The 1st episode of the 2023-2024 season with Penguins General Manager/President of Hockey Operation Kyle Dubas and Josh Getzoff.

The GM Show: 10.11.23

Sidney Crosby joins Paul Steigerwald on the inaugural episode of A Great Day for Hockey Talk. Sid discusses how the game has evolved over the years, his summer travels around the world, and how he stays on top of his game.

Episode 1: Summer and Sports Stars with Sidney Crosby

Hockey legend Scotty Bowman joins Paul Steigerwald on the second episode of A Great Day for Hockey Talk. Scotty and Steigy talk about a variety of topics, including some of Scotty's favorite stories from when he was a NHL general manager, the growth of hockey in Pittsburgh, and watching NHL greats like Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby play when they were still teenagers.

Episode 2: Hockey Strategy and Stories with Scotty Bowman

It’s been 30 years since Mario Lemieux scored a career-high 199 points in 1988-1989, the most remarkable statistical season in Penguins history. So it’s only appropriate that this week’s version of the “It’s A Great Day For Hockey Talk” podcast checks in with both of Mario’s linemates from that season – left wing Bob Errey, currently a Penguins TV analyst with AT&T SportsNet, and right wing Rob Brown, a radio analyst for the Edmonton Oilers.

Host Paul Steigerwald also chats briefly with Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, another dynamic force from the 1988-89 team. All three players had a unique-ice level view as Mario tore through the NHL with 85 goals and 114 assists in 76 games, leading the Penguins to the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
 
“Just an amazing year, looking back,” Errey said. “Mario was unbelievable, virtually unstoppable.”
 
Brown ranked second on the team in scoring with 49 goals and 66 assists for 115 points in 68 games. Errey, who was expected to be the line’s defensive presence. still checked in with 25 goals and 32 assists for 58 points in 76 games while posting a plus-40 rating (second only to Mario’s plus-41). One of the most remarkable statistical footnotes is that Errey had 25 goals without playing on the power play.

Episode 3: Looking Back with Lemieux's Linemates

Colby Armstrong and Max Talbot join Paul Steigerwald on this week's edition of A Great Day for Hockey Talk. The guys talk about what it was like playing under former Penguins coach Michel Therrien, explain what it was like for Colby's first call-up to the NHL, and memories from playing in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Max also talks about being the 2009 Stanley Cup Hero and what it's like living in Russia.

Episode 4: Cups, Call-ups, and Coaches with Colby Armstrong and Max Talbot

Pierre McGuire joins Paul Steigerwald on this week's edition of A Great Day for Hockey Talk. Pierre reveals how he met Scotty Bowman how he was hired by the Penguins in 1990. He also discusses what it was like to work for the triumvirate of Craig Patrick , Bob Johnson and Bowman, and he details his role as a Penguins scout and how he transitioned into coaching in 1991-92.

Episode 5: Penguins' Past and Present with Pierre McGuire

Hal "Skillsy" Gill, and Rob "The Piece" Scuderi, or bits and pieces as they referred to themselves, were a vital defensive tandem for the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions. 

Each of them talks about what it was like to be on the ice in those final dramatic seconds of Game 7 when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup on June 12th, 2009. 

Other highlights include:

-Hal’s humorous recollection of his interactions with Sidney Crosby
-Rob’s big save in game six of the Stanley Cup final
-Hal talks about how Dan Bylsma gave him a chance to make an impact after Michel Therrien has made him healthy scratch
-Both players talk about the thrill of winning and celebrating with fans of Pittsburgh 
-Hal talks about how his days as  a high school quarterback shaped him as a confident leader on the ice
-Rob reflects on his early days in Wilkes-Barre shaped him into the durable workhorse that he became at the NHL level
-Hal and Rob discuss how they earned their respective nicknames
-Hal recalls the Stanley Cup celebration in Mario’s swimming pool

Episode 6: Remembering the remarkable '09 Stanley Cup run with Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill

Eddie Olczyk joins Paul Steigerwald on this week's edition of A Great Day for Hockey Talk.

Highlights include:
-Edzo reflecting back on his time as a player in Pittsburgh
-Talking about his introduction to broadcasting
-Reminiscing about his time behind the bench as head coach of the Penguins
-Discussing his upcoming book
-How fortunate he has been to work with Mike Lange, Doc Emrick, and Pat Foley
-His battle with colon cancer and his new mission to educate

Episode 7: Bench Boss, Broadcasting, and a Brave Battle with Eddie Olczyk

Mark Johnson is an American Sports Legend. His last name is synonymous with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ten years before his father, Badger Bob Johnson, became coach of the Penguins, Mark joined the Penguins as a player. He came to Pittsburgh with a shiny gold medal after turning in an MVP performance for United States “Miracle On Ice“ Olympic Team at Lake Placid. 

