March 2, 2015

News/views: Penguins reacquire Lovejoy

by Dejan Kovacevic • News/views • Penguins

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

News: The Penguins made a second trade for a defenseman, reacquiring Ben Lovejoy from the Ducks in exchange for Simon Despres.

Views: Now that’s a surprise. On both ends.

I think I’m going to write a full column now combining both trades, so I ask your patience.

Ben Lovejoy posted a plus rating each of his past three seasons in Anaheim. — GETTY

113 Comments Newest to oldest

iacas

3-2-2015, 3:05 pm

Uhm…

iacas

3-2-2015, 3:07 pm

I second my comment now that I see it's for Despres.

WTH?

evpoole

3-2-2015, 3:08 pm

Uh wut?

pghgolfgirl

3-2-2015, 3:11 pm

I guess all of those turnovers finally caught up with SD. Like Lovejoy with all of his playoff experience but I still didn't see this trade coming. GMJR really pulled one over on us.

Robert

3-2-2015, 3:13 pm

The Despres trade makes no sense to me unless the goal is for every player on the roster to be between 5'10" and 6'3".

notandymckenna

3-2-2015, 3:14 pm

The good news is no more Steigy anglicizing his name, right?

iacas

3-2-2015, 3:15 pm

He'd asked that they pronounce it that way.

3-2-2015, 3:36 pm

iacas is right. Apparently it was being pronounced the way that "Simone", the feminine version of the name, is pronounced.

seantcampbell3

3-2-2015, 3:15 pm

I'm really skeptical of this one, although I have no idea how Lovejoy has done recently.

Chris

3-2-2015, 3:19 pm

Lovejoy has turned into a solid player away from Bylsma's system...But I'm still skeptical as well. Despres was a physical player...as was Bortuzzo. Now we don't have either..

yinzer84

3-2-2015, 3:17 pm

Rutherford's first bad move. Guess the old and new regime got fed up with Depres.

Arriba Wilver

3-2-2015, 3:30 pm

Which would make you think there's something to it, no?

Papajohn108

3-2-2015, 3:17 pm

Terrible trade, Pens got smaller and softer!

Stephanie

3-2-2015, 3:33 pm

COMPLETELY AGREE!

tonyragano

3-2-2015, 5:34 pm

Right and right. Basically we just got worse. Rutherford is literally just an arrogant prick, purging players because he didn't pick them. This team is a shell of its former self and getting worse.

chuckinrlp

3-2-2015, 3:17 pm

Loved all the moves GMJR has done up to this one. Lovejoy, while solid and unspectacular, is a bit of a defensive improvement over Despres. Simon has a hard shot and brings a little more physical presence than Lovejoy. I also thought there was more upside with Despres as well. Rutherford has a plan, so we just have to trust in that plan. Going to have to think about this one for a little to determine if it is a plus or minus though.

Stephanie

3-2-2015, 3:38 pm

I don't believe Rutherford has a plan other than exhausting all of our depth without draft picks (he did the same thing in Carolina and look where they are now!)...it's like he believes we actually have a chance to be a serious Cup contender by picking up all these rental players and this team is nowhere near that caliber at this point even with the trades!!

Durka

3-2-2015, 3:18 pm

Head scratcher for sure

pghgolfgirl

3-2-2015, 3:18 pm

Ought to be strange on Friday night when we play the Ducks!

Rbilak1

3-2-2015, 3:18 pm

Both Simon and Borts started well with a physical edge. Neither kept it up. That said, they have no one on defense who is a playoff style defenseman. I do not like either trade. Downie cannot fight everyone. Wow, just wow.

Smallz

3-2-2015, 3:19 pm

Insane - how do u trade ur most physical defenseman - unbelievable

Dodkong

3-2-2015, 3:19 pm

Cripes, hate this deal even more.

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, is all I can say.

VegasRob

3-2-2015, 3:20 pm

I can't think of any logic behind this. Despres was better this year, and Lovejoy was mostly awful while he was was here. If you want to trade Despres, there certainly had to be a better deal out there.

BillyBaduka

3-2-2015, 4:31 pm

FWIW - Lovejoy was a solid contributor in Anaheim. I'm not a fan of this trade either but Pens are getting better Lovejoy than they sent to Ducks.

kliuch

3-2-2015, 3:21 pm

I cannot possibly imagine any reason for this trade beyond the club being fed up with Despres and his lack of progress - but even then there must be some sort of off-the-ice issue.

cyphertimothy

3-2-2015, 3:22 pm

Lovejoy is less productive, older, and more expensive. This really isn't making much sense

Milo Hamilton

3-2-2015, 3:24 pm

Never a big fan of either. Well, that's two different GM's that didn't think Despres could play. Interesting.

Dodkong

3-2-2015, 3:26 pm

But from all indication, Despres was playing better this year. Not sure what more they were expecting from a guy that was all but forgotten last year and was getting his first real shot this year.

Putter

3-2-2015, 3:27 pm

Spot on, Milo. Tomorrow's Headline, "Two below average players traded."

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove

3-2-2015, 3:28 pm

Milo,
See below: great minds and all that . . . .

Johnny Styles

3-2-2015, 3:40 pm

Has anyone volunteered to drive Despres to the airport? If not, I'm available.

Milo Hamilton

3-2-2015, 3:45 pm

Related to Toonces are you ?

Johnny Styles

3-2-2015, 4:07 pm

That's none of your business.

Groat2Maz2Strangeglove

3-2-2015, 3:26 pm

Hm-m-m-m.

It seems that Jim Rutherford and Mike Johnson agree with Dan Bylsma's assessment of Simon Despres after all!!

Arriba Wilver

3-2-2015, 3:32 pm

A. Lane

3-2-2015, 4:01 pm

This one doesn't fit so nicely into the Shero/Bylsma = Bad, Rutherford/Johnston = Good, motif.

Tobias Eiken

3-2-2015, 3:26 pm

Got a sudden flashback to Naslund for Stojanov....

News/views: Penguins reacquire Lovejoy

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