Sidney Crosby celebrates his first of two goals, a redirect set up by Simon Despres. — GETTY IMAGES
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Hockey can be an elegant, graceful game at its most elite level. The world’s greatest athletes glide at warp speed, their skill, their strength and thought processes operating somehow even faster, with little more separating the sides than a split-second swing of the stick.
It can be beautiful.
Or it can be whatever one would call that horrific contortion Peter DeBoer’s face made behind the Devils’ bench after watching Craig Adams carve up the ice to score effortlessly on a breakaway.
Bitter DeBoer face?
Yeah, sorry.
“It’s humbling,” the coach said. Meaning the whole thing, not just Adams’ one-eighth of the output. “All the goals we gave up, it’s unfortunate.”
So with all due acknowledgement for Sidney Crosby’s two goals and the wonderful, warm ovation for Olli Maatta with his fitting introduction among the starters, let’s be honest: The footage of the Penguins’ 8-3 annihilation of New Jersey on Tuesday at Consol Energy Center isn’t about to be sent to the Hockey Hall’s archives in Toronto. Unless, of course, the curators create a special wing for broken plays, badly beaten goaltenders and … did I mention Adams scoring on a breakaway?
Oh, for real.
But here’s what else is for real, and it might never have been better evident: Simon Despres.
Did you see the kid?
I’m not just talking about the two razor-sharp assists or the game-high plus-3 rating. Everyone saw that. I’m talking about the towering presence on the puck, head-up vision in all areas, the physical push near Marc-Andre Fleury’s crease and along the boards … all of it.
This is the Despres that the Penguins have wanted to see since making him their first-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft.
This is the Despres that Mario Lemieux singled out as a special cause in my interview with the franchise’s owners this past spring after the firings of Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma.
This is the Despres that was so peculiarly but perpetually on the outs with Shero, Bylsma and the previous staff that he always was the first choice for the Wilkes-Barre express but, even so, played pout-free for the Baby Penguins in dominating the Calder Cup playoffs.
This is the Despres who is finally getting his chance and making the most of it.
Sounds like he knows it, too, judging by our talk afterward:
Good for him. And, potentially, great for the Penguins.
As Bill Guerin put it, “When you see Simon going like he was tonight … hey, how many teams have a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can fly and take the body and do everything we just saw.”
What changed, then?
“Confidence,” Guerin said without hesitation.
“Confidence,” Pascal Dupuis came back even more quickly.
“He’s older, he’s smarter, he’s staying in his position, not giving the puck away,” Fleury said. “And he’s got a big butt.”
Right. Wait, what?
“He’s being more physical than before. Knocking guys down. Or they bounce right off him.”
And that’s the Despres derriere at work?
“It’s a big butt.”
Well, no ifs and ands or … butts about it, he showed it all off against New Jersey.
Defensively, he continued to cover the bulk of the territory in the Penguins’ zone, always a necessity when anchored with — or by — Rob Scuderi. The Devils’ ambitious attacking of the Pittsburgh blue line with numbers in the early going was all but neutralized by his wingspan alone.
Offensively, he set up Patric Hornqvist’s tying goal in the second period — a Guy Lafleur-style rush up the right wing, capped by a blazing wrister over Corey Schneider’s shoulder — with a 70-foot banked breakout up the boards.
“Great pass,” Hornqvist called it.
“It’s just the easy play,” Despres downplayed. “You always look to go that way first.”
Judge for yourself if this was easy:
Despres would hit Hornqvist for his next assist, too, shooting from the right point before Hornqvist tipped to Crosby for the slam dunk.
But that’s defense and offense and, to an extent, we always knew he was capable of both. The moment that leaped out for me came in the third period, when Tuomo Ruutu took two grinding strides toward Despres and did little more than pinball off him. What’s more, Ruutu apparently was so rattled by this that, as soon as he was back on his skates, he took a silly tripping penalty.
Should have seen Despres smile when I brought that up.
He does belong. He has the unwavering faith of this management and coaching staff — Mike Johnston took a liking to him even before camp started based on his summer workouts — and he also has … not sure how to word this … let’s just say he’s got more support from his current teammates than he had from some no longer here.
