It's simple, play Simon

By Mark Madden 

Special to The Beaver CountyTimes | Posted: Monday, April 1, 2013 12:09 am

http://www.timesonline.com

One man’s problem is another man’s opportunity.

Simon Despres has been on the fringe of the Penguins’ defensive corps. The 6-foot-4, 214-pounder is plus-10, fourth-best among Penguins’ defensemen. He’s good on the puck and is expanding his physical element.

Yet coach Dan Bylsma often scratches Despres against more bruising opposition. Despres has played 27 games with the Penguins’ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate.

Despres is a rookie. Baby steps. Nothing wrong with that.

But it stops now. Time to grow up quickly.

Paul Martin has been outstanding and a minutes-eater. The veteran defenseman is averaging 25:22 per game, second on the Penguins to Kris Letang. Martin is out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand.

Enter Despres.

Bylsma’s reticence to heap responsibility on rookies can’t be an obstacle. None of the Penguins’ other defens-emen is capable of shouldering a bigger burden without his play suffering.

For players without pedigree, less is more.

Despres has pedigree. He was the Penguins’ first-round draft choice in 2009. He was the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s defenseman of the year in 2010-11. He’s been a workhorse since he started playing.

It’s time for Despres to again be a workhorse. Once Letang is healthy, pair Despres and Letang and let them pile up the minutes. Despres has the potential to thrive with a bigger workload. No other defenseman does. Despres can be a threat all over the rink.

Yeah, he’s a rookie. Yeah, he’s got a lot to learn.

You got a better idea? There aren’t any other options.

Just when it looked like the Penguins had the best team in hockey, the infirmary started filling up.

Martin is out. Letang is out, but expected back soon. Sidney Crosby broke his jaw Saturday, but has no concussion symptoms. In this case, a broken jaw is much the lesser of two evils.

It’s hard to quantify how frustrated Crosby must be. Crosby too often sees a stretch of torrid play interrupted by injury.

But you can tough out a broken jaw. Medical clearance permitting, here’s betting Crosby returns as soon as humanly possible. They don’t come more determined than the Penguins’ captain.

It’s up to Evgeni Malkin to take over. As usual.

Malkin, also troubled by injury, has played above-average this season, but no better. Malkin traditionally elevates his game when Crosby is out.

Last season was the pinnacle of that: Crosby played just 22 games. Malkin scored 50 times, winning the scoring title and MVP. Malkin clicked with linemate James Neal, helping Neal register his first-ever 40-goal season.

Malkin occasionally looks disinterested, as he did for the first two periods of Saturday’s 2-0 home win over the Islanders. But then his game snaps into gear and he’s the best player on the ice. In the league.

With Crosby out, Malkin needs to find his usual brilliance sans Sid.

But, when Crosby returns, Malkin needs to challenge Crosby as hockey’s best player. He seems too easily subservient, a willing second banana. Is Malkin operating in the shadows, or shrinking from a battle?

With Crosby and Malkin both hitting on all cylinders – scary thought – it’s hard to imagine the Penguins losing a seven-game series.

Here’s a thought even scarier: The Penguins might have the best team even without Crosby and Martin. It would be an uphill climb. But the Penguins could still win a Stanley Cup.

Here’s hoping it doesn’t come to that.