The Penguins and their prospects certainly had a full day. It all started at Mellon Arena at noon and moved the Iceoplex at Southpointe for the first on ice work out of the week at 4:00pm. The group then cleaned up and headed off to the Pirates game...a 2-0 loss to the Brewers for anyone who is keeping track at home.
I took in all of the action and here is a partial report...
First of all, here are a some thoughts from the boys themselves. As I mentioned earlier, I got a chance to chat with Brian Strait, Dustin Jeffrey, Eric Tangradi, Luca Caputi and Wilkes Barre Scranton Head Coach Todd Reirden. (Reirden's comments will be posted tomorrow...)
Dustin Jeffrey
In regard to having a chance at a roster spot based on the Max Talbot surgery...
"I hope so. Obviously that is the goal anytime you come into a camp, you want to put your best foot forward and you want to hopefully earn a roster spot. You know there is an opportunity there with Max being out for a little bit and you want to make the most of it."
On what it was like being around day to day throughout the Stanley Cup run...
"I took a lot out of it. Being around day to day... I think seeing the guys and what it takes to go day in and day out through the Stanley Cup Final. I think that is something that you can’t really just talk about you just have to witness it. You have to see what the guys are going through and I think it is something I will remember when I come into camp and whenever I get a chance to play."
On using that experience to assist the youngsters that at their first camp...
"We spoke to the rookies...it was me and Nick Johnson, spoke to the guys coming in fresh and told them about our first experience pro and I mentioned it, but it’s something I think you have to go through. You have to experience yourself before you can fully realize how hard it is to win the Stanley Cup and go that far in the playoffs."
On what he mentioned when addressing the youngsters...
"I spoke about coming from the OHL and the difference coming from the OHL and turning pro and what it really takes. I think it is a lot of mental. The season is a lot longer. You have to be ready everyday because there are people coming up from the East Coast and you don’t have a secure job. There were guys... I witnessed that this year, you take two or three games off and you’re going to be out of the line-up. That was the point I was getting across -- in junior hockey you can take a few games off, there’s only the 12 guys on your roster. There’s not 14 guys, two guys healthy scratched every night just waiting to get back in the line-up. I think guys have to realize that, as soon as you turn pro that doesn’t mean that you’re playing every night. It means that you can be anywhere from the NHL to the East Coast league and think guys need to realize that."
Luca Caputi
On his chances for making the team this season...
"They said last night in the meeting they have to develop from within and I'm just looking to prove myself and that I can play here and that I believe in myself and hopefully I will get the opportunity."
On the nervous feelings that could be arising...
"That is the key, you can’t go into it feeling nervous. You have to go in and trust your ability and trust that you can play. I think at the end of the day if you just stay calm and do the things you’ve done your whole life, if it’s there for you it’s there."
Eric Tangradi
On his goals for this week's camp...
"Right now I’m just coming off of an injury and I’m just looking forward to training camp and giving it my all every day and if I have a big summer hopefully I can leave a good impression with the coaching staff in September."
On realizing that he could someday be a winger for Crosby/Malkin when the trade came down...
"It is amazing right away. It’s motivation in itself. I mean, Crosby, Malkin, and Staal... they can be the best three centermen in the league in the upcoming future. You know it is really exciting, I am proud to be part of a great organization like Pittsburgh. I'm just taking it all in right now and enjoying it."
His thought's on the Pittsburgh Organization...
"Top to bottom, it’s first class. I mean they got a new building across the street being built. It’s just unbelievable."
His thoughts on the city of Pittsburgh...
"Coming here I have learned so much...Pittsburgh fans are unbelievable. They compare right up there with Philly fans in that they expect success."
On how the injury is doing...
"It’s doing well. I have a follow up surgery next week. The scar tissue in my thumb is real stiff. So hopefully the surgery will loosen things up and I will be able to start shooting pucks. Right now the shots not where I would like it to be, but a lot of hard work in August and I will be back ready for training camp."
On his goals for the upcoming season...
"This summer, I was just cleared about three weeks ago to go at it with the weight lifting. In the NHL you are playing against men and in junior you are playing against late teens and boys. So I just want to get bigger, stronger, faster...just elevate every part of my game and also try and keep things... you know the saying, not to be too nervous trying to make a pass to a Crosby or a Malkin. Just try to have fun out there...just get bigger and stronger and do my best come September."
Brian Strait
Did winning the National Championship this past season make it easier to turn pro?
"For sure...you know when I thought about it. I said it back in January, Pittsburgh came to my agent and said 'we are thinking about taking him out after this year.' I remember saying, 'hey, this has been quite the season. If we won the National Championship, the next season wouldn’t be like this season.' Going out on a high note like that is something that every player dreams about...I go out on a high note and then I come into an organization that just won the Stanley Cup, it’s just the perfect situation. I wouldn’t want to be at any other place and I think it was a great move for me."
Did the coaches at BU try to convince you to stay for your senior year?
"Yeah, I mean it’s a business there just like it is here. They were trying to get me to stay and these guys were trying to get me sign with them. So, I just kind of had to sit down with myself and my family and just decide... like they say, you are the one who has the best interest for yourself. I just had to take all the information and make that decision. Whatever you do, you gotta work hard and hopefully it goes well for you."
