Penguins Prospects and Future Lineups: Forwards
by stoopidtom on Mar 4, 2010 2:17 PM EST
13 comments
I put off writing this article until after the trade deadline and I'm glad I had. As we all very well know, Luca Caputi was traded to Toronto in the Poni deal. After the jump, I'll explain my takes on the Caputi trade, future forward lineups, and stock up and stock down prospects
First I'll start with the Caputi trade. Although Poni fills a huge gap in the Penguins system, he may end up only being a rental. Caputi showed a lot of promise and that he could be a top 6 forward in the near future. He had all the tools to potentially become a very good power forward, another thing the Penguins will need in the near future. To sum up, happy about Poni, unhappy about Caputi. Enough about that. Here's where my projected future lineup stands. Keep in mind, this is barring trades, busts, breakouts, new draft picks, and any other unnamed outside influences (alien abductions, etc.):
Line 1: Tangradi- Crosby- Pierro-Zabotel
Line 2: Hanowski- Malkin- Petersen
Line 3: Jeffrey- Staal- Nick Johnson
Line 4: Vitale- Talbot- Moon
13th forward: Letestu
Line 1: There is not much doubt in anybody's mind that in a few years, highly touted prospect Eric Tangradi will be flanking Sid. For those of you who don't know him, he brings a mix of size (6'4", 220lbs), strength, skill, and physicality. He can create havoc in front of the net, very good at capitalizing on chances, and a nasty force around the boards. He has drawn comparisons to Rick Tocchet and John Stevens, but he will probably spend another year in the AHL. Casey Pierro-Zabotel has not succeeded in AHL play in his first pro season. Last year's WHL leading scorer has been demoted to ECHL Wheeling for development. Some may think he is a bust, but he may end up being a long-term project (see Scuderi, Robert). He draws comparisons to Tomas Holmstrom for his good puck-handling and abilities to capitalize on chances close to the net. He has top line potential if he lives up to it.
Line 2: Caputi was probably going to end up flanking Malkin, but now I think it will be up to St.Cloud scorer Ben Hanowski and breakout Nick Petersen. Hanowski made headlines in high school, scoring 73 goals and 62 assists... in 31 games! He has made the transition to college very nicely with 8 goals and 10 assists in 34 games as a freshman at St.Cloud state. He has shown good skating ability, a deadly wrist shot, and good puck distribution ability, but will need to work on his play without the puck. Nick Petersen leads the QMJHL with a +43 rating, 35 goals, and 35 assists. He has shown a very accurate wrist shot and good defensive play. Expect to see him in the AHL soon.
Line 3: Nick Johnson and Dustin Jeffrey are both NHL ready prospects who have both shown that they can fill almost any role put before them. Johnson has shown that he may be ready for the full time NHL roster next year, while Jeffrey may need another year before a full time NHL role.
Line 4: Joe Vitale and Nathan Moon both show potential to be effective agitators in the NHL and Moon may eventually be a decent scorer, too.
Other forwards that could possibly make it would be grandson of former Penguin Andy Bathgate of the same name and fragile Keven Veileux
Rise- Nick Petersen- The Penguins chose the 20-year old in the 4th round, 121 overall, and have not regretted it. Since then he has had a breakout season, putting up great numbers and looks to turn pro soon.
Fall- Keven Veilleux- Although he has great playmaking ability and can overpower opposing defensemen, his health has been a huge issue as he has not played a full season in any league since 06-07
There you have it. Leave questions in the comments and hope you enjoyed this. I will write an article about the defensive prospects soon.
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That is some good research.
Obviously this will never be 100% of the Penguins team, but it sheds a good look at some of the younger guys in the organization’s depth chart.
What about Tyler Kennedy? He’s young and carving a good niche. A guy like Moon doesn’t even have a contract and could be back in the draft this summer, so I find it a little curious on who you picked and who was omitted.
Also I don’t think Pierro-Zabotel will ever develop to a front-line NHL player. You liken his progress to Scuderi, but there’s a world of difference between a defensive defenseman’s development and a scoring forward. Also note that Scuderi never played below AHL level — he was always at least good enough to be in the top minor league.
CPZ has put up some sick stats in lower junior leagues and the only year of WHL he played he was old, playing against younger kids and he also had Evander Kane as a linemate. I think that explains his gaudy numbers that he put up. Also look at most scoring wingers (even ones with like 10-15 goals) and you’ll see a lot of them break into the NHL by age 22 or 23. The clock is definitely ticking on CPZ.
