Every Monday we will do a weekly review on the Penguins top 10 prospects through the junior, collegiate and professional ranks. An intriguing player to watch this season is 2009 3rd pick Ben Hanowski who is getting top-6 minutes and is off to a strong start for No. 4 St. Cloud State.
1. Simon Despres - Age 19Born: 07-27-1991 - Laval, QC
Height: 6 – 4 Weight: 205 lbs
Position: D Shoots: L
2009 1st round draft pick
Estimated Arrival: 2011-2012
Current Team: Saint John (QMJHL)
2010-2011 stats: 2 GP - 1G - 0A - 1PTS - +1
Weekly Review: Top prospect Simon Despres who made quite an impression during training camp, scored a goal Friday night in his first game back with the Saint John Sea Dogs, a 6-2 win over Moncton. Despres marker was a short-handed tally.
Saint John's defeated Montreal 5-2 on Sunday to start 2-0 with Despres in the lineup. Saint John's is 7-3 on the season and are expected to be a top contender once again in the "Q".
Despres has been named an assistant captain and has 1 goal and a plus-1 rating through two games.
2. Robert Bortuzzo– Age 21Born: 3-18-1989, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
Height: 6-3 Weight: 211 lbs
Position: D Shoots: R
2007 3rd round draft pick
Estimated Arrival: 2011
Current Team: Wilkes Barre Scranton (AHL)
2010-2011 stats: 1GP - 0G - 0A - 0PTS - +1
Weekly Review: Robert Bortuzzo the Penguins No. 2 defenseman prospect, was a +1 in Wilkes Barre's 4-3 shootout win against the Hershey Bears Saturday night. Bortuzzo is playing a shutdown role with D-partner Brian Strait.
3. Beau Bennett, - Age 18Born: Gardena, California
Height: 6-foot-1: Weight: 176 lbs
Position: RW Shoots: R
2010 1st round pick
Estimated Arrival: 2014
Current Team: Denver University
2010-2011 Stats: 4GP - 0G - 3A - 3PTs
Weekly Review: Denver kicked off their exhibition season on October 2nd against the Under-18 US National Team. Bennett recorded 2 assists in the win and added a power play goal in Denver's 5-2 loss to Lethbridge, the following night.
Bennett tallied three points (1g-2A), all on the power play in exhibition play but was held pointless this past weekend in regular season play.
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