos baseball and Pro Basketball. Tonight, the Buckos toast Chicago as Bubba Chandler takes them out. Bet more than the score our bet individual player performances for Bucos Baseball, the Basketball playoffs, the Hockey Playoffs, golf and more. Right now, here's a great offer for new online casino users. Join me now and get up to five hundred dollars bonus back in your first twenty four hours, plus get two hundred and fifty bonus spins on the hot soccer themed online slot game Gold Trio soccer. That's the Betpark's online casino and sportsbook app. I love it, I use it, I recommend it. It's where there's always another way to win. You gotta be twenty one and in PA, New Jersey, Maryland or Michigan. New users only. Terms and conditions applied. Get the details at Betparks dot com. Casino bonus must be wagered if you've got a gambling problem called one eight hundred Gambler Up. Next, gonna talk the return of Efghinny Malkin with Matt Barkowski of Sports Net Pittsburgh.
00:21:54
Speaker 3: I'm Mark Madden one oh five to nine.
00:21:56
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00:22:26
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00:22:29
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00:22:33
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00:22:41
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00:22:49
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00:22:55
Speaker 1: Some breaking news from Texas Andrew McCutcheon has been dfayed batting e's of one ninety two ohps at five thirty two.
00:23:03
Speaker 3: But don't worry.
00:23:03
Speaker 1: Cuts can always come back here and maybe long last realize my dream of him being the extra Parogi. Time to talk hockey. Joining me now from sports Net Pittsburgh. It's former NHL defenseman Matt Barkowski. Bart is reapping Gino good or bad for the Penguins. Give me the pros and cons.
00:23:22
Speaker 10: Oh Man after them a cutching con. Now we're getting into.
00:23:25
Speaker 2: This so good or bad?
00:23:30
Speaker 10: Honestly, I'm so indifferent about it. So good is you get Gino back? You know, pointing game last year still a good player getting them at a decent number if you'd look just on paper, that is, he's obviously aging, and now you have Gino in the lineup.
00:23:49
Speaker 4: That you're not.
00:23:50
Speaker 10: I don't know if you're really going to take him off the top power play. He's going to be taking up a spot where you have the rest of the team, and in your organization you actually have some youth now that you want them to get the experience right. So I would lean more towards the bad side on this one, as bad as that is hard to say, you know, because it is Gino, one of the big three, been here twenty one years now. Business Wise, I think it would have been best to let him go. But if I'm sitting in that seat, could I pull the trigger on that one?
00:24:23
Speaker 4: Probably not.
00:24:25
Speaker 10: That's just the thing I'm most concerned about is will the use that we've seen recently be able to get those opportunities that he's probably.
00:24:35
Speaker 4: Going to take up.
00:24:35
Speaker 10: I mean, we saw him kind of move to the wing last year, which I honestly I didn't think was going to work out that well and ended up working pretty good. So he's clearly capable of doing that. If he's capable of taking a second fiddle on some of the special teams in other big, big areas, then yeah, it's fine.
00:24:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's my big sticking point too.
00:24:56
Speaker 1: Bard He's got to be on the second power play because he coughed up shorthanded opportunity after shorthanded opportunity, his lost faith at his one time or it might not be there anymore, and it's keeping Kindle and Chinakoff on the second power play At some point, You've got to pass the torch and not so much right now with guys like McGroarty and Avery Hayes, who will talk about a minute, but coyven And and China Koff are first team power play guys. They need to do it or pretty soon they just won't do it, if.
00:25:28
Speaker 3: You know what I mean.
00:25:29
Speaker 10: Yeah, I mean Coyve and I will start with him. I've had enough of a sample size with him to see that he's really got to work on his skating to be able to play in the NHL. He definitely has the vision. He's a really good passer. He two seasons ago at the end of the year when he came up, he played really good on the half wall. That's one of the spots that you know, is gonna take up so as far as him for him coming into this year, he's only got to work on his skating because he's got to make a splash in camp. He's not just you know, like two years ago it was basically McGroarty and coyven And this year you're gonna have Hayes, McGroarty, coyven and Zan and uh you know, Horkoff will come to camp.
00:26:13
Speaker 4: You're gonna have other younger guys. Job bros.
00:26:17
Speaker 10: Yeah, Bro's is going to be pushing for a job, so he's really got to work on it and have a big summer. H Senikov, on the other hand, you got to have him on the top unit.
00:26:27
Speaker 3: I mean with that shot, well, Kendall too got to be on the top power play.
00:26:34
Speaker 10: Yeah, see Kimdall kindall played well during the middle of the season there when he was on the top power Play. I don't know throughout his career if he's going to be a top power play guy. I think he has a talent in in in the wherewithal to do it, But I honestly I think on a good team, I just don't see him being a top power play. He just he doesn't have an overpowering shot. He doesn't have overpowering. He does every thing well if you know what I mean. He doesn't have one quality though, that's just puts him over the top.
00:27:05
Speaker 4: And that's not a knock on him, that's just.
00:27:07
Speaker 1: Well, let me let me, let me make a case from bart because because I think he should run the power play and be the reset point on the left. Half Wall, You're right about him not having an overpowering shot, but he knows how to clear space for everybody and he and he has that amount of patience the good power play guys.
00:27:23
Speaker 10: Half No, he definitely has the poise. But if you put him on a championship team, do you think he's on your top power play? I I just don't see him there. I see him as a second unit guy. Can he filter into the top power play? Absolutely?
00:27:36
Speaker 1: If we put only guys who could be on a championship team's power play on the ring, Bark would only have two guys out there would be short handed.
00:27:44
Speaker 10: Hey hey, but that's what we're building for, right, I mean, that's the end goal.
00:27:48
Speaker 2: So we're.
00:27:51
Speaker 4: No, and it's not Yeah, I mean no, there's.
00:27:57
Speaker 3: A lot going on. This contradictory isn't there there is?
00:28:01
Speaker 10: It's it's and it's like the Steelers, right, I mean the same. It's the mushy middle, but hanging on to the to the legacy, and that's just.
00:28:08
Speaker 4: Where we're at.
00:28:08
Speaker 10: But I mean, like I said, I'm not gonna be the guy to.
00:28:11
Speaker 4: Pull the trigger and get rid of me either.
00:28:13
Speaker 1: It's easy to say it was a hard decision and they made the easy decision.
00:28:18
Speaker 3: The one that I do wonder about is is the room too comfortable? Bart?
00:28:22
Speaker 1: I mean, you've been in in NHL dressing rooms. Is there not enough energy and even tension?
00:28:27
Speaker 3: Is that room?
00:28:28
Speaker 1: It's an old man's dressing room. And one thing bad about last year when they started eight too and two they moved all the young guys to the miners, and that energy kind of dissipated.
00:28:36
Speaker 3: It became, like I said, an old man's locker room.
00:28:40
Speaker 10: It it dissipate enough. As long as you have the big three there.
00:28:45
Speaker 4: It is going to be an older man's room.
00:28:48
Speaker 2: There's better.
00:28:49
Speaker 4: There's good and bad to that, right.
00:28:50
Speaker 10: I mean, those guys bring so much experience. You got Carlson bringing experience. They bring the experience which I think is necessary in the hard situations. But I mean, let's be honest. Are they gonna win next year?
00:29:03
Speaker 2: No?
00:29:03
Speaker 10: Are they gonna win the year after? Probably not? So you're building a few years down the road. So is bringing Geno back and to hurt him maybe just development wise for the younger guys, is it gonna Is it gonna help them?
