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Penguins' prospects will find going tough to make NHL squad for NHL
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BY JONATHAN BOMBULIE
STAFF WRITER
When the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp opens Thursday, the upheaval in the organization will be strictly at the AHL level, which is a bit of a departure from recent seasons.
Pittsburgh returns the key components of a playoff team. As such, most roster spots are set and there is precious little space for a prospect to shoehorn his way into the NHL.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, meanwhile, is in a period of transition. More than half of the 20 players who dressed for the team's last game - a 7-6 playoff loss at Hershey on May 11 - are no longer in the organization.
Seven have returned to Edmonton now that the affiliation sharing agreement between the Penguins and Oilers has expired and four others have departed via trade or free agency.
With that as a backdrop, here is a look at some of the issues facing the team as training camp begins.
Position battles
While Pittsburgh's roster seems more set than it has been in past seasons, there is still some wiggle room.
¦ The top 12 forwards appear to be penciled in, but NHL teams almost always start the season with more than the minimum, so opportunity exists.
If the parent Penguins aim to keep an extra center, 23-year-old Tim Brent is the favorite. He was acquired from Anaheim in an offseason deal for Stephen Dixon.
If Pittsburgh wants a winger, the competition is more open. Jonathan Filewich, coming off a 30-goal season, is an option. So are Ryan Stone and Tyler Kennedy. Both missed about half of last season with injuries but scored around a point per game while in the lineup.
¦ Six defensemen seem set on the NHL roster, which leaves at least one spot up for grabs. The favorite is 20-year-old Kris Letang, but if the organization decides he needs some seasoning in the minors, the re-signed Alain Nasreddine or free-agent addition Mike Weaver are candidates.
¦ In goal, free agent addition Ty Conklin will try to unseat Dany Sabourin from his perch as Marc-Andre Fleury's backup in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, undrafted free agent John Curry from Boston University will try to overtake draft pick Dave Brown of Notre Dame for the right to be known as the top young goalie in the organization.
New in town
Throughout the summer, the Penguins looked to fill the vacancies left by Edmonton prospects by hitting the free agent market. Here is a list of the five free-agent additions most likely to make an impact in the AHL.
¦ LW Jeff Taffe: This 6-foot-3, 215-pound winger has bounced around since being picked by St. Louis in the first round of the 2000 draft. While he hasn't found an NHL niche, he's always been an AHL scorer.
¦ LW Chris Minard: Discovered while playing on Scott Gomez's wing with Alaska of the ECHL during the NHL lockout, Minard scored 32 goals with Lowell in the Ahl last season.
¦ D Mark Ardelan: In three years, worked his way from undrafted rookie to one of the top-scoring defensemen in the AHL with Iowa last season.
¦ C Nathan Smith: A 6-foot-2, 190-pound two-way center, Smith has been a valuable part of the Manitoba Moose for most of the last five years.
¦ D Deryk Engelland: Tough-as-nails defensemen impressed with the Penguins with his playoff performance for Hershey a year ago.
Rookies to watch
It's highly unlikely another 18-year-old phenom like Sidney Crosby in 2005 or Jordan Staal last season will stick in Pittsburgh. But you never know. Here is a list of five rookies to watch, in order of importance to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fans.
¦ D Kris Letang: Technically still a rookie, although he played seven NHL games and one AHL playoff games last season. If he gets shuffled out in Pittsburgh, he could be a smooth-as-silk game-breaker on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton blue line.
¦ D Alex Goligoski: A shoulder injury kept him out of Pittsburgh's lineup for a rookie tournament in Kitchener, Ontario, this week. When he returns, he'll be an elite offensive prospect.
¦ D Jonathan D'Aversa: Undrafted but full of potential, this 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has a big shot and likes to think offense.
¦ RW Aaron Boogaard: For the first time in years, the Penguins will try to bring some NHL toughness up through the system rather than adding it via free agency or trade.
¦ C Angelo Esposito: He's out with a groin problem and can't be assigned to the AHL this year, but this 2007 first-round draft pick oozes talent. Could he make an unlikely bid for an NHL roster spot?
Seasons in the sun
For various reasons, the 2007-08 season will be an important one in the career of some players. Here's a list.
¦ RW Dennis Bonvie: It will be a year to remember for the popular winger who will retire after this season. Even the rival Hershey Bears have a tribute night planned for his last trip to the Giant Center on April 6.
¦ D Ryan Lannon: It's put up or shut up time. Is the third-year pro an NHL prospect or just a dependable AHL defenseman?
¦ RW Tim Wallace: The Alaska native started to look like a legit power forward as last season progressed. That progression needs to continue.
¦ LW Joe Jensen: After a rocky start last season, the speedy winger bounced from ECHL to AHL. He needs to establish himself as a go-to guy for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
¦ D Paul Bissonnette: If he can't free himself from the organization's doghouse, it's still an important season for the 22-year-old defenseman. He could be auditioning for other clubs as free agency looms next summer.
The best job in hockey
While Sidney Crosby has already established himself as perhaps the best player in the world, he has yet to find steady linemates. Here are some candidates for the jobs.
¦ RW Petr Sykora: This 30-year-old with 247 NHL goals to his credit has to be salivating at the chance to play with The Kid after coming over from Edmonton in free agency.
¦ LW Gary Roberts: This 41-year-old playoff warrior has already won a rabid fan following in Pittsburgh. Playing with Crosby wouldn't hurt his popularity.
¦ RW Mark Recchi: This 39-year-old winger isn't what he once was, but he does have a string of seven-straight 20-goal seasons going.
¦ LW Jordan Staal: He seemed to find a rapport with C Evgeni Malkin last year, but this defensively responsible 18-year-old could be a fine complement to Crosby.
