The real story today is.....Engelland is starting over Despres...come on, seriously? This can't be happening again. Engelland must have nude photos of HCDB wife or something, because there is no way in hades that he should be playing over Despres....especially if you want to trade Despres. People wonder why I question, Disco Dan...this is one of the few reasons.

The real story today is.....Engelland is starting over Despres...come on, seriously? This can't be happening again. Engelland must have nude photos of HCDB wife or something, because there is no way in hades that he should be playing over Despres....especially if you want to trade Despres. People wonder why I question, Disco Dan...this is one of the few reasons.
- Thorny

Agree! 100% agree, this is my biggest HCDB problem. What is the point in having him up? Leave him with big minutes in the AHL if you are going to press box the kid all the time.

Wait ... weren't you on board with this not a few hours ago? Did I convince you this doesn't exactly make sense?

- Oneonta Penguin

This was my first time commenting on this...

Agree! 100% agree, this is my biggest HCDB problem. What is the point in having him up? Leave him with big minutes in the AHL if you are going to press box the kid all the time.
- Sell My Monkey

It honestly baffles me...i know the HCDB defenders will come in and do exactly that, but they have to see a pattern here with him. I doubt he gets to dress on Sat against Chic too...so he will sit a week after being called up, should have just left him in the minors. Its frustrating as hell to sit on the bench, when you know you are better than guys playing in front of you.

It honestly baffles me...i know the HCDB defenders will come in and do exactly that, but they have to see a pattern here with him. I doubt he gets to dress on Sat against Chic too...so he will sit a week after being called up, should have just left him in the minors. Its frustrating as hell to sit on the bench, when you know you are better than guys playing in front of you.
- Thorny

But Engo works harder so he should get the spot it shouldn't matter who is more talented or give the team the best chance to win

It honestly baffles me...i know the HCDB defenders will come in and do exactly that, but they have to see a pattern here with him. I doubt he gets to dress on Sat against Chic too...so he will sit a week after being called up, should have just left him in the minors. Its frustrating as hell to sit on the bench, when you know you are better than guys playing in front of you.
- Thorny

Take it with a grain of salt but Rossi said on the radio today that Despres comes off as a player that tunes the coaches out and does not appear to be trying to make their adjustments.

I know as a coach that would drive me bat sh*t crazy. Especially from a younger player.

It's Rossi though, so who knows.

If true that would explain the treatment he has been given.

Take it with a grain of salt but Rossi said on the radio today that Despres comes off as a player that tunes the coaches out and does not appear to be trying to make their adjustments.

I know as a coach that would drive me bat sh*t crazy. Especially from a younger player.

It's Rossi though, so who knows.

If true that would explain the treatment he has been given.
- Ryan_Wilson

Assuming it's true, and just to play devil's advocate, has he always been this way? Or is it perhaps the result of not getting fair consideration from Bylsma?

I was half kidding about trading all the ufas.. i was more interested to see if anyone agreed that sid geno etc should be considered the vets and we should get younger guys, not guys who are 32+ to fill in our holes....

Assuming it's true, and just to play devil's advocate, has he always been this way? Or is it perhaps the result of not getting fair consideration from Bylsma?
- BulliesPhan87

No way to know without being directly involved.

As a younger player you don't have luxury of being that way regardless.

Assuming it's true, and just to play devil's advocate, has he always been this way? Or is it perhaps the result of not getting fair consideration from Bylsma?
- BulliesPhan87

Exactly. If I'm Despres, It would drive me bat sh*t crazy watching a plug like Engelland play over me.

Dan's problem IMO is he doesn't hold all his players to the same standard.

It honestly baffles me...i know the HCDB defenders will come in and do exactly that, but they have to see a pattern here with him. I doubt he gets to dress on Sat against Chic too...so he will sit a week after being called up, should have just left him in the minors. Its frustrating as hell to sit on the bench, when you know you are better than guys playing in front of you.
- Thorny

And this is one of the many reasons why Kesler to Pittsburgh makes zero sense. We saw the fiasco with Iginla. Shero was a fool to acquire him. DB didn't use him properly - didn't have a plan and Iggy didn't play with much passion. He couldn't use Iggy right, so what makes someone think he can use Kesler right and please don't use the Olympics as ammo.

