Pair at the Point: A Pittsburgh Penguins Podcast

1. The Penguins have acquired Rickard Rakell from the Ducks for Aston-Reese, Simon, a 2022 2nd Rounder, and Calle Clang. Scorer in, defensive forward out 2. Trades around the league Fleury Giroux Chiarot Giordano  3. Metropolitan Division Continues to get better Challenging path ahead for all teams in the Metro, East Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePoint Pair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/ Follow The FHN: @theFHN The FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Secondary scoring 2. Trade Deadline rumors 3. Mark Friedman v. Marcus Petterson  4. WBS call-ups and what that means for players like Kapanen and Simon Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePoint Pair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/ Follow The FHN: @theFHN The FHN Website: thefhn.net

Crosby's 500th Goal Play of the Penguins top line Secondary scoring troubles and trade deadline rumors Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePoint Pair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/ Follow The FHN: @theFHN The FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Jake Guentzel turns it around 2. Marcus Petterson's play 3. Scoring needs from Kapanen and Zucker 4. Jarry/DeSmith play so far Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePoint Pair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/ Follow The FHN: @theFHN The FHN Website: thefhn.net

1. Analysis from the last four games. Panthers Blackhawks Stars Maple Leafs 2. Standouts 3. Players who have more to give. Follow us on Twitter: @PairAtThePoint Pair at the Point Website: pairatthepoint.transistor.fm/ Follow The FHN: @theFHN The FHN Website: thefhn.net

Pre-season Wrapped Up Drew O'Connor not making the 23 man roster. Brian Boyle contract First Game Takeaways No Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, ZAR Defensive play Heinen's debut

Training Camp cuts PracticeDrills Dump-in, puck retrieval, two-on-ones Interesting Practice CombosZAR-Blueger-McGinn Letang-Joseph Interesting playersDrozg ScrimmageTeam Black vs. Team White LinesZucker-Zohorna-Kapanen Zucker-Rodrigues-Kapanen Guentzal-Carter-Heinen Boyle practicing with Rust DefenseMarino Matheson  Other players to mentionPoulin Legare Riikola Lindberg Bjorkqvist Preseason Game 1 - September 27 - Columbus Roster Released

1. Development Camp Roster OffenseJustin Almeida (LW) Raivis Ansons (LW) Shaw Boomhower (LW) Jonathan Gruden (C)  Filip Hallander (LW) Sam Houde (C)  Nathan Legare (RW) Kyle Olson (RW) Sam Poulin (LW) Valtteri Puustinen (RW) Felix Robert (LW) Lukas Svejkovsky (RW) Josh Williams (RW) DefenseNiclas Almari Isaac Belliveau Cam Lee Dylan MacPherson Josh Maniscalco Chris Merisier-Ortiz Ryan McCleary Will Reilly GoaltendersBrett Brochu Alex D'Orio Filip Lindberg Tommy Nappier 2. Pre-Camp Thoughts Center depth is lacking Excitement for Poulin and Legare development Filip Lindberg should light it up at camp Filip Hallander - excited see how he’s developed and changed since getting traded 3. Post-Mortem of Development Camp - 9/18/21 Stand Outs Need More Time

PLAY STYLE Fast, agile, and surprisingly physical Aggressive pinches and cross-ice passing decisions Limited shooting ability. PAST TO PRESENT Career overview, improvements defensively in last few seasons Performance trajectory for next season? Beyond? EXPECTATIONS Pairing stability with Dumoulin Injury factor Point projections? Defensive performance?

Season Statistics - Then and Now2017-18: 64 points in 82 games played - .78 points per game 2018-19: 42 points in 81 games played - .52 points per game 2019-20: 41 points in 60 games played - .68 points per game 2020-21: 18 points in 38 games played - .47 points per game Playoff Performances2017-18: 0 points in 5 games played - 0 points per game 2018-19: No playoffs 2019-20: 2 points in 4 games played - .5 points per game 2020-21: 3 points in 6 games played - .5 points per game Heavy price to pay for Zucker in returnCalen Addison - Iowa Wild 2020-21: 22 points in 31 games 1st round draft pick - Carson Lambos, D from WHL 5.5M through 2023 Can he turn it around?What line should he be on? Can he get the point production of 2017-18? What else can he bring to the team if it isn’t point production? Biggest wild card on the roster. Can possibly make or break a playoff spot this year. Need a big performance (especially while Geno is out).

Mike Lange Retirement Rehash Hextall/Burke Hires Discussion of Rutherford Exit Hextall history in Philly/LA Burke history in Toronto/Calgary Has playing it safe closed the window? Zach Aston-Reese Signing 1 year x $1.725M Good deal, but uncertainty added More offense, could get paid Lines For Pittsburgh Post-Camp Division Standings Prediction Do the Pens make the playoffs? Who falls off? Rangers, Devils, Flyers improvement?

