Penguins/NHL
The ideal scenario for Daniel Sprong if he makes the team out of camp is to play him with Pascal Dupuis and Nick Bonino on the third line in putting two solid defensive players around him.
Penguin coaches see the light and will play Sprong there tonight in the preseason finale, the Penguins last dress rehearsal before Thursday night’s opener in Dallas.
Sprong is likely to earn a roster spot not to play on the fourth line but because the Penguins believe he can contribute in the top-9.
Sprong’s emergence and if he can sustain it could open a lot of possibilities on the trade front.
NHL sources say Jim Rutherford is very open has been for a while now to move To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
D I love this new TIOPS Instant Buzz. Nice job!
The Ducks have a gluten of D and are trying to move Clayton Stoner to make room for Manson. I think Id rather see him in our 3rd pairing than Lovejoy. Maroon might get moved down to 4th line duty as well. He would also be a great addition of size, skill and grit for the Pens.
Its glutton. Gluten is a food term. #TheMoreYouKnow
It’s glut actually. Glutton is an excessive eater. I wonder if there are gluttons for Gluten…
D looked ok tonight. Not the best game for Letang. Waiving Lovejoy sounds good.
The Despres trade was just a “depth” trade anyway. Bahahaha…….still waiting for someone to own up to how wrong they were on that one
Ya cole was a nice pickup. If only Billy g kept his pie hole shut. Letang/maatta, cole/despres would be fine with me. Still not ideal but better than the shit we have. I have my fingers crossed that pouliot makes the next step later this season.
Clendening is a better overall player than Despres so if you were fine with Cole/Despres then you should love Cole/Clendening.
Rutherford basically said he made a mistake trading Despres this summer.
I’m still waiting for someone to show even a shred of evidence that it was just a depth move and I’ll be more than willing to admit I was wrong. Grading moves isn’t just about comparing 1 player to the next, just looking at the deadline deals we swapped depth defenseman in Desiree & Bortuzzo and replaced them with depth defenseman in Cole & Lovejoy, huge upgrade for the Pens even if D espresso is a better player than Lovejoy, add in the acquisition of Clendening in the offsets on and the Pens are now miles ahead of where they… Read more »
If they waive Lovejoy, that basically means they waived despres too. How embarrassing.
Where is everyone seeing the game?
stream on Pens website.
Glad that Sprong is ok. That looked pretty bad.
HCDB is the perfect Coach for Buffalo. They could shock some people. Thereby catapulting HCDB into the running.
Disco Dan, predicted Jack Adams award winner by NHL.com hahaha SAM
Not a fucking chance
i think its jack ass award for DB
I haven’t watched any of the preseason games, I needed to preface that for my next comment. I understand its not the regular season and the lineup is still not set in stone. So far on paper that defense, no matter how you move the pieces on paper looks horrendous. Once Letang goes out with his annual LTIR, its only going to get worse.
100% correct. Everyone keeps saying the pens are so much improved this season. In the top 6 no doubt, but that blue line got way worse. The pens are going to give up 4 per game. They are in trouble.
Really disappointing to see Perron throw the towel in like this. He said all the right things and apparently did a lot of right things in the offseason judging by the “in shape” commentary but he just seemed to blow it. There is still 9 games min before we findout of he truly is expendable but at the moment… you should feel ashamed Perron… you have a lot to prove before October ends.
What makes you say he’s thrown in the towel? Just because a player isn’t playing well doesn’t necessarily mean he has quit or isn’t trying. I think it’s more likely that his is still working hard and just isn’t a fit for how the team plays and what they need. I’ve actually thought he’s looked just fine on the 3rd line with Dupuis & Bonino.
I don’t understand why the pens don’t play Despres more. Physical, 6’4, 225 pounder that can skate. Seems to be exactly what the Pens are missing on the backend.
emphasis on “exactly” I agree
Worst case scenario is they trade him for help elsewhere in the lineup as we have a host of skilled young defensemen that are ready to step up.
I’m still trying to figure out the whole “can skate” sentiment we can argue over his skill and potential all day because that is subjective but the kid tripped over his own feet more than any player I’ve ever seen skate and that proven.
I see the Pens making two separate moves on D Tinordi or Cowan could be one to play bottom pairing minutes and add physicality at a manageable contract. And then a defensive minded top 4 like Edler or TJ Brodie
Edler would be a nice addition. And we already know the Van GM is a moron so if Perron isnt gonna cut it… Perron and Scuds 😉
Is the game on TV tonight?
The Pens site is streaming it locally again, Stanch.
Thank you.
I’ve seen player WITH the super elite label that couldn’t get it done. He’s getting it done. If he earns a spot, he earns a spot.
I was going to say something similar, his age and his prospect should be secondary factors, his ability to play at this level and whether they think he can sustain that over 82 games should be all that matters.
It’s not about earning a spot. Assume he develops as well as Brandon saad. Do I want spring as an ok third line guy marginally better than Bennet in that role or do I want what saad did for the Blackhawks last year…. A cost controlled legitimate top 6 forward. With the rise of bridge contracts going up to 6 million on guys lIke saad you can’t just waste a year of the elc at his age. Fwiw saad is basically the game plan with him. Saad has a couple games in the NHL his draft year and then was… Read more »
I really can’t believe in playing Sprong this year. Next year certainly possible, but he’s only 18 and doesn’t have the super elite label. Save a year of his elc. do give him 9 games.
Has lovejoy gotten that bad that he’s worse than scuderi/gonchar.
Sprong for Hart
It’s spelled “C-A-L-D-E-R” lol… in a McDavid year tho 🙁