It's irrelevant that one of the best defensemen from preseason is 7th on the depth chart and is sitting?
Clendening was one of the best D from the preseason? Since when? He was serviceable and was a pleasant surprise, but calling him one of the best D is just laughably untrue.
hat is the point. Clendening - a young player - performed and now he's in the press box.
There is a difference between performing in real games and performing in the preseason.
But you go on and move the goal posts to defend the current coaches.
I'm defending the current coaches? HAHAHAHAHA oh god I'm dying. I want that clown show canned as much as everyone else, but I'm not going to make up a false reality that Clendening was one of our best D to push a baseless agenda that the Pens will take out performing young players.
Clendening was serviceable in the preseason. Had he played like Dumoulin is now or how Maatta played in 2013, I think you'd have a point. But he didn't, he showed he can be a competent bottom pair D. Should he be given a chance to show he can do that in meaningful games? Of course, but let's not act like he's anything better than a bottom pair D at this point. He'd be an upgrade over Scuderi right now, that's basically it. He's our 6th best D right now.
Edit: fine, let me reword my original hypothesis. If a young player is significantly outplaying a potential replacement, like Dumoulin now and Maatta in 2013, the Pens will not take them out of the lineup.
You just wait Empoleon. No doubt in my mind Dumo is scratched for Clendening (if he gets in)
I would much rather Clendening stay a healthy scratch then. Clendening does nothing better than Dumoulin. Not one thing. Dumoulin is the real deal, I would rather have Scuderi in all season than have Clendening in for Dumoulin.