The Apologist
Yesterday, the Buffalo Sabres signed veteran defenseman, a.k.a. washed-up never-was, Joe DiPenta to one-year deal.
Ok, that 'washed-up' bit is a bit too mean for a new team member, but the Penguins just signed former Sabre Jay McKee. We here at DGWUSports LOVE Jay McKee. No Sabre played with any more guts on the ice than Jay McKee. And now he's a Penguin and who do we have?? Joe "I spent last year putting up six points and 71 penalty minutes in 47 games with VASTRA FROLUNDA HC GOTEBORG!?" DiPenta!?!...
...sigh...
Ok, that 'washed-up' bit is a bit too mean for a new team member, but the Penguins just signed former Sabre Jay McKee. We here at DGWUSports LOVE Jay McKee. No Sabre played with any more guts on the ice than Jay McKee. And now he's a Penguin and who do we have?? Joe "I spent last year putting up six points and 71 penalty minutes in 47 games with VASTRA FROLUNDA HC GOTEBORG!?" DiPenta!?!...
...sigh...
[On a sidenote, if you checked that Wikipedia page like I did, you may have noticed his former squad's name. In my opinion, there's got to be something funny about a hockey team in Gothenburg, Sweden calling themselves "the Indians"! We wiped Native Americans off the face of the Earth and even we feel a little weird still calling our teams Indians, Braves or Redskins.
Unfortunately for Frolunda, Indians does not win them best team name in the Elitserien league. That award goes to the Djurgarden Iron Stoves!
Oh, Sweden ... you're so wacky.]
Obviously, if McKee has a chance to get his name etched on Lord Stanley's Cup, I'm all for it. And to his credit, DiPenta's name is already on the Cup for helping stomp on the hopes and dreams of all those Senator fans out there as a member of the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks.
The Barrie, Ontario native is a former third-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers who has bounced around for the last 10 years and now has landed on our Buffalo Sabres. The Buffalo News seems to think it's likely that DiPenta will start out with the Portland Pirates, giving them a "veteran presense." But knowing the Sabres, even if DiPenta starts in Portland, whether it's injury, poor performance or another reason the Sabres create, I'd bet we'll see DiPenta riding the pine in blue & gold in no time. I can't imagine they'd sign a 30-year-old blue-liner, who was never that talented to begin with, just to have him help teach their prospects in Portland for a year.
While this is yet another unsexy move by Darcy, it seems in keeping with the new strategy: add some tough pieces in the off-season if you can and start drafting bigger, tougher players. DiPenta won't be contributing anything in the point column, but hopefully he'll add to the hits column.
Unfortunately for Frolunda, Indians does not win them best team name in the Elitserien league. That award goes to the Djurgarden Iron Stoves!
Oh, Sweden ... you're so wacky.]
Obviously, if McKee has a chance to get his name etched on Lord Stanley's Cup, I'm all for it. And to his credit, DiPenta's name is already on the Cup for helping stomp on the hopes and dreams of all those Senator fans out there as a member of the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks.
The Barrie, Ontario native is a former third-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers who has bounced around for the last 10 years and now has landed on our Buffalo Sabres. The Buffalo News seems to think it's likely that DiPenta will start out with the Portland Pirates, giving them a "veteran presense." But knowing the Sabres, even if DiPenta starts in Portland, whether it's injury, poor performance or another reason the Sabres create, I'd bet we'll see DiPenta riding the pine in blue & gold in no time. I can't imagine they'd sign a 30-year-old blue-liner, who was never that talented to begin with, just to have him help teach their prospects in Portland for a year.
While this is yet another unsexy move by Darcy, it seems in keeping with the new strategy: add some tough pieces in the off-season if you can and start drafting bigger, tougher players. DiPenta won't be contributing anything in the point column, but hopefully he'll add to the hits column.
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