Pens Prospect Report: On Tangradi, Scouts raving about Harrington; Hanowski’s strong play

1. Joe Morrow – D

2011 1st round pick | Team: Portland, WHL

Stats:15 GP – 3 Goals – 12 Assists – 15 Pts – 32 PIM – -5

2. Simon Despres – D

2009 1st Round Pick | Team: Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins

Stats: 11 GP – 1 Goal – 1 Assist – 2 Pts – 14 PIM – +1

(*1 Game Winning Goal, 2nd among D-men with 26 shots)

3. Beau Bennett – RW

2010 1st round pick | Team: Denver University

Stats: 4 GP – 1 Goal – 5 Assists – 6 Pts – 21 PIM – +4

4. Scott Harrington – D

2011 2nd Round Pick | Team: London OHL

Stats: 16 GP – 0 Goals – 9 Assists – 9 Pts – 15 PIM – +18

5. Robert Bortuzzo – D

2007 3rd Round Pick | Team: Wilkes Barre/Scranton

Stats: 2 GP – 0 Goals – 0 Assists – 0 Points – 6 PIM – +3

6. Eric Tangradi – LW

2007 2nd round pick (ANA) | Team: Wilkes Barre/Scranton

Stats: 11 GP – 5 Goals – 5 Assists – 10 Points – +3

(*1 Game Winning Goal)

7. Tom Kuhnhackl – RW

2010 4th round pick | Team: Niagra, OHL

6 GP – 1 Goal – 4 Assists – 5 Points – 11 PIM – -5

8. Philip Samuelson – D

2009 2nd round pick | Team: Wilkes Barre/Scranton

Stats: 8 GP – 0 Goals – 1 Assist – 1 Pts – 2 PIM – +4

9. Brian Strait – D

2006 3rd round pick | Team: Wilkes Barre/Scranton

Stats: 1 Goal – 3 Assists – 4 Pts – 0 PIM – +6

(*Currently on injured reserve with NHL Penguins)

10. Kenny Agostino – F

2010 5th round pick | Team: Yale

Stats: 4 GP – 0 Goals – 0 Assists – 0 Pts – 0 PIM – -1

*Following his disappointing demotion to the minors after a lackluster training camp, Eric Tangradi went into the season with a great attitude and strong work ethic and it’s led to results. Tangradi is second on the Baby Pens with 10 points and 5 goals. As good as Tangradi may play this season, I still feel his best asset to the organization is as a trade chip. Too many evaluators question him ever being a fit in Dan Bylsma’s system.

*Spoke with an OHL scout over the weekend who raved about 2nd round pick Scott Harrington, praising his overall play and “hockey IQ” for a young defenseman. Harrington has been a top performer on a very good 15-2-1 London team.

*2009 3rd round pick Ben Hanowski has plummeted on the Penguins prospect board but in his junior year, Hanowski is starting to figure things out offensively. The prolific high school goal scorer who drew comparisons to Thomas Vanek (goal scoring standpoint) from scouts in the 2009 draft, has 6 goals and 11 points in 10 games for St. Cloud.