00:29:16
Speaker 2: Know? Yeah?
00:29:19
Speaker 3: It doesn't.
00:29:20
Speaker 1: But it's like it's just they're doing the same old, same old with an old team. I think they've done that for too long bart they're not moving forward. But again, I wouldn't let him go and I don't have a problem with it. I just I just understand the ramifications and uh, here's here's the one short cut. And I'm interested in hearing how much faith you have in this guy. Morrishoff could be a short cut. It's a lot to ask, but if he's a star goalie, he could be a short cut. I'm not sure either of us have seen enough of him to know, But what's your hunch?
00:29:51
Speaker 10: Yeah, I never I think he's gonna be good and I we will be a starter. He's still young enough though, and it's not like the goalies like the old days where they're playing seventy games a year. Right, So how much of a shortcut is he's not gonna I think he could will you in the playoffs. I don't know about next year, but maybe the year after, once he gets a full year under his belt. Because it is rolling, it's not the same as playing in the minors.
00:30:19
Speaker 4: I mean, it's it's a heck of.
00:30:20
Speaker 10: A lot different schedule wise, especially for a goalie. So maybe in two years he can will you in the playoffs and then he can definitely steal a series. I do think he'll be able to do that at some point, But as far as next year, I don't see that shortcut. I mean if you even look at the playoffs right now, I mean Montreal is kind of relying on that Dobish kid right right now, and they still can't win games once you get deep in the playoffs.
00:30:47
Speaker 4: So if we're talking about.
00:30:49
Speaker 10: Making it to the Stanley Cup and winning, then he's not a shortcut for winning. And they got a few more other pieces they got to deal out. But going forward, he definitely has to be your guy. I mean, it's looking like it's lining up that way this summer unless they definitely, unless they do something drastic and kind of shock us with whatever they do or bring in somebody else. I just don't see how he doesn't play fifty games for you next year and find out actually what you have, because he's.
00:31:18
Speaker 4: Shown he's shown enough this year.
00:31:20
Speaker 10: I mean, he came up when they were playing bad and he still played well. So if you're going to change your system too and shelter them a little bit and try and keep stuff to the other kind of like we used to do in Boston. We just kept everything to the outside and you know, like Tim Thomas won the Vesna, their rafts won the Vesna and they were great goalies, but we also kept a lot.
00:31:39
Speaker 4: Of shots to the outside.
00:31:40
Speaker 10: So if you do that, then I think he could definitely, definitely will them, maybe even win around. But at the same time, it's a lot it's difficult when you have that old guard too, to get everybody to say that.
00:31:55
Speaker 3: His rookie year either Bart, But you're right, you look at last year.
00:31:59
Speaker 1: News had them playing structurally more sound than I've seen a Penguins team playing years, but they still finished I think eighth bottom from the in the league in goals against because they just don't defend. They just attack, attack and attack attack, And even with that structure applied, it won enough, and the goaltending won't good enough either.
00:32:19
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:32:19
Speaker 10: No, the goaltending definitely was inconsistent. And I mean at points in the year we're talking about how good the goalies played in any given game, and then you look at the end of the night and they still gave up five. So yeah, the chances are still too many. And that's just you know, that's layover from from the uh from the Sullivan years of just pinch everything and and and you know, just get up the ice all the d get up the ice like you're still going to have stretches like that. So it's still it's not changing a system.
00:32:51
Speaker 4: Isn't going to happen overnight.
00:32:53
Speaker 10: It's definitely not gonna happen in a camp, especially when you have that many guys still around from the core and from everyone uh a part of it.
00:33:01
Speaker 2: It's still it's just.
00:33:02
Speaker 4: Not gonna happen.
00:33:03
Speaker 3: So I think they want to play correct.
00:33:09
Speaker 2: They get to that.
00:33:10
Speaker 4: Point in the games, and that's what I'm getting at.
00:33:12
Speaker 10: They end up getting getting to that point of you know, game gets tough for they get down a goal anything like that, they'll just go back to their to their old ways of just hey we can we can score away out of it or or you know, whatever we were doing, we were winning, and you know, maybe it just doesn't work that way anymore.
00:33:30
Speaker 3: Uh, who's gonna win the Cup?
00:33:31
Speaker 1: Because I look at who's still playing and the Penguins are nowhere near any of these teams. That that's what that's what discourages me about it being an older team.
00:33:41
Speaker 10: Yeah, and like we're talking about, we're looking to three years out for this Penn team, but it might be Carolina's year. Honestly, I just don't. I still don't trust Vegas. Carter Hart's playing well right now. A lot of those guys have been here before. But the beginning of year, I did pick Vegas in the Avalanche in the West, but I did not see Vegas sweeping the Avalanche. I think they're still riding on the the adrenaline high from getting a new coach.
00:34:13
Speaker 4: Uh.
00:34:13
Speaker 10: So I think Carolina is gonna end up winning their Cups.
00:34:17
Speaker 1: Yeah, I do too. I'd like to see stalls he win it, you know, dating back to yeah, his time in Pittsburgh, especially two cups.
00:34:23
Speaker 10: Let Freddie Anderson unless Freddy Anderson goes back to being Freddie Anderson, which we saw in Game one against Montreal for the whole series, I think Carolina wins.
00:34:32
Speaker 1: How great would it be if marn or at least Toronto wins the Cup, wins the con smite. That's one reason I wouldn't mind seeing Vegas win.
00:34:40
Speaker 10: Yeah, that would be great, wouldn't it. I mean, I can't stand Toronto. I know guys who even play there, especially Americans, don't like. They don't like it, the media everything. Then they hire Jaika like it's just it's such a mess up there. I think it it'd be great to see him get out of Toronto win a Cup, and then I'm pretty sure before we before we know going to see Austin Matthews leave there too. So the hom of hockey for all the Canadians and guys leave and win cups.
00:35:06
Speaker 2: I love it.
00:35:08
Speaker 1: Is the era of the star player over in the NHL. You look at the stars who just didn't get their teams to where they wanted them to go this year, and I wonder if, if if GMS will look at a different model moving forward.
00:35:22
Speaker 10: I think you still do need a star too, I just don't know if you're gonna win with that star right away. It's kind of it's kind of turning into a model where you get that star, you get them in the number, and then the cap ends up going up and then you can filter your other players in and you kind of get that second wave because you look at well, look at Edmonton, I mean they have Drive Tittle and McDavid, the best player, best player in the world. People don't realize how good Drive Sittle is. If McDavid was never there, then you know, if he wasn't in the league, Drivestedtle would be up for the Heart every year. So I think that model, you're right, is gone. I just I do think that it has a lot to do with the development and just being able to filter in. Once the cap goes up, you can pay a few more guys and get that second Like I said, that second wave, just get those b players, well be players compared to the stars, right. But I think that the model is going that way. I mean, look at look at the Avalanche, mccarr and McKinnon. Arguably, well you got the best d and then McKinnon's probably gonna win the Heart this year, and and they just Paul de Vegas. So you definitely need the supporting third line guys, fourth line guys in there, and you've got to pay him more money now too. I mean, you've got guys making four million on the third line on some of these teams, so I think the model is going that way.
00:36:45
Speaker 1: Bart is always great input, great work on TV as well. We'll talk again real soon, thanks, Mark. That's Matt bart Coski and Mark Man. Now it's time to ask Mark anything, which is always a lot of fun. Doll eight three three four two wxdx. That's eight three to three four one two wxdx. Or you can leave a talk back using the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app. Ask Mark anything right now one O five to nine.
