Penguins open Prospect camp September 10

The Pittsburgh Penguins will hold their 2010 prospect camp from Friday, Sept. 10 to Tuesday, Sept. 14 in London, Ontario. Penguins’ prospects will compete in a Rookie Tournament at the John Labatt Centre against prospects from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks.

Penguins’ prospects will be in Pittsburgh Friday morning to undergo physicals and fitness testing at CONSOL Energy Center before departing for London. Players will be available to the media at 9 a.m.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach John Hynes and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine will oversee the players attending the camp. Among the players taking part are promising prospects Eric Tangradi, Dustin Jeffrey and Simon Despres.

Tangradi (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) made his NHL debut last year, appearing in one game for Pittsburgh April 11 at NY Islanders. The 21-year-old forward completed his first season with WBS in 2009-10, posting 17 goals and 39 points in 65 games. Tangradi, a Philadelphia, Pa. native, was a second-round pick (42nd overall) by Anaheim in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Jeffrey led WBS in assists (47), points (71) and plus-minus rating (+16), while placing second in goals (24). Jeffrey’s 71 points ranked 11th (tied) in the American Hockey League. For his efforts, the 22-year-old Sarnia, Ontario native was named to the AHL Canadian All-Star Team.

Despres, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick (30th overall) in the 2009 Draft, enjoyed his best season with Saint John of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 19-year-old blueliner set career highs across the board in goals (9), assists (38), points (47), plus-minus rating (+26) and power-play goals (4). The Laval, Quebec native posted 19 points (2G-17A) and a plus-14 rating in 21 playoff games to help the Sea Dogs advance to the Final Round of the 2010 QMJHL playoffs.

Other prospects attending the camp include: defenseman Carl Sneep, who helped lead Boston College to two NCAA championships in the last three years; and Nick Petersen, who posted 39 goals and 79 points for Saint John in 2009-10.

Pittsburgh Penguins veterans will report to training camp in Pittsburgh Sept. 17. Schedule details will be released prior to the opening of camp.

The rookie camp roster consists of: