depres to rehab? I read about on ice off ice issues but what are you saying or what did you hear? drug/alcohol issues or what?
- JLT168

He's just buying the Pens PR usual bullpoop.

They needed a reason to sell the fans on a joke of a trade. Anaheim sure didn't care about these so-called issues.

depres to rehab? I read about on ice off ice issues but what are you saying or what did you hear? drug/alcohol issues or what?
- JLT168

Rehab for whatever his issues were, drugs, alcohol, being young dumb and rich....Would have been great to clean him up and ship scuds out.

He's just buying the Pens PR usual bullpoop.

They needed a reason to sell the fans on a joke of a trade. Anaheim sure didn't care about these so-called issues.
- acdc1206

joke of a trade?

He's just buying the Pens PR usual bullpoop.

They needed a reason to sell the fans on a joke of a trade. Anaheim sure didn't care about these so-called issues.
- acdc1206

It also only took Anaheim 9 games to make Despres a healthy scratch

Other than Downie, nobody on the bottom 6 does anything. Spaling is maybe $500k over paid. Scuds hurts more than anyone on his contract. If we could have washed our hands of Scuds and sent Despres to rehab, I would have been cool with that. Either way, Sutter, BB, Max, Spaling, are all huge black holes on this team, throw in Kunitz not being able to do anything and the team just isn't going anywhere.
- sammy87

I agree, but there is a big difference between being just an under-productive player (Bennett, Kunitz, Lapierre, Adams) and being an overpaid under-productive player (Sutter, Scuderi, Spaling).

So lets go back to hoping that Sutter gets pushed to the right wing, and Winnik Centers the 3rd line... because, again, Sutter's best asset is that shot, right wing would put him in that position a lot more often (unless I just became backwards, and he needs left wing ).

I'd be fine with the Pens riding a 3 to 5 game winning streak into the playoffs. Other than that, I don't give a crap about any of these games that much,

In other news the Wings lost to the Yotes last night...they must be a really terrible team too...

I thought the Pens played well enough last night considering who they're missing. No surprise that one line teams can't win in the NHL.

Loved Winnik's game last night. Would love to have him back next year and playing with a real 3c.

Would also love to get Sid a big power forward. If we want to see him return to the dominating player, get him a big, strong winger to open up some space.

Hornqvist was the player that was targeted in the Neal deal while Spaling was brought here incase they had problems resigning Sutter. Arcobello is on his 4th team this year and showed nothing in a Pens jersey. He reminds me of Andy Hilbert when we had him. Bounce around on a few teams and then put up some pts on a non playoff team down the stretch. And I'm not sure if average players are available at $ 1M no problem
- willi

Sutter was a RFA. If he was a problem resigning he could have been traded. Which is exactly what I wish the team did because with his postseason performance, they could have gotten a good return for him. Arcobello showed more than plenty of higher/equally paid players on the roster like Adams, Sill, Lapierre, and Sutter. So that in itself is an improvement. Stempniak is an average player that could have been retained for $1m/yr.

Just curious, are you guys seriously not happy about the Lovejoy move for the present success of the team???


If that is the case im kind of worried.


F Sutter

Just curious, are you guys seriously not happy about the Lovejoy move for the present success of the team???


If that is the case im kind of worried.


F Sutter
- nbartley9

I think the Lovejoy trade makes sense for a GM that only cares about what happens this, and maybe next season. Since I care about the Penguins for longer than that, I think it's more likely that the trade hurts the team more in the future than it helps in the short-run.

I think the Lovejoy trade makes sense for a GM that only cares about what happens this, and maybe next season. Since I care about the Penguins for longer than that, I think it's more likely that the trade hurts the team more in the future than it helps in the short-run.
- jfkst1

how does it really hurt long term that much?

Despres and Lovejoy are both FA's after next year.

Sure, Despres is young. But once you're making open market dollars like he will after that extension/FA deal after that, youth doesn't really matter anymore. You're just a veteran.

Youth is good because youth is usually cheap. But then who cares if a guy is 33 or 24 if they're equally talented and equally expensive?

Just curious, are you guys seriously not happy about the Lovejoy move for the present success of the team???


If that is the case im kind of worried.


F Sutter
- nbartley9

I think the difference between Lovejoy and Despres for this season isn't as big as some think. Despres was uniquely qualified to carry Scuds....ie he's big and strong and can shield the puck when thrown a hand grenade.

I don't think it's any coincidence that Scuds play has taken a dip since Despres was sent packing. Should have stopped after the Cole deal.

how does it really hurt long term that much?

Despres and Lovejoy are both FA's after next year.

Sure, Despres is young. But once you're making open market dollars like he will after that extension/FA deal after that, youth doesn't really matter anymore. You're just a veteran.

Youth is good because youth is usually cheap. But then who cares if a guy is 33 or 24 if they're equally talented and equally expensive?
- poopmouth

Because Lovejoy will be on the decline by then and Despres might still have some upside.

I think the difference between Lovejoy and Despres for this season isn't as big as some think. Despres was uniquely qualified to carry Scuds....ie he's big and strong and can shield the puck when thrown a hand grenade.

I don't think it's any coincidence that Scuds play has taken a dip since Despres was sent packing. Should have stopped after the Cole deal.
- madmike71

I don't argue that one bit, I just really think the Rev has been very good since we acquired him.

I would possibly consider dressing 7 D-men for the playoffs, DP is just too good to sit in the press box.

My issue with the fight was more to the fact that we have 11 forwards... why take yourself off the ice when we are already short handed? I mean, its not like CFA would have had any impact by being on the ice, but he did strain the other forwards more than they already were.

We could complain about Kunitz' hands. However Perron needs glasses. He missed the net at times by a wide margin. Not impressed.

I don't argue that one bit, I just really think the Rev has been very good since we acquired him.

I would possibly consider dressing 7 D-men for the playoffs, DP is just too good to sit in the press box.
- nbartley9

His guy scored the game winning goal. Are you high?

I don't argue that one bit, I just really think the Rev has been very good since we acquired him.

I would possibly consider dressing 7 D-men for the playoffs, DP is just too good to sit in the press box.
- nbartley9

I think Lovejoy is a good player. I just think they gave up too soon on Despres. This team isn't loaded with young, big, physical players and I hate giving up one of the few assets that has some of those qualities.

I agree about DP.....who knows if Hoff can stay healthy enough to have 7 healthy D.

how does it really hurt long term that much?

Despres and Lovejoy are both FA's after next year.

Sure, Despres is young. But once you're making open market dollars like he will after that extension/FA deal after that, youth doesn't really matter anymore. You're just a veteran.

Youth is good because youth is usually cheap. But then who cares if a guy is 33 or 24 if they're equally talented and equally expensive?
- poopmouth

Lovejoy still has another year at 1.15

Let's clear something up: Nick Spaling. Nick Spaling is really good at two things: cycling the puck, and whacking at the puck right around the net. That's not to be confused with having hands around the net, but Nick Spaling can be found right around the loose puck at the net.

The Penguins refuse to cycle the puck. Compare what the two teams did last night and you'll find that St. Louis uses a strong side cycle and shots from the point to create breakdowns (Borts and Goc goals) or confusion in coverage. Even though Bortuzzo scored the goal, the breakdown of the Penguins' coverage was done by Oshie and Backes on a boards-to-net play.

Although it was Steen who tipped in the OT winner with Lovejoy 1/2 a step late off the wall, the replay also shows David Backes leaving a totally unaware Derrick Pouliot off the puck battle along the boards in OT. He was all alone in front when the Blues had full control of the puck. Z had three plays he could have made that all would have been Grade A scoring chances.

When was the last time you remember the Penguins intentionally using the boards to create a scoring chance?

Great hands by Eager for the 2-0 goal. I'm not sure why Z decided to fly the zone when their guy was in a 65-35 puck possession situation with Beau Bennett. Confusion, broken play.

Finally, I really don't think I've seen a more pompous ass have a worse game than Sutter last night. There's a shift he's taking 4 on 4 around 12:00 mark in the second where Sutter calls out to Paul Martin to switch coverage on Lehtera in the RW corner.

