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DelPen wrote:I'm confident any weakness in the defense can be addressed at the trade deadline either by addition or subtraction like adding Gill in 2008 or dumping Whitney in 2009.
columbia wrote:DelPen wrote:I'm confident any weakness in the defense can be addressed at the trade deadline either by addition or subtraction like adding Gill in 2008 or dumping Whitney in 2009.
We heard that the last three seasons and it never happened.
You can't blame Shero for the trade market, but fans need to stop counting on the magic pill at the deadline.
It's not to take a look at him; it's not to give it a try," Bylsma said. "He's played 18 games in the National Hockey League. We've taken a look at Simon in those games.
Nizzy wrote:Letang Despres
Orpik Martin
Niskanen Engelland
Bortuzzo
Lovejoy
Pick someone up at the deadline like maybe Murray from the Sharks or something.
Tico Rick wrote:Just throwing this tidbit out there: Rob Rossi, like many on this board, questions in today’s Trib whether Despres is ready for regular duty:
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/3290345-74/penguins-defense-season#axzz2IQkA0Mjw
But Dan Bylsma’s quotes in the P-G indicate that he’s on the big club because he won the job. It seems like Bylsma has fewer doubts about Despres than many here do:It's not to take a look at him; it's not to give it a try," Bylsma said. "He's played 18 games in the National Hockey League. We've taken a look at Simon in those games.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/penguins/sidney-crosby-to-kill-penalties-too-671082/
Eight D-men is a lot to carry, but in this shortened season, and with the players starting out the gate without necessarily being in game shape, I think we're going to see a lot of hamstring pulls, groins, etc., so it could be that we'll need all 8 defensemen and that they'll all see significant ice time as the season progresses.
Despres, 21, will make mistakes, as he did Wednesday in the Black & Gold scrimmage. However, his upside is enticing to coaches, who thought he could contribute more than some regulars last season.
The range of likely defense partner Kris Letang will help cover for Despres, but his inclusion among the top six is more an indication that Robert Bortuzzo has not developed as hoped — and that Ben Lovejoy may be in coach Dan Bylsma‘s doghouse until he eventually leaves Pittsburgh.
Fire0nice228 wrote:can't develop in the minor leagues? thats news to me..
Fire0nice228 wrote:I feel like Rossi doesnt watch or see enough WB/S games to even attempt to decipher the development of a player with his keen eye for hockey let alone publish things about it that the uninformed masses will take as gospel.
JoseCuervo wrote:Basing off what I saw in the Black and Gold scrimmage, Despres looked nowhere close to top-six duty and was manhandled by the pens third line. Letang looked great on the other hand, but I really don't want him babysitting Despres all season because it got Letang out of position a few times. The Martin-Orpik pair looked pretty strong, though Martin looked a bit awkward playing on his off-hand at rightD and Orpik chased a few hits in is own zone. Bortuzzo, Niskanen, and Engelland all looked okay and neither one stood out in a good or bad way. I thought Lovejoy looked awful, though, and was surprised that they kept him over Strait, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Of course, this is all based on one scrimmage.
I think the real X-factor is not the personnel on defense, but the ability of the forwards to play solid defensively in their own zone. Strong defensive work by the forwards can make up for small short-comings by the defensemen in this system.
KG wrote:Gonchar, Whitney and Scuderi are all expected to be UFA's after this season...FYI = )
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