My issue is, 47 and 19 I believe were held to different standards then other members of the team... I understand they are young, but its not a good standard to set in a team atmosphere. If Scuds struggles with Cole and is placed with Lovejoy and he struggles there too...do the coaches have enough onions to sit him? That is my question.
- Thorny

of course there are double standards for younger guys. younger guys have a lot more to prove and cant afford to fall behind the pack because they are tradeable and in some cases able to be on waivers.

no first year coach is going to walk in and bench two well respected veterans. a first year coach could easily walk in and bench guys like despres and bennett.

i agree, it's not right. but it is just the environment in sports. young guys will struggle until they prove themselves. veterans like scuderi and adams simply have to not be liabilities and they will generally be okay.

I really hope Bennett can take advantage of this... Because we all know if he doesn't score he's scratched.... That's basically the standard he'll be held to
- nelson911

He doesn't have to score. He has to compete on a consistent basis...last game he looked good

You also should consider the return we could have had had Despres been shopped. Do you think the deal was unders or do you think we could have got more?
- Aussiepenguin

I'm sure GMJR tried to get more from Anaheim. Despres was moved to fill a need. And that was a veteran D

Adding Lovejoy and Cole, Pens will have used 40 different players this season, matching most since using 41 in 2005-06.

Let's hope we can gain some chemistry through these last 20 games and hit the playoffs hot. I still don't think we've played our best hockey yet.

I'm sure GMJR tried to get more from Anaheim. Despres was moved to fill a need. And that was a veteran D
- willi

And we have no idea if he had shopped him around before.

Or if the previous regime (of which there are plenty of Assistant GM holdovers) tried to shop him, or took offers on him.

Nobody on this board has any idea what Despes' true value around the league was. Rutherford has a lot more information than we do, he can pretty easily call up one of his couple dozen GM friends in the league (or the vast number of retired or unemployed GM's he knows) and simply ask them what value they'd apply to Despres.

Anybody on here got Ron Francis' number?!?

of course there are double standards for younger guys. younger guys have a lot more to prove and cant afford to fall behind the pack because they are tradeable and in some cases able to be on waivers.

no first year coach is going to walk in and bench two well respected veterans. a first year coach could easily walk in and bench guys like despres and bennett.

i agree, it's not right. but it is just the environment in sports. young guys will struggle until they prove themselves. veterans like scuderi and adams simply have to not be liabilities and they will generally be okay.
- SuperHenderson13

A first year coach would be reluctant to do it. Same with a hard headed coach (disco). An experienced coach with a resume like Babcock would put the best team on the ice.

I'm encouraged to see Adams in street clothes. Dan would be playing Adams...no doubt.

You also should consider the return we could have had had Despres been shopped. Do you think the deal was unders or do you think we could have got more?
- Aussiepenguin

To me it seemed as though GMJR was targeting Lovejoy specifically for a while and the Ducks weren't making him available. It must have been nice for Anaheim to trade for Wisniewski knowing that he could upgrade The Rev's spot and get return on him. As for Despres, that's what it cost to get the player the Penguins wanted. They didn't have to trade Despres anyway only to have to settle for a Plan B™ guy like Petry.

The Rev seems like a much more seasoned man and a confident pro. That in and of itself is an upgrade over Despres. Trades are about more than lousy puck managing, wobbly 6' 4 defenders.

A first year coach would be reluctant to do it. Same with a hard headed coach (disco). An experienced coach with a resume like Babcock would put the best team on the ice.

I'm encouraged to see Adams in street clothes. Dan would be playing Adams...no doubt.
- madmike71

i agree. will be interesting to see how Johnston develops as he gets more NHL pedigree. it is def. a good move to see him bench adams, but it is a problem that he continues to put BB on the 4th line. if you're going to do that you might as well bench him.

An experienced coach with a resume like Babcock would put the best team on the ice.
- madmike71

The guy whose organization just traded for 36 year old Erik Cole and 38 year old Marek Zidlicky, who are going to come in and reduce the ice time and the roles of young, talented players?

To me it seemed as though GMJR was targeting Lovejoy specifically for a while and the Ducks weren't making him available. It must have been nice for Anaheim to trade for Wisniewski knowing that he could upgrade The Rev's spot and get return on him. As for Despres, that's what it cost to get the player the Penguins wanted. They didn't have to trade Despres anyway only to have to settle for a Plan B™ guy like Petry.