Highlights include:
-Mark recounts his incredible Olympic experience , particularly his two goal effort against the Soviets. 
-He talks about his famous father and the rivalry he had with the man who coached Mark and his Olympic teammates, Herb Brooks. 
-He also recalls his early days with the Penguins
-Mark is now the coach of the University of Wisconsin Women’s Hockey team and he shares his thoughts on the growth of women's hockey. 
-He also expresses what it means to have his Dad’s famous saying “ It’s A Great For Hockey” continue to be the Penguins slogan for all these years

Episode 8: Memories, Milestones, and a Miracle with Mark Johnson

Bob Errey, Phil Bourque, and Troy Loney are legendary Penguins role players. They are Penguins through and through. They embody the entire history of the Penguins, having played in some of the darkest eras, and emerging as key contributors to the brightest moments in franchise history.

Listen to this organic conversation between the three of them and get a glimpse of what they experienced on the way to the top of the mountain in 1991.  They were indispensable pieces in a championship puzzle.

Episode 9: The Glue Guys with Phil Bourque, Bob Errey, and Troy Loney

Sergei Gonchar, the soft spoken Penguins assistant coach continues to make a significant impact on the organization. His professional relationship and friendship with fellow countryman Evgeni Malkin is still going strong. In this podcast, the former defenseman talks about the days when Geno lived in Gonchar’s home. Some other highlights include: 
- reflections of his formative years growing up in Chelyabinsk, in the Soviet Union 
- his first season with Penguins after he signed a five year contract in 2005 
- how he met his wife Ksenia 
-the thrill of winning the Stanley Cup in 2009 after overcoming two serious injuries
-and his method of conveying the subtleties that made him one of the finest Russian defenseman in NHL history

Episode 10: Sergei Gonchar

What makes a Hall Of Fame Broadcaster? First and foremost, passion. Years of dedication and excellence. And a special voice quality that separates him from all the rest. In this episode of A Great Day for Hockey Talk, Paul Steigerwald sits down with Mike “Doc” Emrick, the voice of hockey in America.

Highlights include:
-Doc recounts his early days as a cub reporter covering the Penguins for the Beaver County Times
-His subsequent rise through college and minor league hockey to the big time in the mid eighties.
-Doc explains why he got hooked on hockey, and reveals the secret to his longevity.
-Doc explains why he loves calling the game today as much as he did when he got his first play by play job in Port Huron, Michigan in 1973.

October 25, 2019

Episode 11: Mike "Doc" Emrick

We figured Darius Kasparaitis would be an entertaining guest but little did we know! The funny and engaging former Penguins defenseman practically reached folk hero status during his six seasons in the black and gold uniform.

But before he was a hero, he was a villain, mostly because of the way he antagonized Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr when he was a member of the NY Islanders in the 1993 playoffs.

But he was welcomed with open arms by the two Penguins superstars upon his arrival to Pittsburgh in 1996. And it wasn’t long before he became the scourge of Flyers fans for his thundering hit on Eric Lindros, which he discusses in detail. Kasparaitis talks about his childhood in Lithuania and how he left home at the age of 14 to play and attend school in Moscow.

Other highlights include:
-His series-winning overtime goal that eliminated the Buffalo Sabres from playoff competition in 2001
-His passion for the game that he continues to play at age 46
-His family life in Florida
-His induction into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame.
-His relationships with the Pens players and staff.

Episode 12: Darius Kasparaitis

On this episode of A Great Day for Hockey talk Paul Steigerwald is joined by John Buccigross, the voice of college hockey on ESPN. He is funny, passionate,  knowledgeable, opinionated , an excellent writer and an engaging public speaker. John grew up following the Penguins, listening to games and watching the local sports teams and sportscasters. At a young age, “Bucci “ told his friends he would someday be on ESPN , and he made it. John Buccigross is one of the finest hockey play by play announcers in the world and hoping to call many NHL games in the years to come. In the meantime, he will continue to excel as the voice of college hockey on ESPN.  

Other highlights include:
-How he was born in Pittsburgh, PA and given up for adoption
-How he was adopted by a couple from Boston and raised in Indiana, PA and Steubenville, OH
-His dreams to make is onto ESPN
-The way he’s paved his way to where he is now
-His career as a play by play announcer in college hockey

Episode 13: John Buccigross

Bob Berry was Mario Lemieux‘s very first coach in the National Hockey League. He was hired on June 4, 1984, just five days before Mario was drafted first overall in Montreal. He made his mark as a player in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings as a two-time All-Star in the early '70s. He coached the Kings for three years before being hired to coach the team he grew up following, the Montréal Canadiens, in 1981. After a 3- year stint with the Canadiens, Berry was hired to coach the Penguins by GM Eddie Johnston. In this episode of GDFHT, he talks about his time behind the Penguins bench from 1984 to 1987. 
Other highlights include:
-his reflections on growing up in Montreal as a fan of the Canadiens
-Reference to his time as a professional wide receiver in CFL
-Life in LA as a player and coach
-His relationship with former Pens assistant coach Jimmy Roberts
-His coaching style and what is was like to be with the Penguins as 
compared to working for the Canadiens.
-His current life in Palm Desert California 
-His love of Pittsburgh