00:37:09
Speaker 3: It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six. Pretty cool. It is super cool.
00:37:14
Speaker 4: At one five nine.
00:37:16
Speaker 3: Yo, it's Mark Madden. I've got a challenge.
00:37:19
Speaker 2: No.
00:37:19
Speaker 1: Rat's hosting the Cubs again tonight, looking to win a fourth game in a row, looking to go four games over five hundred, which I think is their high water mark previous in this season.
00:37:31
Speaker 3: Ozuna is in the lineup again.
00:37:33
Speaker 1: They just play Ozuona play Ozuna no matter how bad he does. Valdez is back in batting ninth. They should have Ozuna batting ninth. Uh Horwitz, who's had quite a run of of good hitting lately. He's batting leadoff. I like Connor Griffin batting leadoff. I would put him there and leave him there. I think that's a good spot for his speed and his energy to be utilized. Or they could get Cutch back and bat him lead off. Got dfa'ed by Texas earlier today, hitting one ninety two ops five thirty two. So he's done, and that's why the Pirates didn't bring him back, because he was done before the season.
00:38:18
Speaker 3: He was done last season.
00:38:19
Speaker 1: He's been a charity case for how long here, And it turned out that the Pirates did the right thing letting him go, and somehow they managed to keep the club host together in his absence.
00:38:31
Speaker 3: I think cuts a bit.
00:38:32
Speaker 1: Cutches a BS artist, albeit an all time franchise grape and a BS artist, and they don't miss him even a little bit. They would not have missed him had they never brought him back and left his legacy to his glory days his first time around with the Pirates. Ask Mark anything brought to us by people's natural gas peoples in a sense of utilities company save Reliable Natural Gas Energy. That's people's Hyphengas dot Com got a SoundBite from Ben in a little bit where he kind of disparaged some of the work that the Steelers are doing with Drew Aller. We'll get to that in a little bit. Right now, let's go to Roddington. Roddington, you're all with double.
00:39:11
Speaker 9: M hey Mark, little soccer talk here. With the World Cup coming up in a few weeks, in the transfer market opening up shortly there after, is it a big risk for some of these teams to take a gamble on someone who has like an amazing individual performance at the tournament. I know, the big guy from last World Cup with Cody Gatpo. Maybe you can go in more details.
00:39:37
Speaker 3: Yeah, it hasn't worked out like I hoped.
00:39:39
Speaker 1: I mean, he he's been okay for Liverpool, but he shouldn't be a regular and he plays every game because he's Dutch, in the manager's Dutch. It just always happened, Roddington. The players who perform well in the World Cup, their estimation and price goes up in the transfer window that immediately starts after.
00:39:56
Speaker 3: Look what Chelsea paid.
00:39:57
Speaker 1: For Enzo after he won to World Cup and was out standing for Argentina, and I think he's been pretty good for Chelsea, but not worth his transfer price.
00:40:05
Speaker 3: But that's just how it goes.
00:40:07
Speaker 1: If you do well in the World Cup, your price as a pro for club teams goes way up. Let's go to the Montroy boy toy.
00:40:16
Speaker 2: Yay double Ham's toy.
00:40:19
Speaker 10: Yeah, I know, Hey, who was the best athlete to ever come out of Reserve Township?
00:40:26
Speaker 1: Uh, that's a good question. Probably me at deck hockey. Why who do you think?
00:40:32
Speaker 2: That's why I'm calling the super genius. I don't really have anybody.
00:40:35
Speaker 3: I don't know.
00:40:35
Speaker 1: When I was growing up, Marty Kenny was a real good picture for Shaler. He he was in my neighborhood. Carl Rakers, who I graduated with. He started for Shaler, who who had obviously had then and still now a really good baseball team. So uh, but I'm sure there are others. I just haven't kept tracking who's from Reserve Township and who is not. So if anybody can remember anybody better than those two, I would love to hear it. And if not, those two certainly just now got an ego boost. Let's go to a talkback.
00:41:10
Speaker 11: Mark wanted to get your take on this year's Liverpool season, what you think about Slot, should he return, and how sad are you that's mo is no longer a red.
00:41:23
Speaker 1: Very sad that both Mohammed Sala and Andy Robertson have played their last games for Liverpool. They had a great nine years, won the lot. As far as Slot goes, I was very dissatisfied with the job he did. I thought the players didn't quite quit on him, but didn't buy into him. And you could tell that said that's a shortcoming on their part and not just his.
00:41:44
Speaker 3: I don't want to be the team.
00:41:45
Speaker 1: That fires the manager every year, like United have become and Chelsea have become. But yeah, i'd bring him back. I think they're going to, but I think he's on a very very short leash.
00:41:57
Speaker 11: Let's go to a talkback, Hey, Mark, is Vegas getting in or those of points really an issue now that they've made it to the finals.
00:42:05
Speaker 3: Yeah, of course it is.
00:42:07
Speaker 1: Of course it is if they if they if they only made it because the loser points, if they actually won more games than they lost, I'm not saying they didn't deserve it, because the standings are and the method is what the method is but I don't like the loser point. I think it should be three to two one if you want to give a loser point, and if you don't want to go three two one with three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shoot out win, and then one point for losing either of those, then you should just go two points for win, no points for a loss, no matter when and how you lose. I don't believe in being rewarded for losing a game, let alone half the points should get for winning the game. That just doesn't make sense to me. And for that reason, Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final doesn't really make sense for me. Then again, I just don't want Ports to be there. Then again, I'm glad Marner's there. Keep your calls coming. In eight three, three four one two w X d X one oh five nine the x
00:43:09
Speaker 6: Wsd X well presented by Capital
Speaker 1: Guinny Malkin's going to remain a Penguin for at least one more year, joining us. How to talk about it? Two time Stanley Cup winner. You hear him on Penguins Radio and see him on Penguins TV. He's the old two nine er Phil Burke Bork who's gonna win the Cup? And how the heck did Vegas sweep Colorado? I saw it, but I still can't keep my mind around it.
00:00:20
Speaker 2: Cause after in double I'm good to be on with you like always. I tell you what man he's looking like Vegas? I mean, if you know, if they can, you know, keep their captain Marks Stilling healthy. He is such a difference maker for them. And I just heard you just before I came on about Carter Hart and he doesn't have to be great. He doesn't have to win it for them. He just can't lose it for them, and he's just been solid making the staves he has to make. I find it interesting with Vegas. You know, they've got all that firepower up front, but they really don't have a number one defenseman. And as you know, Mark, it's it's always tough to win a Cup when you don't have that big horse back there. But they've got enough, right, they've got enough on the backside to you know, maybe not put up the numbers and end up on the score sheet, but they help the offensive players get going north towards the net. And they've got some snarl, they've got some size, and they can all skate, even the big guys like McNabb. But uh man, you see teams that get on a roll the way they are right now, and obviously playing in Vegas, even in the playoffs, it's still not the easiest thing to do. You want to bunker down, you want to just think hockey, hockey, hockey, but it's still a vacation type of area where you know, all you need is a couple of guys distracted.
00:01:42
Speaker 1: I think that that takes away the pressure too, does And I mean, look how Mitch Marner is blossomed being away from the pressure of Toronto. Although he's getting a bad rap. He did fine in the playoffs for Toronto. The Leafs led him down and not vice versa.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: No, and that's that's the kind of the you know, that bear trap that Toronto is where if you are paid the way he was paid, you're expected to be the guy to win the Cup and be the difference maker, and I respectfully disagree with you. He was not that great in the playoffs. He would have some great regular.
