Confirmed with Link: Penguins acquire Ben Lovejoy from Anaheim for Simon Despres (Seriously)

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

But I'd would hang my hat on some of the opinions in this thread over someone who has been a general manager in the NHL for over 20 years??? I'm just saying..

I've been here 10+ years. The general consensus of this board has a much higher conversion rate than Craig Button. Or a lot of other "names", for that matter. You just have to be willing to dig. And listen.

Just because people aren't paid to have an opinion doesn't mean it isn't right. Just because they aren't on some sports channel's payroll doesn't mean they don't understand the game better than many employed, there. Works the other way around, too.

 

[Mischa]

gotta say, i'm worried about beau now.

 

[Night Shift]

I guess I havent had the opportunity to prove I am bad at it yet like Button has.

If its your dream why don't you? and while your at it trade back Despres for Adams

 

[Gurglesons]

Despres was played as a 5/6 d-man on a very deep defensive team, during what was basically his rookie season. Does anything think Dreger or Button have seen enough of Despres' play to be able to accurately assess him as a player long term?

Despres is going to develop into a very good 2nd pairing guy, possibly top pairing. He's huge, he's got a nasty streak, he can skate very well, and he doesn't shy away from any of the physical stuff. To say he'll only ever be a bottom pairing guy is selling him a bit short, imo. I'm not a Despres fanboy, but the guy had some pretty high potential.

The issue with Despres playing on the 2nd pairing is that both Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm are better players.

The only rookie defenseman that looked as good as Lindholm last year was Maatta and even Maatta tapered off towards the end. Fowler plays Despres' side so I doubt they'd be a pairing and they just acquired Wiz who has term.

I wouldn't be surprised if Despres leaves Anaheim. On the other hand, given the fact that they have an internal cap, I could easily see them letting go of one of Beauch / Stoner.

 

[titaniumexpose]

This is so deflating, I don't know whether to cry or wind my watch. It just makes no sense at all... It also makes me wish I'd watched the Ducks this year, but nope.

 

[Jahodac]

I guess with JR we should get used to the idea of getting fleeced...

 

[Waffle Fries]

The issue with Despres playing on the 2nd pairing is that both Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm are better players.

The only rookie defenseman that looked as good as Lindholm last year was Maatta and even Maatta tapered off towards the end. Fowler plays Despres' side so I doubt they'd be a pairing and they just acquired Wiz who has term.

I wouldn't be surprised if Despres leaves Anaheim. On the other hand, given the fact that they have an internal cap, I could easily see them letting go of one of Beauch / Stoner.

Despres plays both sides though?

And it's already been announced he'll be playing in the Ducks next game.

 

[Asuna]

Stoner is a vet. The Penguins aren't the only team that plays vets over younger players. Plus when they have each pairing with an aggressive player and a defensive player. Just like here, Despres will be the one scratched. I can guarantee it.

Stoner will rotate with Despres, at best.

I live an hour from Anaheim.

Do you? That must make you an expert.

 

[pistolpete11]

I'm trying to see the positive spin on it..it's your choice if you want to listen to the fan boys who are throwing tantrums

The only positive is that at this point in their careers, Lovejoy is probably more reliable/safer.

In the end though, they got older, smaller, less physical, and not significantly better offensively.

It was a bad trade. Plain and simple. I keep trying to remind myself of all the good trades and signings JR has made, but I can't stop thinking "why?"

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Again, can you name a trade this organization has made in the last 6 years that makes less sense than this one?

If you can't, you really can't complain about people not being happy. There's no positive spin to this.

Morrow for Morrow and two 2nds for Douglas Murray were also a mess. This sucks and unless Maatta makes some miraculous return I have serious doubts about the defense. JR was so good until this.

 

[Gurglesons]

Despres plays both sides though?

And it's already been announced he'll be playing in the Ducks next game.

Great. Wiz has a bruise. Vatanen is out. When that d-core is healthy. Despres is the odd man out.

 

[titaniumexpose]

I've been here 10+ years. The general consensus of this board has a much higher conversion rate than Craig Button. Or a lot of other "names", for that matter. You just have to be willing to dig. And listen.

Just because people aren't paid to have an opinion doesn't mean it isn't right. Just because they aren't on some sports channel's payroll doesn't mean they don't understand the game better than many employed, there. Works the other way around, too.

There are some great hockey minds on this board, totally agree.

 

[cheesedanish87]

I think the narrative is overblown about the pens losing all this toughness with these deals.

Lovejoy certainly isn't a soft player, and Despres hasn't been as physical as he was early in the year.

