Comments on: Column: Penguins build on strength, not size

By: wvstarship

wvstarship — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 04:23:20 +0000

testing

By: suitcasejohnny

suitcasejohnny — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 18:43:50 +0000

For the record, when you ask where Despres was when Dubinsky was badgering Sid in the playoffs last year… he was playing for the WBS Pens in the AHL. Not sure how he was supposed to do anything about Dubinsky when he wasn’t even on the roster. Maybe you have another point to make, since that one was useless?

By: ernie4

ernie4 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 22:58:09 +0000

amen!! I can’t believe Porcelain, I mean Bennett, made it through March 2nd.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:25:41 +0000

Despres has as many points this year in 60 games on the bottom pairing, as Lovejoy had all year last year (78 games). Lovejoy was playing with Cam Fowler most of the time… on the #2 offensive team in the leauge. Granted, assists are only one component.

But here’s what Lovejoy’s former GM Bob Murray had to say on why he made the trades: http://ducks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=756191

How was he trying to shape his team? “Quick and skilled.”

Moving Lovejoy and Brewer for Wiz and Despres helps the Ducks accomplish that. Even Rutherford said the reason for this trade was to get more experience, not to “become more skilled.” (I’m not sure why the oldest playoff team in the leage needs more experience…)

But yes, I will watch Lovejoy, Scuderi, and Cole, as the Pens bottom 3 dmen, downgrade the Pens possession game. And I will watch Despres blossom into an imposing top 4 dman on one of the best team’s in the leauge. Apparently no one around here watched Despres the first half of this [his first full] season… And only remember the 1 game he was paired with Letang a few weeks ago.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:09:13 +0000

Great piece DK. The Morrow-Iginla-Murray-Jokinen all-in deal a few years ago was the perfect example of round pegs and square holes. Even if our Pens don’t make it out of the East, and I hope they do, at least we can rest assured that the team is doing what it can, intelligently.

By: mike

mike — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 11:50:47 +0000

Great piece DK. Shero, in my mind, threw up his hands a few years ago and went all-in with the Iginla-Morrow-Murray-Jokinen deal. We all know how that checklist of needs resulted in a proverbial round peg-square hole thing. Maybe those guys would have fit on a team where Depres would fit. This coaching staff and general manager are doing what they can with what they have and being consistent in my mind.

By: mkvons

mkvons — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 08:19:39 +0000

Honestly, you’d think that Rutherford had just traded Olli Maatta. I am still trying to figure out who is this Despres, the tough guy, apparent Norris Trophy candidate that the Pens have lost and will be doomed from now to eternity because we traded him. He was not that good. As for who will protect our players, if I recall correctly, Crosby just got in a fight because he felt it necessary to protect himself. Where was Despres when Dubinsky was badgering Sid? Um, nowhere. And if he was trying, Dubinsky apparently did not care. Yes, these guys need protection, but I did not see Despres doing that job effectively. I am pretty sure that no trouble maker or star for that matter was afraid that they were going to be hit by him. Did he ever take a run at Ovechkin. No and boy, I would have paid good money to see that. Where does that leave the Pens in terms of protection? No worse off than they were a week ago. But now at least they have someone with some experience.

By: Dejan Kovacevic

Dejan Kovacevic — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 03:08:35 +0000

I couldn’t disagree more if we were facing 180 degrees apart, sorry. You’ll apparently need to watch more of Lovejoy once he returns.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 02:55:38 +0000

Your main point would makes sense if Lovejoy was actually a better possession player than Despres. Both are good skaters, but Lovejoy’s puck skills are much more on par with Scuderi.

Likewise Bortuzzo was actually an excellent skater for his size, and could move the puck decently for a #7. That was never his problem.

What the Pens acquired are 2 more “safe” dmen, which doesn’t at all play into their skilled, aggressive style.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 02:06:31 +0000

Good, as always