I spoke with Matt Gilroy a few months back and he credited you with helping his game...did playing with an offensive minded guy like Gilroy help your game as well? Especially when you consider you might be matched with an offensive d-man here?
"That for sure helped...when it came to my junior year the coaching staff sat me down and said you’re probably not going to play power play this year. We want you to concentrate on this one thing. We know that you can do it the best possible, we think that you can be the best guy in the country at this. I think that really helped me concentrate on this one thing and got me to play my best defensively when that was my role. It definitely helped me and it definitely helped him. Playing away from the puck is something I pride myself on. I enjoy doing it and I think that is what it is going to get me to the NHL level."
I have heard that you pride yourself on playing a blue collar, hard working game, would you say that is a safe way to describe your game?
"I believe I have a pretty good skill set. I don’t think you can play professional hockey unless you do. At the same time I do pride myself on my work ethic and my smarts in the game and my detail to the game. Those are things that you have to take into account when you aren’t an offensive superstar."
What are your goals for this season, I am sure you would love to make the team? Have they sat down with you and outlined their plans for you?
"They probably believe that I am going to start in Wilkes Barre. They told me that before they lost some pretty big guys in Free Agency. I believe that I have a better chance now to fight for a spot on Pittsburgh. Like I told other people, this is my first year pro, I'm not gonna be completely disappointed if I don’t make because it’s a learning process. I understand that. I understand that if I keep focused and working hard I'm going to get to where I want to go. Like any guy, you gotta aim high; I want to make the team out of camp. We’ll see what happens...I’m just gonna work my hardest and pick up the system and hopefully stick around for a while."
Out of the off ice activities this week, which are you most looking forward too?
"I can’t wait for paintball! That’s was the best. We went last year too! It was a lot of fun."
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As I said, stay tuned for the Todd Reirden comments tomorrow...
* * * * *
Some quick notes on the first day of skating...
The session focused on drills that accentuated skating and crisp hard passing. I found it interesting how many players were actually having difficulty taking passes... I am sure it had a bit to do with warm weather ice, but they were really slinging the pucks around with some velocity. I believe this will greatly benefit these young players as they progress in their careers.
Eric Tangradi didn't look like a guy who claimed to have difficulty shooting the puck. He looked big and strong on the ice and was shooting with some velocity. If this is a less than 100% player, I can't wait to see him healthy. He won most of his one on one drills, scored plenty of goals and looked to be in possession of great hands around the net. He is definitely living up to the hype.
Kevin Veilleux was one of the best forwards on the ice. He won the shoot-out competition that they ran late in the practice, going 4 for 4. Some of his goals during the competition were very nice! He just has a knack of finding the openings on a goaltender. He also showed a knack for opening the five hole often, and placing shots perfectly to get them through those pads. It wasn't surprising to see him perform well on this stage, as it has often been said that he "shows up" when he knows he is being watched. Hopefully he can keep it going...he looked every bit the 6'5" he is listed and moved very well for a big man.
Joe Vitale was fun to watch. He doesn't have the skill set of some of the more polished offensive prospects, but he worked hard on every trip up and down the ice. He also showed nice speed during drills and beat defenders to the corners often.
I didn't think that Luca Caputi looked great today. He has an unorthodox skating stride and doesn't look completely comfortable in drills. I did think that he settled down and looked a lot more comfortable during the drills that actually simulated playing the game... he started to bang some goals in front of the net and showed some nice hands. I am sure he will come into his own...after all, this is a kid who scored during his first shift in the NHL last season! I just don't think he had his best day.
It was great to see Tom Fitzgerald taking such an active role in player development and coaching even though he has moved into an Assistant GM position. He was spending a lot of time working one on one with players...especially first round draft pick, Simon Despres.
Speaking of Despres, he clearly has the tools, but he has some growing to do. He also got beaten a few times one on one, but that is to be expected in a player who is so young in their development. He is going to be fun to watch over the next few seasons, but he is definitely a ways away from making the NHL.
Carl Sneep showed a better skating stride than I realized he had. He actually showed some offensive flair during the drills as well, as he scored on a handful of nice shots. Nice to see him continue on his developmental track...he has gotten better each season in the organization.
Brian Strait did get beaten a couple of times during one on one drills, but he also looked great in physically knocking several players off of the puck during those same drills. He looked good during a skating and puck handling drill early in the session. He does have to pick it up if he wants to make the Penguins this year though...he didn't seem head ans shoulders above the group.
Nathan Longpre made himself noticeable on several occasions. He is a guy to keep your eyes on... he looked quick, won a couple of one on one battles and did enough to make me write his name down more than once. The weird thing is that I can't tell you exactly what he did to make himself noticeable... he just was.
Casey Pierro-Zabotel didn't stand out. I was disappointed about that and hope that he rises to the occasion during the upcoming days of camp.
Brad Thiessen looked to have great lateral movement in the net and will definitely compete for playing time in Wilkes Barre Scranton. It is tough to get a true idea of how he will perform in actual game action, but he did make a ton of stops along the ice, while at the same time displaying decent ability with his glove and blocker.
Patrick Killeen made more than one nice stop with his glove, but he was beaten more often that Thiessen on the day.
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