Borts was a physical player, but he isn't good enough to play, if you can't play defense it doesn't matter how physical you are.

 

[IcedCapp]

gotta say, i'm worried about beau now.

Why?

He has 20 games and a playoff round to earn a spot next year!

 

[HuskerTornado]

Still pissed.

Yep, I stepped away from this for a while, came back, and got hot again. I couldn't have imagined something this stupid was going to happen today.

My reaction was close to this upon hearing
Lovejoy? What? lol?
For Despres? Straight up?

I can't make sense of this. I just can't. I just went through the NHL Network simulcast of SN Deadline Day coverage and the entire crew were just stunned by this trade. Forget this year, the Pens made themselves a worse team going into next season...unreal.

 

[66-30-33]

Why?

He has 20 games and a playoff round to earn a spot next year!

If he does not earn it then trade him for a vet.

 

[tinkezione]

There are some great hockey minds on this board, totally agree.

Cool! I need them back on business instead of this n+1 threads full of random tantrums.

 

[Riptide]

Am ****ing pissed over this. Especially with the scouting report that Duck fans are giving of Lovejoy.

Just to clarify, Lovejoy does a good job getting the puck out of the defensive zone, but his transition game is not very good. If he's not skating the puck or making a 10 foot pass, its a turnover/icing.

His offensive instincts are not very good. For example, he will take a shot from the blueline with no one in front. He doesn't take any chances with the puck but he also doesn't use all the time/space he has either.

Lovejoy has improved, but like I said, he is a defensive/pk specialist. It's just rare you see it from a guy this mobile and not built like a truck.

I'm not going to debate that he hasn't improved... because he has. But he was absolutely the wrong player to move Despres for. Mark my words, we will regret this in 2-3 years (if not sooner), while Lovejoy will not be on this team in 3 years.

 

[IcedCapp]

Just remember:

not one reporter asked about Despres yesterday after suffering a concussion.

Imagine if that had been Letang or Martin or the precious, Pouliot. The team didn't make a statement. There was nothing said.

You can say Bort was dumped in the same way, but I think everyone would agree they're different players at different points, and Bortuzzo certainly got a much-longer opportunity to earn a spot.

I just find it sort of funny and sad.

 

[titaniumexpose]

Why?

He has 20 games and a playoff round to earn a spot next year!

From my experience on this board (mostly as a lurker) you seem to be taking this well. I'm a little disturbed, and scared.

 

[Waffle Fries]

Morrow for Morrow and two 2nds for Douglas Murray were also a mess. This sucks and unless Maatta makes some miraculous return I have serious doubts about the defense. JR was so good until this.

Morrow for Morrow was at least a strength (d-prospects) for a need (forwards) even if it was gone about the wrong way.

The Murray thing was awful, (Shero's worst in my opinion) but at the time we needed someone who could clear the crease. So while there was an overpayment of epic proportions, it at least filled a need.

We just traded a better, younger, bigger, more physical, and cheaper dman for a dman who's only "advantage" is that he's "experienced."

Great. Wiz has a bruise. Vatanen is out. When that d-core is healthy. Despres is the odd man out.

You have nothing to back that up.

 

[66-30-33]

Am ****ing pissed over this. Especially with the scouting report that Duck fans are giving of Lovejoy.



I'm not going to debate that he hasn't improved... because he has. But he was absolutely the wrong player to move Despres for. Mark my words, we will regret this in 2-3 years (if not sooner), while Lovejoy will not be on this team in 3 years.

We are Pens fans, everything is worst case scenerio.

 

[tinkezione]

I think the narrative is overblown about the pens losing all this toughness with these deals.

Lovejoy certainly isn't a soft player, and Despres hasn't been as physical as he was early in the year.

Borts was a physical player, but he isn't good enough to play, if you can't play defense it doesn't matter how physical you are.

...and if I was a moderator, I'd pretty much lock all related threads and make this a sticky until everyone involved has seen at least one game with the current squad, with what GMJR intends to head into the postseason.

 

[tinkezione]

I'm not going to debate that he hasn't improved... because he has. But he was absolutely the wrong player to move Despres for. Mark my words, we will regret this in 2-3 years (if not sooner), while Lovejoy will not be on this team in 3 years.

In 2 months from now, would you have rather headed into the postseason with Despres than Lovejoy?

 

[Xavien]

If you are a WWE fan, the wrestling world and the penguins are almost identical. COULD be great.... but shoots themselves in the foot too many times.

I was just saying the EXACT same thing to my friend. This is why I have been watching far more NJPW and Lucha Underground lately.

I think I'm going to start following the Ducks far more closely than the Pens.