He has actually spent the most time on the ice with Comeau (29 minutes) then any other player, he has spent more total time with Comeau, Spaling and Downie then any other 3 Pens players together. Then again, why let stats get in the way of whatever you want to spew. You have never liked Despres, and if it was up to you, you would put Engelland out there.
- Thorny

And he's been somewhere in between average and awful with those players. He took 12 of his 19 shifts last night with either Malkin or Crosby's line, made one stretch pass when the Devils' guy fell down, and all the sudden he's a All Pro, despite not playing on the PK and getting very little time on the PP (less time than Scuderi last night).

He's being hidden and he's still not doing much. We'll see how he responds when Maatta sits, and moving him up with Ehrhoff was more about getting a look at him with Ehrhoff than it was about any kind of promotion over Martin.

I'm rooting for Despres, but I hold him to high expectations given his talent and his draft pedigree. Other folks in here tout him for the Norris after any game where he doesn't fall all over himself, and he's going to have to do more than that with all the D in the pipeline if he wants to be in Pittsburgh long-term.

Letang's game last night was far more impressive. 6 hits, 2 blocks, gave Jagr the business all night long and he continues to make smart play after smart play. 26 minutes played. Next best was Ehrhoff's 19.

I like Despres a ton and have been defending him for a while, but lets not get too carried away about his ice time. He is playing very strong in so many areas, but he needs to chill with the minor penalties. He can't take 82 minors in a season, that is not top four.

IMO, that is the only thing keeping him from jumping to the next level of play. He is really starting to put things together nicely.
- usethe1-2-2

So you would play Scuds in Maatta's absence in the top 4?

First shot on goal for the devils was a goal. They went up 3-1. We didn't like that. Scored 7 more.

Craig Adams scored... It was one of those nights.


Big win for you guys last night.
- usethe1-2-2

lolAdams

Did you see Quick's tantrum? He was piiiiiiiissed.

read again, I didn't say they wouldn't be as good as we thing they are, I said If they are as good as we think they are...
- RoloTahmasee

way late, but sorry, I did read your comment wrong.

And he's been somewhere in between average and awful with those players. He took 12 of his 19 shifts last night with either Malkin or Crosby's line, made one stretch pass when the Devils' guy fell down, and all the sudden he's a All Pro, despite not playing on the PK and getting very little time on the PP (less time than Scuderi last night).

He's being hidden and he's still not doing much. We'll see how he responds when Maatta sits, and moving him up with Ehrhoff was more about getting a look at him with Ehrhoff than it was about any kind of promotion over Martin.

I'm rooting for Despres, but I hold him to high expectations given his talent and his draft pedigree. Other folks in here tout him for the Norris after any game where he doesn't fall all over himself, and he's going to have to do more than that with all the D in the pipeline if he wants to be in Pittsburgh long-term.

Letang's game last night was far more impressive. 6 hits, 2 blocks, gave Jagr the business all night long and he continues to make smart play after smart play. 26 minutes played. Next best was Ehrhoff's 19.
- hardnosed

Stupid statement. Letang makes about 6.5 more and also has been in the league a lot longer. There shouldn't be many nights were Letang gets out performed by any of our Dmen.

So you would play Scuds in Maatta's absence in the top 4?
- dbell646

Not a chance, I'm just pumping the brakes a bit on the talk of him being top 4 ready. He still needs to work on his discipline, then he is legit.

lolAdams

Did you see Quick's tantrum? He was piiiiiiiissed.
- BulliesPhan87

His post game comments were awesome.

I like Despres a ton and have been defending him for a while, but lets not get too carried away about his ice time. He is playing very strong in so many areas, but he needs to chill with the minor penalties. He can't take 82 minors in a season, that is not top four.

IMO, that is the only thing keeping him from jumping to the next level of play. He is really starting to put things together nicely.
- usethe1-2-2

I agree. Still, its one of those things that a younger player has to learn as he goes along. Just have to let him play & work through it via using each penality as a coaching/teaching moment w/ video review the day after & stuff.

Its just nice to see him playing through it as opposed to being in the press box for 20 games in a row.

And he's been somewhere in between average and awful with those players. He took 12 of his 19 shifts last night with either Malkin or Crosby's line, made one stretch pass when the Devils' guy fell down, and all the sudden he's a All Pro, despite not playing on the PK and getting very little time on the PP (less time than Scuderi last night).

He's being hidden and he's still not doing much. We'll see how he responds when Maatta sits, and moving him up with Ehrhoff was more about getting a look at him with Ehrhoff than it was about any kind of promotion over Martin.

I'm rooting for Despres, but I hold him to high expectations given his talent and his draft pedigree. Other folks in here tout him for the Norris after any game where he doesn't fall all over himself, and he's going to have to do more than that with all the D in the pipeline if he wants to be in Pittsburgh long-term.

Letang's game last night was far more impressive. 6 hits, 2 blocks, gave Jagr the business all night long and he continues to make smart play after smart play. 26 minutes played. Next best was Ehrhoff's 19.
- hardnosed

Might want to get your eyes checked because this is baloney. Not opinion, fact. Who got second star? Letang? No. Despres got it, so where are you and what game did you watch?

Still, for me, the bulk of the blame goes to the previous coaching staff. It never made sense to me how they treated THEIR first round pick.
- madmike71

Honestly, how much has really changed? Borts would have played over Despres at some point by now if he had been healthy. Despres gets less TOI than Scuderi. He's still being spoon-fed favorable matchups. I mean, the biggest play he's made all year was a stretch pass of all things!