00:02:15
Speaker 3: Seasons seventy playoff not bad.
00:02:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, if you're just going hockey dB, then check that box mark. I'm talking about my eyeballs. What my eyeballs showed me in the playoffs, the biggest games where Toronto had to win that game, he was too quiet for me. But to your point that the pressure is off him, that he definitely does not have to be the guy. In fact, he might be the third guy there. As far as you know the importance of of who drives the offense, he might be the third guy there. And with all that being said, he might win the con Smite Trophy as the playoff MVP. He's been that good and has had moments that are that large that that's the thing about Vegas. They've got so many weapons right now. And isn't it funny that Torts goes there and people when what the Holy Moses are they doing changing their coach with eight games to go? But sometimes that round hole needs the right round fit, and that seems to be what Torts is for that team.
00:03:17
Speaker 3: Vegas only won thirty nine games.
00:03:19
Speaker 1: Six teams that made the playoffs did not win one more games than that, and San Jose won just as many. It didn't make it either, But Vegas got seventeen loser points. Does that say something bad? Is that an indictment to the loser point or is that just the way it is?
00:03:38
Speaker 2: What it tells me two things. Number One, that loser point matters. That loser point tells me they were in a lot of games that went pass regulation. So even though you know, you look at the win column and you think, oh, well, this team, you know, isn't that great, it tells me they were in a lot of games. But also it tells me where the league is headed right now, and the parody becomes more and more and more that there is no big dog on the block anymore. You know, when you look at Colorado's record and how unbelievable they were, that you never really felt like, oh, if they are just going to steamroll everybody, And especially in the East, you know there's no big dog anymore, the way that Tampa and Florida were there for a couple of years. So it just tells me, just get in just get in if you can get if you've got some good pieces, and you've got those kind of intangibles, those bottom six guys, and that's the thing that gets teams over the top. You look at that fourth line for the Vegas Golden Knights. They are such difference makers.
00:04:40
Speaker 4: And that's what it is.
00:04:41
Speaker 2: I mean, you go back to you know, sixteen and seventeen talking about HBK. That third line the Penguins had all of a sudden, those intangibles, the things that are not just jumping off the page at you, those become so important come playoff times.
00:04:55
Speaker 1: Now, what about in the East, Carolina leads two games to one after a couple of overtime wins. I'm winning for the Hurricanes because I'm rooting for Stallsey and I think Carolina in Vegas would be a better matchup, a more hard hitting matchup. I think Vegas would be able to slow Montreal down and take advantage of their experience over Montreal's inexperience.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think this is a this is a great moment for the Montreal Canadians, but they're not going to get there. I think the series is going to go down. I just think the Carolina Number one. I think Frederick Anderson, the goaltender. That's the best I've ever seen Anderson play. He's just been solid back there. Number one. Number two, They've moved a lot of pieces around on the chess board over the last what six seven eight years trying to get to the Stanley Cup Final. They have been not been able to get over the hump. I think now they have the right pieces there. And also, I just think that this is not Montreal's time. It's a giants step forward for them in their development of all those great young players that they've drafted. But I just don't think it's their time to get to the Stanley Cup Final. And then, selfishly, I'm with you Mark, I think it'll be better. Fear it'll be a better series. I still am leaning into Vegas because of the role they're on right now. But when you think of the structure and the suffocating defense that Carolina can play, they're going to take down the Montreal and they might really frustrate those high skilled players for the Vegas gold Knights, which will make a better series.
00:06:27
Speaker 1: We're talking to Phil Bork here on the Xporky give me the pros and cons of re upping Gino.
00:06:33
Speaker 3: I'm sure you agree with me that it was inevitable.
00:06:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, I do agree with you, And I'm now to the point where I'm celebrating it. I'm glad it happened. I don't want to think of the what ifs, or the conversations that we would have if he did not sign, the awkwardness of just and you and I talked about just walking into that locker room and all year. Yeah, it would have been awful. It would have been awful. So let me give you the pros. Here's a guy that came out of the gate just absolutely on fire. For while he was leaving the National Hontey League and scoring and doing it the right way. Was not cheating, was not taking shortcuts, was playing strong defensively while playing in the center rights position. Gino was playing like a guy playing for a contract. But it felt like it was more than that. That he had a chip on his shoulder, a healthy chip, and a swagger to his game. Early on, the injury occurs, he's out for a while. You remember he comes back and was against that Colorad against Colorado. You remember that game, Mark he was shot out of the canton. Coming back from the upper body injury, had two goals and assist, and so he had a lot of those moments, and even coming back from his five game suspension, he looked really good in that and Kyle du was mentioned in his postseason comments just how good Gino was in those two or three times when he missed a little time, the way he was able to come back. What I like is the dedication that I'm seeing from Gino on the ice and off the ice. I think he has rounded some of the rough edges off his game. I think playing the wing position has allowed him to do that, to just be responsible defensively, seeing less of the gambling, less of the shortcuts, less of those big parking lot turns, which he's been guilty of the past. He seemed to be more buttoned up, if you will. And then off the ice, I've seen some things, you know, with the luxury of being able to travel with the team, and the way he's taking young players, you know, taking them out to dinner, taking them under his wing, and just been a more you know, approachable, a leader, if you will. And to me, listen, he's never going to be that guy, but that he's trying different things. He's trying to be more of a leader, says a lot to where his heart is at. I'm never going to doubt his compete. I'm never going to doubt how much he absolutely loves living in Pittsburgh and being in the Pittsburgh Penguin and how much he wants to win. And I think now that he's going to be the Big four to zero in the last day of July. I think he can see the finish line. I don't know how far away it is.
00:09:05
Speaker 4: Is it just this year?
00:09:06
Speaker 2: Is it another year? Is the year after that?
00:09:08
Speaker 1: Oh, I've said another year. I mean then he's Aaron freakin' Rodgers.
00:09:12
Speaker 2: Okay, okay, well we just we just never know. We might be at this point again next year. Who knows? What if he has eighty points and eighty games?
00:09:20
Speaker 1: Mark, what if the sun falls out of the sky. Now, Borky, I agree with almost everything you said. I do, and I understand why they're doing it. But it's an old team, Okay, given that, should they trade future to try to win?
00:09:32
Speaker 2: That?
00:09:33
Speaker 3: Should they trade kids?
00:09:34
Speaker 1: Because that sounds ridiculous, but you can't split the difference, and at least that would be picking a direction long last.
00:09:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know, why would you have to trade any of the kids.
00:09:44
Speaker 3: They're not close to winning. Now you see the playoffs?
00:09:48
Speaker 2: Okay, okay, well that's the definition, Like what's what's success? Are you still top er busts? Because I'm not there, you know. So I'm at the point now where I just want to get to the playoffs. And now that we get to the playoff last year with this group, now I want to win a series and to me that's successful and maybe not in some people's eyes, but I'm a realist and I think if you can win a series, and we talked about just a little while ago, but if you can win one series, anything could happen in the National Hockey League now, so you can say, well this team you just never know. Mark, and I just think that this team with the Giants, stepped forward from last year the playoff, Carlson, the playoffs, did the play off Malkin and the young kids and the injection of you. I don't think there's any of these young guys with John and a Horklow or or mcgrorty or any of these other young guys. There's no reason to rush them and there's no reason to move them to try to unless there's this perfect storm, unless this is this unbelievable player where maybe you move Rusher McGorty and the first round pick to get X. I'm out for that if you can make your team better with something like that. But in the meantime, I think we're okay in the past we're taking which.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: Is the should definitely get a shot next year. Who should start the team to start the season in Pittsburgh.