The Rev seems like a much more seasoned man and a confident pro. That in and of itself is an upgrade over Despres. Trades are about more than lousy puck managing, wobbly 6' 4 defenders.
- Johnny Wrath

It was reported that GMJR asked about Lovejoy's availability early in the season and was told he wasn't available. Then come deadline day, he was made available and JR went for him. We could have only gotten a pick back due to us not having any cap room at all. Maybe we could have swapper BB but I don't think they wanted to do that. We got a good return. Classic hockey trade.

i agree. will be interesting to see how Johnston develops as he gets more NHL pedigree. it is def. a good move to see him bench adams, but it is a problem that he continues to put BB on the 4th line. if you're going to do that you might as well bench him.
- SuperHenderson13

I'll bet he plays Bennett with the second PP unit tonight and slots him into the top six for a few shifts. Bennett is the kind of guy who a coach could use as a ploy first forward to change and screw with match ups from the other team. When the C is the change, like under Bylsma, it makes it automatic that the other coach gets his match up. Bennett can be more useful than just putting it on net.

I'll bet he plays Bennett with the second PP unit tonight and slots him into the top six for a few shifts. Bennett is the kind of guy who a coach could use as a ploy first forward to change and screw with match ups from the other team. When the C is the change, like under Bylsma, it makes it automatic that the other coach gets his match up. Bennett can be more useful than just putting it on net.
- Johnny Wrath

I agree and to add to that, I think we can almost slot anyone anywhere. MJ throughout the season was gaining different players chemistry together and learning more about his guys in the process. Now we have guys where we want them for the run, as well as having that flexibility.

The guy whose organization just traded for 36 year old Erik Cole and 38 year old Marek Zidlicky, who are going to come in and reduce the ice time and the roles of young, talented players?
- hardnosed

Are those guys worse options than the guys that are sitting tonght? I mean, they just traded for them.

I think Zidlicky is their only RH D. And they brought Cole in because he can still score.

Not remotely the same situation. Adams wouldn't be in the league if he didn't have a contract.

It was reported that GMJR asked about Lovejoy's availability early in the season and was told he wasn't available. Then come deadline day, he was made available and JR went for him. We could have only gotten a pick back due to us not having any cap room at all. Maybe we could have swapper BB but I don't think they wanted to do that. We got a good return. Classic hockey trade.
- znagle

I'm pretty shocked that Anaheim made him available anyway. He's an ideal depth defender for a playoff run. Getting a guy for a 5th rounder who came in and played good, sound minutes sounded like a player they weren't going to part with.

If Despres is worth a Rev, what's a Sutter worth straight up?

The guy whose organization just traded for 36 year old Erik Cole and 38 year old Marek Zidlicky, who are going to come in and reduce the ice time and the roles of young, talented players?
- hardnosed

Injuries in Detroit, I think.

Detroit has a really beautiful sense of continuity to it. Zata is back tonight ad centers a line between Cole and Abdelkader. If it was me I would have selected Darren Helm for the line (he's still the fastest guy in the NHL). With Franzen out I think they were comfortable adding some scoring. Not that they need more scoring

The D core is pretty thin; they needed something and they got something. They apparently wanted Meyers, then Sekera, Yandle, then Wis. They were going to do something that wasn't Petry. I don' think that will affect the development of Danny Dekeyser.

So we have another year of Rev right, what about Cole? Is he an RFA? If that's the case you'd have to assume that with Maatta back and if both Ehrhoff and Martin walk that we will be pretty set on D, freeing JR to focus on other areas of the team unless something comes up.

We could go into next year with

Letang Maatta
Lovejoy Pouliot
Scuderi Cole/Dumoulin/Harrington

I know it's unlikely but hopefully they try to move Scuderi since I think Dumoulin will be ready for the roster and Harrington will get another look at camp. I'd still offer Martin a good deal that doesn't tie our hands. He's just so good and steady, you don't fine players with his kind of smarts often. If we could get him the term he wants without a insanely high raise and nmc clause I'd absolutely do it and then send him out when needed for a nice return.

I'm pretty shocked that Anaheim made him available anyway. He's an ideal depth defender for a playoff run. Getting a guy for a 5th rounder who came in and played good, sound minutes sounded like a player they weren't going to part with.

If Despres is worth a Rev, what's a Sutter worth straight up?
- Johnny Wrath

An empty bag of chips. No crumbs or seasoning. An empty, washed out bag.

An empty bag of chips. No crumbs or seasoning. An empty, washed out bag.
- znagle

That has been opened from both sides.

That has been opened from both sides.
- Johnny Wrath

But filled with urine first, and given to Sutturd to open over his head before being traded.

F Sutter
WWJD

But filled with urine first, and given to Sutturd to open over his head before being traded.

F Sutter
WWJD
- znagle

Brandon Sutter stands alone in front of a mirror.

"Gary Roberts. Gary Roberts. Gary..."

Winnik with some nice stick work on the pk

Man, Winnik Is good on the pk...

Man I hate when they play anemically like this. It's boring and dangerous.

Thankfully Fleury is making some stops tonight.

Thankfully Fleury is making some stops tonight.
- Reverend Killtaker

MVP, MVP, MVP

Avs should have a couple. Games like this leave you wondering if this team can flip a switch in the playoffs.