Fly Penguins Fly Podcast

DeFigio + Taylor: “Yager! Jagr! Yessir!” 07/03/23

It’s been a WEEK for Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brayden Yager was taken 14th overall by PIT, in Nashville, TN at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Yager attended prospect development camp this weekend, in Cranberry, PA, along with names already synonymous with the event - ones like Sam Poulin, Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz, and Taylor Gauthier to name a few.

Reilly Smith was traded to the Pens during the Nashville festivities, and when free agency hit just 48 hours ago, Kyle Dubas hit the ground RUNNING. Lars Eller and Ryan Graves are Penguins, along with a couple other recognizables; but it’s some of the lesser-known signings made by Dubas and PIT’s front office whom Jeff and Jordan discuss on today’s episode.

Oh, right: Tristan Jarry was signed to a FIVE YEAR, FIVE POINT THREE SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR (AAV) CONTRACT. (“Yes, typing in all caps made me feel a little better. Just like I’m feeling a little better about the Jarry contract since it was initially announced.” - JT)

Since last Jordan and Jeff recorded an episode - DO cue up last week’s “Live From The Hangar,” it was truly a good time - the PHF* has been bought outright by some very wealthy investors - ones directly associated with the PWHPA’s** attempts to establish a CBA of their own, thus laying the groundwork for a best-on-best women’s super league. This is a massive development in the future of women’s pro hockey, and according to an Allegheny County NPR Radio affiliate, the Steel City *just might* feature prominently in the new league’s plans for expansion.

* Premiere Hockey Federation, North America’s first women’s professional hockey league.

** Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, headed up by national team stars like Hillary Knight, Sarah Nurse, Kendall Coyne-Schofield, and Marie Philip-Poulin

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod

Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT //Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

Yager? Jagr? Yessir!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Jeff + Jordan: Live From The Hangar 06/27/23

It’s officially summer, and we really needed to get “out of the office.” Grab a beer and join Jordan and Jeff, Live from The Hangar in Moon, PA. There’s a bit of Penguins hockey talk contained in this episode, but ...not that much. 

As of this recording, the Bill Masterton Trophy hadn’t yet been awarded. We now know it was awarded to the Penguins’ own, Kris Letang. Félicitations, monsieur Letang! Also, the 23-24 regular season schedule has been released, and we are now aware of the date of the Pens’ home opener: October 10th at PPG Paints Arena, where they’ll face (Conor Bedard and) the Chicago Blackhawks.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod

Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT //Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

Free agency is here, and the draft is this week!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“Two New Goalies” with The Athletic’s Josh Yohe 06/20/23

Pregnant moments. These are the days between the awarding of Lord Stanley’s Cup, and historical days in a team’s history like:

- The annual NHL entry draft

- The start of free agency

Lucky for Jordan and Jeff,  they’re joined on today’s episode by none other than Josh Yohe, Penguins beat writer for TheAthletic.com.

Updates to these episode notes later today; for now, enjoy the show!

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton // Josh Yohe on Twitter: @JoshYohe_PGH

The weather grow-eth warmer, and for just one more day, the days longer!! …and so onward we trudge, toward prospect camp (July 1st in Cranberry, PA) !!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“Invitation To Immortality” with The Athletic’s Rob Rossi 06/13/23

On the 14th anniversary of the Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup Championship, Jeff welcomes onto the podcast longtime Pens beat writer, The Athletic's Rob Rossi. They discussed:

• How things change for players, when the Stanley Cup is in the building (6:26)

• On the 14th anniversary of 09 SCF G7, Rob shares stories from Joe Louis Arena (13:31)

• Sweaty Stallsy and The Case Of The Mustard Jacket (23:15)

• Why Jordan couldn’t join us today (34:12)

• Kyle Dubas: Acting GM and Noted Hunk (35:25)

• Jeff’s thoughts on The Core and their unsung / lost 22-23 campaign (42:59)

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton // Rob Rossi on Twitter: @Real_RobRossi

The offseason refuses to turn back on …and so we trudge on!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“All Of Their Comings” 05/29/23

Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins minority ownership landed the big front office fish they were after. Was the bait right, and if so, what gauge line did they use? Did they get the family station wagon on the road before 2am so they could have their sand spikes set up before anyone else? WHAT. WAS. THEIR. SECRET? Jeff and Jordan contemplate this and other matters of great significance, including:

