No Pucks Given | Pittsburgh Penguins Podcast

Pittsburgh Hockey Now
  • 3.7 (3)
  • HOCKEY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now delivers the inside scoops and analysis a few times per week on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Locker room interviews, expert analysis and whatever else we can scrape together.

  1. Why Re-Signing Evgeni Malkin Hurts the Penguins Rebuild | No Pucks Given Episode 61

    3D AGO

    Why Re-Signing Evgeni Malkin Hurts the Penguins Rebuild | No Pucks Given Episode 61

    Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now goes live from the historic Hershey Sports Arena — the building where Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 — to dismantle the Evgeni Malkin re-signing debate once and for all. Dan explains why the only argument that holds water is emotional, why Malkin isn't blocking a specific player but is blocking opportunity, and what Kyle Dubas actually told Geno after the season (hint: it wasn't a contract promise). Plus: a deep dive on the Penguins' five-and-ten-year rebuild, the truth about Eric Karlsson's trade value, why Anthony Mantha's 33-goal season was a bigger Dubas win than fans realize, the Austin Matthews fantasy, prospect updates on Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, Harrison Brunicke and breakout Russian winger Mikhail Ilyin, and a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton playoff check-in after Game 3 against Hershey. Live fan Q&A throughout. Subscribe for unfiltered Penguins coverage from the guy who's actually in the locker room. Chapters: 00:00 — Cold open and intro 00:19 — Dan goes live from the historic old Hershey Sports Arena, site of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game 01:33 — Setting the table: Malkin discussion, Wilkes-Barre's Game 3 win, and pushing back on "junior media" takes 03:23 — The core argument: you can't start with the conclusion that Malkin should be re-signed and work backward 04:18 — Why 2025-26 and 2026-27 don't matter — this is a stepping stone to the next era 04:58 — The only valid argument for keeping Geno is emotional, not hockey-related 05:39 — Why "Malkin isn't blocking anybody" is wrong: he's blocking opportunity for prospects and second-chance free agents 07:21 — McGroarty and Koivunen didn't claim spots this year, and what their summers look like 10:02 — Dan didn't criticize Malkin's play, but the late-season and playoff drop-off was real 11:23 — What Dubas actually said to Malkin: "we'll talk after the season" is not "we'll get you a contract" 13:37 — The Penguins are a country mile from being a Cup contender and haven't hit bottom yet 15:43 — Could the Penguins trade Erik Karlsson? Why Carolina is the most interesting fit 21:56 — The Hoffman ownership question: will Jeff Hoffman let Dubas make the call? 26:00 — Prospect deep dive: Tristan Broz, Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty's make-or-break timelines 29:48 — Harrison Brunicke looked like a monster in Game 3 — second-pair stud or true No. 1 ceiling? 33:25 — Re-signing Connor Dewar and Ryan Shea, letting the rest walk, and ending the "mushy middle" 35:00 — Why Anthony Mantha's 33-goal season was a strategic Dubas win for attracting future second-chance free agents 38:24 — The Auston Matthews fantasy: why building a trade package is impossible 40:53 — Was this season a disappointment? No — but the Round 1 collapse stings 43:11 — Find me a 40-year-old NHL point-per-game player. It's not happening twice for Geno 45:43 — Mikhail Ilyin's standout Game 3: skates backwards like a defenseman, mature beyond his draft slot 47:16 — Goaltending tandem vs. roster turnover: which matters more next season? 49:33 — Closing thoughts and Game 4 in Hershey #NoPucksGiven #PittsburghPenguins #EvgeniMalkin #KyleDubas #SidneyCrosby #LetsGoPens #NHL

    51 min

  2. 6D AGO

    [FULL EPISODE] No Pucks Given Episode 60: Locker Room Cleanout — Is Geno Gone?

    Dan Kingerski talks Penguins locker room cleanout day, and the bombshell is Evgeni Malkin flatly admitting he'd play elsewhere if Kyle Dubas doesn't bring him back. Dan breaks down what Malkin's body language actually said, why Erik Karlsson was "tossing grenades" in the room, the case for and against re-signing Geno, and what Dubas's offseason should really look like — plus listener questions on the goaltending tandem, the ownership sale, and why a Matthews-to-Pittsburgh fantasy doesn't pencil out. 00:00 Intro & cleanout day vent  04:30 The Malkin bombshell — full quote breakdown  09:00 Gut call: why Geno won't be back  12:05 Rust & Rakell trade talk  13:50 The new pillars: Crosby, Rust, Karlsson  17:30 Karlsson chucking grenades in the room  23:25 Why Malkin's "send-off" argument is wrong  28:25 Attendance reality check  29:30 Elias Pettersson? No.  32:30 Austin Matthews fantasy debunked  35:15 Why Skinner > Shelovs as Murashov's tandem  38:46 Ad break  39:15 Shay extension & the youth pipeline  45:00 Where is the ownership sale?  50:00 Round 2 take: Canes vs. Flyers  52:00 Letang–Grzelcyk and the D-corps problem 5 7:00 Tip of the cap to Dan Muse  1:00:00 Sign-off

    1h 2m

  3. 6D AGO

    Malkin Bombshell & the Case for Turning the Page

    Dan replays Malkin's exit-day comments and walks through the season-long progression of statements that, in his read, point to Geno being gone.

