2009-10 Pittsburgh Penguins prospect update v3 (forwards)

Here's the last look t the prospects from early November.

Andy Bathgate [5th round pick, 2009] - Belleville's slumping through the season, but Bathgate's on his way to double his point production from last season.

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Luca Caputi [4th round pick, 2007]- Caputi looked decent in his cup of coffee in the NHL, but it's tough for a rookie to crack the defending Stanley Cup lineup in a Top 6 role.  Caputi continues to improve and develop in the AHL: his points/game has gone from 0.68 to 0.83 and his shots/game has gone from 1.8 last season to 3.3.  Caputi's already topped his goals from last season and he's closing in on assists and points.

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The rest of the young forwards after the jump..

Joey Haddad [Undrafted] -  Haddad's been a longshot since day 1 and in his first professional season he's bounced from the ECHL --where he's been a somewhat effective player -- and the AHL, where frankly he is not.  A lot of Haddad's future may weigh on what happens this summer, his first chance to train and re-group as a professional.

 

Dustin Jeffrey [6th round pick 2007] - Jeffrey's smashed his last season AHL totals for goals, assists and points in fewer games, but he hasn't gotten as many chances in the NHL this season.  It remains to be seen if his scoring touch will translate to the next level.  Jeffrey, due to his AHL success, could be a prime trade target for another team, if Pittsburgh trades a prospect.

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Nick Johnson [3rd round pick, 2004] - Johnson got his first taste of NHL action and acquitted himself well.  He's also doing well producing points.  At age 24, he's getting old for an NHL prospect, so logic tends to say if Johnson's going to make it as an NHL player, it had better be soon.

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Ben Hanowski [3rd round pick, 2009] -    The youngest player on his team at 19 years old and sixth on the team in goals.  It's going to be a long-term project for Hanowski, but it seems he's settling into the collegiate game nicely.    Scored a goal with .01 seconds left.  Clutch.

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Mark Letestu [undrafted] -  Thanks to Max Talbot's injury, he's been in the NHL for the past couple weeks and has made the most of it, fitting in well at even strength -- which has cost guys like Jeffrey some NHL time.  Letestu is an accomplished scorer and point producer on the farm, but he's getting the chance to show he can adjust to the speed of the NHL game.  Letestu's about to turn 25, he's no spring chicken either, so how he fares over the next 8 months may determine his career path.

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Nathan Moon [4th round pick, 2008] -  Moon's on his way to a rare feat: leading a junior team in scoring for three straight seasons.  He remains unsigned and may be heading to a new NHL team if the Pens don't sign him soon.  Moon's been productive for three seasons now, hopefully we see him cut his teeth in the pros in this organization.

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Nick Petersen [4th round pick, 2009] -  Petersen is putting up some silly, video game style numbers.  Keep in mind he's one of the oldest players on Canada's best junior hockey team in an offensive minded league.  With that disclaimer, Petersen's 6th in the league in goals, 1st in plus/minus, t-12th in PPG.  And he's even missed eight games to injury.

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Casey Pierro-Zabotel [3rd round pick, 2007] -  The dreaded "numbers game" has kept CPZ in Wheeling for much of the season.  He's been called up to WB/S and they're trying to get him into the swing of things in the A, but it's been difficult for Pierro-Zabotel to make his mark.  Also notice his poor +/- and low shots/game ratio in the Coast, which could be danger flags.  It's probably too late to write off a player so skilled, but he hasn't had much of a chance to show consistency.

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Eric Tangradi [2rd round pick, 2007 (ANA)] -  The organization's premier power-forward prospect is developing slowly but surely.  In the calendar year of 2010, Tanger has 17 points (4g, 13a) in 21 games.  From reports, he may be still in need of improving his the speed of his early steps and use his frame even more, but remind yourself Tangradi just turned 21 years old.

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Keven Veilleux [3rd round pick, 2004] -  Veilleux's season was cut very short by a hip injury and surgery, a true lost year for the rookie.  Good luck to him on the rehab and let's hope for a bounce back next season.

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Joe Vitale [7th round pick, 2005] -  Vitale earned a contract extension recently, whih this early in the season ought to tell you the Penguins really value him.  Best case scenario is Vitale could be a Matt Cooke/Jarkko Ruutu type of forecheck grinder/pest in the NHL, though full-time big league duty next season is probably too rushed.

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