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Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger •
It was a great day to be back in the Igloo! The Penguins invited 32 prospects to come into town for off ice testing, workouts and scrimmaging. They had a very informal one-hour media session with the guys, who were all very accommodating. It felt like a time warp and I was back at Central Catholic High School during a lunch period with so many young guys walking around. You do not realize how early these rookies are in their development until you see them in person...
I arrived at Mellon Arena a little early and ventured over to the media lounge where they were going to have a Q and A with first round pick Angelo Esposito. He entered the room a little wide-eyed and looked like your average 18-year-old kid. He seemed a little shy, but did a nice job of handling what was thrown at him.
Here are some highlights of the session:
On ending up with the Penguins:
"I went to the draft not expecting anything and when the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted me I was really surprised, but at the same time I was really happy!"
On describing his strengths:
"I am an offensive player, my greatest strength is my speed and use my speed to open the ice for my teammates around me. I have a good shot too."
Describing his weaknesses or what he needs to improve:
"need to get stronger and little bit bigger."
On coming to a team with a lot of young stars being a good thing:
"Yeah, it is. There are a lot of great players on this team, I can just come in and do my thing."
On the criticism that may have hurt his stock prior to the draft:
"It's just opinions, I guess throughout the season I learned that people opinions, good or bad don't matter. It's what you do on the ice that matters."
The disparity between his first season in the QMJHL as opposed to his second:
"This year we lost a lot of good players and I went into the season thinking too much about the draft, and thinking about doing too much by myself because I wanted to win. But I guess throughout the season I learned how to play as a team...it's just these little things I learned over the year."
On playing with a chip on his shoulder because he fell in the draft:
For sure, obviously falling in the draft is disappointing, but ending up here it’s even better than going somewhere else. So, I guess I am happy to here, but at the same time I just have to prove a few people wrong...(some one shouted out Like Montreal)...(Espo laughing), we'll see."
All in all I think he answered a lot of the questions that were raised about his play, his desire and his effort. Sounds like he learned some valuable lessons last season and that falling in the draft humbled him a little bit. I still think that this kid is an absolute steal for the Penguins, and feel that even more so after meeting him today. It seems like he just wants to play hockey and is glad that the whole draft thing is behind him.
I also am starting to believe in his ability to make the team this fall. If he can do what I have seen in tapes of his play on the same sheet of ice as Sidney Crosby, the two could be a lethal combo. Espo is going to have to catch lightning in a bottle to make the team though, it is a rare scenario to have 3 consecutive 18 year old draft picks make the team out of camp, but with how things have been going in Steel Town, anything is possible.
*****
I get a lot of questions about players in the Penguins system, but none more so than Paul Bissonnette. Bissonnette came very close to making the team out of camp back in 2003 and hasn't come close since. He is in town for the Penguins Rookie camp so I figured that I would go right to the horses mouth to get some answers on how he has been doing and what he hopes to accomplish in the future...but I will not be posting that until later tonight! I have to transcribe the interview, but will have it up for you all ASAP. He is a great guy and seemed happy to know that you all think he deserves a shot!
*****
Max Talbot made an appearance and was laughing and joking with the media, the Penguins staff, and the rookies...pretty much anyone who was around him...you know, being Max Talbot. Talbot is a beaut!
He was thrilled that the Penguins offered him a qualifying offer and glad that he will be staying here in Pittsburgh.
"I definitely want to stay here, I love this team and it is definitely a good feeling that they want me back."
Max also is ready to get back to action, especially with the way that the Penguins season ended.
"You miss it, you miss it, because you finish so quick last year with the playoff and everything. So, you thinking about that for a little bit, now you get back on the ice slowly, like once a week...you're anxious to go back there to camp to see the new players and see how everybody went...it's itching me a bit to go back on the ice."
Max saw a bit of himself in the youngsters that were making the scene in the Penguins locker room today.
"I can see myself 5 years ago when I came down with all the guys, like Flower, and remember seeing the city of Pittsburgh...walking around, meeting the guys too."
Max will be playing in the World Series of Poker this year as well...he earned the right to take part when he won the charity tournament that the NHLPA held last year. Party Poker will be sponsoring Max and putting him up in the MGM. The winner of the tourney is supposed to net $50,000,000 this season! Max was asked about retiring if he won the top prize...
"Definitely not, definitely not! I would be signing here with a minimum salary, just happy to play..."
Max also said that he would probably be playing a very aggressive style in the tourney because he didn't have to buck up the $10,000 entry fee...
"I am going to be really aggressive...I didn't pay, all these players paying $10,000 to play in this tournament, so I guess I can play a little more loose than these players with no pressure. I don't want to lose on the first hand, everyone gonna laugh at me."