¦ C Erik Christensen: He's more comfortable at center and could get outmuscled on the boards, but the thought of him snapping off wristers on Crosby's wing must be appealing to coach Michel Therrien.
Pittsburgh returns the key components of a playoff team. As such, most roster spots are set and there is precious little space for a prospect to shoehorn his way into the NHL.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, meanwhile, is in a period of transition. More than half of the 20 players who dressed for the team's last game - a 7-6 playoff loss at Hershey on May 11 - are no longer in the organization.
Seven have returned to Edmonton now that the affiliation sharing agreement between the Penguins and Oilers has expired and four others have departed via trade or free agency.
With that as a backdrop, here is a look at some of the issues facing the team as training camp begins.
Position battles
While Pittsburgh's roster seems more set than it has been in past seasons, there is still some wiggle room.
¦ The top 12 forwards appear to be penciled in, but NHL teams almost always start the season with more than the minimum, so opportunity exists.
If the parent Penguins aim to keep an extra center, 23-year-old Tim Brent is the favorite. He was acquired from Anaheim in an offseason deal for Stephen Dixon.
If Pittsburgh wants a winger, the competition is more open. Jonathan Filewich, coming off a 30-goal season, is an option. So are Ryan Stone and Tyler Kennedy. Both missed about half of last season with injuries but scored around a point per game while in the lineup.
¦ Six defensemen seem set on the NHL roster, which leaves at least one spot up for grabs. The favorite is 20-year-old Kris Letang, but if the organization decides he needs some seasoning in the minors, the re-signed Alain Nasreddine or free-agent addition Mike Weaver are candidates.
¦ In goal, free agent addition Ty Conklin will try to unseat Dany Sabourin from his perch as Marc-Andre Fleury's backup in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, undrafted free agent John Curry from Boston University will try to overtake draft pick Dave Brown of Notre Dame for the right to be known as the top young goalie in the organization.
New in town
Throughout the summer, the Penguins looked to fill the vacancies left by Edmonton prospects by hitting the free agent market. Here is a list of the five free-agent additions most likely to make an impact in the AHL.
¦ LW Jeff Taffe: This 6-foot-3, 215-pound winger has bounced around since being picked by St. Louis in the first round of the 2000 draft. While he hasn't found an NHL niche, he's always been an AHL scorer.
¦ LW Chris Minard: Discovered while playing on Scott Gomez's wing with Alaska of the ECHL during the NHL lockout, Minard scored 32 goals with Lowell in the Ahl last season.
¦ D Mark Ardelan: In three years, worked his way from undrafted rookie to one of the top-scoring defensemen in the AHL with Iowa last season.
¦ C Nathan Smith: A 6-foot-2, 190-pound two-way center, Smith has been a valuable part of the Manitoba Moose for most of the last five years.
¦ D Deryk Engelland: Tough-as-nails defensemen impressed with the Penguins with his playoff performance for Hershey a year ago.
Rookies to watch
It's highly unlikely another 18-year-old phenom like Sidney Crosby in 2005 or Jordan Staal last season will stick in Pittsburgh. But you never know. Here is a list of five rookies to watch, in order of importance to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fans.
¦ D Kris Letang: Technically still a rookie, although he played seven NHL games and one AHL playoff games last season. If he gets shuffled out in Pittsburgh, he could be a smooth-as-silk game-breaker on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton blue line.
¦ D Alex Goligoski: A shoulder injury kept him out of Pittsburgh's lineup for a rookie tournament in Kitchener, Ontario, this week. When he returns, he'll be an elite offensive prospect.
¦ D Jonathan D'Aversa: Undrafted but full of potential, this 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has a big shot and likes to think offense.
¦ RW Aaron Boogaard: For the first time in years, the Penguins will try to bring some NHL toughness up through the system rather than adding it via free agency or trade.
¦ C Angelo Esposito: He's out with a groin problem and can't be assigned to the AHL this year, but this 2007 first-round draft pick oozes talent. Could he make an unlikely bid for an NHL roster spot?
Seasons in the sun
For various reasons, the 2007-08 season will be an important one in the career of some players. Here's a list.
¦ RW Dennis Bonvie: It will be a year to remember for the popular winger who will retire after this season. Even the rival Hershey Bears have a tribute night planned for his last trip to the Giant Center on April 6.
¦ D Ryan Lannon: It's put up or shut up time. Is the third-year pro an NHL prospect or just a dependable AHL defenseman?
¦ RW Tim Wallace: The Alaska native started to look like a legit power forward as last season progressed. That progression needs to continue.
¦ LW Joe Jensen: After a rocky start last season, the speedy winger bounced from ECHL to AHL. He needs to establish himself as a go-to guy for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
¦ D Paul Bissonnette: If he can't free himself from the organization's doghouse, it's still an important season for the 22-year-old defenseman. He could be auditioning for other clubs as free agency looms next summer.
The best job in hockey
While Sidney Crosby has already established himself as perhaps the best player in the world, he has yet to find steady linemates. Here are some candidates for the jobs.
¦ RW Petr Sykora: This 30-year-old with 247 NHL goals to his credit has to be salivating at the chance to play with The Kid after coming over from Edmonton in free agency.
¦ LW Gary Roberts: This 41-year-old playoff warrior has already won a rabid fan following in Pittsburgh. Playing with Crosby wouldn't hurt his popularity.
¦ RW Mark Recchi: This 39-year-old winger isn't what he once was, but he does have a string of seven-straight 20-goal seasons going.
¦ LW Jordan Staal: He seemed to find a rapport with C Evgeni Malkin last year, but this defensively responsible 18-year-old could be a fine complement to Crosby.
¦ C Erik Christensen: He's more comfortable at center and could get outmuscled on the boards, but the thought of him snapping off wristers on Crosby's wing must be appealing to coach Michel Therrien.
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