It will bother me for a very, very long time. Its not even as much about moving Despres as it is about the total lack of return for him.
- s0rcerer1984

I am over it. I don't think that Despres could have fetched too much more. He wasn't all that. He is physical, but I don't think he has the hockey smarts like Maatta and Pouliot have, He can't be compared with them and thus his upside is not as much as theirs.

Red an interesting article about Cole dating back to when he was drafted. Cant find the link at the moment but the jist of it was ...

there was a video that went inside the war room for the Blues on draft day and Jarmo Kekalainen basically said they need to trade up to get Cole. Said "he's a mans body with a bomb for a shot". (actually thats one of the most consistant things I've read about Cole is that he has a bomb, but for some reason hasn't scored a ton). Then later Hitchcock wasn't a big fan of his and kept him in and out of the lineup (sound familiar?).

So my personal takeaway is that there is still some untapped potential there and he wasn't in the best situation. Just wonder if thats the only reason he went from draft day hero to expendable for Bortuzzo...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Ian Cole, I believe, is going to be Matt Niskanen 2.0... he has been in the wrong system to flourish and has had some injuries that have slowed his development. I will reserve judgement on the trade for Lovejoy because I believe Despres will blossom being away from Scuderi... I always assumed that because he was paired with Scuderi, he felt he had to try to compensate for his partner instead of just playing his game...

It will bother me for a very, very long time. Its not even as much about moving Despres as it is about the total lack of return for him.
- s0rcerer1984

If his inconsistencies and "possible" locker room/coachable issues were known to other teams, which they should since secrets don't really exist if we know them on here, then he might not have ever had the trade value we thought he did.

He was put with better pairs, and failed 9/10 times.
- znagle

Despres didn't have to play a Top-4 role. The Pens could have simply benched Scuderi & played Despres w/ Cole.

Letang-Martin
Ehrhoff-Pouliot
Despres-Cole

In my opinion, Shero gave an atricious contract to Scuderi & since they can't/won't bench/move him, the see Despres as the issue instead. Well, now someone else is going to have to cover for Scuderi all night long. Wonder what will happen to their quality of play?

Obviously everyone... we just have to win the Cup this year, Scuds will retire on a high note, we get his cap space, and viola! No more Scuderi.

One game doesn't make this trade a bad one... At least give it 7-10 games.
- Guile

I don't even think 7-10 games is enough to evaluate a trade. This trade can't be evaluated until after playoffs, maybe even until after next year's run. GMJR brought him in to play steady defensive playoff hockey, maybe he doesn't contribute in the regular season, but once the games matter more in the post season, I bet that's where we see why GMJR went out and acquired Lovejoy and COle

I've calmed down on the Lovejoy/Despres trade since the initial shock, but I can't help recalling something I threw out mid rant: The ducks had been in the market for a better partner for Fowler for two years, and that's probably why they swapped Lovejoy for Despres. Funny how Despres is immediately saddled with Fowler...

I think Despres and Fowler are going to make a great pair moving forward. RIP Pairing Despriot. You had such potential...
- Victoro311

Ducks were also without Wiz and Vatanen. When they have a full lineup I don't think Despres and Fowler will be a pair.....for all of Despres great stats last night his Corsi was at a 42% against a bad Coyotes team

Red an interesting article about Cole dating back to when he was drafted. Cant find the link at the moment but the jist of it was ...

there was a video that went inside the war room for the Blues on draft day and Jarmo Kekalainen basically said they need to trade up to get Cole. Said "he's a mans body with a bomb for a shot". (actually thats one of the most consistant things I've read about Cole is that he has a bomb, but for some reason hasn't scored a ton). Then later Hitchcock wasn't a big fan of his and kept him in and out of the lineup (sound familiar?).

So my personal takeaway is that there is still some untapped potential there and he wasn't in the best situation. Just wonder if thats the only reason he went from draft day hero to expendable for Bortuzzo...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Cole looks like he could be a quality #6 Dman if used properly. From what I've read, he isn't flawless (obviously), but has lots of potential to improve.