*****
Overall, I had a great time at the Igloo today...I will be heading down on Thursday afternoon to do it again...stay tuned for the Bissonnette interview and much more!!!
Espo Skating for the first time as a Penguin...
I arrived at Mellon Arena a little early and ventured over to the media lounge where they were going to have a Q and A with first round pick Angelo Esposito. He entered the room a little wide-eyed and looked like your average 18-year-old kid. He seemed a little shy, but did a nice job of handling what was thrown at him.
Here are some highlights of the session:
On ending up with the Penguins:
"I went to the draft not expecting anything and when the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted me I was really surprised, but at the same time I was really happy!"
On describing his strengths:
"I am an offensive player, my greatest strength is my speed and use my speed to open the ice for my teammates around me. I have a good shot too."
Describing his weaknesses or what he needs to improve:
"need to get stronger and little bit bigger."
On coming to a team with a lot of young stars being a good thing:
"Yeah, it is. There are a lot of great players on this team, I can just come in and do my thing."
On the criticism that may have hurt his stock prior to the draft:
"It's just opinions, I guess throughout the season I learned that people opinions, good or bad don't matter. It's what you do on the ice that matters."
The disparity between his first season in the QMJHL as opposed to his second:
"This year we lost a lot of good players and I went into the season thinking too much about the draft, and thinking about doing too much by myself because I wanted to win. But I guess throughout the season I learned how to play as a team...it's just these little things I learned over the year."
On playing with a chip on his shoulder because he fell in the draft:
For sure, obviously falling in the draft is disappointing, but ending up here it’s even better than going somewhere else. So, I guess I am happy to here, but at the same time I just have to prove a few people wrong...(some one shouted out Like Montreal)...(Espo laughing), we'll see."
All in all I think he answered a lot of the questions that were raised about his play, his desire and his effort. Sounds like he learned some valuable lessons last season and that falling in the draft humbled him a little bit. I still think that this kid is an absolute steal for the Penguins, and feel that even more so after meeting him today. It seems like he just wants to play hockey and is glad that the whole draft thing is behind him.
I also am starting to believe in his ability to make the team this fall. If he can do what I have seen in tapes of his play on the same sheet of ice as Sidney Crosby, the two could be a lethal combo. Espo is going to have to catch lightning in a bottle to make the team though, it is a rare scenario to have 3 consecutive 18 year old draft picks make the team out of camp, but with how things have been going in Steel Town, anything is possible.
*****
I get a lot of questions about players in the Penguins system, but none more so than Paul Bissonnette. Bissonnette came very close to making the team out of camp back in 2003 and hasn't come close since. He is in town for the Penguins Rookie camp so I figured that I would go right to the horses mouth to get some answers on how he has been doing and what he hopes to accomplish in the future...but I will not be posting that until later tonight! I have to transcribe the interview, but will have it up for you all ASAP. He is a great guy and seemed happy to know that you all think he deserves a shot!
*****
Max Talbot made an appearance and was laughing and joking with the media, the Penguins staff, and the rookies...pretty much anyone who was around him...you know, being Max Talbot. Talbot is a beaut!
He was thrilled that the Penguins offered him a qualifying offer and glad that he will be staying here in Pittsburgh.
"I definitely want to stay here, I love this team and it is definitely a good feeling that they want me back."
Max also is ready to get back to action, especially with the way that the Penguins season ended.
"You miss it, you miss it, because you finish so quick last year with the playoff and everything. So, you thinking about that for a little bit, now you get back on the ice slowly, like once a week...you're anxious to go back there to camp to see the new players and see how everybody went...it's itching me a bit to go back on the ice."
Max saw a bit of himself in the youngsters that were making the scene in the Penguins locker room today.
"I can see myself 5 years ago when I came down with all the guys, like Flower, and remember seeing the city of Pittsburgh...walking around, meeting the guys too."
Max will be playing in the World Series of Poker this year as well...he earned the right to take part when he won the charity tournament that the NHLPA held last year. Party Poker will be sponsoring Max and putting him up in the MGM. The winner of the tourney is supposed to net $50,000,000 this season! Max was asked about retiring if he won the top prize...
"Definitely not, definitely not! I would be signing here with a minimum salary, just happy to play..."
Max also said that he would probably be playing a very aggressive style in the tourney because he didn't have to buck up the $10,000 entry fee...
"I am going to be really aggressive...I didn't pay, all these players paying $10,000 to play in this tournament, so I guess I can play a little more loose than these players with no pressure. I don't want to lose on the first hand, everyone gonna laugh at me."
*****
Overall, I had a great time at the Igloo today...I will be heading down on Thursday afternoon to do it again...stay tuned for the Bissonnette interview and much more!!!
Espo Skating for the first time as a Penguin... 
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