So, as of right now, the Pens D after this year is

Letang-Maatta
Pouliot-Dumoulin
Scuderi-Harrington
Cole

Lots of youth, but now the there is no depth within the system. Penguins will now probably need to sign one UFA defeseman, which will be expensive.

After the solid moves in Perron/Winnik this Despres trade makes little sense.
- Nucker101

Rutherford has completely changed this team over the past year for the better, but this one is a complete mystery.

will be interested to hear his logic during his press conference.

Despres often made mistakes that could lose playoff games. Obviously a trait that GMJR couldn't tolerate with this group.


I hate this trade though. Maybe they will take checking out of the game for the playoffs

Without commenting on the actual moves anymore, this logic is bullpoop and has been thrown out and dismissed before. JR being GM and MJ being head coach does not equate to them being infallible. This is a very piss poor defense brought on when you have no valid rebuttle. The very prime example of management not being smart with what they do was the very last one that was thrown out last season, so I don't know why anyone needs to remind you let alone start pointing to other idiotic moves made around the league.
- ImScore71

The issue is that Despres is not at his potential, so this trade is only beneficial if Despres don't progress any further which seems very unlikely given his success at his limited time so far. Doesn't help that Lovejoy was traded for next to nothing only 2 years ago.
- jfkst1


Ok, so lets try this again then... The window for the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup is closing, what Lovejoy was traded for 2 years ago means absolutely nothing to what he was acquired for now, given that he is an improved player, that played top line minutes with Fowler on an ANA team that coasted to the Pacific title last season. So the Penguins traded a young Dman that tends to often make mistakes for a steady veteran defensemen to take a run at the cup. I feel much better having a player that is less of a liability heading into the playoffs. The Penguins are in win now mode, and this trade further solidifies that. As everyone knows, goals are a lot harder to come by in the playoffs, and I'm sure that management, present, and past have seen how Depres can gift wrap opportunities going the other way with his often made mistakes, and saw that as a laibility heading into the playoffs, thus trading for Lovejoy, a steady Veteran that is less likely to make those mistakes.. made sense.

Better?

So, as of right now, the Pens D after this year is

Letang-Maatta
Pouliot-Dumoulin
Scuderi-Harrington
Cole

Lots of youth, but now the there is no depth within the system. Penguins will now probably need to sign one UFA defeseman, which will be expensive.
- cap1681

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Lovejoy is signed through next year.

Yeah but Lovejoy over Despres isn't gonna make a big enough impact on our cup chances. The short term upgrade is just too minuscule while the long term downgrade is humungous big!
- Victoro311

You asked if this team won the cup would that trade be worth it. The answer would be yes....I'm not saying we will but if we do I wouldn't be second guessing any of the moves

I liked one perspective i saw on twitter. Imagine it as despres for cole and bortuzzo for lovejoy and it kinda makes it easier to swallow. not a great trade but I think some people are making it way bigger of a deal than it needs to be. overall, i don't think THIS YEARS team got worse, and we're a team with a win now mind set, thats the way i see it
- neilsonnn18

But it could have been Desprs & Cole for Lovejoy & Bortuzzo if the Penguins hadn't hit the panic button at the deadline. It wasn't some 3-team trade where one part of the deal was contingent on the other.

Cole for Bortuzzo, I'm OK with.

Despres for Lovejoy is just an epic fail. Combining it with a good trade just makes it so much more clear what a dumb move it was.

So we wait post facto the trading of kunitz, duper, DP, maatta, Crosby or Malkin, Letang... cant wait for all of Sheros blunders to get rectified... it would be as cool as being a arizona fan!


you know it!

The issue is that Despres is not at his potential, so this trade is only beneficial if Despres don't progress any further which seems very unlikely given his success at his limited time so far. Doesn't help that Lovejoy was traded for next to nothing only 2 years ago.
- jfkst1


Ok, so lets try this again then... The window for the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup is closing, what Lovejoy was traded for 2 years ago means absolutely nothing to what he was acquired for now, given that he is an improved player, that played top line minutes with Fowler on an ANA team that coasted to the Pacific title last season. So the Penguins traded a young Dman that tends to often make mistakes for a steady veteran defensemen to take a run at the cup. I feel much better having a player that is less of a liability heading into the playoffs. The Penguins are in win now mode, and this trade further solidifies that. As everyone knows, goals are a lot harder to come by in the playoffs, and I'm sure that management, present, and past have seen how Depres can gift wrap opportunities going the other way with his often made mistakes, and saw that as a laibility heading into the playoffs, thus trading for Lovejoy, a steady Veteran that is less likely to make those mistakes.. made sense.

Better?
- j.boyd919

This.

People saying Rutherford should be fired need to go lie down and not wake up
- neilsonnn18

this

The issue is that Despres is not at his potential, so this trade is only beneficial if Despres don't progress any further which seems very unlikely given his success at his limited time so far. Doesn't help that Lovejoy was traded for next to nothing only 2 years ago.
- jfkst1


Ok, so lets try this again then... The window for the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup is closing, what Lovejoy was traded for 2 years ago means absolutely nothing to what he was acquired for now, given that he is an improved player, that played top line minutes with Fowler on an ANA team that coasted to the Pacific title last season. So the Penguins traded a young Dman that tends to often make mistakes for a steady veteran defensemen to take a run at the cup. I feel much better having a player that is less of a liability heading into the playoffs. The Penguins are in win now mode, and this trade further solidifies that. As everyone knows, goals are a lot harder to come by in the playoffs, and I'm sure that management, present, and past have seen how Depres can gift wrap opportunities going the other way with his often made mistakes, and saw that as a laibility heading into the playoffs, thus trading for Lovejoy, a steady Veteran that is less likely to make those mistakes.. made sense.

