yeah, his measurables look great.

granted, he hasnt had much opportunity to show it off, but i was just curious if any of us have seen a good bit of tangible proof corroborating the notion that he is close to hitting those projections.
- stayinthefnnet

He is destroying the ahl right now as the top D playing all situations. In his short stints up here he has shown great promise, but like most he got caught in the speed difference. I feel once here full time he will adjust quickly.

I have stayed away from the internet all day after I heard about the trade. I have been trying to do other things...I have been a big supporter of SD for the past two years...this deal just leaves me scratching my head...I just dont understand how a team will sit there and beat its chest about wanting more grit and sandpaper, then trade the top two hitting dmen...I am ok with trading Borts, just not both. I guess we will find out if SD was carrying Scuds or the other way around. I honestly think that Scuds play will drop, he put SD in bad position so many times, I am not sure Lovejoy will be able to handle them as SD did. The fact that, they didn't get any picks back in this trade just baffles me to hell. I mean, how you not?

He is destroying the ahl right now as the top D playing all situations. In his short stints up here he has shown great promise, but like most he got caught in the speed difference. I feel once here full time he will adjust quickly.
- usethe1-2-2

that is comforting.

Took a little time to cool off and think about that deal.


Yup....still hate it. For a team that lacks size and youth, they gave up one of their biggest players and he is only 23. F*ck.
- madmike71

Exactly.

Its such a headscratcher of a trade that I have to believe #1 based on the trade as well as how Despres was handled last year,there was more going on in the locker room and off ice with this guy and #2 there is no way JR makes such a short sighted and discounted deal without Mario signing off on it. There just has to be more to the story.

that is comforting.
- stayinthefnnet

Haha good because its not really true, he's just a really good all around defender.

Exactly.

Its such a headscratcher of a trade that I have to believe #1 based on the trade as well as how Despres was handled last year,there was more going on in the locker room and off ice with this guy and #2 there is no way JR makes such a short sighted and discounted deal without Mario signing off on it. There just has to be more to the story.
- all-pgh

I've never seen so many people be upset about trading away your 7th and 8th D-man. And yes Despres was 7th on their depth chart behind 58, 7, 3, 4, 10 and 51.

Like I've been saying all day, if Matta was the least bid healthy this year, Despres would have been a healthy scratch for most of the games.

If you woke up this morning and found out Despres was lost for the season for any reason, I doubt the first thing that would come to your mind is "That's it, the season is lost."

Let's at least see what these guys can bring before we hate it so much.

I'd make the argument that Despres is better than Lovejoy NOW.
- s0rcerer1984

I agree with that too...cant believe this deal was made ! head scratcher !

I've never seen so many people be upset about trading away your 7th and 8th D-man. And yes Despres was 7th on their depth chart behind 58, 7, 3, 4, 10 and 51.

Like I've been saying all day, if Matta was the least bid healthy this year, Despres would have been a healthy scratch for most of the games.

If you woke up this morning and found out Despres was lost for the season for any reason, I doubt the first thing that would come to your mind is "That's it, the season is lost."

Let's at least see what these guys can bring before we hate it so much.

- stevens87

I think people can take the trading of Despres, but they sold for pennies on the dollar...I think that is the biggest issue. You traded a 23 year old who will be a RFA, for a 31 year old with 1 year left...you traded a potential top 4 guy, for a guy who, you just pointed out would be our 7th dmen also...so what is the point? You don't save money on the cap.

“The opportunity was there to pick up a big kid in [Simon] Despres, and we had to give up Ben to do that. Despres is a big, strong, young hockey player. He’s a solid player who’s only going to get better at his age. We were really excited that he became available.

On Despres’ upside
He’s not well-known around here. He’s a big, strong kid that moves the puck. He plays a big, physical game. He closes gaps really well. He’s a big-bodied guy, which is something we needed. The big thing with him is that he’s young, and to keep playing within himself. He has a chance to become a very solid top-four defenseman in the future.

On if Despres was on his radar
There are always guys who, especially for me, as a guy who likes to get out and look at the draft picks, there are always guys you liked. You keep watching them. You ask about them over time.

This is somebody we had asked about on a few occasions whenever we talked to Pittsburgh. It goes back to [former Penguins General Manager] Ray Shero and now to Jimmy [Executive Vice President and General Manager Jim Rutherford]. It was Jimmy who came to me with this one. This is one of those guys that I’ve watched and liked, and wanted to get my hands on.”
-Bob Murray

Size is valued in the Pacific (not in Pgh). I suppose Despres will develop nicely over the years in ANA; some guy named Niedermeyer is assistant coach. Time will ultimately measure the outcome of this trade.

"When we looked at our defense, despite the fact that it’s played pretty well at this point, we were concerned about the experience," Pens GM Jim Rutherford said. "We were looking to upgrade, add more of a veteran presence."

