Podcast: Full show, all pucks on 105.9 the X

hmm I wonder what kind of calls you'll be dealing with.

Thoughts on the J Hay extension?

Certain there will calls on the J Hay signing

AGAIN I can't listen in Canada because it's through IHeart radio! Rip off! Feeling left out

Great show!

I especially like your take on Fleury.

Always enjoy listening to your Radio Appearances, DK. If Kasperi Kapanen were to play for more than 9 games with the NHL Pens in the Playoffs(have to remain hopeful that our Team will be in the Playoffs) then will that use up 1 of the 3 years of his Rookie Entry Level Contract? Thanks.

Listened to all three hours while Rivalry Night was on mute. Enjoyed hearing some Pens talk while watching Washington beat up on the Bruins

Listened to the first hour, Agreed, the "core" ain't or should be goin nowhere.
Although I will qualify that in that I fear Letang may be done or should decide to be done from a health standpoint. I just don't feel good about that last smash to the head. The body can only take so much.
From the beginning I was looking at this as a bit of a rebuilding year, still may have a good team but not great. Then after that hot start my expectations rose considerably. But then...
Duper going down-real bad.
Ollie out - more bad
Mumps - silly bad
Letang - one bad after another
Various supporting cast - never seemed to be enough of them healthy at the same time to come to any conclusions as to who was going to fit in where.
Injuries "do" matter. The team never had a chance to develop any sort of identity.
Cap problems - JR did his best to work around some of Sheros leftover mistakes. Mixed results. Hurt a lot more than people think when ya have to play shorthanded down the stretch. Too many guys had to do things they were not designed or capable of doing.
All this and more came to a head in the Ottawa game. By the midpoint of the third, team was wore out, tongues dragging, brains frazzeled, just trying to hang on. Beyond "fragile" - broken.
Can they be pieced back together enough to, first of all, make the playoffs, and if so make a decent showing therein. Possible, but a real long shot.
If not...there is always next year.

DK, I thought so highly of you until today. I've now read basically everywhere that Rob Scuderi should be bought out, and now you said it at the end of the first hour of the podcast. I thought you were better than all those commenters (with whom you began your radio show) , arm chair general managers and bloggers.

It's one thing if there's just one thing wrong with that, but there’s TWO. First, NO ONE can be bought anymore. They were only available prior to the start of the first 2 seasons after the CBA was signed. Now, for a moments, lets say if it even was available, a player's contract cannot be bought out if their contract was signed AFTER Sept 15 2013 (i.e. after the new CBA came into effect).

I think people should know the rules of the game before they offer any suggestion or opinion on what should be done. Maybe that’s asking a bit much, but its really hard to have an intelligent conversation with anyone about anything that first doesn’t understand that the rules of subject matter. In my world, that’s a terminable offense.

That said, I’ll give you a pass, and chalk up it to a brain fart, especially since you said, instead of typing it, unlike anyone whose written it anywhere. That’s just mediocrity.

Also, I’m writing this as I’m starting to listen to hour 2, so apologies in advance if you corrected yourself later.

Hey Dejan, I didn't get a chance to listen to much of the show but enjoyed your insight and comments as always. On the show you answered a question from a caller and addressed the lack of scoring in the NHL and that it was hurting or could hurt the game/product (if I'm characterizing your comment correctly). I've read or heard you discuss this topic on several occasions. My question is this: what evidence is there that the lack of scoring is "bad" for the NHL vs. what you said Bettman likes, i.e. the prevalence of closely -contested games?

Don't get me wrong: my personal preference is increased scoring. I'm not much of a soccer fan because of the low scoring that prevails in that sport -- but I don't think that anyone could reasonably argue that soccer lacks popularity around the world and it is low-scoring. If closely contested games results in greater popularity for the NHL, isn't that justification enough for focusing on that vs. increased scoring?

Dejan,

In 1992 the Stanley Cup offensive "core" of Lemieux and Jagr were surrounded by Kevin Stevens, Ron Francis, Mark Recchi, Rick Tocchet, Joey Mullen and Brian Trottier.

Aside from Hornqvist, is there anyone on today's roster surrounding Crosby and Malkin who realistically compares to those guys in terms of skill and impact?

Granted, the 1992 team was one for the ages, but it's a stark contrast to the lack of depth this current team has.