Penguins/NHL
When top prospect Luca Caputi entered training camp this past September, Pittsburgh wanted Caputi to have a Tyler Kennedy kind of training camp from 2007; Have a dominant training camp and carry that play to the minors for the first 2-3 months of the season.
That wasn’t the case for Caputi who struggled for the most part. Pittsburgh had no intentions of Caputi pushing for a roster spot out of training camp but Pittsburgh wanted to see more out of him.
Through 14 games with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, Caputi has put his subpar camp in the rearview mirror.
Caputi has 6 goals on the season and he is finally playing with an “edge”. Management has wanted Caputi to be more aggressive in the offense zone and he has done that consistently for the first time in his young professional career.
He is getting pucks to the net, winning battles in the corners and is playing with some emotion. Team scouts have been very pleased with his development and many inside the organization believe Caputi is putting himself in position for a full-time call-up after the new year.
Friday night Caputi had a goal and an assist to lead Wilkes Barre to a 3-1 win over Albany.
Kennedy by the way was a full time call-up in late November of 2007 and he has never been back to the Penguins American Hockey League.
On the Farm: Latest buzz
*Eric Tangradi scored his second goal of the season Friday night against Albany.
After a injury plagued start, Tangradi is starting to find his game.
But, any talk of Tangradi being a full-time call-up this season is just wishful thinking from fans. After the new year, Tangradi may get his feet wet like Luca Caputi did for a few games last year but I’m told, not under any circumstances will Tangradi be considered for a full-time call-up this season.
Pittsburgh wants him to develop for at least a full year in the AHL.
*Some concern with prospect Dustin Jeffrey is that he doesn’t have a position
in the NHL with the Penguins.
Many scouts see him as being too finesse for a 3rd/4th line role in the NHL and he doesn’t have the skill to be a top 2 line center.
Jeffrey is a playmaking machine in the AHL and if he wants to have a role with the Penguins, he will have to become much more aggressive.
Pittsburgh likes his two-way game. The problem is that he’s too soft.