“I know I can play here with these guys, at this level,” Despres was saying, as he peeled off the last of his equipment. “It took a little while. I had some lessons to learned. But I’m here now, and I just want to keep getting better. I don’t see why I can’t.”
It seems as though the younger defense guys have a bit more support from the FO. Its interesting that the previous FO that drafted them did or would not see it
I can see why they did it though. They thought they had a championship team. He was prone to making bad mistakes. Can't put a guy on the ice that is going to make killer mistakes especially on defense. I guess you could say that about other Pens D-men, you get my point
It's really amazing what a little faith from the right people can do to a guys confidence....and what a little confidence can do to a guys game. Watching Despres and Maata in the Penguins lineup really makes me yearn to see Pouliot and Harrington get a shot soon!
If previous management had just trusted Despres to learn at the NHL they wouldn't have needed to overpay Scuderi.
.
Kings and Hawks figured this type of roster management out while Pens did not. That's why they have 4 cups since pens last 1.
Pretty much. It's hard to imagine a team investing a 1st round pick and then treating him like a yo yo. I'm glad they sent that regime packing before they dumped this kid as a throw in for a rental.
No way it was Nisky. Guy was having a career year and was basically the team's #1 d-man and was gonna get paid. A guy like that isn't threatened by a an up and comer. However, a washed up vet who was always quick to call out everyone but himself would be.
Good read. I wondered who the article would be about from your in-game tweet tease and thought "Despres." Glad I was right. Must be paying attention since the summer.
The Ice Steelers are starting to come out from under their offensive shell*
*sarcasm
Nice to see the other (Sid), other (Oli), other (Simon) kid get a real chance to prove himself. Let's see if he can keep that big butt in Fleury's face all year (never writing that again)
Glad to see him finally getting a chance. Would like to see how he plays all season though before we appoint him the next great defenseman. These Penguins have a history of showing us how good they are, then doing a disappearing act.
Don't think anyone's anointing him. He'll still have ups and downs. Point is positive reinforcement/commitment by team would have sped development. And they avoid Scuds' anointment as "the (missing) piece" had they done both.
I'm just excited that Despres is getting a shot to work through his mistakes and prove his abilities. Credit to the coaching staff for rewarding him and bumping him up with Ehrhoff mid game.
Also, I can't help but think what the other blue chippers are capable of if given a chance. It's what makes me think we will be ok if we trade Martin. And just thinking about the potential skill level on defense while everyone is on ELC's and can spend more money up front. wow.
Just refreshing to see a coaching staff with open minds and willingness to teach. And what better time to do it than October-November? Nice focus on growing, developing, building.
Anyone have a video of the crowd response to Olli Maatta's introduction tonight? I missed it (if it was shown on TV.) He's my favorite player, and would love to see it if possible!
Not much to see, Zico. Wouldn't translate well. It was brief, with no pause, and that intro music kept playing. Which, to me, was as it should have been. The kid just wants to play.
We always hoped Depres would do this. Seems cautious and prudent to not slather too big a contract yet, eh. Like Suban, he can play into his value as the cap goes up.
Duh, hes got this year and next year at $900k. No one is rushing into anything here. When Maatta, Despres, Harrington are all free agents at the same time in 2016....we may have a problem. Until then, enjoy the ride!
Dejan - these are the things that need expanded upon - "and he also has … not sure how to word this … let’s just say he’s got more support from his current teammates than he had from some no longer here." - Who? When? Why not report it at the time?
Love Despres. Big, physical,skilled. Great article sir. My question is, was he moved up with #10 to add physicality to top 4, was Martin Demoted to Scuderi, or are they seeing how Simon handles Top 4 minutes?Thanks!
I'm sure you arent asking me, but, I think the the latter. With Maatta soon to be out, they need to see if Despres can handle the top 4. They are easing him in, and man, did he earn it last night.
October 28, 2014
Column: This, at long last, is the real Despres
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Penguins
Sidney Crosby celebrates his first of two goals, a redirect set up by Simon Despres. — GETTY IMAGES
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Hockey can be an elegant, graceful game at its most elite level. The world’s greatest athletes glide at warp speed, their skill, their strength and thought processes operating somehow even faster, with little more separating the sides than a split-second swing of the stick.
