Mar 19, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy (12) skates against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Penguins 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Lovejoy
Admittedly, I was pretty tough on Lovejoy after the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline. However, it wasn’t only due to the terrible trade that brought him here.
Lovejoy was acquired to add veteran experience and sound defensive hockey. He also has decent puck-moving skills and should fit Mike Johnston’s system nicely. However, when asked to play a bigger role due to the abundance of defensive injuries the Pens suffered last season, he seemed to take a step back to his younger days in the league and began making fundamental mistakes that proved to be extremely costly.
I don’t expect Lovejoy to play top-four minutes on a consistent basis and perform up to expectations. However, I do expect him to be good enough to fill bottom pairing minutes with a solid young defenseman like Brian Dumoulin or Derrick Pouliot.
Given the scrutiny that surrounded the trade that landed him in Pittsburgh, he has a lot to prove to the Pittsburgh Penguins faithful. We don’t need him to be a superstar, we just need him to be better. Hopefully, if the Pens can stay healthy and keep him in a fitting role, we’ll see that.