Penguins/NHL
Full-Time Callup for Caputi will lead to trade or demotion for a veteran or two
Forwards Luca Caputi, Eric Tangradi and Casey Pierro-Zabotel are three of the Penguins top forward prospects in their system.
Tangradi and Pierro-Zabotel already have their tickets booked to Wilkes Barre and indications are Caputi will also join them.
Caputi needs more time in Wilkes Barre, is the vibe coming out of the Penguins rookie tournament.
What the Penguins want to see from Caputi is have a dominate training camp and spend the first couple months in Wilkes Barre. Similar to what Tyler Kennedy did in 2007.
His timetable to the NHL is in his hands but it won’t be in October.
One prospect who will get a look with the big club will be Nick Johnson. There are mixed opinions on him in the organization but he has done everything that the team has asked him to do. Scouts tell me he’s the most under-rated prospect in the Penguins system. He remains a longshot though to earn a spot out of camp
Dustin Jeffrey will have an opportunity to win the No. 4 center spot. But, It’s Luca Caputi who could ship a veteran or two out of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh will not be bring Caputi up to the big club to play on the 4th line. If he finds a way to earn a roster spot by late November or early December, it will be on one of the Penguins top three lines.
People I’ve talked too believe Caputi would be a great fit with Jordan Staal on the third line to begin his NHL career
