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.
- nelson911

Yes I agree a little with what you have said there. I don't think that Despres experienced the best side of the Pens organisation looking at it from the outside & having zero knowledge of what happened behind closed doors. Hopefully I'm completely wrong.

What I am glad about is that he has gone to a very good team that hopefully will treat him like a NHL player.

LOVEJOY #12

Again, F*k What a horrible trade

RW - I suppose the good news is the Penguins didn't sell low on Beau Bennett.

Maybe because most GM's already know he's worth nothing. You're among the very few who keep touting this guy, almost as if you're his agent.

Really disappointed that they chose to wipeout on Despres.

Nothing against Lovejoy. I'm glad he's back because he could help to effectively be another option push Scuderi out, but not at the expense of a Top 4 option who could be taken care of long term at a low cost.

I'm very happy with the Cole acquisition though. Getting a player like him that is undervalued for a guy that shouldn't be an everyday NHL player is great. The only benefit here is that the team didn't lose any forward depth at the NHL level or from the prospect pool.

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

This is a really good post.

However, logic and objectivity really have no place on this board, especially this time of year

Hate the Despres trade but if we win the cup it will soften the blow of watching Despres turn into a top 4 defenseman in Anaheim

Hate the Despres trade but if we win the cup it will soften the blow of watching Despres turn into a top 4 defenseman in Anaheim
- dbell646

Off course. Even If we had traded a big gun. The Cup is What we play for. The ultimate prize.

lovejoy is a 6th-7th Dman on an nhl team. He had one good year last year and regressed in a major way this year. We traded him for a 5th rounder and then traded a 1st round pick with big potential upside to get him back. Our D is easily the softest in the NHL now along with most of our forwards. Welcome to another first round exit and MAF and Sid/Geno getting abused while the team stands there and watches like the cowards that 90% of them are. You are going to see a team get intimidated much like they were against boston a few years ago. Looks like a bunch of kids getting bullied on a schoolyard. Sad to see kids get bullied, however is (frank)ing pathetic to watch it happen to adults. Lets bring steroid boy dupuis back and possibly this team can get just a lil softer. Enjoy the 4 or 5 playoff games we get this year, if you can stomach watching after we get blown out game one. I know ill sit through all four or five games because thats what real fans do. Watching a team when its at its lowest point in almost a decade is what separates fair-weather fans and those of us who will watch the house burn down until its just embers and then wait for the builders to come and fix it.

If you honestly think that this was a good trade or that this team can beat any of the playoff teams in its division right now you are in for a horrible first two weeks of april. On the bright side it will be over before you know it. Also if you don't already, pop over to insidepittsburghsports for a great breakdown of the dumpster fire that is this organization currently. There is nobody online with more actual (not made up like ek) connections to the pens than DePaoli over there and he don't sugar coat anything.

lovejoy is a 6th-7th Dman on an nhl team. He had one good year last year and regressed in a major way this year. We traded him for a 5th rounder and then traded a 1st round pick with big potential upside to get him back. Our D is easily the softest in the NHL now along with most of our forwards. Welcome to another first round exit and MAF and Sid/Geno getting abused while the team stands there and watches like the cowards that 90% of them are. You are going to see a team get intimidated much like they were against boston a few years ago. Looks like a bunch of kids getting bullied on a schoolyard. Sad to see kids get bullied, however is (frank)ing pathetic to watch it happen to adults. Lets bring steroid boy dupuis back and possibly this team can get just a lil softer. Enjoy the 4 or 5 playoff games we get this year, if you can stomach watching after we get blown out game one. I know ill sit through all four or five games because thats what real fans do. Watching a team when its at its lowest point in almost a decade is what separates fair-weather fans and those of us who will watch the house burn down until its just embers and then wait for the builders to come and fix it.

If you honestly think that this was a good trade or that this team can beat any of the playoff teams in its division right now you are in for a horrible first two weeks of april. On the bright side it will be over before you know it. Also if you don't already, pop over to insidepittsburghsports for a great breakdown of the dumpster fire that is this organization currently. There is nobody online with more actual (not made up like ek) connections to the pens than DePaoli over there and he don't sugar coat anything.
- StabMastaArson

Any connection with this and your chosen name?


In all seriousness, I don't like the deal either, but I'm not about to throw everything out the window in my mind because of it. Does it suck losing what could a very good long term option? Yes. Was it good asset management? No. They should have been able to recoup a pick of some value with this move.

