via wzus1.ask.com

Well the 2009 NHL draft is finally over. Let me just say how nice it is to be the last pick of the first round. It really tells you that you did something right the year before, like win something. I like the Pens picks and strategy in this year’s entry draft. They realized that they don’t necessarily need any more fire power on offence, but on defense. They just picked the best available, which I feel was a good move. Saint John’s defenseman Simon Despres will be a good fit in the future.

NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau
"I think for a potential pro player, he's got the size and mobility. I've seen him many games, and he never seems to make a bad play. He's never going to get 100 points, but definitely, when you want a guy to play defense, he's your guy. He does it all, he'll block shots and he moves the puck at the right time.”

Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Jacques Beaulieu
“Simon is a very good skater with and without the puck. He has good hands for a big man and he has outstanding vision as well as hockey sense. To make it to the next level he will need to improve his upper body strength and his shot, but overall Simon is an outstanding person on and off the ice. He loves the game. He is without a doubt an NHL prospect.”

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=5238&tab=scr

I feel a lot of other teams have made strong efforts to improve their franchise. This would include the New York Islanders, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Anaheim Ducks, the Toronto Maple leafs, and again the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the last couple of years, these teams seem to have been aggressive with rebuilding their teams into champions. It will be interesting to see what happens next year…..I think we will see the Pens and the Duck next year. Write it down; today is June 30th of the year 2009. Any ways, back to the Pens.

Let’s talk Defense. As many Pens fans know, Alex Gologoski (aka…go-go) just signed a three year extension with the Pens and will be without a doubt playing in the NHL next season. I dont understand why they didnt let him finish out last season playing. But the Pens did win the cup, so I guess they knew something we didn’t. Go-go is a great player that will make it hard for lots of forwards to score. He posesses the ability to be not onlt a shut down player, but also a offensive threat. Now I cometo the whole reason for this paragraph……Have any of you heard that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS? Goligoski, Christopher Letang, and 09 first round pick, Simon Despres will be a force in the upcoming future. Team them with Sergei Gonchar, who looked pretty old during the finals, and they will improve the break out and puck possession of the team as a whole. That means fewer shots on THE FLOWER, and more on the opposing goalie. I don’t expect to see Simon Despres for a year or two(unless of injury). The kids only 17 and I don’t think is quite ready yet. And then there is Ben Lovejoy who is good in minors, but will it carry over to the NHL? He needs another year to find himself and his game. I don’t think we will see big Hal Gill in a Pens uni any more. Hopefully… I think gill left a lot to be desired. He has his great moments, but plenty more of the bad ones. Remember when he skated behind THE FLOWER in game six against Washington. He interfered with his own goalie which leads to a goal. Good thing the pens lit up Washington during game six, or Gill would have been run out of town with pitchforks and axes.

Good luck WOLRD CHAMPS…pick wisely

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