Conner demoted - 11-13-09

who cares if bourque gets claimed off waivers? theres only enough room on this team for one chris who cant finish. haha.

Completely agree Seth. I don't understand why we picked up Bourque to begin with.  I thought the Pens signed Ryan Bayda to be the 13th forward.  Bouque has shown nothing to date.  There are good AHL players that just don't translate to the NHL.  Such as a Chris Bourque or Alex Giroux. It would be one thing if Bourque had great hands or a good shot. However he has neither, and he plays his size.  ex. Kennedy is a smaller guy, but he doesn't play like a small guy, Bourque does.

I have to say your wrong about this one Seth. Conner's play was terrible last night, and it cost the Pens. Did you see his turnovers in the neutral zone that directly led to a goal? Bourque may not be finishing, but he's not making mistakes. Bourque is dumping and retrieving the puck, and has been creating chances, he may not be finishing, but he is not a liability. Conner was the correct player to demote, and his play dictated that, not Bourque's one- way contract.

I also disagree with you on this one, Seth. I think Bourque had a couple very good shifts out there with Crosby. He was helping to create some offense, but no one could finish them. Connor on the other hand completely froze up with the puck and turned it over on our blue line leading to the Parise goal.

From what I've seen, I tend to agree with Gladstone. Neither player has shown up on the scoresheet as much as you'd like. But you could also say that for most of the team lately. And yeah, Bourque has gotten time with the top two lines, but so have Fedotenko, Guerin, and Kunitz and their numbers have been less than spectacular this year. But to me Bourque is doing just as much as Conner has.

All things considered, the Pens did the right thing in sending down the guy that wasn't at risk of being lost on waivers. Over the next couple of weeks it will be a moot point anyways as whichever player stayed with the big club will be watching from the press box with Malkin, Talbot, and Kennedy all (hopefully) set to return.

I'm with Seth on this one. Connor can play an effective 3rd/4th line role. Bourque can't, yet will probably be relegated to one by Saturday.

And its unfair to point to one play as reasoning for a demotion of Connor. We're not screaming for a Crosby demotion after completely losing his man on the Devils 1st goal last night. Connor has played a pretty smart, hard working game.  

Brown napkins? Where do you buy your linens, McDonalds?  Can I borrow a spork?

Seriously, they would have been better off if they didn't get rid of Jordan Staal.

"Seriously, they would have been better off if they didn't get rid of Jordan Staal."

Good one Goat.

You can trivialize the debate all you like, but the fact remains, Conner made critical mistakes, that resulted in goals. Bourque made the smart plays which resulted in offensive zone time. Bourque has been the better NHL player, and I realize that's not saying much, but Conner deserved the demotion.

I don't think its possible to trivialize this issue.  Would anyone outside of Hershey care if Bourque didn't clear waivers?

Bourque won't even be in the lineup once everyone gets healthy.

Conner made one mistake in the neutral zone, and it cost him. You make it sound like he turns the puck over everytime he touches it.  Bourque has played with Sid, Geno, and got some PP time.  What has he done with it? NOTHING? Conner at least uses his speed to get to some soft spots in the offensive zone. He got stoned by Quick against LA. Whatever they are both AHLer's.