Farewell to Love(joy)

 

Ben Lovejoy has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a 5th round pick in next year’s draft. In a lot of ways this is just a good hockey move. Lovejoy was never going to get the opportunity to be a full-time starter in Pittsburgh, he will have that opportunity in Anaheim. The Pens pick up a depth draft pick, and as we’ve pointed out before, look at Tomas Vokoun if you don’t think that later round draft picks are useful. Further, this does thin out the Penguins’ defensive log-jam a little bit more, clearing a path for someone like Joe Morrow to possibly join the team at a later point.

Almost feel bad because literally in our recap earlier today we said that Simon Despres’ play yesterday had essentially ended Lovejoy’s career (at least in Pittsburgh). Sure enough it really did.

Dylan Reese, who actually makes slightly more than Lovejoy, has been called up in his place. Reese, a Pittsburgh native, played for the Islanders last year and should slot in beautifully as the Pens 7th defenseman. Reese is a big, yet agile defender, exactly the kind of player that works so well in the Pens’ system.

Godspeed Rev, you will be missed.

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