Is there anything I can do about it? No. I just hope that long term, Maatta comes back in good shape and Pouliot, Harrington and Dumoulin can make further pushes because even though we will have Cole/Lovejoy back...the youth movement needs to continue. I'm glad we didn't lose much by way of picks or forward prospects though. Can't afford to throw them around.

So... have we stopped abandoning ship today?

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

Theres no question Despres was inconsistent over the season, but i dont know if i beleive the addition of Lovejoy is going to put the Penguins over the edge for a cup bid. Granted i think this team was adequately equipped to win a cup before the deadline. My only problem would be that it is proven that NHL defenseman take longer to develop and i think Despres has shown enough promise and is young enough to become a top pairing guy down the road. With that said the Penguins dont care about down the road because that 87/71 window isnt gonna stay open forever.
I am just as guilty as judging the trade initially off of names alone. Pens fans are going to remember Lovejoy as the guy who left Pitts for a 5th rounder, not the dman he is now.

So... have we stopped abandoning ship today?
- Guile

What's up Mr.Miller. F'n horrible trade. No more Despres. We got another vanilla player in Lovejoy. He's the Spaling from our D.

What's up Mr.Miller. F'n horrible trade. No more Despres. We got another vanilla player in Lovejoy. He's the Spaling from our D.
- Barnaby36

I have been here... I proposed a not too unrealistic roster for next year, highlighting Lovejoy's somewhat solid role yesterday.

edit: not scrapping this year at all, just showing how we are, IMO, in better shape going into next year overall.

Any connection with this and your chosen name?


In all seriousness, I don't like the deal either, but I'm not about to throw everything out the window in my mind because of it. Does it suck losing what could a very good long term option? Yes. Was it good asset management? No. They should have been able to recoup a pick of some value with this move.

Is there anything I can do about it? No. I just hope that long term, Maatta comes back in good shape and Pouliot, Harrington and Dumoulin can make further pushes because even though we will have Cole/Lovejoy back...the youth movement needs to continue. I'm glad we didn't lose much by way of picks or forward prospects though. Can't afford to throw them around.
- HopintheCordoba

What do the Pens forward prospects look like? I know they have Kapanen, but not sure after that? Does it worry anyone that they have given up 5 picks over the next two drafts?

What do the Pens forward prospects look like? I know they have Kapanen, but not sure after that? Does it worry anyone that they have given up 5 picks over the next two drafts?
- did109

There is some hope with the fringe guys. Kapanen is obviously at the top of the list. Different level of skill than the rest.

I think guys like Rust, Wilson, Archibald, Zlobin and Sundqvist are guys we have some hope in to be options going forward.

Kapanen and Sundqvist are playing in men's leagues overseas and getting some development that way. I believe both get a serious look next season. Both had the benefit of that before this season. The others are doing quite well in WBS for their first pro seasons.

The org is not scattered with high end forwards. But, it's not quite as bad as we may have thought before. Some raw kids out there as well that aren't pro yet. Plenty to wait on. The lack of picks is concerning but that's the boat we are floating. Have to try and recoup some picks at the draft and use some scruples to get value.

lovejoy is a 6th-7th Dman on an nhl team. He had one good year last year and regressed in a major way this year. We traded him for a 5th rounder and then traded a 1st round pick with big potential upside to get him back. Our D is easily the softest in the NHL now along with most of our forwards. Welcome to another first round exit and MAF and Sid/Geno getting abused while the team stands there and watches like the cowards that 90% of them are. You are going to see a team get intimidated much like they were against boston a few years ago. Looks like a bunch of kids getting bullied on a schoolyard. Sad to see kids get bullied, however is (frank)ing pathetic to watch it happen to adults. Lets bring steroid boy dupuis back and possibly this team can get just a lil softer. Enjoy the 4 or 5 playoff games we get this year, if you can stomach watching after we get blown out game one. I know ill sit through all four or five games because thats what real fans do. Watching a team when its at its lowest point in almost a decade is what separates fair-weather fans and those of us who will watch the house burn down until its just embers and then wait for the builders to come and fix it.

If you honestly think that this was a good trade or that this team can beat any of the playoff teams in its division right now you are in for a horrible first two weeks of april. On the bright side it will be over before you know it. Also if you don't already, pop over to insidepittsburghsports for a great breakdown of the dumpster fire that is this organization currently. There is nobody online with more actual (not made up like ek) connections to the pens than DePaoli over there and he don't sugar coat anything.
- StabMastaArson

DePaoli is a moron.

