Is Simon Depres the best prospect since Crosby

[headh]

Pittsburgh owns a 15-4 record when Despres suits up this season and a mark of 4-4 when he doesn't play. The source is Post Gazette.

I am not a hockey expert but I don't see any current defensemen on the Penguin roster with a better overall game. Obviously Letang is the best offensively but my eyes tell me that Depres has zero glaring weaknesses and possesses many strengths.

At 6' 4" 215 lbs he may be the biggest guy on the team. He makes excellent decisions with the puck. He makes great passes. He handles the puck as well as any both in his own end and on the rush. He makes excellent decisions about wether to join the rush or stay at home. He is aggressive at pinching in without compromising on discipline.

What exactly can't this guy do?

[MRandall25]

I think it's pure coincidence the team's record is better when he plays. Just like how the team is undefeated with Mark Eaton.

Cool stat? Sure. Does it mean anything? Not really.

[Idoit40fans]

No.

[Gaucho]

No.

[MRandall25]

Also,


No.

[Kovy27]

Hell No.

[Hawkeynut]

Beau Bennet says hi

[headh]

Beau Bennet says hi

They are both +8 and both first round draft picks

If someone offered me Bennet in a trade and I had to give up Despres I'd decline.

[NeddieVedder]

Well there were Malkin and Staal, for two.

[headh]

Well there were Malkin and Staal, for two.

Malkin may be the best player in the world so I concede him.

Staal is currently being outplayed by Sutter and there are articles about how Shero fleeced the Canes

[Gaucho]

Shero did not fleece the Canes. It's BS.

Also, please don't bring up +/- in a serious hockey discussion.

[Gaucho]

That said, I probably wouldn't trade Despres for Bennett either.

[columbia]

+/- would be a good screen name.

[slappybrown]

lol @ despres being a "better" prospect and/or player than Staal.

[Froggy]

Was Crosby ever really a prospect?

And no. Despres is pretty good now, and could turn out to be really good... But saying anything more is premature

[DelPen]

Letang would still rank higher than Despres and Bennett at this point in time.

[JoseCuervo]

So we have a sample size of 19 games with Despres and a sample size of 8 games with Despres. If we factor in different personnel per game and different opponents with different line-ups since Despres isn't the only variable involved, we find this statistic is pretty meaningless.

Spoiler:

Just for kicks and because I'm bored at work, I just ran a quick ANOVA which shows no statistical difference (p-value = 0.143) with Despres in/out of the lineup

[shmenguin]

best player shero has drafted not named staal, probably.

[DelPen]

best player shero has drafted not named staal, probably.

That has played in the NHL? Perhaps. It's tight with Bennett though.

[MRandall25]

So we have a sample size of 19 games with Despres and a sample size of 8 games with Despres. If we factor in different personnel per game and different opponents with different line-ups since Despres isn't the only variable involved, we find this statistic is pretty meaningless.

Spoiler:

Just for kicks and because I'm bored at work, I just ran a quick ANOVA which shows no statistical difference (p-value = 0.143) with Despres in/out of the lineup

Haha pulling out the statistics machine. I like.

[pens2005]

Should be 16-4, right?

[penny lane]

Kristopher Letang says "what about me?"

Is Day pray even playing tonight?

[JS©]

Pittsburgh owns a 15-4 record when Despres suits up this season and a mark of 4-4 when he doesn't play. The source is Post Gazette.

I am not a hockey expert but I don't see any current defensemen on the Penguin roster with a better overall game. Obviously Letang is the best offensively but my eyes tell me that Depres has zero glaring weaknesses and possesses many strengths.

At 6' 4" 215 lbs he may be the biggest guy on the team. He makes excellent decisions with the puck. He makes great passes. He handles the puck as well as any both in his own end and on the rush. He makes excellent decisions about wether to join the rush or stay at home. He is aggressive at pinching in without compromising on discipline.

What exactly can't this guy do?

Get in the lineup

[Pitts]

Malkin was drafted before Crosby and was, also, never really a prospect.

[Gaucho]

Malkin was never really a prospect.