Like others have said, it wasn't a rumor that Despres was out of shape, according to TIOPS during the suicide drills, Despres was consistently 50 to 60 feet behind the group. Couldn't keep up with the likes of Derek Engelland (that can't be good).
As far as intentionally dogging a guy...
Lot's of you guys don't get the benefit listening or reading local sports sources.... There was TONS of discussion about the way the Pens treated Despres last year. Nobody could figure why he wasn't in the lineup. The kid would play well but make one mistake and find himself out of the lineup for several games in favor of Derek Engelland or others. It was ridiculous and everybody in Pittsburgh knows it (you can bet Despres knows it). By the time the playoffs rolled around, it was pretty clear he wasn't ready and it looked like he had confidence issues.
- madmike71
I agree... from the outside it looked like they ridiculously mis-used Despres and it hurt how he played later in the season. He was playing great in Wilkes-Barre, and that confidence was sucked out of him.
It wouldn't be the first time that Bylsma and his staff seemingly misused someone, but what if there was more to it that we on the outside didn't see? Maybe Despres didn't prepare well, or maybe he didn't work hard enough? I don't know... It's easy to bash the coaches (they do enough to deserve it at times), but if everyone sees something obvious (Engelland shouldn't play over Despres or the Iginla LW mess), chances are that smart hockey people who work for the Pens see it too. But there might be some things behind closed doors that make the decision a bit more complicated.
I don't konw... Often times things aren't always as simple as they seem.