00:11:07
Speaker 2: Wow, that's a tough question. I don't see anybody on the backside except maybe Brunick. I do want to see more of Brunick at the NHL level. I've liked what he has shown in the American Hockey League since playing you know, junior hockey out West. After that, I have a tough time thinking of any other defense that are ready for prime time. As far as the forwards, I mean, I know it's only been a few games, but you gotta be a little giddy about Bill's on and in the way that he plays and how big he looks on the ice, will hawkoff, I think he's gonna need some time. Okay, I think that's that's a bit of a project. He's a big guy. But I don't know if he moves well enough to be NHL ready, But you never know, he might come in and blow your socks off, you know, the way that Ben Kindall did. Kristin Brose is a really interesting player. Avery Hayes is a player I love. And if you're not going to bring back you know, Cookie and Nola CHERI. I think Avery Hayes is that standpaper guy that could be uh the guy to play in your fourth line. But but after that, I have a tough time to give any of the other guys that are really really knocking on that door.
00:12:19
Speaker 3: Okay, let me play devil's advocate.
00:12:21
Speaker 1: I think McGroarty has to start the season with the team and Avery Hayes, I disagree.
00:12:25
Speaker 2: I disagree with you. I strongly disagree.
00:12:27
Speaker 3: Okay, then we'll never what about Coven?
00:12:31
Speaker 2: No, thank you. I don't think I.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Never gonna.
00:12:34
Speaker 5: I don't.
00:12:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, he said he's what he played fit the NHL games. He's way too quiet, way too quiet. He's chasing the game. I don't know if he's an NHL player.
00:12:46
Speaker 3: I'm being honest. I don't know either, but.
00:12:49
Speaker 2: That the numbers at EURO He's always a really good American Hockey League player, but none of it translates to the NHL.
00:12:56
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, Ry, I hate to be cynical, and I'm not giving you a hard time, but yeah, let's just hope old guys do good. I remember when we never find out about Nasma and he went to Vancouver and excelled.
00:13:06
Speaker 3: Never found out about morosof.
00:13:08
Speaker 1: Made him a fourth liner, and he went to the KHL and led the league.
00:13:11
Speaker 3: Now that's only the KHL.
00:13:13
Speaker 1: But but I mean, this team hasn't won a playoff series since twenty eighteen.
00:13:17
Speaker 3: I want to find.
00:13:17
Speaker 2: Out what I gave you, bros. And even Donning okay, and and now now just because I didn't, you know, blow your skirt up with McGroarty. You know, you know, I'm just telling you, there's gotta be more. He's got to pick a lane. He's gotta tell me what what are you, Rutger, what are you okay? The stuff you can do in America League, can you do it in the NHL? Because his skating is an issue. Listen, I love the kid. I want that kid to wear that number two in black and gold as much as you do. But I don't want to hand it to him. I want him to earn it. I want him to pick a lane. Decide what kind of player are you? Because if you think you're, you know, just the numbers guy, you got another thing coming. You're gonna be more of a Chris Koonitz. You're gonna be more of a Patrick Hornquish. You gotta be more of a son of a gun out there if you really want to carve yourself an NHL career.
00:14:08
Speaker 3: Poorky, I love it when we clash.
00:14:09
Speaker 1: It's great radio, great input as always, and we'll do it again real soon.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: Enjoy the playoffs, you too, Double, I'm enjoyed it like always, good hockey talk.
00:14:18
Speaker 1: We got Matt Barkowski talking hockey at the bottom of the hour.
00:14:23
Speaker 3: Up next, what do I have up next?
00:14:26
Speaker 1: Oh, we're gonna talk about that that uh loser point and how it got Vegas in and should it?
00:14:34
Speaker 3: Should that be remedied? I think so.
00:14:37
Speaker 1: We're else gonna talk about Drew Aller one O five nine xpac in and out with the psychotic version, the pokey pokey Mark.
00:14:45
Speaker 2: You are super genius.
00:14:46
Speaker 3: I know it's the ex at one O five nine. It's maddening on the X and Okay, this is odd.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: Washington the Islanders, New Jersey, Detroit, Columbus in Florida each had more wins than Vegas in the regular season. San Jose had the same number of wins as Vegas thirty nine, but none of them teams made the playoffs, and Vegas is in the Stanley Cup Final with thirty nine wins and forty three losses and seventeen loser points. You gotta get rid of the loser point or go with the three two one model. Three points for a regulation win, two points if you win in overtime or a shootout, one point if you lose in overtime or a shootout. It's absurd that Vegas is in the Stanley Cup Final after having a regular season record under real five hundred. Speaking of crazy, here's Ben Roethlisberger losing his mind on his podcast.
00:16:05
Speaker 5: I think this team has a like is a is a legit playoff team. And I think, and I'll say this because we always have to talk about injuries will always play a factor, so not in this preseason. As we sit right now, this is a legit playoff team. I think they're going to They have a legit chance to win games in the playoffs, and I hate though I hate to say, like a super Bowl with tender, I think that that is a it's always a bold statement. But this is a team that has the potential to to get to the super Bowl, for sure.
00:16:39
Speaker 3: He's talking about the Steelers.
00:16:42
Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger just said the Steelers are a team that has the potential to get to the super Bowl. For sure. That's just crazy talk. It's a fun kind of crazy. But how could you say that an old team with Grandpa game Manager at quarterback, a team that ain't won a playoff game in nine seasons, how could you possibly say that team has the potential to get to the super Bowl. It is part of the annual overestimation of the Steelers. I'd say they're more likely to finish last in the AFC North than to make it to the super Bowl.
00:17:18
Speaker 3: Far more likely. In fact, here's.
00:17:21
Speaker 1: Colin Coward on Fox expressing doubt about Drew Aller.
00:17:26
Speaker 3: The Steelers rookie quarterback.
00:17:29
Speaker 6: Drew Aller is one of those guys I just don't see the instincts. He's a big kid, he can move a little, he's got a big arm. Now, if he gets the right coach and it works with Mike McCarthy is a very good offensive coach, really helps quarterbacks. But I when I watched him play, I just didn't There's a there's something about guys that just have a feel. There is an instinctive feel to it. Some guys, just like when I watch Mahomes, he just has a feel when to go.
00:17:58
Speaker 3: He just knows this.
00:18:00
Speaker 6: Guys can't see the damn field, you know, they just can't see the field. Other guys see the entire field. And I just don't Drew Allur To me, I just felt like just something was missing.
00:18:12
Speaker 1: There is something missing, and it's Mike McCarthy. Mike McCarthy will build a toolbox for Drew Aller, and Aler has all the tools. Aler isn't a finished product. He's not NFL ready. Who said that he is and who said he's Mahomes. That's an unfair comparison for Coward to make. What Aler is is the Steelers' best bet at quarterback long term, and if he doesn't work out, you draft somebody else. But I bet Aler does work out two or three years from now, you're gonna realize the Super Teniers was right, like always when he said Mike McCarthy and Drew Aller will save the Steelers. Here's Dan Pleisak, the former big league pitcher. He's on MLB Network talking about his cy Young Award rankings in the National League right now.