Love the Bortuzzo for Cole trade from the Pens side. Not sure what STL is looking for in Bortuzzo, but see a big upside for the Pens in this deal.

In my opinion, Shero gave an atricious contract to Scuderi & since they can't/won't bench/move him, the see Despres as the issue instead. Well, now someone else is going to have to cover for Scuderi all night long. Wonder what will happen to their quality of play?
- s0rcerer1984

That is everyone's opinion. A lot of things did/will not happen because of the Scuderi contract. Same can be said about the long term 87, 71, 58, and 29 contracts (I might get a beatdown for suggesting this, but these long-term contracts are a huge handcuff on what talent we can get in the bottom 6). Oh, and #FSUTTER!

The Washington Capitals are in the same boat with Orpik and Nisky.

I don't even think 7-10 games is enough to evaluate a trade. This trade can't be evaluated until after playoffs, maybe even until after next year's run. GMJR brought him in to play steady defensive playoff hockey, maybe he doesn't contribute in the regular season, but once the games matter more in the post season, I bet that's where we see why GMJR went out and acquired Lovejoy and COle
- j.boyd919

I agree, a fair sample size is 20-25 games... but for writing off or thumbing up trades since we have lesser time, have to slash that in half for judging trade pickups.

Despres was inconsistant, had no strikes left here after the smear campaign from Disco Dan, and he just wasn't wanted here anymore by the staff. It sucks, he looked like he had the potential... I hope he just stays a bottom pairing D so we don't look fleeced.

I don't even think 7-10 games is enough to evaluate a trade. This trade can't be evaluated until after playoffs, maybe even until after next year's run. GMJR brought him in to play steady defensive playoff hockey, maybe he doesn't contribute in the regular season, but once the games matter more in the post season, I bet that's where we see why GMJR went out and acquired Lovejoy and COle
- j.boyd919

You can't fully evaluate it until Despres turns 25/26. All we've heard is Lovejoy is a much better player than when he left. Well, he's now 31. So, he was 27/28 when he started to play better. These guys develop at different rates.....especially D.

That is everyone's opinion. A lot of things did/will not happen because of the Scuderi contract. Same can be said about the long term 87, 71, 58, and 29 contracts (I might get a beatdown for suggesting this, but these long-term contracts are a huge handcuff on what talent we can get in the bottom 6). Oh, and #FSUTTER!

The Washington Capitals are in the same boat with Orpik and Nisky.
- chimpira

Just out of curiosity, what teams would you look to when you say talent in the bottom 6?

Obviously everyone... we just have to win the Cup this year, Scuds will retire on a high note, we get his cap space, and viola! No more Scuderi.
- Guile

That would be amazing.

But it won't happen. Scuderi didn't really break into the NHL until well into his late 20's. He's only had the big LA contract ($13.6M) and his current contract ($13.5M). No way Scuderi leaves $6.7M on the table.

That would be amazing.

But it won't happen. Scuderi didn't really break into the NHL until well into his late 20's. He's only had the big LA contract ($13.6M) and his current contract ($13.5M). No way Scuderi leaves $6.7M on the table.
- s0rcerer1984

Shhhhh... Be hopeful

Just out of curiosity, what teams would you look to when you say talent in the bottom 6?
- j.boyd919

Currently, I like the way that the Islanders are built ... Rangers too, and to slightly lesser extent the Caps, Wings, and Blackhawks. Those teams to me seem more evenly spread through all 4 lines and are harder to shut down. As someone mentioned, playing the Pens, it's all about the top 2 lines.

Despres didn't have to play a Top-4 role. The Pens could have simply benched Scuderi & played Despres w/ Cole.

