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

I want to feel bad but I cant, this plus the Bruins =

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

I mean, he finally started playing like a 6', 200lb player this year, which was progress.

But his physicality has to be urged out of him, it's not his natural state.

I mean, he finally started playing like a 6', 200lb player this year, which was progress.

But his physicality has to be urged out of him, it's not his natural state.
- hardnosed

With incremental progress like that it's a wonder he wasn't targeted by the Sharks.

With incremental progress like that it's a wonder he wasn't targeted by the Sharks.
- Johnny Wrath

How does the San Jose fan base feel about the sharks playoff failures ? And more importantly, Marleau and TThorntons leadership? Or does it all just fly under the radar there ?

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

Perhaps. You don't trade a guy like Despres, as big and mobile as he is, away like that. It has got to be something else we don't know and will never know about.

Watching all of you over analyze the Despres trade has been great. I'm guessing the coaches/GM have had Lovejoy on their radar for awhile. Despres was good, I think lovejoy will be slightly better. Bennett will soon be scratched for Adams though and the whole thing will be forgotten.

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

That's almost funny. Actually, it is funny......but I apologize for thinking it.

I remember thinking the last time we played the Jackets I barely heard his name called.

Watching all of you over analyze the Despres trade has been great. I'm guessing the coaches/GM have had Lovejoy on their radar for awhile. Despres was good, I think lovejoy will be slightly better. Bennett will soon be scratched for Adams though and the whole thing will be forgotten.
- Grinder47

Noooo he will live in our hearts for ever and ever or until the next big thing comes along.

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.
- znagle

Like I said yesterday, Gibbons was on our first line. Does that mean hes a first line winger?

Oh and Despres started with Fowler. So doesn't that mean Despres is now a top 4 dman?

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

Hahaha, that was the first thing I thought of. How "clean and honest" Martin plays.

Everyone that has seen this guy play knew it was just a matter of time.

Perhaps. You don't trade a guy like Despres, as big and mobile as he is, away like that. It has got to be something else we don't know and will never know about.
- Barnaby36

I think its well known Despres was simply not trusted.

GMJR and HCMJ have said they prefer the dmen play defense first before the thought of going for a big hit enters their mind.

These guys are both players they think can move up and down the defensive depth chart in a way they didn't trust Despres or Borts to do.

Really not much to analyze other than they don't fit the 2015 Penguin puzzle.

I think its well known Despres was simply not trusted.

GMJR and HCMJ have said they prefer the dmen play defense first before the thought of going for a big hit enters their mind.

These guys are both players they think can move up and down the defensive depth chart in a way they didn't trust Despres or Borts to do.

Really not much to analyze other than they don't fit the 2015 Penguin puzzle.
- Sell My Monkey

They should've stopped when they traded Borts. Our defense, on paper, would look much better. Here I am cheering for the Reverend to be much better than in his first stint with the club.

How does the San Jose fan base feel about the sharks playoff failures ? And more importantly, Marleau and TThorntons leadership? Or does it all just fly under the radar there ?
- willi

It's a pretty ridiculous situation. I can't think of a team that has 2 players who were both stripped of the Captaincy. They should have moved on from those two at least three years ago or after they failed with Niemi.

I think their window is thoroughly closed. I can't think of a playoff team in the West that SJ can hang with. Maybe Vancouver but probably not. Joe especially just doesn't hate losing enough. The culture is 'well, maybe next year'.

It's culturally not important to people in California to be a championship hockey team. The football and the baseball kind of matter but not really. There's a good reason that Thornton doesn't want to waive. The media re: hockey is something of an echo chamber. They're disgusted and they put it out there. It doesn't fly under the radar per se but the figures who hold him accountable have little impact.

Like I said yesterday, Gibbons was on our first line. Does that mean hes a first line winger?

Oh and Despres started with Fowler. So doesn't that mean Despres is now a top 4 dman?
- thickman1178

The Gibbons situation was due to mass injuries, he is an AHLer. Despres will also more than likely be bumped out of the lineup once they are healthy over there, which will be soon.

What happens when Scuderi puts Lovejoy in bad positions over and over and struggles more than than Despres did? I mean,if I am watching the game and know when Scuds touches the puck, its either going off the glass or he is dumping it back to his partner in a bad position, you know the other team knows. You know damn well the opposite forwards know, so as soon as Scuds has the puck, you know they are making a line straight for Lovejoy now...we will see how he handles it. I mean seriously, for a system that requires puck moving Dmen, how Scuds fits this team baffles me. As soon as Scuds gets the puck, he can't wait to get rid of it. I guess we will see if Despres carried him or not.

What happens when Scuderi puts Lovejoy in bad positions over and over and struggles more than than Despres did? I mean,if I am watching the game and know when Scuds touches the puck, its either going off the glass or he is dumping it back to his partner in a bad position, you know the other team knows. You know damn well the opposite forwards know, so as soon as Scuds has the puck, you know they are making a line straight for Lovejoy now...we will see how he handles it. I mean seriously, for a system that requires puck moving Dmen, how Scuds fits this team baffles me. As soon as Scuds gets the puck, he can't wait to get rid of it. I guess we will see if Despres carried him or not.
- Thorny

Scuds and Lovejoy aren't paired together.

Scuds and Lovejoy aren't paired together.
- hardnosed

No, Ian Cole has the luxurious opportunity to be hammered into the glass as he tries desperately to jump on the grenade that is the Scuderi d-to-d pass. Poor bastard.

Actually, I bet there's a minor called tonight wherein Cole goes for the Forsberg-pre-hit as the puck comes to him. That's more his style.

Scuds and Lovejoy aren't paired together.
- hardnosed

Even better, are we going to sit here and bag on Cole then when it happens? Or will it be, well...we only traded Bortz for him, no big deal...you can honestly tell me, that Scuds doesnt put his paired partner in a bad position many times a game?

It's a pretty ridiculous situation. I can't think of a team that has 2 players who were both stripped of the Captaincy. They should have moved on from those two at least three years ago or after they failed with Niemi.

I think their window is thoroughly closed. I can't think of a playoff team in the West that SJ can hang with. Maybe Vancouver but probably not. Joe especially just doesn't hate losing enough. The culture is 'well, maybe next year'.

It's culturally not important to people in California to be a championship hockey team. The football and the baseball kind of matter but not really. There's a good reason that Thornton doesn't want to waive. The media re: hockey is something of an echo chamber. They're disgusted and they put it out there. It doesn't fly under the radar per se but the figures who hold him accountable have little impact.
- Johnny Wrath

Thanks for the insight because from the outside looking in it's hard to believe that core was given that many chances to fail. I was shocked when Thornton was resigned because he's been on cruise control for quite a few years now

What happens when Scuderi puts Lovejoy in bad positions over and over and struggles more than than Despres did? I mean,if I am watching the game and know when Scuds touches the puck, its either going off the glass or he is dumping it back to his partner in a bad position, you know the other team knows. You know damn well the opposite forwards know, so as soon as Scuds has the puck, you know they are making a line straight for Lovejoy now...we will see how he handles it. I mean seriously, for a system that requires puck moving Dmen, how Scuds fits this team baffles me. As soon as Scuds gets the puck, he can't wait to get rid of it. I guess we will see if Despres carried him or not.
- Thorny

You honestly think Lovejoy isn't better at handling, escaping and moving the puck than Despres? Have you watched Despres the last two months?

The Gibbons situation was due to mass injuries, he is an AHLer. Despres will also more than likely be bumped out of the lineup once they are healthy over there, which will be soon.
- znagle

Depending on what kind of impression Despres makes with Bruce the next few games he'll most likely find himself being the 6th,7th or 8th Dman once they have all their players back

No, Ian Cole has the luxurious opportunity to be hammered into the glass as he tries desperately to jump on the grenade that is the Scuderi d-to-d pass. Poor bastard.

Actually, I bet there's a minor called tonight wherein Cole goes for the Forsberg-pre-hit as the puck comes to him. That's more his style.
- Johnny Wrath

Gotta love that Forsberg hit. It's a shame that it's very rarely seen anymore

That knee on knee was weak. Cooke would laugh. Martin is still awesome would take him over Bennett any day.

Thanks for the insight because from the outside looking in it's hard to believe that core was given that many chances to fail. I was shocked when Thornton was resigned because he's been on cruise control for quite a few years now
- willi

Joe doesn't hate losing enough. There's a story I heard Randy Hahn, the play-by-play guy with the Sharks, tell where the premise is that he sees Thornton get off the elevator in the hotel lobby on the road in Los Angeles after dropping Game 5. Hahn expects him to be serious and angry. This is the playoffs after the previous season that the Sharks lost to the Kings in 7 games in the Semis, in the midst of the Sharks coughing up that 3-0 series lead. Is Joe all stormy and truculent? No. Joe is all happy and poop, smiling like he's this guy:

Wants to talk about what kind of food is at the buffet. Dude just punches the clock.

Depending on what kind of impression Despres makes with Bruce the next few games he'll most likely find himself being the 6th,7th or 8th Dman once they have all their players back
- willi

Agreed.

Also 10pm start time?! God damn I forgot they were in COL. Figured it would be an eight o'clock game..