Pens Tidbits

[SteelCityMan786]

Originally Posted by 83-Steelers-43

SCM, a reminder. Stan Savern will be talking some Penguins hockey with Paul Steigerwald this upcoming Monday.

Thanks 83.

[83-Steelers-43]

Rumors.........

I've just been told that Kovalev will either end up in Pittsburgh or Washington. The Edmonton Oilers have their sights set on Sergei Gonchar and Joni Pitkanen. Penguins are still not looking to trade Gonchar. Ryan Malone will be traded. MTL, COL, CLB, EDM and Nashville have jumped to the fore front as teams that have possible interest. Eric Christensen and Colby Armstrong could be moved to help the blue line. Jarkko Ruutu is a surprising name to pop up in the rumor mill this morning. Somehow he was linked to Chicago but don't think it has any legitimacy. The Penguins have no intentions of trading Laraque. Ryan Stone could be included into any deal as it looks like there is not a place for him on the roster. The Penguins and Ryan Whitney are in talks about a long term deal reports Rob Rossi.

Once again, these are just rumors, take them for what they are worth or don't take them at all.

[SteelCityMan786]

Originally Posted by 83-Steelers-43

Rumors.........

I've just been told that Kovalev will either end up in Pittsburgh or Washington. The Edmonton Oilers have their sights set on Sergei Gonchar and Joni Pitkanen. Penguins are still not looking to trade Gonchar. Ryan Malone will be traded. MTL, COL, CLB, EDM and Nashville have jumped to the fore front as teams that have possible interest. Eric Christensen and Colby Armstrong could be moved to help the blue line. Jarkko Ruutu is a surprising name to pop up in the rumor mill this morning. Somehow he was linked to Chicago but don't think it has any legitimacy. The Penguins have no intentions of trading Laraque. Ryan Stone could be included into any deal as it looks like there is not a place for him on the roster. The Penguins and Ryan Whitney are in talks about a long term deal reports Rob Rossi.

Once again, these are just rumors, take them for what they are worth or don't take them at all.

Good to know what could go down though man.

[SteelCityMan786]

http://post-gazette.com/pg/07173/796524-61.stm

Penguins tap Angelo Esposito in first-round NHL draft

Friday, June 22, 2007
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Penguins selected center Angelo Esposito with their first-round choice in the NHL Entry draft at Nationwide Arena tonight.

Esposito, who was taken 20th overall, had 27 goals and 52 assists in 60 games with Quebec in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. He is 6 foot 1, 180 pounds and was ranked No. 8 among North American forwards and defensemen by NHL Central Scouting after being first in the mid-season ratings.

He is regarded as one of the most skilled players in the Class of 2007, but his intangibles were called into question during the past season after he had been anointed a popular choice to be the first player taken this year.

Shortly before the draft began, the Penguins traded forward Chris Thorburn, who will be a restricted free agent July 1, to Atlanta for a third-round draft choice, the 78th overall.

Thorburn, claimed on waivers from Buffalo last fall, had three goals, two assists and 69 penalty minutes in 39 games with the Penguins in 2006-07.

Rounds 2-7 of the draft will be conducted tomorrow.

[SteelCityMan786]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_514022.html

Penguins select Esposito with 20th pick of NHL draft
By Rob Rossi
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, June 22, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Penguins selected left-handed center Angelo Esposito with the 20th pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, Friday night.

Esposito, from Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, was the top-ranked mid-term player by the NHL's central scouting bureau before what independent scouting service Red Line Report called a "perplexing fall from grace." He was viewed as the consensus top choice coming into the season.

Esposito scored 27 goals and recorded 79 points in 60 games with Quebec.

Each of the previous six first-round picks were on the roster this past season. They included: Jordan Staal (2006), Sidney Crosby (2005), Evgeni Malkin (2004), Marc-Andre Fleury (2003), Ryan Whitney (2002) and Colby Armstrong (2001).

[83-Steelers-43]

Some comments from both Shero and Esposito....

Shero:

"We had him very high on our list," general manager Ray Shero said. "So much so that we didn't have a name tag for him" -- We thought he would be gone earlier -- especially at 15, 16 or 17, but made sure he wasn't there for the club picking 21st."

"There was so much pressure and expectation on him this season," Shero said. "Coming into our situation is going to be good for him because he will be out of the limelight that is cast upon some of other guys."

Shero would not go so far as to predict a roster spot for Esposito this year. However, at the close of the first round, he was smiling like a man who had successfully pulled off a grand heist.

"I hope so," Shero said.

Shero said "we're not sure" and that "we don't really care" why Esposito's stock plummeted,

"I really believe that coming into the environment, with the team we have and a lot of guys to take that pressure off him ... he'll be like a Jordan Staal, able to fly under the radar a bit and be able to settle in,"

Esposito:

"I am not disappointed at all," Esposito said. "In fact, I have never been happier ... I could not say this before the draft, but the Penguins were always a team I could see myself playing for when I was growing up.".

"It's over now, and I'm looking forward to the future," he said. It's going to be a good challenge for me," he said. "We'll see what happens in training camp. I can't look too far ahead.".