I call horsesh*t. The concern about experience argument should then linger w/ this club for the next 3,4, 5 years, since #51, #8, and #6 have even less NHL playoff experience. What kind of message has Pens brass sent to the aforementioned players?

Just gotta let it play out and see how it works out.

The biggest sham will be if 51 finds a seat in the pressbox. He gets better with every game. I don't blink for a second if the top 4 is 7-58 and 10-51.

Other than that I don't know what they do with the new guys and Scuds. We'll see on this road trip. Some big teams with speed and skill. Should be an interesting roadie.

I've never seen so many people be upset about trading away your 7th and 8th D-man. And yes Despres was 7th on their depth chart behind 58, 7, 3, 4, 10 and 51.

Like I've been saying all day, if Matta was the least bid healthy this year, Despres would have been a healthy scratch for most of the games.

If you woke up this morning and found out Despres was lost for the season for any reason, I doubt the first thing that would come to your mind is "That's it, the season is lost."

Let's at least see what these guys can bring before we hate it so much.

- stevens87

Maata was injured this year.... It's not even an argument worth making. Why are you dishing hypotheticals on if he didn't play we wouldn't know? Who cares? We saw him play over a small sample size. Despres was worthy of a roster spot. He was not on the NHL roster for even a whole straight season under one system. This guy got a raw deal, not every player picks it up like Maata. Don't care if you don't like the player, you don't let young assets go for chump change, unless they're completely unproven ones in guys like Ruopp or Dumoulin. He was easily RFA controlled for many years. This was a hasty move a la Ray Shero... With Iginla, pens should've just stuck with what they had, stop pissing around with the chemistry. Despres wasn't perfect but he was doing well and wasn't sinking the team night in night out. After the Cole deal I was very impressed with what JR has done.... He didn't sink it trading Despres but he took steps back IMO. Don't piss away the future anymore, Ray Shero did a good job of that already.

Just gotta let it play out and see how it works out.

The biggest sham will be if 51 finds a seat in the pressbox. He gets better with every game. I don't blink for a second if the top 4 is 7-58 and 10-51.

Other than that I don't know what they do with the new guys and Scuds. We'll see on this road trip. Some big teams with speed and skill. Should be an interesting roadie.
- Sell My Monkey

If Lovejoy isn't in the 2nd pairing with Ehrhoff, then this trade is beyond pointless. Despres was already playing fine as a #5 dman. There is no purpose in having Lovejoy as the #5.

Rutherford's shopping list for defensemen was pretty narrow.

They had to fit the system (they both do).

They preferably would have another year of control beyond this one to bridge the gap between Martin and Ehrhoff leaving and the young kids taking on minute-heavy roles. (They both do.)

Most importantly, they had to have really low cap hits in order to fit, while having enough NHL experience for the coaching staff to be comfortable and confident in them. (They both do.)

Sometimes "value" isn't about simply comparing players' statistics, gauging a player's potential, or valuing their initial draft position. Sometimes it's about finding a way to make your team better, which GMJR did today.
- hardnosed

The more I sit on these moves the more I agree with you. I think we're used to Shero who was best known for trying to "win" the trade (with a few exceptions of course).

Rutherford deserves some benefit of the doubt because he's made this team much better than the day he took over.

It will all remain to be seen how both players fit in the system in a short amount of time and really see how much Lovejoy has improved since he left the Pens.

Lastly, despite a potential to be better defensively, I still think our playoff woes will be lack of scoring. I would have liked to see a move to help scoring....I'm not in love with Kunitz and Comeau flanking Malkin, still don't like Sutter and Scuds, but beggars cant be choosers !

If Lovejoy isn't in the 2nd pairing with Ehrhoff, then this trade is beyond pointless. Despres was already playing fine as a #5 dman. There is no purpose in having Lovejoy as the #5.
- jfkst1

Lovejoy was being shopped, they wanted Wiz..... Pens elected to pass on Despres.... They should've shopped the frickin kid to other teams. They could've got a great player for Despres packaged with Sutter.

Another think Id like to say is that our defence has looked really loose at least a few times every game. I would imagine that was something that has been looked at and maybe the coaching staff believed they needed more stable players back there.

How do the d line up now?

Letang Martin
Ehrhoff Lovejoy
Cole Scuderi
Pouliot

?
- stackthepads

Colligan raised a good point in his podcast saying Lovejoy could be a great fit with Pouliot (similar to when he was partnered with Fowler).

I would get a look at these lines if I was the coach....doubt they do it though because they love Scuderi...and I dont care if we have a $7M bottom pair....just ice the best players/combinations...cap hits are irrelevant this time of year

Tang-Martin
Lovejoy-Pouliot
Ehrhoff-Cole
Scuderi

Lovejoy was being shopped, they wanted Wiz..... Pens obviously elected to pass on Despres.... Shop the frickin kid to other teams. They could've got a great player packaged with Sutter.
- nelson911

That's my problem with it too. If they wanted to move Despres fine, but shop him around to get the best possible return.