The real story today is.....Engelland is starting over Despres...come on, seriously? This can't be happening again. Engelland must have nude photos of HCDB wife or something, because there is no way in hades that he should be playing over Despres....especially if you want to trade Despres. People wonder why I question, Disco Dan...this is one of the few reasons.
- Thorny

100 Percent agreed!!! Why promote him? Does he have something to learn in the Press box tonight? Reflect on how he's earned his promotion again to sit behind a borderline 6 d man.. (all respect to engels, but that's what he is)

Engo...

Take it with a grain of salt but Rossi said on the radio today that Despres comes off as a player that tunes the coaches out and does not appear to be trying to make their adjustments.

I know as a coach that would drive me bat sh*t crazy. Especially from a younger player.

It's Rossi though, so who knows.

If true that would explain the treatment he has been given.
- Ryan_Wilson

That's been the story with Despres all along, yet some just want him to be awarded playing time without displaying the work ethic necessary to deserve it.

Take it with a grain of salt but Rossi said on the radio today that Despres comes off as a player that tunes the coaches out and does not appear to be trying to make their adjustments.

I know as a coach that would drive me bat sh*t crazy. Especially from a younger player.

It's Rossi though, so who knows.

If true that would explain the treatment he has been given.
- Ryan_Wilson

Its hard to take anything Rossi says seriously...but lets say we do...why call him up? Why not call up one of the other kids? Just doesn't really seem to fit to me as the reason, but who knows.

That's been the story with Despres all along, yet some just want him to be awarded playing time without displaying the work ethic necessary to deserve it.
- hardnosed

So we are taking what Rossi says as fact? Come on, I know you are anti despres, but using anything Rossi says as reasoning is silly to me. You can honestly tell me, that the Pens are better with 5 in the lineup over 47? Nice play by 5 there on the goal, looked like a soccer player flopping on the ice.

That's been the story with Despres all along, yet some just want him to be awarded playing time without displaying the work ethic necessary to deserve it.
- hardnosed

You know this for a fact?

100 Percent agreed!!! Why promote him? Does he have something to learn in the Press box tonight? Reflect on how he's earned his promotion again to sit behind a borderline 6 d man.. (all respect to engels, but that's what he is)
- Brianandr1

Come on, Engelland works hard...even though he is a borderline 7th dman, he deserves to play over a younger more talented player...you know, because Rossi said Despres tunes out the coaches lol

Exactly. If I'm Despres, It would drive me bat sh*t crazy watching a plug like Engelland play over me.

Dan's problem IMO is he doesn't hold all his players to the same standard.
- madmike71

It doesn't matter, when you are young and have no leverage you nod your head, allow yourself to be coached and work your butt off.

I'm not saying what Rossi said is true, but if it is it doesn't matter why Despres is doing it, the fact he's doing it is very wrong and won't get him anywhere.

Missed watching Neal these past 20 days.

Let's assume we hold onto Bennett and get Kesler by other means...

Kunitz-Crosby-Bennett
Maybe a cheap player-Malkin-Neal
Jokinen-Kesler-Megna
Glass-Vitale-Adams

Martin-Oprik
Niskanen-Maatta
Despres-Bortuzzo

some might say put Jokinen on with Malkin and look for another solution to play with Kesler and I think that's an alternative, but to me, split the goals over 3 lines. most NHL teams can deal with 2 above average scoring lines, very few can deal with 3 above average scoring lines.

if we can get the offense we had in 2012 and the defense and goaltending we had last year, this team will win.

Its hard to take anything Rossi says seriously...but lets say we do...why call him up? Why not call up one of the other kids? Just doesn't really seem to fit to me as the reason, but who knows.
- Thorny

See him practice in person. Monitor whatever it is they want to see improved.

HCDB + Engo = HCMT + Oulette?

TIOPS saying that 10 teams have scouts here tonight... including your Vancouver Canucks.

Rossi said it a month ago, interviewing Fitgerald in the process.

"Improved off-ice work habits and defensive focus that were evident during his season-opening stretch in the AHL did not carry over to his extended NHL opportunity. Also, coaches were disappointed with his response — pouting — in the days after he was a healthy scratch Dec. 29."

http://triblive.com/sport...-defenseman#axzz2qsrHpif1

And others have written about his work ethic (or lack thereof) before, back to when he fell in the draft.