#MaattaWatch

[Froggy]

Despres is currently probably our 8th best D man. He's not in the lineup because he's not one of our 6 best d men, and he's not on our roster because we can send him down without exposing him to waivers.

None of this ceases to be true because of some 6 month old quote taken partially out of context from our coach.


I'm not sure why anyone would be so aggressively incorrect about this situation as to antagonize another poster about it.

[columbia]

I'm not even sure what the argument is, at this point.

[GSdrums87]

Despres is currently probably our 8th best D man. He's not in the lineup because he's not one of our 6 best d men, and he's not on our roster because we can send him down without exposing him to waivers.

None of this ceases to be true because of some 6 month old quote taken partially out of context from our coach.


I'm not sure why anyone would be so aggressively incorrect about this situation as to antagonize another poster about it.

I'd argue Despres > Engelland, but again, this is where waivers come into play.

I'm just shocked to see anyone giving up on the kid already, sheesh. He'll get his crack, or he'll bring us a decent return.

[Froggy]

Despres is currently probably our 8th best D man. He's not in the lineup because he's not one of our 6 best d men, and he's not on our roster because we can send him down without exposing him to waivers.

None of this ceases to be true because of some 6 month old quote taken partially out of context from our coach.


I'm not sure why anyone would be so aggressively incorrect about this situation as to antagonize another poster about it.

I'd argue Despres > Engelland, but again, this is where waivers come into play.

I'm just shocked to see anyone giving up on the kid already, sheesh. He'll get his crack, or he'll bring us a decent return.

our top 6 are all clearly higher on the depth chart, then Bort is our #7, which is admittedly a grey area as they serve different roles. I'd argue that Bort is better at his role than despres is at his, but again, it's not clear cut. Yes, Despres is better than Engelland.

Just because he's not an NHL regular NOW doesn't mean he won't be, or that he's a bust. That's an important point to see, which I think we're all on board with.

[GSdrums87]

Ah, stupid me forgot about Letang -____-

[slipshod]

Defense usually takes the longest to learn / grow into at the NHL level. I'm not worried bout Despres taking a little more time to get up here. After being excited last year about Despres future, I think Maatta is a special player in a notch above Despres (who I still think will be a great player).

I just think Maatta has the goods to eventually be discussed as "Elite". (as in the top 5 of the D-men in the league elite)

[Beveridge]

RE: Bylsma saying he was a top 4 defenseman

That was before

1. Scuds was signed
2. Bort had maybe the best preseason of all defenseman
3. Maatta took the bull by the horns

If the suggestion Despres should get it because of what was said and not earning it, I have to scratch my head. At the time, yeah I agree he probably was a top 4.

If Bylsma had said Niskanen is a top 4 defenseman, and then was traded or playing bottom pair or benched, would we be up in arms? No

Despres is just a shiny new toy we haven't got to take out of the box yet. But he's 22, plenty of play time left.

[Beveridge]

Not the first time someone spoke out about prematurely on something and won't be the last. I also like how auto-correct is being hilariously ironic.

[Idoit40fans]

Wouldn't you say you are also one of those wannabe GMs, Mark Madd- I mean, Shaky Walton?

I forgot more about hockey since following this team from day one than you will ever know Trust me on this one

This is the defense people make for don cherry. Congrats.

[meow]

Wouldn't you say you are also one of those wannabe GMs, Mark Madd- I mean, Shaky Walton?

I forgot more about hockey since following this team from day one than you will ever know Trust me on this one

This is the defense people make for don cherry. Congrats.

I can't wait for Coach's Corner this week. Should be entertaining.

[MRandall25]

Wouldn't you say you are also one of those wannabe GMs, Mark Madd- I mean, Shaky Walton?

I forgot more about hockey since following this team from day one than you will ever know Trust me on this one

This is the defense people make for don cherry. Congrats.

I can't wait for Coach's Corner this week. Should be entertaining.

"John Scott plays the right way. That soft Euro Eriksson had it coming"

[Beveridge]

Wouldn't you say you are also one of those wannabe GMs, Mark Madd- I mean, Shaky Walton?

I forgot more about hockey since following this team from day one than you will ever know Trust me on this one

This is the defense people make for don cherry. Congrats.

I can't wait for Coach's Corner this week. Should be entertaining.

"John Scott plays the right way. That soft Euro Eriksson had it coming"

That about sums it up.

[MRandall25]

"John Scott plays the right way. That soft Euro Eriksson had it coming"

That about sums it up.

But Eriksson playa for the Broons. Will be fun to see Cherry's has explode due to the cognitive dissonance

[meow]

"John Scott plays the right way. That soft Euro Eriksson had it coming"

That about sums it up.

But Eriksson playa for the Broons. Will be fun to see Cherry's has explode due to the cognitive dissonance

If it hasn't exploded all ready, it won't happen.

[mikey287]

I actually like Don Cherry, I tune into Coach's Corner every Saturday and I have for years. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says or maybe not even most of it, but still...

[columbia]

He's highly entertaining and I never miss that slot.

[Pitts]

I like his soots.

[Gaucho]

What Maatta accomplished is pretty incredible. To make the team out of Juniors, at age 19 (he just turned 19, iirc), on a deep team like the Pens... wow. All things considered, he'd have to be pretty special to pull it off.

That is all.

[pensfan1989]

People are comparing Despres to Tangradi because both were thought to have large amounts of potential but struggled to get it together at the NHL level. That recent article about Despres having trouble focusing is a little bit similar to Tangradi's obsession with Twitter trivia, tshirts, and XBox.

Nobody is saying Despres is a bust, but if he doesn't pull it together, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pens dangle him as trade bait.

[Idoit40fans]

Why are people talking about him pullin i together? Im sure all of tese people arent watching him in wbs. Is he playing poorly down there?