Lovejoy was being shopped, they wanted Wiz..... Pens elected to pass on Despres.... They should've shopped the frickin kid to other teams. They could've got a great player for Despres packaged with Sutter.
- nelson911

A great player, for those two? Doubtful!

A great player, for those two? Doubtful!
- stevens87

Im not talking Saad... More like Atkinson, Etem, Anisimov, Matthias, Kenins...

A better deal was somewhere to be made

If Lovejoy isn't in the 2nd pairing with Ehrhoff, then this trade is beyond pointless. Despres was already playing fine as a #5 dman. There is no purpose in having Lovejoy as the #5.
- jfkst1

Despres was not playing fine as a 5 he was playing like poop. If anything he needed to sit out a few and get his stuff together.

I'd go with the other idea of 51 with lovejoy and cole with erhoff. Again we will see.

I don't like the trade either, but you are high af if you think Despres was playing Cup contender defense.

Despres was not playing fine as a 5 he was playing like poop. If anything he needed to sit out a few and get his stuff together.

I'd go with the other idea of 51 with lovejoy and cole with erhoff. Again we will see.

I don't like the trade either, but you are high af if you think Despres was playing Cup contender defense.
- Sell My Monkey

I think I was guilty of having the blinders on based on his freakish raw talent and mix of size, skating and hitting. His defensive game always seemed average with flashes of an excellent transition game (defense partner played a role here). But I dont think he was good enough defensively (positioning, gap control, etc) to make up for his lack of hockey IQ and offensive instincts.

I really liked Despres and the upside, but when I sit back and give a true scouting report...I can see why mgmt would be underwhelmed.

I think I was guilty of having the blinders on based on his freakish raw talent and mix of size, skating and hitting. His defensive game always seemed average with flashes of an excellent transition game (defense partner played a role here). But I dont think he was good enough defensively (positioning, gap control, etc) to make up for his lack of hockey IQ and offensive instincts.

I really liked Despres and the upside, but when I sit back and give a true scouting report...I can see why mgmt would be underwhelmed.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Thank you for taking the beer goggles off for everyone and being realistic.

You say bottom pairing is between cole, love joy and Scuderi but I bet the odd man out becomes pouliot, and as much as losing Despres for a guy who is a decade older and climbed above his highest possible ceiling last year and sucked this year I hate that the the true casualty of these 2 unnecessary trades is the demotion of the guy that is this teams future(pouliot) who stands little chance of bring one of the 6 playing defensemen because of his perceived lack of experience not his extreme superiority talent wise.

You say bottom pairing is between cole, love joy and Scuderi but I bet the odd man out becomes pouliot, and as much as losing Despres for a guy who is a decade older and climbed above his highest possible ceiling last year and sucked this year I hate that the the true casualty of these 2 unnecessary trades is the demotion of the guy that is this teams future(pouliot) who stands little chance of bring one of the 6 playing defensemen because of his perceived lack of experience not his extreme superiority talent wise.
- Dcoms

Their might be injuries. And I bet he plays a game or two.

Learning from Martin and Ehrohff will serve him well. He clearly is in the lineup next year with those two leaving (and he'll have playoff experience then too).

The playoffs is more about consistency than sheer talent. We already of Letang, Sid and Geno to take risks for us this year. We needed to insulate with defensive guys and we did that with Lovejoy, Cole, and Winnik - all big plus players.

I've never seen so many people be upset about trading away your 7th and 8th D-man. And yes Despres was 7th on their depth chart behind 58, 7, 3, 4, 10 and 51.

Like I've been saying all day, if Matta was the least bid healthy this year, Despres would have been a healthy scratch for most of the games.

If you woke up this morning and found out Despres was lost for the season for any reason, I doubt the first thing that would come to your mind is "That's it, the season is lost."

Let's at least see what these guys can bring before we hate it so much.

- stevens87

Ok yeah you have no idea what you are talking about.

I can understand that Despres would be considered expendable w/ Maatta, Pouliot, Dumoulin, & Harrington. But the best return you could get was Ben Lovejoy? There wasn't a younger Top-9 F in Anaheim, Edmonton, or elsewhere that he could have been swapped for? The best possible return for Despres was an older, more expensive &, in my opinion worse, player in Ben Lovejoy? Really?
- s0rcerer1984

Smells a little like the Neal trade where other organisations came out after it & said they would have proposed more had they known he was on the market - I realise it's easy to make those statements after the fact but still? I would think that other lower end teams would hate dealt more for Despres - even the flames I think may have offered to dance but think they only have F to deal.

Oh well let's suck it & see?