Expansion Draft, RFA Losses TanevHow will his absence affect the team next year? No qualifying offer for Millitec, Jankowski, Lindgren, Larmi 2. Draft Picks (R2-#58)Tristan Broz6’0 C, University of Minnesota (NCAA) 90 points in 108 games (USHL) (R5-#154)Isaac Belliveau6’2 D, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) 17 points in 37 games (R7-#194)Ryan McCleary6’0 D (only 154 lbs), Portland Winterhawks (WHL) 7 points in 18 games (R7-#215)Daniel Laatsch6’5 D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA) (R7-#218)Kirill Tankov6’1 C/RW, captain of bad MHL (Russian Junior) team SKA Varyagi 19 y/o overager, 43 pts in 52 games 3. Signings McGinn  Heinen Rodrigues Simon Chaput Fedun Lindberg

News around the league Interesting trades UFAs not yet signed Players surprisingly unprotected/protected GMs gone wild 2. Jared McCann Traded to Toronto - how does this affect the team moving forward? Thoughts and commentary on this trade 3. Penguins Protection List and Expansion Draft Predictions  Penguins Protected ListSidney Crosby Evgeni Malkin Jake Guentzal  Bryan Rust Kasperi Kapanen Jeff Carter (ugh) Teddy Blueger Kris Letang Brian Dumoulin Mike Matheson Tristan Jarry What the team may look like in 2021-22 Best and worst case scenario for the expansion draft with our unprotected players 4. Preseason game schedule announced

JESS’ PICKS 1. William Eklund(C) - Sabres 2. Matthew Beniers(C) -  Kraken 3. Owen Power (D) - Ducks 4. Luke Hughes(D) - Devils 5. Simon Edvinsson (D) - Blue Jackets 6. Jesper Wallstedt(G) - Wings 7. Dylan Guenther(LW) - Sharks 8. Brandt Clarke(D) - Kings 9. Mason McTavish(C) - Canucks 10. Fabian Lysell(LW/RW)  - Senators SETH’S PICKS 1. Eklund 2. Power 3. Beniers 4. Wallstedt 5. Lysell 6. Hughes 7. Guenther 8. Clarke 9. McTavish 10. Solvidson

The Finals - final thoughtsHow did our predictions pan out? Will Montreal take it to 6 or 7? How does home ice affect the series moving forward? Penguins UFAs - will we try to resign?Colton Sceviour, Evan Rodrigues, Freddy Gaudreau, Cody Ceci Who do we need? Who will cost too much and sign elsewhere? UFAs around the leaguePenguins linked to Grubauer - can we afford him? What would this mean for Jarry? Goalies: Grubauer, Rask, Raanta, Mrazek, Driedger, M. Smith, Reimer, Ullmark, Rinne  Forwards: Ovechkin, Landeskog, Hyman, Saad, B. Ryan, Hoffman, Coleman, Hall, Armia, Sheahan Defense (RHD): Hamilton, Savard, Stone, L. Schenn, Montour, Gudbranson, Hamonic, Bogosian, Hakanpaa, Barrie, Larsson How do we get bigger? Do we try or leave it alone?

The Finals - news and thoughts Finals & Conn Smythe - thoughts and predictions Wrap up of playoffs overall Reffing discussion 2. Penguins what if? Could they have beaten the Lightning? What about the Canadiens? Future of the league 3. Penguins RFAs Main: Blueger and ZAR Qualification rules Must be qualified by July 22 - after expansion draft before draft Seattle Others: Jankowski, Zohorna, Militec, Bjorkqvist, Lindgren, Larmi Roster spots

1. Rust  Identity - What was the team’s identity this season? What is it moving forward? League at large - Rust says the league hasn’t fundamentally changed since 16-17, is that so? Physicality - Bigger teams that can skate are winning in recent years; Is there a quick fix to add size 2. Guentzel High quality chances were created consistently; luck was poor, which is bound to happen with a small sample size What is his future with the Pens? Discuss rumors of potential trade this summer. Wants to score goals, has shooter mentality; his mentality changes when he can’t bury Crosby v Malkin - should Guentzel be switched to play on line 2 occasionally 3. Crosby Different problems ended the Penguins' season in the past few years. Does there need to be another major tweak? Discuss each individual loss Keys to win in the playoffs next year What was wrong with Sid? Potential injury to hand?

With the expansion draft looming, we dive into who we think the Pittsburgh Penguins will protect. Although the picks for protecting Defense and Goalie seem straightforward, there are some lingering questions with salary cap and performance. Listen in to see who we think will be protected and exposed when the expansion draft takes place on July 21, 2021. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pair-at-the-point/support

With the expansion draft looming, we dive into who we think the Pittsburgh Penguins will protect. The forward core is deep and a lot of players will be left exposed. Listen in to see who we think will be protected and exposed when the expansion draft takes place on July 21, 2021. --- Support this podcast:  https://anchor.fm/pair-at-the-point/support

Get to know us more as we dive into some of our all time favorite Penguins players, teams, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pair-at-the-point/support