Letang-Martin
Ehrhoff-Pouliot
Despres-Cole

In my opinion, Shero gave an atricious contract to Scuderi & since they can't/won't bench/move him, the see Despres as the issue instead. Well, now someone else is going to have to cover for Scuderi all night long. Wonder what will happen to their quality of play?
- s0rcerer1984

This is gold, and what should've happened

It very may well be that Scuseri's contract is so bad that he is immovable in a trade, but I've also heard rumblings over the past year and a half that he has a full no trade clause in his contract as well, which if true makes for an even more horrid contract. Anybody know anything about Scuds contract with a NTC?

This is gold, and what should've happened
- nelson911

They can't bench that much money... did you see how hard the battle was internally before Richards got put on waivers with his contract? It would be almost the same deal here, and obviously no one is even close to that breaking point on staff.

BTW, what happened to TK? He was out last night with an upper body injury:

http://islanderspointblan...t-with-upper-body-injury/
- chimpira

Rabies ??

It very may well be that Scuseri's contract is so bad that he is immovable in a trade, but I've also heard rumblings over the past year and a half that he has a full no trade clause in his contract as well, which if true makes for an even more horrid contract. Anybody know anything about Scuds contract with a NTC?
- Weisenheimer

As mentioned numerous times here... he has a LNMC/LNTC... 6 to 8 teams he can go to without waiving, the obvious top teams from when the deal was signed.

It very may well be that Scuseri's contract is so bad that he is immovable in a trade, but I've also heard rumblings over the past year and a half that he has a full no trade clause in his contract as well, which if true makes for an even more horrid contract. Anybody know anything about Scuds contract with a NTC?
- Weisenheimer

It's a limited NTC. Which means that a club may be limited to trading him "only at certain times, or only to a certain team or geographical area."

Currently, I like the way that the Islanders are built ... Rangers too, and to lesser extent the Caps. Those teams to me seem more evenly spread through all 4 lines and are harder to shut down. As someone mentioned, playing the Pens, it's all about the top 2 lines.
- chimpira

See, I think that is more attributed to the talent that they have acquired, not necessarily their contracts. The Caps have Ovi at 9.5, Backstrom at 6.7, Green at 6, Orpik at 5.5 If you want to look at their biggest contracts, thats like 27.7 million.

Rangers have Nash at 7.8, Brassard at 5.65, Girardi at 5.5, and Hank at 8.5 which comes out to 27.45 (they also pay Tanner Glass 1.45.. waste)

87/71/58/29 attribute for 30.45 million. Those contracts don't handcuff the Penguins from building depth, it's the attempts at building depth with below average players that effects the Penguins depth, Scuderi, Sutter, Spaling.

I don't thinkt he Pens stars are the problem, its the managements attempts at building 4 lines, or past management. I do think GMJR has done a better job building a balanced roster.

Although I do agree the Isles are built extremely well, that is a solid built team... I so want Cal Clutterbuck on the Pens 4th line.

hmm wheres our Islander troll who loves to boast how clean Matt Martin is in comparison to the Pitt goons? Loved that knee on knee hit of his.

hmm wheres our Islander troll who loves to boast how clean Matt Martin is in comparison to the Pitt goons? Loved that knee on knee hit of his.
- Reverend Killtaker

Maybe he actually has work to do today

Red an interesting article about Cole dating back to when he was drafted. Cant find the link at the moment but the jist of it was ...

there was a video that went inside the war room for the Blues on draft day and Jarmo Kekalainen basically said they need to trade up to get Cole. Said "he's a mans body with a bomb for a shot". (actually thats one of the most consistant things I've read about Cole is that he has a bomb, but for some reason hasn't scored a ton). Then later Hitchcock wasn't a big fan of his and kept him in and out of the lineup (sound familiar?).

So my personal takeaway is that there is still some untapped potential there and he wasn't in the best situation. Just wonder if thats the only reason he went from draft day hero to expendable for Bortuzzo...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Ian Cole is interesting. As someone said, he could be another Niskanen with a good opportunity.

He isn't the first guy who might not have been in Hitchock's good graces, and won't be the last.

He is VERY strong. Might not be a big hitter, but plays well along the boards.