    39 min

  4. 6D AGO

    Goalies, Free Agents & a Tip of the Cap to Muse

    Why a Skinner-Murashov tandem makes more sense than running it back, plus Shay's likely extension, the Matthews/Peterson fantasy, and the stalled ownership sale.

    23 min
  5. Penguins Still Alive: The Momentum Swing + Game 6 Preview | No Pucks Given Ep. 59

    APR 29

    Penguins Still Alive: The Momentum Swing + Game 6 Preview | No Pucks Given Ep. 59

    Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now and Will James of Philly Hockey Now break down the Penguins' stunning 3-2 comeback win in Game 5 — including Kris Letang's fluky-but-magical goal — and look ahead to a pivotal Game 6 at Xfinity Center in Philadelphia. With the series tied 3-2 in favor of the Flyers, both reporters debate goaltending concerns, the physicality ratcheting up, young players finding their footing in the playoffs, and whether the Flyers locker room actually believes the pressure is off. Chapters: 0:00 – Intro / series state of play (Flyers lead 3-2)0:54 – Penguins' historic comeback attempt, down 3-01:47 – How the series turned in Game 32:06 – Game 4 and 5 fluky goals2:23 – Letang's wild bouncing goal explained3:04 – Penguins' defensive clinic in third period3:22 – Will James joins from State College4:56 – Does the Pens-Flyers rivalry extend to the media?5:56 – Mantha's first goal: two perspectives, one play7:28 – Sanheim loses the puck battle, Soderblom finishes8:03 – Crosby nicknames Soderblom "Tree"9:20 – Penguins deserved to be down 5-1 in first two periods18:17 – Young players struggling vs. thriving in playoffs19:26 – Flyers' Mitchkov and Martone under the microscope22:14 – Will's experience covering playoff road games23:02 – Hockey's playoffs vs. other sports — the intensity gap24:00 – Penguins' attendance woes and fan re-engagement28:30 – Refereeing controversy and Mantha's punches30:14 – Hockey culture: the first punch never gets called35:43 – Tocchet calls them fluky goals too36:35 – Goalie fatigue heading into Game 637:29 – Flyers locker room — lip service or real belief?38:46 – Closing thoughts, mutual praise, Game 6 preview39:52 – Outro #pittsburghpenguins #penguins #flyers #nhl #nhlplayoffs

    40 min
  6. Game 5 Momentum Switch: Chaos, Fluky Goals & the Penguins' Comeback

    APR 29

    Game 5 Momentum Switch: Chaos, Fluky Goals & the Penguins' Comeback

    Dan and Will dissect how Pittsburgh survived a game they arguably should have lost — Letang's wild bouncing goal, Mantha's speed, Vladar's rough night, and the media rivalry angle.

    21 min
  7. Game 6 Preview: Momentum, Momentum, Momentum

    APR 29

    Game 6 Preview: Momentum, Momentum, Momentum

    With the series shifting to Philly, the guys weigh goalie fatigue, young players under pressure, penalty-calling controversies, and what playoff hockey atmosphere really feels like from the press box.

    19 min
  8. Penguins vs. Flyers: Anger, Doom, and a Prayer for a Game 4 Miracle

    APR 24

    Penguins vs. Flyers: Anger, Doom, and a Prayer for a Game 4 Miracle

    The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves pushed to the brink, trailing 3-0 in their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers. Following a high-intensity Game 3 in Philadelphia, Dan Kingerski breaks down the "bloodthirsty" atmosphere, the officiating controversies, and the tactical failures that have left the Penguins facing elimination. We dive into the future of the core three—Crosby, Malkin, and Letang—and whether Kyle Dubas will be forced to bring the "sickle" to the roster this summer. Chapters: 00:04 – Welcome and series overview: The 3-0 deficit.01:34 – Coaching vs. Execution: Why the Penguins aren't playing the prepared game plan.03:03 – The "Bloodthirsty" Philadelphia atmosphere and the Gritty Penguin incident.05:11 – Rick Tocchet’s "Skeleton Key" to frustrating the Penguins' stars.06:17 – Disappointment in officiating: Interference and the "clutch and grab" era return.07:33 – Post-whistle melees and penalty box imbalances.09:56 – The Flyers' DNA and the legacy of Bobby Clarke.15:48 – Will a sweep lead to massive roster changes by Kyle Dubas?.17:42 – Player Analysis: Novak, Mantha, and the invisible second line.30:17 – Defensive struggles: The Girard and Letang pairing problems.45:54 – Evaluating Coach Dan Muse’s first playoff series.54:01 – Looking ahead: Who stays and who walks this summer?.01:13:00 – The Sidney Crosby embellishment call controversy.01:16:11 – Final thoughts and what to expect for Game 4.

    1h 17m
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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now delivers the inside scoops and analysis a few times per week on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Locker room interviews, expert analysis and whatever else we can scrape together.

Information

  • Creator
    Pittsburgh Hockey Now
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Publisher Desk, 2025

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