Despres was an absolute beast last night. When he woke up yesterday, he had no idea he was going to to get called up. He gets the call, has to sit in a car all afternoon, and then he takes the ice, logs 15+ minutes of icetime and was arguably our best d-man. The kid is a stud. His first step is tremendous, and while he likes to cheat up a little bit in the offensive zone, he knows where he is on the ice, and is aware of of what is around him. He then relies on his quickness to get back in position. He is solid along the boards and does a great job separating opposing players from the puck. His first pass out of the zone is quick, precise and on the tape. No disrespect to Paul Martin, as Martin will be integral this spring, but I see absolutely no reason why Despres doesn't step in and take Martin's spot next year. Next year your pairs would be Orpik and Letang, Despres and Michaelek, and one of Niskanen, Lovejoy or Strait with Engelland. I could also envision a scenario where Despres and Letang are paired together, as Orpik and Michaelek are really playing well together right now. I would take a top 4 of Letang, Orpik, Michaelek, and Despres all day long. What a great mix of skill, size, skating, hitting and shot blocking. Assuming Shero can work around Martin's limited no movement, I see no reason why a team on Martin's list would not want Martin. Brown from LA would be pipe dream, but if I am Shero, I try to acquire Brown at all costs. Brown is exactly what this team needs on the top two lines, and Despres makes Martin expendable.
I think Despres, even though he could probably play in the NHL right now, will be used in the minors just because of his contract.
I would rather keep Niskanen, and sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal and try to get a more out of him, as I think he can still grow a bit and become more valuable. I'd trade Lovejoy at the draft, re-sign Strait to take over Lovejoy's spot, and figure out what to do with Bortuzzo, as Morrow and Harrington have seemingly made him expendable in terms over being a defensive prospect.
Good problems to have. Good problems, indeed.
They have to resign Bortuzzo. Morrow and Harrington are at least two years away from the big club. It's not like when Letang broke into the Pens org. They don't need to rush these guys anymore. They will go the way of Despres and all the other D-man and spend valuable time in WBS. Morrow and Harrinton won't crack the lineup out of camp even if they look tremendous. They will be on ELC's and that means they are easily sent down. Despres may not even crack the lineup if we have too many D-men on one way NHL contracts.
Despres was an absolute beast last night. When he woke up yesterday, he had no idea he was going to to get called up. He gets the call, has to sit in a car all afternoon, and then he takes the ice, logs 15+ minutes of icetime and was arguably our best d-man. The kid is a stud. His first step is tremendous, and while he likes to cheat up a little bit in the offensive zone, he knows where he is on the ice, and is aware of of what is around him. He then relies on his quickness to get back in position. He is solid along the boards and does a great job separating opposing players from the puck. His first pass out of the zone is quick, precise and on the tape. No disrespect to Paul Martin, as Martin will be integral this spring, but I see absolutely no reason why Despres doesn't step in and take Martin's spot next year. Next year your pairs would be Orpik and Letang, Despres and Michaelek, and one of Niskanen, Lovejoy or Strait with Engelland. I could also envision a scenario where Despres and Letang are paired together, as Orpik and Michaelek are really playing well together right now. I would take a top 4 of Letang, Orpik, Michaelek, and Despres all day long. What a great mix of skill, size, skating, hitting and shot blocking. Assuming Shero can work around Martin's limited no movement, I see no reason why a team on Martin's list would not want Martin. Brown from LA would be pipe dream, but if I am Shero, I try to acquire Brown at all costs. Brown is exactly what this team needs on the top two lines, and Despres makes Martin expendable.
He played well but to say he was the best D-man on the ice last night is a stretch.
They have to resign Bortuzzo. Morrow and Harrington are at least two years away from the big club. It's not like when Letang broke into the Pens org. They don't need to rush these guys anymore. They will go the way of Despres and all the other D-man and spend valuable time in WBS. Morrow and Harrinton won't crack the lineup out of camp even if they look tremendous. They will be on ELC's and that means they are easily sent down. Despres may not even crack the lineup if we have too many D-men on one way NHL contracts.
They are going to re-sign Bortuzzo. The problem is, Bortuzzo is waiver eligible and I can guarantee that if he gets on the waiver wire, we will lose him for nothing.
They are going to re-sign Bortuzzo. The problem is, Bortuzzo is waiver eligible and I can guarantee that if he gets on the waiver wire, we will lose him for nothing.
And so is Strait. That's why I said it not impossible to see Despres not make the roster out of camp just because he can be sent down without going through waivers. Strait and Bortuzzo will not make it through waivers. Strait played better than Lovejoy at this years training camp but Lovejoy would have had to clear waivers to be sent down. At his salary someone would have taken him as a 7th D-man.
And so is Strait. That's why I said it not impossible to see Despres not make the roster out of camp just because he can be sent down without going through waivers. Strait and Bortuzzo will not make it through waivers. Strait played better than Lovejoy at this years training camp but Lovejoy would have had to clear waivers to be sent down. At his salary someone would have taken him as a 7th D-man.
I can see Despres taking Niskanen's spot next year even with contract status. Even if he doesn't Bortuzzo or Strait will. We are just too deep on defense to spend 3+ on a guy like Niskanen.