Sutter then uses his incredible awareness and picks up the far left point which Comeau already had covered. Sutter appears to call/point to Comeau to pick up the guy he's already covering. Chest puffed out that he's running poop, Sutter watched as a wide open Tarasenko got a clean one-time on a moving goalie from the hash marks. Great pass by Pietrangelo. I'm so glad Pittsburgh has a guy to lead by example like Sutter on how to totally blow simple man-on-man coverage in a scoreless game.

What's worse, Sutter collects the rebound and loses the puck at the defensive blue line to Tarasenko, who creates a 2-on-1 against a flat footed Letang. Sutter goes on to commit that incredible cross-crease pass attempt to, you guessed it, Paul Martin which results in a chance in tight for C Lehtera and an identical nice pass by Pietrangelo to Tarasenko at the right circle. Sutter is late on coverage again and does more to screen MAF than suppress the shot. I'm glad Scuds got the A; Sutter is poison.

Its going to be fascinating if this team flames out again in the playoffs before at least reaching the ECF.

His guy scored the game winning goal. Are you high?
- powerhouse

Ha no im not, I will not condemn someone for not making a single play. That's just not fair.

I don't know why everyone here is still crying about Despres. It's pretty funny. He was a guy with potential. He was basically the same player as Bortuzzo like it or not, just younger with more upside. We traded him for a top 3 dman on a cheap deal for next year as well. He gets beat by Steen as they are fighting for position and the puck gets tipped in while they are in motion, not like he left him in front of the net alone or got walked.


DESPRES IS THE BEST, DESPRES FOR HEISMAN OMG, TRADE LOVEJOY HE SUCKS, I LOVE SHERO

Let's clear something up: Nick Spaling. Nick Spaling is really good at two things: cycling the puck, and whacking at the puck right around the net. That's not to be confused with having hands around the net, but Nick Spaling can be found right around the loose puck at the net.

The Penguins refuse to cycle the puck. Compare what the two teams did last night and you'll find that St. Louis uses a strong side cycle and shots from the point to create breakdowns (Borts and Goc goals) or confusion in coverage. Even though Bortuzzo scored the goal, the breakdown of the Penguins' coverage was done by Oshie and Backes on a boards-to-net play.

Although it was Steen who tipped in the OT winner with Lovejoy 1/2 a step late off the wall, the replay also shows David Backes leaving a totally unaware Derrick Pouliot off the puck battle along the boards in OT. He was all alone in front when the Blues had full control of the puck. Z had three plays he could have made that all would have been Grade A scoring chances.

When was the last time you remember the Penguins intentionally using the boards to create a scoring chance?

Great hands by Eager for the 2-0 goal. I'm not sure why Z decided to fly the zone when their guy was in a 65-35 puck possession situation with Beau Bennett. Confusion, broken play.

Finally, I really don't think I've seen a more pompous ass have a worse game than Sutter last night. There's a shift he's taking 4 on 4 around 12:00 mark in the second where Sutter calls out to Paul Martin to switch coverage on Lehtera in the RW corner.

Sutter then uses his incredible awareness and picks up the far left point which Comeau already had covered. Sutter appears to call/point to Comeau to pick up the guy he's already covering. Chest puffed out that he's running poop, Sutter watched as a wide open Tarasenko got a clean one-time on a moving goalie from the hash marks. Great pass by Pietrangelo. I'm so glad Pittsburgh has a guy to lead by example like Sutter on how to totally blow simple man-on-man coverage in a scoreless game.

What's worse, Sutter collects the rebound and loses the puck at the defensive blue line to Tarasenko, who creates a 2-on-1 against a flat footed Letang. Sutter goes on to commit that incredible cross-crease pass attempt to, you guessed it, Paul Martin which results in a chance in tight for C Lehtera and an identical nice pass by Pietrangelo to Tarasenko at the right circle. Sutter is late on coverage again and does more to screen MAF than suppress the shot. I'm glad Scuds got the A; Sutter is poison.
- Johnny Wrath

The Penguins utilize the shot-pass off the boards. I'm glad you noticed that terrible shift by Sutter right before the Comeau goal too.