     - Surfcasting for goalies

     - Freshwater angling for the meaning of life

(It’s Jordan’s big 3-0 this coming weekend, so please be sure to drop her a quick HBD on the Twit-Machine. - Jeff)

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton

The offseason grinds on in spite of Google Maps directing it up some insanely steep Pittsburgh hills, and so we trudge on!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“SINKHOLE SHIKAAKWA” 05/29/23

Enjoy a Memorial Day Monday check-in episode with your co-hosts, Jordan DeFigio and Jeff Taylor. In this episode we attempt to squeeze some Penguins-related content from an otherwise newsless, bottom-of-the-barrel offseason moment. No mention of Kyle Dubas, Matthew Darche, or other GM candidates is made, because frankly, the wire is dead save the widely-believed rumor that the former Maple Leafs builder has been given this holiday weekend to ‘think about it.’

Jordan waxes on megastar first-overalls - the hockey kind, not the Oshkosh sort - and how they compare to one another, particularly based on their respective postseason successes.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton

The offseason grinds on in spite of Google Maps directing it up some insanely steep Pittsburgh hills, and so yet we trudge!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“Boba Tea Meet Cute” 05/22/23

This is not a drill: Jaromir Jagr was in town over the weekend. As in, 68 was INSIDE Pittsburgh city limits - physically. Could the Czech-born player’s visit to the 4-1-2 signal an impending jersey retirement, or even something more? Amid incessant speculation, among fans and the press about the Penguins’ ongoing search for a new GM, Jagr’s sudden in-the-flesh appearance in Allegheny County was nothing short of EXTREMELY refreshing. It’s fun news that transcends the playoffs, the upcoming draft, and it makes even the most stolid, pragmatic armchair pundit scratch their head: “COULD Jaromir Jagr be taking meetings about anything more than just a jersey retirement? An elevated role in player development, or something bigger?

Finally, Jordan and Jeff - but apparently, mostly just Jordan - are joined today, ever so briefly, by Penguins front office royalty. We hope you enjoy that.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton

The offseason marcheth onward, and so shall we!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Listeners and Friends!

Come down to Mr. Small's Theater today for Jeff's first ever full-band gig as a Pittsburgh resident. 

The Millvale Music Fest presents Jeff Taylor, from 1:50pm-2:30pm on the Mr. Smalls (outdoor) stage on Butler Street.

This show is free to attend, just bring a rain jacket or windbreaker as it might be a bit spritz-y!

Come down to the show, and of course:

LET'S GO PENS!!

“Pretty Garbage” 05/14/23

Not everyone is the best at texting. One thing we can all agree on, though, is that the Eastern Conference Final matchup is set. The Carolina Hurricanes will have home ice advantage on the Florida Panthers, who themselves have defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. In the West, both semi-final series could be headed to a seventh and decisive game, pending the result of the VGK@EDM game which is in progress as we record. On Saturday night, the Kraken defeated the Stars at home in Seattle, forcing a winner-take-all matchup on Monday in Dallas.

We rant about some hockey stuff in this episode, but we go on about some off-ice stuff, too. 

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton

The offseason can be a drag sometimes, so hang in there!!

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“Offseason Druthers” with Hunter Hodies 05/08/23

For this episode we’re joined, in-studio, by Hunter Hodies. The longtime host of Locked On Penguins Podcast, Hunter recently joined up as co-host of Hockey Happy Hour on ESPN Radio Pittsburgh (104.7fm/970am). “HHH” airs Fridays at 5:00pm EST.

Jordan is off today, so it’s just Jeff and Hunter, recording (late yesterday evening) Sunday, reacting live to the results of the TOR@FLA game. The pair discuss potential offseason moves for the Penguins, including potential goalie-gets, GM candidates, and there’s a vague reference to a Jaime Benn something-or-other that apparently isn’t fit for inclusion on this podcast.

Kraken versus Cats, coming your way soon…??

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on Twitter: @penspod // Jeff: @penspod_JT //Jordan: @fidgenewton … and follow Hunter Hodies @hunterhodies

We hope May is treating you well … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO