Sheahan had 32 points last year lol that is good. This year he’s falling victim to poop linemates again, same thing that sunk his production in Detroit.
- j.boyd919

His zone deployment has been less than ideal as well.

His zone deployment has been less than ideal as well.
- Rinosaur

Yeah Cullen is 1st in d zone starts% and Sheahan is 5th in d zone starts% for F with 10+ games this season.

Yes.... Lack of an RD is killing them. I think he'll be gone this month. Not because they want to, because they need a couple upgrades. I'd rather have Maatta over Riikola or Pettersson, but the fall off isn't that great. I find it odd Riikola hasn't been sent down.
- madmike71

I wouldn't want to be trading for players solely based on which side they shoot from. Their aren't as many RHD as there is LHD league wide (I believe last year it was nearly 40% vs 60%) so some guys will have to play on their off side. I remember 1 of the complaints after the Depres/Lovejoy trade was that GMJR traded for a player because of they way he shoots.

I wouldn't want to be trading for players solely based on which side they shoot from. Their aren't as many RHD as there is LHD league wide (I believe last year it was nearly 40% vs 60%) so some guys will have to play on their off side. I remember 1 of the complaints after the Depres/Lovejoy trade was that GMJR traded for a player because of they way he shoots.
- willi

I keep that trade with the Ducks and most everyone's reaction in mind when Im thinking about the Sprong deal. (Almost) Everyone wanted GMJR's head for trading away the Pens youngest most promising D man for Lovejoy...but Lovejoy's right handed steady reliable work on the 2nd pair was a big factor in the 2016 cup win.

I keep that trade with the Ducks and most everyone's reaction in mind when Im thinking about the Sprong deal. (Almost) Everyone wanted GMJR's head for trading away the Pens youngest most promising D man for Lovejoy...but Lovejoy's right handed steady reliable work on the 2nd pair was a big factor in the 2016 cup win.
- MattStrat

Just remember that we lost that trade up until Depres got head traumaed out of the league. Lovejoy was fine, but we won a Cup with him, not because of him. We probably would have been a better team with Despres.

Just remember that we lost that trade up until Depres got head traumaed out of the league. Lovejoy was fine, but we won a Cup with him, not because of him. We probably would have been a better team with Despres.
- Victoro311

I dont agree. Despres was very undisciplined and made a lot errors (to be expected for a young D man). Lovejoy was the opposite. Penalties and errors can can kill you playoff time.

I'm not saying the Pens won the cup because of Lovejoy hahah, not even close, but I do think he was an important factor that year.

Just remember that we lost that trade up until Depres got head traumaed out of the league. Lovejoy was fine, but we won a Cup with him, not because of him. We probably would have been a better team with Despres.
- Victoro311

Desires turning out to be a better player doesn't necessarily mean they would've been a better team.

Desires turning out to be a better player doesn't necessarily mean they would've been a better team.
- willi

Generally speaking, swapping out a bottom pairing d man for a middle pairing d man makes you a better team and visa versa

Generally speaking, swapping out a bottom pairing d man for a middle pairing d man makes you a better team and visa versa
- Victoro311

Yeah and Despres was a 3rd pairing for a 2nd pairing in Lovejoy. (Almost) Everyone freaked over the swap because of Despres' potential.

I wouldn't want to be trading for players solely based on which side they shoot from. Their aren't as many RHD as there is LHD league wide (I believe last year it was nearly 40% vs 60%) so some guys will have to play on their off side. I remember 1 of the complaints after the Depres/Lovejoy trade was that GMJR traded for a player because of they way he shoots.
- willi

I'm not saying they base it solely on that reason, but it sure would help. The guys they currently have playing their "off-sides" are pretty horrid at it. JJ is marginal to begin with, but he's tragic playing the right. Oleksiak was pretty decent on the right when he first got here, but I believe he's regressed. Riikola has been ok recently, but I'm not sure I'd count on that continuing. JMO it's a glaring need.

As far as trading Maatta... It's not a big leap to suggest he's on the trading block with Pettersson being brought in.

People weren't upset with the Despres trade because of the RH vs LH concept, they were upset that youth and perceived upside of Despres was traded for a journeyman 3rd pairing UFA. (although like Matt says, he did help them win the cup)

Yeah and Despres was a 3rd pairing for a 2nd pairing in Lovejoy. (Almost) Everyone freaked over the swap because of Despres' potential.
- MattStrat

Despres pretty much immediately became a top 4 guy at Anaheim and Lovejoy was always a bottom pairing guy playing above his pay grade, or are we gonna start arguing that Hainsey was a top pairing guy? But lets just agree to disagree here. I don't feel like relitigate the Despres trade. It was lightyears ago and we won two cuts since then haha.

Despres pretty much immediately became a top 4 guy at Anaheim and Lovejoy was always a bottom pairing guy playing above his pay grade, or are we gonna start arguing that Hainsey was a top pairing guy? But lets just agree to disagree here. I don't feel like relitigate the Despres trade. It was lightyears ago and we won two cuts since then haha.
- Victoro311

Despres initially excelled a little offensively when he went to Anaheim. He had a very big night in the playoffs for them that year that made everyone hate the trade a bit more. Remember that the trade was on the deadline day of the year (2015) before the 2016 cup. The year of the trade was the year the Pens played the Rags first round with only 5 defensemen dressed, Lovejoy one of them, most of the games and still only lost all 4 games 2-1 to the Rags.

No I dont want to keep regurgitating that trade ....my initial point was that the big thing and overreaction of that trade was Despres potential and I'm also reminded of it because it was with the Ducks. I think its the same for Sprong. Fear of the unknown or what will be of him in the years that come. In this case though the Pens got back a player that is very young and could turn out anywhere from ok to solid to good to great. I've liked a lot of what Ive seen of Pettersson so far.