They have less NHL-proven defensemen and Despres's waiver situation has changed. Other than that, I'm not seeing much difference in how he's been handled.

And it was always Despres' own fault that he wasn't playing. HCDB did the right thing by not handing him anything, and the WBS playoff stint at the end of last year was probably the best thing that cold have happened to him.

So you would play Scuds in Maatta's absence in the top 4?
- dbell646

Time for Scuds to go. I'll admit he hasn't looked quite like the turnstile he was last year...but just simply no need to pay so much for his services.

Question, all these guys like Harrington, Dumo, Pouliot, etc are burning up their ELC's in the minors correct? If so, a guy like Dumo could play out his entire ELC playing for the baby pens. Sure, he wont have much leverage in his next contract but seems like a huge waste of a cheap asset especially when they are NHL ready.

The Despres hate is baffling I thought he had a very strong game last night.
- dbell646

I don't feel like looking back through the posts but I could only imagine. That is why I posted the DK story, to counter the negativity around here directed towards Despres.

Might want to get your eyes checked because this is baloney. Not opinion, fact. Who got second star? Letang? No. Despres got it, so where are you and what game did you watch?
- powerhouse

Ooh, he won a popularity contest. Yay! Did you happen to notice that Downie got first star instead of Crosby, who had two goals?

The bar for Despres is set so low it's ridiculous. Like I said, as long as he doesn't fall over himself (which he did in the first period), he's gold.

Stupid statement. Letang makes about 6.5 more and also has been in the league a lot longer. There shouldn't be many nights were Letang gets out performed by any of our Dmen.
- dbell646

I wasn't comparing the two in the present. I was simply bringing up the fact that the much-hated Letang is playing GREAT hockey right now but folks don't seem to want to talk about it.

Not a chance, I'm just pumping the brakes a bit on the talk of him being top 4 ready. He still needs to work on his discipline, then he is legit.
- usethe1-2-2

If your only gripe against a guy is he's taking too many penalties, which is something he didn't have a problem with before this season, you're nitpicking. Could you imagine where he would be at right now if the former administration let him make his mistakes and grow as a player the last 2 years??

Random observation:

Exactly HALF of the roster from last night will become free agents (UFA or RFA) next year. Anyone concerned about how we're going to keep a team together?

I wasn't comparing the two in the present. I was simply bringing up the fact that the much-hated Letang is playing GREAT hockey right now but folks don't seem to want to talk about it.
- hardnosed

Because he is EXPECTED to do that, considering he has the 3rd highest cap hit on the team.

If your only gripe against a guy is he's taking too many penalties, which is something he didn't have a problem with before this season, you're nitpicking. Could you imagine where he would be at right now if the former administration let him make his mistakes and grow as a player the last 2 years??
- cap1681

I have been saying that for the past few years. Same with Lovejoy, who would have been an upgrade to our bottom pairing years ago, but we had to sign Eaton and trade Lovejoy. It was stupid management.

And yes, I am nitpicking. I said that in the post before. That is my only grip with him right now.

I have been saying that for the past few years. Same with Lovejoy, who would have been an upgrade to our bottom pairing years ago, but we had to sign Eaton and trade Lovejoy.
- usethe1-2-2

Just be glad Shero isn't here to go out and sign a veteran defenseman while Maatta is out for a few weeks...

Honestly, how much has really changed? Borts would have played over Despres at some point by now if he had been healthy. Despres gets less TOI than Scuderi. He's still being spoon-fed favorable matchups. I mean, the biggest play he's made all year was a stretch pass of all things!

They have less NHL-proven defensemen and Despres's waiver situation has changed. Other than that, I'm not seeing much difference in how he's been handled.

And it was always Despres' own fault that he wasn't playing. HCDB did the right thing by not handing him anything, and the WBS playoff stint at the end of last year was probably the best thing that cold have happened to him.
- hardnosed

So who do you know in the organization that could verify Bortz would be playing ahead of him? Good job at stating complete conjecture as fact.

Random observation:

Exactly HALF of the roster from last night will become free agents (UFA or RFA) next year. Anyone concerned about how we're going to keep a team together?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

A little, but I think that was by design. Even with all of the turnover, this year is sort of like a transition year between Shero and the new regime. They can really pick an choose who they want to target to come back.

It seems some people will only like Despres when he raises the Stanley Cup! Good grief, what a bunch of Negative Nancy's. If you can't see the talent in terms of skating, shot and physical prowess then you never will.

Just be glad Shero isn't here to go out and sign a veteran defenseman while Maatta is out for a few weeks...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Oh snap! good one!

Honestly, how much has really changed? Borts would have played over Despres at some point by now if he had been healthy. Despres gets less TOI than Scuderi. He's still being spoon-fed favorable matchups. I mean, the biggest play he's made all year was a stretch pass of all things!

They have less NHL-proven defensemen and Despres's waiver situation has changed. Other than that, I'm not seeing much difference in how he's been handled.

And it was always Despres' own fault that he wasn't playing. HCDB did the right thing by not handing him anything, and the WBS playoff stint at the end of last year was probably the best thing that cold have happened to him.
- hardnosed

HCDB never did the right thing with young players he had to work with. He liked being handed completed players. Despres was a challenge, dan was above that.

He now has 4 assists, a plus four, gets over a shot on goal per game. Leads D in hits. So yah, he is given favorable match ups, but he is taking advantage of them.

A little, but I think that was by design. Even with all of the turnover, this year is sort of like a transition year between Shero and the new regime. They can really pick an choose who they want to target to come back.
- rival22

Especially with the potential of Kapanen and Sundqvist coming into the mix next season.