It can be beautiful.
Or it can be whatever one would call that horrific contortion Peter DeBoer’s face made behind the Devils’ bench after watching Craig Adams carve up the ice to score effortlessly on a breakaway.
Bitter DeBoer face?
Yeah, sorry.
“It’s humbling,” the coach said. Meaning the whole thing, not just Adams’ one-eighth of the output. “All the goals we gave up, it’s unfortunate.”
So with all due acknowledgement for Sidney Crosby’s two goals and the wonderful, warm ovation for Olli Maatta with his fitting introduction among the starters, let’s be honest: The footage of the Penguins’ 8-3 annihilation of New Jersey on Tuesday at Consol Energy Center isn’t about to be sent to the Hockey Hall’s archives in Toronto. Unless, of course, the curators create a special wing for broken plays, badly beaten goaltenders and … did I mention Adams scoring on a breakaway?
Oh, for real.
But here’s what else is for real, and it might never have been better evident: Simon Despres.
Did you see the kid?
I’m not just talking about the two razor-sharp assists or the game-high plus-3 rating. Everyone saw that. I’m talking about the towering presence on the puck, head-up vision in all areas, the physical push near Marc-Andre Fleury’s crease and along the boards … all of it.
This is the Despres that the Penguins have wanted to see since making him their first-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft.
This is the Despres that Mario Lemieux singled out as a special cause in my interview with the franchise’s owners this past spring after the firings of Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma.
This is the Despres that was so peculiarly but perpetually on the outs with Shero, Bylsma and the previous staff that he always was the first choice for the Wilkes-Barre express but, even so, played pout-free for the Baby Penguins in dominating the Calder Cup playoffs.
This is the Despres who is finally getting his chance and making the most of it.
Sounds like he knows it, too, judging by our talk afterward:
Good for him. And, potentially, great for the Penguins.
As Bill Guerin put it, “When you see Simon going like he was tonight … hey, how many teams have a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can fly and take the body and do everything we just saw.”
What changed, then?
“Confidence,” Guerin said without hesitation.
“Confidence,” Pascal Dupuis came back even more quickly.
“He’s older, he’s smarter, he’s staying in his position, not giving the puck away,” Fleury said. “And he’s got a big butt.”
Right. Wait, what?
“He’s being more physical than before. Knocking guys down. Or they bounce right off him.”
And that’s the Despres derriere at work?
“It’s a big butt.”
Well, no ifs and ands or … butts about it, he showed it all off against New Jersey.
Defensively, he continued to cover the bulk of the territory in the Penguins’ zone, always a necessity when anchored with — or by — Rob Scuderi. The Devils’ ambitious attacking of the Pittsburgh blue line with numbers in the early going was all but neutralized by his wingspan alone.
Offensively, he set up Patric Hornqvist’s tying goal in the second period — a Guy Lafleur-style rush up the right wing, capped by a blazing wrister over Corey Schneider’s shoulder — with a 70-foot banked breakout up the boards.
“Great pass,” Hornqvist called it.
“It’s just the easy play,” Despres downplayed. “You always look to go that way first.”
Judge for yourself if this was easy:
Despres would hit Hornqvist for his next assist, too, shooting from the right point before Hornqvist tipped to Crosby for the slam dunk.
But that’s defense and offense and, to an extent, we always knew he was capable of both. The moment that leaped out for me came in the third period, when Tuomo Ruutu took two grinding strides toward Despres and did little more than pinball off him. What’s more, Ruutu apparently was so rattled by this that, as soon as he was back on his skates, he took a silly tripping penalty.
Should have seen Despres smile when I brought that up.
He does belong. He has the unwavering faith of this management and coaching staff — Mike Johnston took a liking to him even before camp started based on his summer workouts — and he also has … not sure how to word this … let’s just say he’s got more support from his current teammates than he had from some no longer here.
“I know I can play here with these guys, at this level,” Despres was saying, as he peeled off the last of his equipment. “It took a little while. I had some lessons to learned. But I’m here now, and I just want to keep getting better. I don’t see why I can’t.”