I believe everybody has a better shot than Martin. I'm amazed he's as effect as he is with that weak shot
- willi

Every Kasparaitis has his day.

I really can't think of 1 young player the Pens traded away that was a mistake.

Whitney, Morrow, Esposito, Samuleson, Despres, Bortz, Lovejoy.....those guys arent necessarily building blocks for a franchise. Or am I missing someone?
- sammy87

But we just got Lovejoy back so that was clearly a mistake?

Youre right though, I dont know why Im so upset over not getting draft picks when our scouting is so absolutely terrible. I just know that when I look at Despres for Lovejoy, Im baffled at how you make that trade and dont get more back out of it. And then I think about all the draft picks we have given up for crappy rentals and it makes me even more mad at our front office and crappy scouting.

I do know that if we dont ever give players the chance to play, they can never show what they have. And if we keep yanking them around (Despres last yeer, Bennett this year) that we will never develop any real talent from our farm system.

I really can't think of 1 young player the Pens traded away that was a mistake.

Whitney, Morrow, Esposito, Samuleson, Despres, Bortz, Lovejoy.....those guys arent necessarily building blocks for a franchise. Or am I missing someone?
- sammy87

Not that it was a big mistake, but in light of how bad Sutter has been an affordable Mark Letestu would be nice to have as 3c. Especially considering we basically gave him away. He might not be much better than Sutter, but he is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Dumo & Pouliout have already been offered up in so many trade scenarios on these boards that I dont see that level of trust. To me, Pouliot makes just as many mistakes as Despres did.

But you have a point with Maatta.

And I didnt really even care for Despres. I just think if youre going to go ahead and trade away young talent, you need to get more of a return. Trading for a guy we gave up two years ago that we didnt have the patience to wait for to mature is just stupid. And very ironic at that.
- thickman1178

We got a good return. A top 4 dman with another year left for 1 million per. We didn't have the cap space for a bigger deal, unless a forward or Scuds is going out. They don't need either piece in ANA. Lovejoy was made available on Monday, GMJR talked with them earlier this season about him and he was not available.

That being said, who is a better return for Despres when we need defense?

At least we didn't give up two second rounders for Brett Connolly.. out six weeks with a displaced fracture in a finger

F the Bruins

We got a good return. A top 4 dman with another year left for 1 million per. We didn't have the cap space for a bigger deal, unless a forward or Scuds is going out. They don't need either piece in ANA. Lovejoy was made available on Monday, GMJR talked with them earlier this season about him and he was not available.

That being said, who is a better return for Despres when we need defense?
- znagle

How do you know Lovejoy is a top 4 dman? I dont know he isnt, but Im sure not ready to make that claim until I see him play.

And Im just saying we should have had some picks coming back with him. If you trade talent for lesser talent, there should be something else to go with it.

How do you know Lovejoy is a top 4 dman? I dont know he isnt, but Im sure not ready to make that claim until I see him play.

And Im just saying we should have had some picks coming back with him. If you trade talent for lesser talent, there should be something else to go with it.
- thickman1178

So Pittsburgh should have traded a pick or two to Anaheim? I'm confused.

Not that it was a big mistake, but in light of how bad Sutter has been an affordable Mark Letestu would be nice to have as 3c. Especially considering we basically gave him away. He might not be much better than Sutter, but he is a hell of a lot cheaper.
- Rawdog9755

Yeah good point. If Sutter was making 1.5 less, id be fine with his level of performance, but he aint worth 3.3. I think when BB is out there with Sutter, its just complete garbage.

How do you know Lovejoy is a top 4 dman? I dont know he isnt, but Im sure not ready to make that claim until I see him play.

And Im just saying we should have had some picks coming back with him. If you trade talent for lesser talent, there should be something else to go with it.
- thickman1178

Because that's where he's been there, top 2 lines on a pretty good defense. He's with DP right now on 2nd pairing. I have a feeling DP goes back down and he gets paired with Hoff. We traded for the better defenseman, we gave them potential.

Yeah good point. If Sutter was making 1.5 less, id be fine with his level of performance, but he aint worth 3.3. I think when BB is out there with Sutter, its just complete garbage.
- sammy87

I honestly see GMJR moving them both in the offseason. Look at the players he's gotten, rough and tough and can score goals. They can't do either. If they could do either, or play defense then I could see them staying. Sutter is on the fence with his D but still he lacks everywhere else for his pay.

I honestly see GMJR moving them both in the offseason. Look at the players he's gotten, rough and tough and can score goals. They can't do either. If they could do either, or play defense then I could see them staying. Sutter is on the fence with his D but still he lacks everywhere else for his pay.
- znagle

Sutter is just terrible. When he's 'on' he plays like Erik Christensen. When he's not on, which is most often, he plays like Darby Hendrickson. I would think Sutter makes his line weaker at any price.

I honestly see GMJR moving them both in the offseason. Look at the players he's gotten, rough and tough and can score goals. They can't do either. If they could do either, or play defense then I could see them staying. Sutter is on the fence with his D but still he lacks everywhere else for his pay.
- znagle

Bennett may be kept just due to his friendly cap hit. But if GMJR can find someone he sees fitting in better he'll make the move. As for Sutter, I think he's gone

I honestly see GMJR moving them both in the offseason. Look at the players he's gotten, rough and tough and can score goals. They can't do either. If they could do either, or play defense then I could see them staying. Sutter is on the fence with his D but still he lacks everywhere else for his pay.
- znagle

Bennett may be kept just due to his friendly cap hit. But if GMJR can find someone he sees fitting in better he'll make the move. As for Sutter, I think he's gone

Who is going to be the "face" of the Penguins now???

How do you know Lovejoy is a top 4 dman? I dont know he isnt, but Im sure not ready to make that claim until I see him play.

And Im just saying we should have had some picks coming back with him. If you trade talent for lesser talent, there should be something else to go with it.
- thickman1178

Ummmm.... Because he has been playing as a top 4 defenseman on a good team, and doing it pretty well.

Just because you haven't seen him do it doesn't mean he hasn't.

Weird, but the only thing I remember about Despres is his OT winner against NJ's a couple of months back ... not much else.

Sutter is just terrible. When he's 'on' he plays like Erik Christensen. When he's not on, which is most often, he plays like Darby Hendrickson. I would think Sutter makes his line weaker at any price.
- Johnny Wrath

I agree, BB and Sutter looked great in the preseason, but that's preseason and this is the real deal. Everyone's #fancystats look better away from him. The eye test confirms that Sutter is bad, the #fancystats back it up. Double whammy.

Bennett may be kept just due to his friendly cap hit. But if GMJR can find someone he sees fitting in better he'll make the move. As for Sutter, I think he's gone
- willi

Yeah that's how I feel, but if somehow JR can find someone who would deal a Winnik type of player with his cap hit for Beau straight up, hasta la vista. Then you would really have the facebook posters and puck bunnies in an uproar

Who is going to be the "face" of the Penguins now???
- chimpira

Weird, but the only thing I remember about Despres is his OT winner against NJ's a couple of months back ... not much else.
- chimpira

All I remember is that face plant he didn't the boards against Tampa

I have a question: Didn't all the Quebecois guys on the Penguins used to sort of automatically gather at Despres' house? I think this move may have been more of an off-ice thing. Who knows.

- Johnny Wrath

All I remember is that face plant he didn't the boards against Tampa
- willi

Oh yeah, and the visor cut when he got boarded on Sunday by Tropp

David Clarkson likely out for the season for the Jackets, lol.

David Clarkson likely out for the season for the Jackets, lol.
- Johnny Wrath

That "upper body injury" means that he probably ran his big mouth ... into a cement wall.