00:19:08
Speaker 7: So I would go Miserowski, Sanchez, Otani has had a marvelous year on the mound, Chris Sale at number four, and Paul Skeens at number five. The reason I would put Skeens at five, he's had He'll go through that. He's done this really since opening day. A good start, then a little bit of a subpar performance, then a couple of really good starts, and he just hasn't strung together, in my opinion, the consistency that Sanchez or Miserowski or Otani have had up to this point from opening Day to hear this last week of May.
00:19:44
Speaker 1: Wow, Skeens at fifth and all y'all pretty much assumed Skeens was going to win the cy Young every year in perpetuity. Please, Ac is right. The consistency ain't been there for Skeens. Miss Eroski of Milwaukee, he's red hot, He's the soup de jure. And I'd give the cy Young right out of Sanchez from Philadelphia just because he's got the balls to go deep.
00:20:09
Speaker 3: That came out kind.
00:20:10
Speaker 1: Of porny, But look at his last four starts, eight innings, nine innings. That was the complete game win against the Pirates seven innings, eight innings. It's odd what's happening because everybody said Skins was the goat me too, and suddenly he's not. Join me Mark Madden right now and make your downtime fun time. Download to bet Parks online casino in Sportsbook Gap, Immediate Mont and play online craps, blackjack, and roulette, or play hundreds of online slots like the Huff and Puff Games and much more. You can also live bet on Bucos baseball and Pro Basketball. Tonight, the Buckos toast Chicago as Bubba Chandler takes them out. Bet more than the score our bet individual player performances for Bucos Baseball, the Basketball playoffs, the Hockey Playoffs, golf and more. Right now, here's a great offer for new online casino users. Join me now and get up to five hundred dollars bonus back in your first twenty four hours, plus get two hundred and fifty bonus spins on the hot soccer themed online slot game Gold Trio soccer. That's the Betpark's online casino and sportsbook app. I love it, I use it, I recommend it. It's where there's always another way to win. You gotta be twenty one and in PA, New Jersey, Maryland or Michigan. New users only. Terms and conditions applied. Get the details at Betparks dot com. Casino bonus must be wagered if you've got a gambling problem called one eight hundred Gambler Up. Next, gonna talk the return of Efghinny Malkin with Matt Barkowski of Sports Net Pittsburgh.
00:21:54
Speaker 3: I'm Mark Madden one oh five to nine.
00:21:56
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00:22:26
Speaker 6: From the one oh five nine the ex Weather Center.
00:22:29
Speaker 3: This report is sponsored by Mattress firm Colley's Guys.
00:22:33
Speaker 7: Tonight but clearing overnight dropping down to an overnight low of fifty eight should be a really beautiful day tomorrow, lots of sunshine and a high of seventy four.
00:22:41
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00:22:44
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00:22:49
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00:22:55
Speaker 1: Some breaking news from Texas Andrew McCutcheon has been dfayed batting e's of one ninety two ohps at five thirty two.
00:23:03
Speaker 3: But don't worry.
00:23:03
Speaker 1: Cuts can always come back here and maybe long last realize my dream of him being the extra Parogi. Time to talk hockey. Joining me now from sports Net Pittsburgh. It's former NHL defenseman Matt Barkowski. Bart is reapping Gino good or bad for the Penguins. Give me the pros and cons.
00:23:22
Speaker 10: Oh Man after them a cutching con. Now we're getting into.
00:23:25
Speaker 2: This so good or bad?
00:23:30
Speaker 10: Honestly, I'm so indifferent about it. So good is you get Gino back? You know, pointing game last year still a good player getting them at a decent number if you'd look just on paper, that is, he's obviously aging, and now you have Gino in the lineup.
00:23:49
Speaker 4: That you're not.
00:23:50
Speaker 10: I don't know if you're really going to take him off the top power play. He's going to be taking up a spot where you have the rest of the team, and in your organization you actually have some youth now that you want them to get the experience right. So I would lean more towards the bad side on this one, as bad as that is hard to say, you know, because it is Gino, one of the big three, been here twenty one years now. Business Wise, I think it would have been best to let him go. But if I'm sitting in that seat, could I pull the trigger on that one?
00:24:23
Speaker 4: Probably not.
00:24:25
Speaker 10: That's just the thing I'm most concerned about is will the use that we've seen recently be able to get those opportunities that he's probably.
00:24:35
Speaker 4: Going to take up.
00:24:35
Speaker 10: I mean, we saw him kind of move to the wing last year, which I honestly I didn't think was going to work out that well and ended up working pretty good. So he's clearly capable of doing that. If he's capable of taking a second fiddle on some of the special teams in other big, big areas, then yeah, it's fine.
00:24:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's my big sticking point too.
00:24:56
Speaker 1: Bard He's got to be on the second power play because he coughed up shorthanded opportunity after shorthanded opportunity, his lost faith at his one time or it might not be there anymore, and it's keeping Kindle and Chinakoff on the second power play At some point, You've got to pass the torch and not so much right now with guys like McGroarty and Avery Hayes, who will talk about a minute, but coyven And and China Koff are first team power play guys. They need to do it or pretty soon they just won't do it, if.
00:25:28
Speaker 3: You know what I mean.
00:25:29
Speaker 10: Yeah, I mean Coyve and I will start with him. I've had enough of a sample size with him to see that he's really got to work on his skating to be able to play in the NHL. He definitely has the vision. He's a really good passer. He two seasons ago at the end of the year when he came up, he played really good on the half wall. That's one of the spots that you know, is gonna take up so as far as him for him coming into this year, he's only got to work on his skating because he's got to make a splash in camp. He's not just you know, like two years ago it was basically McGroarty and coyven And this year you're gonna have Hayes, McGroarty, coyven and Zan and uh you know, Horkoff will come to camp.
00:26:13
Speaker 4: You're gonna have other younger guys. Job bros.
00:26:17
Speaker 10: Yeah, Bro's is going to be pushing for a job, so he's really got to work on it and have a big summer. H Senikov, on the other hand, you got to have him on the top unit.
00:26:27
Speaker 3: I mean with that shot, well, Kendall too got to be on the top power play.
00:26:34
Speaker 10: Yeah, see Kimdall kindall played well during the middle of the season there when he was on the top power Play. I don't know throughout his career if he's going to be a top power play guy. I think he has a talent in in in the wherewithal to do it, But I honestly I think on a good team, I just don't see him being a top power play. He just he doesn't have an overpowering shot. He doesn't have overpowering. He does every thing well if you know what I mean. He doesn't have one quality though, that's just puts him over the top.
00:27:05
Speaker 4: And that's not a knock on him, that's just.
00:27:07
Speaker 1: Well, let me let me, let me make a case from bart because because I think he should run the power play and be the reset point on the left. Half Wall, You're right about him not having an overpowering shot, but he knows how to clear space for everybody and he and he has that amount of patience the good power play guys.
00:27:23
Speaker 10: Half No, he definitely has the poise. But if you put him on a championship team, do you think he's on your top power play? I I just don't see him there. I see him as a second unit guy. Can he filter into the top power play? Absolutely?
00:27:36
Speaker 1: If we put only guys who could be on a championship team's power play on the ring, Bark would only have two guys out there would be short handed.
00:27:44
Speaker 10: Hey hey, but that's what we're building for, right, I mean, that's the end goal.
00:27:48
Speaker 2: So we're.
00:27:51
Speaker 4: No, and it's not Yeah, I mean no, there's.
