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Jason Mackey's Penguins chat: 5.17.18
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Jason Mackey
1:35
Yeah, I think it would. They have a bunch of young centers. If they really thought about him as a wing, it would've happened by now. The tricky thing here is that he's actually only counting $3 million against their cap. That's pretty decent.
Steven
1:35
Heard any word on Bengtsson and Pedan's possible returns to Europe?
Jason Mackey
1:36
No, I have not.
Bwent N Billy
1:36
If we could go back in time and the Pens seeing how this past season played out for goalie play between Flower and Murray, do you think the Pens would now trade Murray, keep Flower and roll w Jarry in a few years?  If Flower was in net for the pens in the playoffs, the Pens are playing Tampa right now.
Jason Mackey
1:36
Nope. You have a 23-year-old who just won back-to-back Cups and who makes $2 million less than the other guy in a capped league. You make that decision every single time. I know it's easy to have 20/20 vision on it now, but at the time, there wasn't a debate, as much as everyone loves Fleury.
Pope
1:36
Considering no big trade changes, except for Sprong being in the lineup, what are your O-lines for next season?
Jason Mackey
1:37
I'd start: 59-87-41 ... 62-71-72 ... 17-19-81 ... 46-15-34/43.
music
1:38
Jason, I gotta call you out, man. I'm a member of the KISS ARMY and I didn't care for what you said up there about my favorite band. I think there are some actually good KISS/Dead comparisons, but you went out of your way to diss KISS just like you did with Train last week. Why drag another band down to raise up the memory of GD?  Jerry G would not approve, bro! I'm still a fan of your work though.
Jason Mackey
1:38
This has to be someone in our office. Alex? Tyler? Sam? Sean?
Pope
1:38
Where does Sprong fit in best as a RW?  With Sid, Geno or Brassard?
Jason Mackey
1:38
I just listed him with Sid because there's some familiarity there. Not Malkin. They want Geno to shoot more. Maybe Brassard, but I've never seen it so it's tough to say.
GLD
1:39
Random curious question, I know a couple summers ago Olli Maatta was set to complete his military training obligation but then we went on a two cup run preventing him from completing it I believe. Do you know if he is set to do that this summer?
Jason Mackey
1:40
I do not, sorry. I thought I remember him saying he was able to push it back a couple years, but I'm not positive.
guest
1:40
Do players work out over the summer as they see fit?  or does the team stay in contact and advise them what they should be doing?
Jason Mackey
1:41
The team usually designs programs for them. Although with someone like Sid, who works out with the head guy, Andy O'Brien, it's a little different. Believe Malkin has his own guy, Kessel is with Gary Roberts, Letang does some of his own thing. If you're a vet, you can do your thing. Younger guys generally do team-issued stuff.
guest
1:41
It seems that Sullivan does not like Sprong for some reason, do  you see another Ian Cole situation developing there?   With Rutherford seeming to like Sprong, could that cause a rift with coach and GM?
Jason Mackey
1:42
There's no rift with coach and GM, first off. But do I think they have differing opinions on Sprong? Yeah, I do. I think Sullivan is hesitant to play Sprong because he's not great defensively; he's hardly the first coach to think this way. But I think Rutherford wants Sprong to play because he wants more goals, and Sprong would be a bargain in terms of managing a team and the cap.
1
1:42
You should be listening to some of the old Dead shows from Vegas while you're out there. Did you know that a young Santana once opened for them at a show in Vegas?
Jason Mackey
1:42
I don't. What year?
GLD
1:43
Would be fun to read an off season interview with Phil the Thrill.  I like to be optimistic lol and think he might open up a little bit during the summer when he’s had time to reflect on the past season and thoughts on the future. And of course curious to see if he’d finally disclose a little bit on his bad playoff run this year and any injuries. Even to learn about his summer training regiment.  Think you can make this happen Jason?
Jason Mackey
1:43
Not at all, but I would love to read it, too. Getting Phil to open up about anything is the golden goose of Pittsburgh sports reporting. I just have serious doubts whether that will ever happen, but I think people would go crazy if he did.
Guest
1:43
Hey, why take a jab at the band KISS? What gives?   KISS is pretty good rock n roll.
Jason Mackey
1:44
I didn't take a jab. I perhaps underestimated their emotional influence on fans, but I didn't take a jab. I like KISS. I have nothing against them.
tbone
1:44
Jason, music nerd is right. Train formed in the Bay Area and I think one of their former members is a nephew of Phil Lesh. So the Dead ties are right there, man. As Jerry said, "You have to open your ears to hear, but your heart to listen."  Check out Train and read the lyrics too. Good stuff.   Have a great summer, my man!
Jason Mackey
1:44
Will do. Thanks for the rec!
guest
1:44
If you had your choice to cover any sport for the PG, would hockey be your first choice?
Jason Mackey
1:45
Good question. If I had my choice, I'd honestly cover all of them, either via features or columns. The idea of bouncing around has always intrigued me; I like the variety of it. But that's certainly not a diss on hockey. I love it. I get to be a fan of the other sports.
HB
1:46
Let’s send sheary to Edmonton have JR hype him up peter charelli likes to be swindled it seems anyways.
Jason Mackey
1:46
I think there will be plenty of Sheary trade talk this offseason.
guest
1:46
what percentage of current NHL players have actually won the Stanley cup?  would be interesting to know that when thinking about Kunitz maybe winning his fifth.
Jason Mackey
1:46
That's a good question. And one that would probably be too tough to look up in this setting.
guest
1:46
Did you get the sense from Kunitz that he is going to retire after this year?  Would the Pens consider bringing him back for one year?
Jason Mackey
1:47
I think they would consider it, yeah. They missed a guy like him. One year, $1 million. I think that's absolutely something that would work for both sides.
Steven
1:47
Re: Rahn's first question. Hall needs to be signed by June 1st or he re-enters the draft. Given he's just had shoulder surgery for the 2nd in as many years, he's unlikely to be signed. His comments after the 2nd surgery hinted at retirement more than anything.

Re: Almari in his second question, Almari is not signed by the Penguins yet and is unlikely to be so as he has another year on his HPK contract. NHL teams have 4 years to sign European draft picks, so no real rush. He looked ready in his short stint with WBS on an ATO, but he's not going to be in WBS next year barring the Penguins paying some money to HPK to transfer him.
Jason Mackey
1:48
You should have your own chat, Steven. Some good info here.
Guest
1:48
How many current penguins are possible Hall of Famers outside of the obvious Sid/Geno(or guess Geno may not be obvious considering how the NHL treats him)? Also, what's more likely Sid/Geno get in together or Sid/Ovi?
Jason Mackey
1:49
Tough to predict the second part of this, but I would say at this point, Crosby and Malkin are the only surefire Hall of Famers on the roster.
L
1:49
If the Pens do trade Jarry, who's next in the goalie lineup - if Murray or Desmith were out for example?
Jason Mackey
1:50
That's a very good question. They'd probably have to address that via free agency.
HB
1:50
Wouldn’t sprong with malkin make more sense since malkin and Neal were dynamic and sprong kinda like Neal?
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