Better?
- j.boyd919

Then we should have traded Pouliot, Maatta, Bennett, Harrington, Dumoulin, 2015 2nd, and 2016 1st because doing so would have definitely made the team better for the next 2 years.

If that's the case, then trade away this year's 2nd, next year's 1st, and other prospects. You have to weigh the cost v benefits rather than follow some mindless platitude like "win now."
- jfkst1

okay i get that you need to think about the future but the fact of the matter is this team didn't get worse now and in the future we have maatta returning, dumo, and harrington both look close to NHL ready, and we're probably losing about $9 million this offseason (Martin, Erhoff) to go after a different defenseman then.

So, as of right now, the Pens D after this year is

Letang-Maatta
Pouliot-Dumoulin
Scuderi-Harrington
Cole

Lots of youth, but now the there is no depth within the system. Penguins will now probably need to sign one UFA defeseman, which will be expensive.
- cap1681

Lovejoy is under contract next year

VERY quiet on the Despres trade from the Penguins social media...

You asked if this team won the cup would that trade be worth it. The answer would be yes....I'm not saying we will but if we do I wouldn't be second guessing any of the moves
- willi

theres no way to say that, i mean we "could" win the cup with lovejoy sitting in the press, granted that most likely wouldnt be the case, just going to have to let it playout gentlemen, we will be able to tell pretty quickly if these trades pay off

Lovejoy is not a top 4 d'man! He's been a healthy scratch over a third of the year! This better all equate to Pouliot playing w/Ehrhoff in that second pairing. Cole should play with Lovejoy edging out Scuderi for the final pairing. Good grief just makes me realize how bad that Scuderi contract is! Lost all confidence in GMJR with this trade though, terrible asset management and recognition of value!

VERY quiet on the Despres trade from the Penguins social media...
- znagle

it's just very quiet.

pittsburgh media, the team... everyone. very odd.

Then we should have traded Pouliot, Maatta, Bennett, Harrington, Dumoulin, 2015 2nd, and 2016 1st because doing so would have definitely made the team better for the next 2 years.
- jfkst1

Explain.

You asked if this team won the cup would that trade be worth it. The answer would be yes....I'm not saying we will but if we do I wouldn't be second guessing any of the moves
- willi

Say we traded Crosby for Toews straight up and won the cup. Would you seriously not question that trade? If we won the cup with Toews, wouldn't you believe that we would have done it with Crosby as well and that management made a questionable decision moving forward?

Just because we win a cup doesn't mean that management didn't make a bad trade that hurts our cup chances moving forward.

EDIT: Ok. Maybe that was a bad example since questions of leadership come into the equation when talking about Toews vs. Crosby, but how about Crosby and Tavares?

This seemed to be the head-scratcher deal of the day.

okay i get that you need to think about the future but the fact of the matter is this team didn't get worse now and in the future we have maatta returning, dumo, and harrington both look close to NHL ready, and we're probably losing about $9 million this offseason (Martin, Erhoff) to go after a different defenseman then.
- neilsonnn18

I think they gave up a quality young #5 dman for an older quality #4 dman. A difference in probably 4-5 minutes of ice time. I would view center depth as a far more pressing need before today and that was not addressed at all. Difference there of 25-30 minutes of ice time.

Mario has invited Grand Pa Jim to his office for a little convo.

Say we traded Crosby for Toews straight up and won the cup. Would you seriously not question that trade? If we won the cup with Toews, wouldn't you believe that we would have done it with Crosby as well and that management made a questionable decision moving forward?

Just because we win a cup doesn't mean that management didn't make a bad trade that hurts our cup chances moving forward.
- Victoro311

it's come to this? we're comparing Despres-Lovejoy to Crosby-Toews?

The issue is that Despres is not at his potential, so this trade is only beneficial if Despres don't progress any further which seems very unlikely given his success at his limited time so far. Doesn't help that Lovejoy was traded for next to nothing only 2 years ago.
- jfkst1


Ok, so lets try this again then... The window for the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup is closing, what Lovejoy was traded for 2 years ago means absolutely nothing to what he was acquired for now, given that he is an improved player, that played top line minutes with Fowler on an ANA team that coasted to the Pacific title last season. So the Penguins traded a young Dman that tends to often make mistakes for a steady veteran defensemen to take a run at the cup. I feel much better having a player that is less of a liability heading into the playoffs. The Penguins are in win now mode, and this trade further solidifies that. As everyone knows, goals are a lot harder to come by in the playoffs, and I'm sure that management, present, and past have seen how Depres can gift wrap opportunities going the other way with his often made mistakes, and saw that as a laibility heading into the playoffs, thus trading for Lovejoy, a steady Veteran that is less likely to make those mistakes.. made sense.

Better?
- j.boyd919

I hate the argument of x player had much more potential. Anyone in the NHL has potential. BB has tons of potential, but his work ethic and health are huge questions marks. Nobody here knows how Despres was off the ice. But 2 coaches and GM's are happy he's gone.

it's just very quiet.

pittsburgh media, the team... everyone. very odd.
- SuperHenderson13

Agreed. It's very weird. Bortz was announced ASAP. Something seems weird here. Maybe Despres did get a bad concussion last night and they are waiting for the physical to come back. Although that will be a day or two out in ANA. If ANA was aware of it then there is no blocked trade, if not Despres is ours.