00:27:57
Speaker 3: A lot going on. This contradictory isn't there there is?
00:28:01
Speaker 10: It's it's and it's like the Steelers, right, I mean the same. It's the mushy middle, but hanging on to the to the legacy, and that's just.
00:28:08
Speaker 4: Where we're at.
00:28:08
Speaker 10: But I mean, like I said, I'm not gonna be the guy to.
00:28:11
Speaker 4: Pull the trigger and get rid of me either.
00:28:13
Speaker 1: It's easy to say it was a hard decision and they made the easy decision.
00:28:18
Speaker 3: The one that I do wonder about is is the room too comfortable? Bart?
00:28:22
Speaker 1: I mean, you've been in in NHL dressing rooms. Is there not enough energy and even tension?
00:28:27
Speaker 3: Is that room?
00:28:28
Speaker 1: It's an old man's dressing room. And one thing bad about last year when they started eight too and two they moved all the young guys to the miners, and that energy kind of dissipated.
00:28:36
Speaker 3: It became, like I said, an old man's locker room.
00:28:40
Speaker 10: It it dissipate enough. As long as you have the big three there.
00:28:45
Speaker 4: It is going to be an older man's room.
00:28:48
Speaker 2: There's better.
00:28:49
Speaker 4: There's good and bad to that, right.
00:28:50
Speaker 10: I mean, those guys bring so much experience. You got Carlson bringing experience. They bring the experience which I think is necessary in the hard situations. But I mean, let's be honest. Are they gonna win next year?
00:29:03
Speaker 2: No?
00:29:03
Speaker 10: Are they gonna win the year after? Probably not? So you're building a few years down the road. So is bringing Geno back and to hurt him maybe just development wise for the younger guys, is it gonna Is it gonna help them?
00:29:16
Speaker 2: Know? Yeah?
00:29:19
Speaker 3: It doesn't.
00:29:20
Speaker 1: But it's like it's just they're doing the same old, same old with an old team. I think they've done that for too long bart they're not moving forward. But again, I wouldn't let him go and I don't have a problem with it. I just I just understand the ramifications and uh, here's here's the one short cut. And I'm interested in hearing how much faith you have in this guy. Morrishoff could be a short cut. It's a lot to ask, but if he's a star goalie, he could be a short cut. I'm not sure either of us have seen enough of him to know, But what's your hunch?
00:29:51
Speaker 10: Yeah, I never I think he's gonna be good and I we will be a starter. He's still young enough though, and it's not like the goalies like the old days where they're playing seventy games a year. Right, So how much of a shortcut is he's not gonna I think he could will you in the playoffs. I don't know about next year, but maybe the year after, once he gets a full year under his belt. Because it is rolling, it's not the same as playing in the minors.
00:30:19
Speaker 4: I mean, it's it's a heck of.
00:30:20
Speaker 10: A lot different schedule wise, especially for a goalie. So maybe in two years he can will you in the playoffs and then he can definitely steal a series. I do think he'll be able to do that at some point, But as far as next year, I don't see that shortcut. I mean if you even look at the playoffs right now, I mean Montreal is kind of relying on that Dobish kid right right now, and they still can't win games once you get deep in the playoffs.
00:30:47
Speaker 4: So if we're talking about.
00:30:49
Speaker 10: Making it to the Stanley Cup and winning, then he's not a shortcut for winning. And they got a few more other pieces they got to deal out. But going forward, he definitely has to be your guy. I mean, it's looking like it's lining up that way this summer unless they definitely, unless they do something drastic and kind of shock us with whatever they do or bring in somebody else. I just don't see how he doesn't play fifty games for you next year and find out actually what you have, because he's.
00:31:18
Speaker 4: Shown he's shown enough this year.
00:31:20
Speaker 10: I mean, he came up when they were playing bad and he still played well. So if you're going to change your system too and shelter them a little bit and try and keep stuff to the other kind of like we used to do in Boston. We just kept everything to the outside and you know, like Tim Thomas won the Vesna, their rafts won the Vesna and they were great goalies, but we also kept a lot.
00:31:39
Speaker 4: Of shots to the outside.
00:31:40
Speaker 10: So if you do that, then I think he could definitely, definitely will them, maybe even win around. But at the same time, it's a lot it's difficult when you have that old guard too, to get everybody to say that.
00:31:55
Speaker 3: His rookie year either Bart, But you're right, you look at last year.
00:31:59
Speaker 1: News had them playing structurally more sound than I've seen a Penguins team playing years, but they still finished I think eighth bottom from the in the league in goals against because they just don't defend. They just attack, attack and attack attack, And even with that structure applied, it won enough, and the goaltending won't good enough either.
00:32:19
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:32:19
Speaker 10: No, the goaltending definitely was inconsistent. And I mean at points in the year we're talking about how good the goalies played in any given game, and then you look at the end of the night and they still gave up five. So yeah, the chances are still too many. And that's just you know, that's layover from from the uh from the Sullivan years of just pinch everything and and and you know, just get up the ice all the d get up the ice like you're still going to have stretches like that. So it's still it's not changing a system.
00:32:51
Speaker 4: Isn't going to happen overnight.
00:32:53
Speaker 10: It's definitely not gonna happen in a camp, especially when you have that many guys still around from the core and from everyone uh a part of it.
00:33:01
Speaker 2: It's still it's just.
00:33:02
Speaker 4: Not gonna happen.
00:33:03
Speaker 3: So I think they want to play correct.
00:33:09
Speaker 2: They get to that.
00:33:10
Speaker 4: Point in the games, and that's what I'm getting at.
00:33:12
Speaker 10: They end up getting getting to that point of you know, game gets tough for they get down a goal anything like that, they'll just go back to their to their old ways of just hey we can we can score away out of it or or you know, whatever we were doing, we were winning, and you know, maybe it just doesn't work that way anymore.
00:33:30
Speaker 3: Uh, who's gonna win the Cup?
00:33:31
Speaker 1: Because I look at who's still playing and the Penguins are nowhere near any of these teams. That that's what that's what discourages me about it being an older team.
00:33:41
Speaker 10: Yeah, and like we're talking about, we're looking to three years out for this Penn team, but it might be Carolina's year. Honestly, I just don't. I still don't trust Vegas. Carter Hart's playing well right now. A lot of those guys have been here before. But the beginning of year, I did pick Vegas in the Avalanche in the West, but I did not see Vegas sweeping the Avalanche. I think they're still riding on the the adrenaline high from getting a new coach.
00:34:13
Speaker 4: Uh.
00:34:13
Speaker 10: So I think Carolina is gonna end up winning their Cups.
00:34:17
Speaker 1: Yeah, I do too. I'd like to see stalls he win it, you know, dating back to yeah, his time in Pittsburgh, especially two cups.
00:34:23
Speaker 10: Let Freddie Anderson unless Freddy Anderson goes back to being Freddie Anderson, which we saw in Game one against Montreal for the whole series, I think Carolina wins.
00:34:32
Speaker 1: How great would it be if marn or at least Toronto wins the Cup, wins the con smite. That's one reason I wouldn't mind seeing Vegas win.
00:34:40
Speaker 10: Yeah, that would be great, wouldn't it. I mean, I can't stand Toronto. I know guys who even play there, especially Americans, don't like. They don't like it, the media everything. Then they hire Jaika like it's just it's such a mess up there. I think it it'd be great to see him get out of Toronto win a Cup, and then I'm pretty sure before we before we know going to see Austin Matthews leave there too. So the hom of hockey for all the Canadians and guys leave and win cups.
