Penguins/NHL
IS DESPRES IN PLAY?
Head coach Dan Bylsma like many members of the Penguins organization has big expectations for 23 year old center Brandon Sutter who was the centerpiece of the Jordan Staal trade.
Bylsma though first reflected on Staal leaving.
“I Spent a lot of time, watched him grow up, ” Bylsma said of Staal. “He’s a great player, did a lot of great of things. So, to see him go and be in that situation is not the easiest thing to do. “At same time. we’re getting a player back in Sutter, lot of ways, he’s going to fit in our team and do a lot of great things. Third line center, penalty kill guy, lot of grit to his game, character guy, ” Bylsma said.
“For our team, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin [down the middle}, solidifying a guy who can play in that position for our team is really important for us. He’s going to play an extremely big role for our team. Character, work ethic grit he plays with is very important to our team.”
As the draft has wrapped up, a few developments continue to come for the Penguins and that’s there evolving blueline, looking for a top-pairing d-man, in addition to depth at forward and possibly a long-term winger for Sidney Crosby.
“We still have some things in motion, ” assistant coach Todd Reirden said.
A few things have jumped out regarding Bylsma’s comments today.
“Obviously with Michalek going, very good player, penalty killer and that’s something we lost, but at same time a lot of decisions and lot of room for players on backend of team, ” Bylsma said on his evolving blueline. “Emergence of some guys we drafted in Brian Strait and Robert Bortuzzo, and I think Simon Despres as a a first rounder couple years, played some games, big games, played against good competiton and he’s a big body guy who can do a lot of different things. Going to be a good defender in this league as well. So still lot of guys back there.”
Bylsma though was giddy about the possibility of having a core of Joe Morrow, Scott Harrington, Derrick Pouliot, and Olli Maatta down the road.
“This years draft and last years draft, Joe Morrow and Scott Harrington are outstanding players, talking four guys right there with Derrick Pouliot, Olli Maata, Harrington and Morrow, maybe makeup down the road one of the best defensive cores in the league. “We have a lot of players, a really lot of young players and it’s great for our team.”
What’s interesting with Bylsma comments is that the sources confirm the Penguins are willing to move Simon Despres as apart of a big package for a No. 1 type defenseman or a scoring winger.
Another thing that has become evident for the Penguins this weekend is that they expect to make more impact moves.
“We made some good moves for our salary cap situation, ” Shero said. “Have possibility to being to do something”
Talking continues to buzz about the Penguins intentions to look into Zach Parise on July 1 who is close to Sidney Crosby.
One source close to the situation told me the Penguins internally believe they will have ability to throw $7 million at a Parise or Ryan Suter.
Bylsma when speaking about a player who fits best with Sidney Crosby, what stood out from his comments is that he mentioned a lot of attributes that for instance that Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan would bring to the table. Right now talk has been quiet regarding Ryan and the Penguins, but a package centering Simon Despres could draw the Ducks interest.