Again, I’d love to be wrong and I’m not trying to diss your work, but here’s how I’d see the Pens in the 2011-12 season filling out, based off of today:
Tangradi-Crosby-XXXXXX
XXXXXX-Malkin-XXXXXX
XXXXXX-Staal-Kennedy
Vitale-Talbot-XXXXXX
Orpik/Letang
Goligoski/Strait
Despres/XXXXXX
Fleury
XXXXXX
XXXXXX being guys acquired through trades or free agency. It’d be nice if a guy like Jeffrey, Johnson or Letestu sticks here, but a lot of guys seem to turnover quick in pro hockey. A guy like Orpik stays, because he has a contract through then.
Of course, 13 months ago I would have had Ryan Whitney in this, so things can change very quickly and drastically in a heartbeat.
Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.
When I was writing this I couldn’t find any prospects that could really end up being first liners and his ability to convert of close range opportunities would be good on Sid’s line. Also, I’m well aware that both development types are different and that scuderi never played below AHL, but when he was drafted, he was considered a project and look how he turned out. I forgot about Kennedy when I was writing this. I set up the lines based on the prospects they have now.
by stoopidtom on Mar 4, 2010 4:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I admit that as a Pens fan, I live very much in the here and now. It is great to be able to come on here and get info from folks who are much more knowledgable about what the future holds. I am wondering if you could do a quick run down on the guys we have currently that aren’t included in your projection? Hooks touched on it with the metion of TK, and I guess others may be obvious (unable to resign Gonchar, maybe Guerin retires?). Is it as simple as saying that some guys we won’t be interested in retaining and others will be fetching too much on the open market?
by PensAreYourDaddy on Mar 4, 2010 4:34 PM EST reply actions
Tangradi-Crosby-Veilleux
Nick Johnson-Malkin-Hanowski
Jeffrey- Staal- Kennedy
Moon- Talbot- Pierro-Zabotel
Backup F’s: Letestu, Petersen
D
Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Despres
Strait-Lovejoy
Backup D’s
Old FA’s
G
Fleury
Curry (hopefull)
also in the mix: Brown, Berkhoel
We still have our 1st Round pick we have to use it on a forward
by 2010 will be the year on Mar 4, 2010 5:24 PM EST reply actions
Nice post Tom!
I understand your concerns with Veilleux, but we have to have hope… from the few games he managed to put in this season in WBS I’ve been really impressed with him – a rare combination of size and skill. But he really, really needs to have a healthy next season to gain some professional experience to be ready for the jump.
You have to see it for yourself...
???
Luca Caputi WAS VERY UNDERSIZED AND I THOUGH HE WAS WORTH TRADING TO WIN A POSIBLE CUP NOW. IF CAPUTI WASNT ON THE BIG TEAM BY NOW, WHATS THE POINT IN KEEPING HIM? IN OUR TRADES, WE PICKED UP TWO GOOD PLAYERS WITHOUT GIVING UP ANYONE WHO PLAYS REGUARLY, GREAT MOVE.
THE NHL IS DIFFERENT THAN MOST LEAGUES. IT TAKES ALOT LONGER TO GET TO THE NHL THAN THE NFL (OF COARSE UNLESS U HAVE PETAGREE IN UR BLOOD LIKE SID). MOST OF THOSE PLAYERS U HAVE LISTED WITH OUR CURRENT STARS WILL NOT PLAY FOR THE PENS…..I GURENTEE IT!!
Actuall, Luca Caputi is 6’2" 184lbs, which is not huge but is not really undersized and he would have made the big club full time as soon as next season. I disagree with you that only a few of these players will be playing with the big club because with the already big contracts the penguins have, they will need to be able to chealy fill their roster, giving players like Nick Johnson, Dustin Jeffrey, Eric Tangradi a chance to make the roster. I know all of these prospects will not make the big club, but this is just a snapshot of what prospects we currently have, how they fit together and what’s in store for the future. Also, the NFL takes less time to develop prospects because they are already developed through college.
by stoopidtom on Mar 8, 2010 11:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
TANGRADI
I can’t wait till next season to see the “beast” Eric Tangradi up with the pens, hopefully. Since Ryan Malone left, there has not really been a power forward to step in on the pens. He will make a big impact no matter who he plays with. jeffery ,johnson, moon..ect are not top two line players. U will always need role players on the third and fourth line, so I’m not sure where they would fit in. I think the defensive side is more interesting since the pens only have two plays on d signed for next year. Lovejoy,Engaland i see playing a lot more next year.
Oh hindsight
It really makes you think when Caputi gets two points in a game and gets a pont in his first game with the Leafs. I agree with you about the trade: It is nice having Poni for a cup run, but at what cost seeing as he will only be a rental and Caputi could have filled a long term role.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
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