00:35:06
Speaker 2: I love it.
00:35:08
Speaker 1: Is the era of the star player over in the NHL. You look at the stars who just didn't get their teams to where they wanted them to go this year, and I wonder if, if if GMS will look at a different model moving forward.
00:35:22
Speaker 10: I think you still do need a star too, I just don't know if you're gonna win with that star right away. It's kind of it's kind of turning into a model where you get that star, you get them in the number, and then the cap ends up going up and then you can filter your other players in and you kind of get that second wave because you look at well, look at Edmonton, I mean they have Drive Tittle and McDavid, the best player, best player in the world. People don't realize how good Drive Sittle is. If McDavid was never there, then you know, if he wasn't in the league, Drivestedtle would be up for the Heart every year. So I think that model, you're right, is gone. I just I do think that it has a lot to do with the development and just being able to filter in. Once the cap goes up, you can pay a few more guys and get that second Like I said, that second wave, just get those b players, well be players compared to the stars, right. But I think that the model is going that way. I mean, look at look at the Avalanche, mccarr and McKinnon. Arguably, well you got the best d and then McKinnon's probably gonna win the Heart this year, and and they just Paul de Vegas. So you definitely need the supporting third line guys, fourth line guys in there, and you've got to pay him more money now too. I mean, you've got guys making four million on the third line on some of these teams, so I think the model is going that way.
00:36:45
Speaker 1: Bart is always great input, great work on TV as well. We'll talk again real soon, thanks, Mark. That's Matt bart Coski and Mark Man. Now it's time to ask Mark anything, which is always a lot of fun. Doll eight three three four two wxdx. That's eight three to three four one two wxdx. Or you can leave a talk back using the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app. Ask Mark anything right now one O five to nine.
00:37:09
Speaker 3: It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six. Pretty cool. It is super cool.
00:37:14
Speaker 4: At one five nine.
00:37:16
Speaker 3: Yo, it's Mark Madden. I've got a challenge.
00:37:19
Speaker 2: No.
00:37:19
Speaker 1: Rat's hosting the Cubs again tonight, looking to win a fourth game in a row, looking to go four games over five hundred, which I think is their high water mark previous in this season.
00:37:31
Speaker 3: Ozuna is in the lineup again.
00:37:33
Speaker 1: They just play Ozuona play Ozuna no matter how bad he does. Valdez is back in batting ninth. They should have Ozuna batting ninth. Uh Horwitz, who's had quite a run of of good hitting lately. He's batting leadoff. I like Connor Griffin batting leadoff. I would put him there and leave him there. I think that's a good spot for his speed and his energy to be utilized. Or they could get Cutch back and bat him lead off. Got dfa'ed by Texas earlier today, hitting one ninety two ops five thirty two. So he's done, and that's why the Pirates didn't bring him back, because he was done before the season.
00:38:18
Speaker 3: He was done last season.
00:38:19
Speaker 1: He's been a charity case for how long here, And it turned out that the Pirates did the right thing letting him go, and somehow they managed to keep the club host together in his absence.
00:38:31
Speaker 3: I think cuts a bit.
00:38:32
Speaker 1: Cutches a BS artist, albeit an all time franchise grape and a BS artist, and they don't miss him even a little bit. They would not have missed him had they never brought him back and left his legacy to his glory days his first time around with the Pirates. Ask Mark anything brought to us by people's natural gas peoples in a sense of utilities company save Reliable Natural Gas Energy. That's people's Hyphengas dot Com got a SoundBite from Ben in a little bit where he kind of disparaged some of the work that the Steelers are doing with Drew Aller. We'll get to that in a little bit. Right now, let's go to Roddington. Roddington, you're all with double.
00:39:11
Speaker 9: M hey Mark, little soccer talk here. With the World Cup coming up in a few weeks, in the transfer market opening up shortly there after, is it a big risk for some of these teams to take a gamble on someone who has like an amazing individual performance at the tournament. I know, the big guy from last World Cup with Cody Gatpo. Maybe you can go in more details.
00:39:37
Speaker 3: Yeah, it hasn't worked out like I hoped.
00:39:39
Speaker 1: I mean, he he's been okay for Liverpool, but he shouldn't be a regular and he plays every game because he's Dutch, in the manager's Dutch. It just always happened, Roddington. The players who perform well in the World Cup, their estimation and price goes up in the transfer window that immediately starts after.
00:39:56
Speaker 3: Look what Chelsea paid.
00:39:57
Speaker 1: For Enzo after he won to World Cup and was out standing for Argentina, and I think he's been pretty good for Chelsea, but not worth his transfer price.
00:40:05
Speaker 3: But that's just how it goes.
00:40:07
Speaker 1: If you do well in the World Cup, your price as a pro for club teams goes way up. Let's go to the Montroy boy toy.
00:40:16
Speaker 2: Yay double Ham's toy.
00:40:19
Speaker 10: Yeah, I know, Hey, who was the best athlete to ever come out of Reserve Township?
00:40:26
Speaker 1: Uh, that's a good question. Probably me at deck hockey. Why who do you think?
00:40:32
Speaker 2: That's why I'm calling the super genius. I don't really have anybody.
00:40:35
Speaker 3: I don't know.
00:40:35
Speaker 1: When I was growing up, Marty Kenny was a real good picture for Shaler. He he was in my neighborhood. Carl Rakers, who I graduated with. He started for Shaler, who who had obviously had then and still now a really good baseball team. So uh, but I'm sure there are others. I just haven't kept tracking who's from Reserve Township and who is not. So if anybody can remember anybody better than those two, I would love to hear it. And if not, those two certainly just now got an ego boost. Let's go to a talkback.
00:41:10
Speaker 11: Mark wanted to get your take on this year's Liverpool season, what you think about Slot, should he return, and how sad are you that's mo is no longer a red.
00:41:23
Speaker 1: Very sad that both Mohammed Sala and Andy Robertson have played their last games for Liverpool. They had a great nine years, won the lot. As far as Slot goes, I was very dissatisfied with the job he did. I thought the players didn't quite quit on him, but didn't buy into him. And you could tell that said that's a shortcoming on their part and not just his.
00:41:44
Speaker 3: I don't want to be the team.
00:41:45
Speaker 1: That fires the manager every year, like United have become and Chelsea have become. But yeah, i'd bring him back. I think they're going to, but I think he's on a very very short leash.
00:41:57
Speaker 11: Let's go to a talkback, Hey, Mark, is Vegas getting in or those of points really an issue now that they've made it to the finals.
00:42:05
Speaker 3: Yeah, of course it is.
00:42:07
Speaker 1: Of course it is if they if they if they only made it because the loser points, if they actually won more games than they lost, I'm not saying they didn't deserve it, because the standings are and the method is what the method is but I don't like the loser point. I think it should be three to two one if you want to give a loser point, and if you don't want to go three two one with three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shoot out win, and then one point for losing either of those, then you should just go two points for win, no points for a loss, no matter when and how you lose. I don't believe in being rewarded for losing a game, let alone half the points should get for winning the game. That just doesn't make sense to me. And for that reason, Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final doesn't really make sense for me. Then again, I just don't want Ports to be there. Then again, I'm glad Marner's there. Keep your calls coming. In eight three, three four one two w X d X one oh five nine the x
00:43:09
Speaker 6: Wsd X well presented by Capital