Episode 14: Bob Berry

In the latest edition of GDFHT Paul Steigerwald presents a narrative account of how the Penguins have forged an identity of resilience dating all the way back to the early nineties. He reached out to players past and present and sought the perspective of a veteran hockey journalist to tell the story.

Highlights include :
-A conversation with Pens assistant coach Mark Recchi and his linemates John Cullen and Kevin Stevens, the famous “option line“ formed by coach Badger Bob Johnson in 1990.91.
-An interview with former USA Today hockey writer Kevin Allen
-Comments from Jared MCCann and Zach Aston-Reese on how the 2019.20 Penguins are displaying and reinforcing the tradition of gaining strength by overcoming adversity.
-Sidney Crosby’s reaction to how the team performed for 28 games in his absence.

Episode 15: The Resiliency of the Penguins

Do you believe in miracles?

February 22nd, 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the “Miracle On Ice”, when the US Olympic Hockey Team delivered what Sports Illustrated declared the “Greatest Moment of the 20th Century” by upsetting the heavily favored Soviets with a  thrilling 4-3 victory on the way to a gold medal.
The Penguins have good reason to celebrate this anniversary with pride, having a deeper and longer connection to the Miracle On Ice team than any other NHL Franchise. In this edition of GDFHT, Paul Steigerwald sits down with three men who played significant roles on the team,  Craig Patrick, Mike Eruzione, and Mark Johnson. He also talks with the man who provided color analysis on the ABC telecast throughout the teams incredible run, Ken Dryden.

Highlights include:
*Former Penguins General Manager Craig Patrick’s account of his time as the team’s assistant coach and his relationship with relationship with legendary coach Herb Brooks.
* Team USA Captain Mike Eruzione’s reflections on the teams pre-Olympics preparation that included more than 60 exhibition games and his description of what Patrick meant to the team.
* Team USA MVP (and former Penguin) Mark Johnson describing his impressions of Soviet hockey and the effect Herb Brooks’ famous pre-game speeches had on the team.
* ABC Broadcaster and former Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden’s unique psychological narrative of the improbable upset.

Episode 16: The Miracle on Ice

Bonino! Bonino! Bonino!

When Nick Bonino scored the game winning goal in overtime to clinch the second round series against the Washington Capitals on the way to the 2016 Stanley Cup Championship, not one, but two Penguins cult figures were born.­ From a studio in Canada, the voice of Hockey Night in Canada in Punjabi, Harnarayan Singh, called the goal in his native language in such colorful fashion, that replays of the call went viral on social media. Radio and tv stations in Pittsburgh played it over and over again while the Penguins completed their run for the Cup.­ In this edition of A Great Day For Hockey Talk, Paul Steigerwald visits with Singh from his home in Calgary, to relive his memories of that magical phenomenon.­ Make sure follow Harnarayan on Twitter @IceSinghHNIC, Instagram @icesinghhnic, and Facebook @IceSingh

Highlights include:­­
-Singh’s childhood dreams of becoming a nationally known hockey announcer in Canada­.
-The story of how he blurted out Bonino’s name several times when he scored that series clinching goal­.
-His recollection of how word got to him of the enthusiastic reaction he was getting from Pens fans­.
-The invite from the Penguins to visit Pittsburgh.
-The unforgettable experience of meeting the Penguins players and participating in the Stanley Cup Parade­.

Episode 17: Harnarayan Singh

In 1987, Rick Tocchet made it all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. His team came up short against the Edmonton Oilers. When he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February of 1992, he would bring a valuable combination of experience and hunger to a Penguins team that needed his unique brand of toughness and skill. In this edition of A Great Day for Hockey Talk, Tocchet reflects on that magical run to a second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with his new team.

Highlights include :
-Tocchet’s memories of joining a new team and replacing Mark Recchi, a popular player he would later befriend.
-His special role as Mario Lemieux’s right winger and the adjustments he had to make in his game to accommodate the Penguins captain.
-His approach to providing protection for Lemieux and his other teammates.
-Some humorous stories from the days of the NHL players strike that interrupted the teams drive to the playoffs.
-Lessons he learned as a player that he still applies today as an NHL coach.
-The thrill and satisfaction he still feels to this day from winning the 1992 Stanley Cup against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Popular tracks by Penguins Podcasts: A Great Day for Hockey Talk