Yes they lost to the Bruins because of an inferior 3rd line center. Had nothing to do with the fact they couldn't score to save their lives.
- canadianpenfan

sometimes you need to ask yourself, why we could score at will in rounds 1 and 2 but no against boston. it isn't "bad luck". we got dominated top to bottom by a better team who was better coached and better equipped to win.

Engo hasn't been dressing as a defenseman for the most part of this season, and Despres hasn't been better than Bortuzzo in the games that he has played. Bortuzzo brings a nastiness that Despres doesn't have.
- Ben37

It's true that bortz brings a nastiness that despres does not have and against certain teams he should dress. But, despres is a better player with more upside potential . In my opinion both should dress over engo unless he s playing wing.
The major point was the last 20 games we ve been minus 3 to 5 dmen in the pecking order above despres , he should have played most if not all of those games and he did nt.

Shero should look into acquiring David Jones. He's a big, fast gritty foward that could easily put up 25 goals on our team.
- joescullz

isnt his contract pretty high?

sometimes you need to ask yourself, why we could score at will in rounds 1 and 2 but no against boston. it isn't "bad luck". we got dominated top to bottom by a better team who was better coached and better equipped to win.
- SuperHenderson13

Having a shooting percentage that low is the definition of bad luck.

The major point was the last 20 games we ve been minus 3 to 5 dmen in the pecking order above despres , he should have played most if not all of those games and he did nt.
- Brianandr1

Should have according to the fans. But remember as we discussed yesterday, perhaps the management and coaches who see these players everyday have seen something that they have decided doesn't warrant Despres the ice time the fans believe he deserves.

But they still like his potential enough to not ship him off to another team which at some point the Penguins will have to play against. Which I guess puts me on the opposite of the "Play him or move him" plan.

Having a shooting percentage that low is the definition of bad luck.
- Deadstar

Or was it a result of taking poor shots...

Or was it a result of taking poor shots...
- Ben37

I think they took enough to cover good and bad shots.

Anyway, the original point I was getting towards is there was no one particular reason the Pens lost to the Bruins.

I think they took enough to cover good and bad shots.

Anyway, the original point I was getting towards is there was no one particular reason the Pens lost to the Bruins.
- Deadstar

Sure there is. The Bruins just played better, right from the outset.

The major point was the last 20 games we ve been minus 3 to 5 dmen in the pecking order above despres , he should have played most if not all of those games and he did nt.
- Brianandr1

Huh?

Despres was called up on November 27th. In the 22 games since, Despres has dressed for 18 of them. The first time he was scratched was against Columbus on December 29th, when Scuderi came back and only Martin and Letang were still out. He next sat out against Winnipeg on 1/5 when Letang came back. Got back in the lineup against Vancouver, got abused, and has been out since.

Huh?

Despres was called up on November 27th. In the 22 games since, Despres has dressed for 18 of them. The first time he was scratched was against Columbus on December 29th, when Scuderi came back and only Martin and Letang were still out. He next sat out against Winnipeg on 1/5 when Letang came back. Got back in the lineup against Vancouver, got abused, and has been out since.
- hardnosed

BUT HE NEEDS TO PLAY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

re: ECF: it was like the entire team was snakebit in that series. Also have to give credit to the opposing goaltender:

Should have according to the fans. But remember as we discussed yesterday, perhaps the management and coaches who see these players everyday have seen something that they have decided doesn't warrant Despres the ice time the fans believe he deserves.

But they still like his potential enough to not ship him off to another team which at some point the Penguins will have to play against. Which I guess puts me on the opposite of the "Play him or move him" plan.
- Ben37

That's fair enough, my issue is that they will not play him, then trade him

Huh?

Despres was called up on November 27th. In the 22 games since, Despres has dressed for 18 of them. The first time he was scratched was against Columbus on December 29th, when Scuderi came back and only Martin and Letang were still out. He next sat out against Winnipeg on 1/5 when Letang came back. Got back in the lineup against Vancouver, got abused, and has been out since.
- hardnosed

This is correct, but he's not played since Vancouver. Why? Because he had a mediocre game?
However you want to slice it the kid will probably be back in the AHL once Martin returns. We can disagree about whatever else you want to disagree about, Do you honestly think he deserves to be demoted? Does he have anything else to learn down there?

This is correct, but he's not played since Vancouver. Why? Because he had a mediocre game?
However you want to slice it the kid will probably be back in the AHL once Martin returns. We can disagree about whatever else you want to disagree about, Do you honestly think he deserves to be demoted? Does he have anything else to learn down there?
- Brianandr1

Brian, I'm pretty sure most of the people here mentioned how Bylsma has mishandled Despres' development at least once. Most won't show up. I don't know why. I do think he needs to play more consistently. The guy is a beast on skates and has great upside. Perhaps management think he should work on his game/conditioning a bit more..(just like Määttä does)

re: ECF: it was like the entire team was snakebit in that series. Also have to give credit to the opposing goaltender:


- hardnosed

Umpa Lumpa??