"I'm working hard this summer," said Esposito, whose workout partners include Tampa Bay center Vincent Lecavalier. "My goal is to play in the NHL next year. "But, obviously, if it doesn't happen and I have to wait a year or so, I wouldn't be upset."

[83-Steelers-43]

Penguins Acquire Tim Brent From Anaheim
Pittsburgh Penguins Jun 23, 2007, 12:32 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded Stephen Dixon to Anaheim for Tim Brent.

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?se...ticleid=322985

[83-Steelers-43]

With the 51st Selection in the 2007 Entry Draft the Pittsburgh Penguins Select......

Kevin Veilleux
Team: Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Pos: Centre
Shoots: R
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 202 lbs.
Born: 6/27/1989
From: Saint-Renee, QC

RANKINGS
TSN: 55
CSB: 33
NAISS: 47
RLR: 52
THN: 20

From NHL Central Scouting: A skilled forward with very good size. Handles the puck well and has the ability to make pinpoint passes in traffic. Has good top-end speed and a hard shot. Needs to learn to use his size to his advantage and get more physical. Needs to improve his first step quickness. Completed his second season with the Tigers posting 55 points (20-35-55). Participated in the CHL Top Prospects game adding one goal for Team White. Played the first game of the Canada-Russia Challenge two-game series with Team QMJHL posting three points (1-2-3). Named as a forward for Team Canada at the Under-18 World Championships in April 2007.

Hockey Profile: Completed his second season with the Tigers posting 55 points (20-35-55)… participated in the CHL Top Prospects game adding one goal for Team White… played the first game of the Canada-Russia Challenge two-game series with Team QMJHL posting three points (1-2-3)… named as a forward for Team Canada at the Under-18 World Championships in April 2007.

Personal Profile: Nickname is Adel… wears #44 in memory of Jonathan Delisle a fourth round Montreal Draft pick in 1995… credits his parents for having the most influence on his career… outside of hockey he admires golfer Tiger Woods the most… most memorable hockey game watched: the fight filled game, known as the “Brawl in Hockeytown", between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche in their last match-up of the 1996-97 regular season in which the Red.

[83-Steelers-43]

With the 78th Selection in the 2007 Entry Draft the Pittsburgh Penguins Select......

Robert Bortuzzo

Kitchener • OHL
6'3", 196 lbs.
Defense
shoots right
Born: March 18, 1989 in Thunder Bay, Ontario

Final Ranking: 48 • Mid-Term Ranking: 100 • North American Skater

Central Scouting Report: A stay-at-home defenseman who plays his best when he keeps it simple and makes the safe play… battles hard and willing to block shots as well as take a hit… reads the play well and reacts ccordingly… needs to improve his footwork and needs to be more consistent with the puck in traffic.

Personal Profile: Nicknames are Bert or Bort… patterns his game after his favorite player, Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom – “best offensive defenseman and a great leader”… admires his father and credits him for having the most influence on his career… if he could invite any three people to dinner he would choose: Bobby Orr – “best defenseman ever", Lance Armstrong and former NHLer Bob Probert – “for their great stories”… most memorable hockey experience: semifinals of the Royal Bank Championship… most memorable hockey game watched: Canada’s seventh round shootout victory win over Team USA in the 2007 World Junior Championships semi-final game… favorites include: Detroit Red Wings (NHL team), “shot five hole” (shootout move), Ping Pong and NHL 2007 (video games), Seinfeld (TV show), Dumb & Dumber (movie), John Depp (actor).

[83-Steelers-43]

With the 80th Selection in the 2007 Entry Draft the Pittsburgh Penguins Select......

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

Merritt • BCHL
6'1", 205 lbs.
Center, shoots left
Born: November 8, 1988 in Ashcroft, British Columbia


Final Ranking: 75 • Mid-Term Ranking: 87 • North American Skater

Central Scouting Report: A skilled forward with good stickhandling skills… uses his long reach to his advantage and protects the puck well… has good vision and can make passes through traffic… has a strong stride… needs to improve his defensive coverage and commitment to a two-way game.

Hockey Profile: Was named as the BCHL Interior Conference Most Valuable player in 2007 after leading his conference in scoring with 116 points (51-65116) in 55 games… captured gold with Team Canada West at the World Junior A hallenge in 2006 – was second in tournament scoring with nine points (3-6-9), including a goal in the 4-3 gold medal-winning game… was selected to participate in the CJAHL Prospects in game in 2006 for Team West and was also a member of Team Coastal in the 2007 BCHL All-Star Show Case… had 55 points (20-35-55) in 60 games with Merritt in 2005-06.

Personal Profile: Nickname is Zabby… if he had the chance to invite anyone to dinner he would choose: Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux – “they are all good hockey players and good leaders”… most memorable hockey game played: Provincial Championship game “because it was for everything”… most memorable hockey game watched: seeing Canada win gold at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City… outside of hockey admires Greg Kozoris for all that he has taught him… patterns his game after Joe Thornton – “he’s big and good with the puck”… names his parents as having had the most influence on his career – “they did everything for me to play hockey”… putting the right side of his gear on first is part of his pre-game superstitions… favorites include: Colorado Avalanche (NHL team), Joe Sakic (NHL player), “deke backhand” (shootout move),