Letang-Maatta
Lovejoy-Cole
Scuderi-Pouliot
Harrington-Dumoulin

Our top 6 will cost roughly 15 million next year. That saves us 10 million from Hoff/Martin to use on on serious offensive help next year. We can resign Perron, maybe Comeau, maybe Winnik and possibly grab a 5-6 million winger in free agency for a year or two. We are in an even better place with the cap next year than we were before this deal.

Letang-Maatta
Lovejoy-Cole
Scuderi-Pouliot
Harrington-Dumoulin

Our top 6 will cost roughly 15 million next year. That saves us 10 million from Hoff/Martin to use on on serious offensive help next year. We can resign Perron, maybe Comeau, maybe Winnik and possibly grab a 5-6 million winger in free agency for a year or two. We are in an even better place with the cap next year than we were before this deal.
- znagle

Check Page 8, I did nearly the same you did, but way too much math and throwing out a lot of not unrealistic roster ideas... except a chance of moving Scuds, because you have to :D

Check Page 8, I did nearly the same you did, but way too much math and throwing out a lot of not unrealistic roster ideas... except a chance of moving Scuds, because you have to :D
- Guile

They can buy him out and it will only cost them like $1.5M against cap or something. I recommend that.

Look if JR wanted to rid himself of Despres, that's fine. He just needed to get a bit more back in return IMO.

This is now 2 coaching staffs and management staffs that have soured on him. Obviously he wasn't doing something they wanted him to do.

And his play has fallen off lately. I'll give JR that.

But, still, I have a hard time with that trade.

I just see teams like the Isles, Rags, and Caps pushing us around in a 7 game series. Our only hope is to not engage in that crap, play skilled hockey, hope the PP gets uber hot, MAF continues his high level of play, and 87 and 71 crush it. That's the recipie.

They can buy him out and it will only cost them like $1.5M against cap or something. I recommend that.
- HopintheCordoba

Absolutely, but I didn't want to have a buyout on my roster

Look if JR wanted to rid himself of Despres, that's fine. He just needed to get a bit more back in return IMO.

This is now 2 coaching staffs and management staffs that have soured on him. Obviously he wasn't doing something they wanted him to do.

And his play has fallen off lately. I'll give JR that.

But, still, I have a hard time with that trade.

I just see teams like the Isles, Rags, and Caps pushing us around in a 7 game series. Our only hope is to not engage in that crap, play skilled hockey, hope the PP gets uber hot, MAF continues his high level of play, and 87 and 71 crush it. That's the recipie.
- 87_71_11_29

That's where I'm at with it. As a matter of fact, I'd have asked for Etem. I felt like Cole was a decent enough acquisition and getting a good young forward that isn't being played as much as he should would be a good idea. I think however, The Penguins wanted more pro defensive depth and Anaheim wanted salary cleared. BUT I think Etem would have been a better trade off.

On another note, If Ottawa would've been more open to moves, I'd have tried Sutter for Wiercioch and tried to swing Condra in the deal. Really liked that idea. If we had to sell Despres that maybe would've been another option.

Absolutely, but I didn't want to have a buyout on my roster
- Guile

I gotcha. I just don't see any other way around it if the organization wants to save a bit of money and have a roster spot available. They could threaten to send him down and maybe he'd request a trade or retire.

There is some hope with the fringe guys. Kapanen is obviously at the top of the list. I think guys like Rust, Wilson, Archibald, Zlobin and Sundqvist are guys we have some hope in to be options going forward. Kapanen and Sundqvist are playing in men's leagues overseas and getting some development that way. I believe both get a serious look next season. The others are doing quite well in WBS for their first pro seasons.

It's not scattered with high end forwards. But, it's not quite as bad as we may have thought before. Some raw kids out there as well that aren't pro yet. Plenty to wait on. The lack of picks is concerning but that's the boat we are floating. Have to try and recoup some picks at the draft and use some scruples to get value.
- HopintheCordoba

We need to chill a bit on Kappanen, he is at least one more season away (preferably the AHL) but Sundqvist is ready. His stregnth has gone up and his role as a bottom six is looking strong. He will be a cheap internal option as a left shot. Since you already have Spaling too, you don't really need to worry. Add in Beau and that is three. Sign a deal for a Winnik, Comeau, or Downie and you have at least four. Veteran bottom centers can come cheap and only need one season.

Sutter is the wild card, he can be signed or moved this summer. If moved I think there is a good chance the Pens can get the space and assets to have both Downie and Comeau back.

Nothing looks great, but a little creativity can go a long way.

They can buy him out and it will only cost them like $1.5M against cap or something. I recommend that.
- HopintheCordoba

I would cost about $1.2 mil for the next 4 years to buy him out. Better off to trade him and eat some of contract if needed.