This is correct, but he's not played since Vancouver. Why? Because he had a mediocre game?
However you want to slice it the kid will probably be back in the AHL once Martin returns. We can disagree about whatever else you want to disagree about, Do you honestly think he deserves to be demoted? Does he have anything else to learn down there?
- Brianandr1

It wasn't a mediocre game - he was bad. It wasn't the goals, it was his inability to defend one on one. He was in many ways exposed.

And yes, he will be back in WBS soon, and yes, he was plenty to learn. He needs to define his game. Right now he's a big kid who has great straight-line skating skills who can retrieve the puck and make a quick and effective first pass. He's not physical either in front of the net or in the corners, which he's going to need to be or else his 6'4" frame is just an impressive number on a roster sheet. On the other side of the coin, he's neither aggressive nor confident in terms of offense, from pinching to when to shoot.

In order to be a top 4 defenseman, he's either going to have to improve his physicality to be a part of a shut-down pair, or he's going to have to add offensive confidence and acumen to his repertoire to contribute in a puck-moving pair.

The thing about Despres is that for all of his physical skills, he's never been a dominant player at any level of hockey. Perhaps with this most recent taste of the NHL, he can go down to WBS and put on a show, hopefully with a little chip on his shoulder because of his demotion.

It wasn't a mediocre game - he was bad. It wasn't the goals, it was his inability to defend one on one. He was in many ways exposed.

And yes, he will be back in WBS soon, and yes, he was plenty to learn. He needs to define his game. Right now he's a big kid who has great straight-line skating skills who can retrieve the puck and make a quick and effective first pass. He's not physical either in front of the net or in the corners, which he's going to need to be or else his 6'4" frame is just an impressive number on a roster sheet. On the other side of the coin, he's neither aggressive nor confident in terms of offense, from pinching to when to shoot.

In order to be a top 4 defenseman, he's either going to have to improve his physicality to be a part of a shut-down pair, or he's going to have add offensive confidence and acumen to his repertoire to contribute in a puck-moving pair.

The thing about Despres is that for all of his physical skills, he's never been a dominant player at any level of hockey. Perhaps with this most recent taste of the NHL, he can go down to WBS and put on a show, hopefully with a little chip on his should because of his demotion.
- hardnosed

It's true that bortz brings a nastiness that despres does not have and against certain teams he should dress. But, despres is a better player with more upside potential . In my opinion both should dress over engo unless he s playing wing.
The major point was the last 20 games we ve been minus 3 to 5 dmen in the pecking order above despres , he should have played most if not all of those games and he did nt.
- Brianandr1

Bortuzzo has been playing really well. He's a little older but is still developing. Look at scuds and orpik and how long they took to develop into how they are now

[quote=Brianandr1]
Even if i agree, which I m not sure I do. Is the best place to learn the NHL or the AHL? I think its a mute point, we ll agree on the fact that he will either be traded or in the AHL in a week or two. As far as next year, if we resign both Nisk and Orpik then we re right back to square one here.

Bortuzzo has been playing really well. He's a little older but is still developing. Look at scuds and orpik and how long they took to develop into how they are now
- drummer829

And they were developing when the Penguins stunk which makes a difference too. The Oilers and Flames can play their young players because no one is expecting them to compete for the Stanley Cup. The Penguins can be patient because they have the depth and the expectations that come with that depth.

And they were developing when the Penguins stunk which makes a difference too. The Oilers and Flames can play their young players because no one is expecting them to compete for the Stanley Cup. The Penguins can be patient because they have the depth and the expectations that come with that depth.
- Ben37

I have to say...and it's totally the fan side of me but I'd love to see Jagr in a Penguins uniform one more time. I thought I was pretty much over it but I'm not. I know he's out there for the records and money to feed his gambling but he's just fun to see still and I think he'd add something of value. Have to think it'd never happen but still a fun thought.

Ott lays out a couple of flyers. Then sets up D'Agostini for the go ahead goal. We'll take him please.

And they were developing when the Penguins stunk which makes a difference too. The Oilers and Flames can play their young players because no one is expecting them to compete for the Stanley Cup. The Penguins can be patient because they have the depth and the expectations that come with that depth.
- Ben37

We talk about trading letang or despres to the oilers, but bortuzzo could help them a lot. Bortuzzo has grown on me

I think the NHL tried to end all "March of the Penguins" references for this year via the crazy March schedule:

@Blackhawks
@Predators
@Sharks
@Ducks
@Capitals
Capitals
@Flyers
Flyers
Stars
@Red Wings
Lightning
Blues Penguins
Coyotes Penguins
Kings Penguins
@Blue Jackets
Blackhawks

Only four of those teams are not in playoff position at this point.