Tom Venesky of the Wilkes-BarreTimes Leaderhas a good piece today on Penguins prospect Ryan Stone, the team's second-round draft pick in 2003.Basically, it explains that after years of waiting for hisopportunity, this is Stone's best chance to stick with the Penguins full time.It's also probably his last chance. Should he not make the team out of trainingcamp, he would need to clear waivers in order for the team to send himback to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.From our vantage point, we think the Penguins need Stone.He's a physical player with some decent size (6-foot-2, 199 pounds) who can play a powerforward type of game. Plus Stone doesn't mind getting his knuckles bloody. Hehad ten fights between the/nhl and AHL last season. He also seems to have a healthy dislike for the Flyers organization which certainly won't hurt his cause:(Please visit the site to view this media)(Please visit the site to view this media)Additionally, Stone can provide offense on occasion:(Please visit the site to view this media)(Please visit the site to view this media)("Softer than yogurt" might be the greatest call ever.)Considering the losses of Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, RyanMalone, Gary Roberts and Jarkko Ruutu, Stone, a restricted free agent after this season, is exactly the player the Penguinsneed to compliment the finesse of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora andothers. He won't make Penguins fans forget Ruutu or Roberts, but he's certainlycapable of replacing some their toughness.If nothing else, Stone's presence on the roster would besomething of a rarity for the Penguins. Only a handful of players drafted inthe second round by the Penguins have played at least 82 games for the team. Andnone of them have been "recent" selections. Stone and Alex Goligoski(2004), each have a chance to change that trend and end the franchise's "curse" of poor second-round picks.A look at every second-round pick in the history of thefranchise and how many regular season games they suited up for in a Penguinsjersey: PlayerYeardraftedGamesPlayed Greg Malone1976495Russ Anderson1975353Wayne Bianchin1973264Colin Campbell1973243Jim Hamilton197795Steve Gatzos198189Todd Charlesworth198386Rick Kessell196983Jacques Cossette197464Paul Marshall197959Matt Murley199959Richard Park199458Tim Hrynewich198255Bernie Lukowich197253Shane Endicott200045John Stewart197040Lee Giffin198527Noah Welch200127Rusty Fitzgerald199125Ron Snell19687Dave Capuano19866Brian McKenzie19716Ryan Stone20036Mike Meeker19784Pavel Skrbek19964Alex Goligoski20043Dominic Pittis19931Rick Tabaracci19871Brian Gaffaney19970Michael Gergen20050Marc Hussey19920Paul Laus19890Mark Major19880Ondrej Nemec20020Johannes Salmonsson20040Carl Sneep20060Jeremy Van Hoof19990Keven Veilleux20070Alexander Zevakhin19980 (Photo: BruceBennett/Getty Images)EMPTY NETTER ASSISTSPenguins-Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was awarded with an Order ofNova Scotia Award.To us, that sounds like something you would give someone you would trust indefending your land from marauding invaders.-The Sidney CrosbyShowfound a picture of the award.-The/nhl will be using that "Is This They Year?" campaignagain in its advertising.Crosby will be featured in the national ads.-The Penguins' center ice design won a contest over at Icethetics.-The Hockey News is holding a tournament involving the logos of seemingly any organized hockey team in existence. The Penguins aren't doing too well in the first round. You can vote here. (Kudos to EN Reader Jennifer Nelson of Virginia for the find.)-Tiger Woods? Roger Federer? Brett Favre? They're only halfas good as Janne Pesonen.-Former Penguins goaltender Paul Harrison was awarded with aCommissioner's Comendation from the OntarioProvincial Police.-EN Reader Jarrett Rathke of Milwaukee noticed something rather... um... unoriginal... about the logo of HC Slovan Bratislava a team in the Slovak Extraliga, Slovakia's highest professional hockey league: That use to the Capitals' shade of blue is a complete rip off.Atlantic Division-Former Flyers forward Eric Lindros explained why he won'tbe attending a puppy-drowning ceremony at the Spectrum.Northeast Division-The Senators signed former Canucks forward Brad Isbister toa one-year two-way deal.-Apparently, Empty Netters is a good source for amateurhockey news in Western New York.Southeast Division-The Thrashers signed 2008 first-round pick Zach Bogosian.-The Hurricanes will unveil their third jersey next week.-Forward Jeff O'Neill isn't exactly a lock to make theHurricanes roster this season.-The Lightning's season ticket sales are down this year.Central Division-The Blues signed 2008 first-round pick Alex Pietrangelo.He is a cousin of former Penguins goaltender Frank Pietrangelo.-Red Wings coach Mike Babcock isn't planning on playing forwardsPavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on the same line together.-Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard got to spend a day withthe Stanley Cup.Northwest Division-The Canucks will retire the jersey of former captain TrevorLinden.-New Canucks enforcer Darcy Hordichuk spent some time withmixed martial artist Chuck Liddell.-Former Wild forward Mark Parrish is still looking for work.Pacific Division-The Kings signed restricted free agent forward Jarett Stollto a four-year deal worth $14.4 million.Stoll's rights were acquired from Edmontonin a June trade.-New Sharks defenseman Rob Blake wishes he were five yearsyounger.Norris Division-The KHL is mad at the/nhl again.-Remember when the/nhl cited rising ticket prices a reasonfor staging the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season?We don't either.Source
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Stone ready for the NHL?
Tom Venesky of the Wilkes-BarreTimes Leaderhas a good piece today on Penguins prospect Ryan Stone, the team's second-round draft pick in 2003.Basically, it explains that after years of waiting for hisopportunity, this is Stone's best chance to stick with the Penguins full time.It's also probably his last chance. Should he not make the team out of trainingcamp, he would need to clear waivers in order for the team to send himback to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.From our vantage point, we think the Penguins need Stone.He's a physical player with some decent size (6-foot-2, 199 pounds) who can play a powerforward type of game. Plus Stone doesn't mind getting his knuckles bloody. Hehad ten fights between the/nhl and AHL last season. He also seems to have a healthy dislike for the Flyers organization which certainly won't hurt his cause:(Please visit the site to view this media)(Please visit the site to view this media)Additionally, Stone can provide offense on occasion:(Please visit the site to view this media)(Please visit the site to view this media)("Softer than yogurt" might be the greatest call ever.)Considering the losses of Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, RyanMalone, Gary Roberts and Jarkko Ruutu, Stone, a restricted free agent after this season, is exactly the player the Penguinsneed to compliment the finesse of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora andothers. He won't make Penguins fans forget Ruutu or Roberts, but he's certainlycapable of replacing some their toughness.If nothing else, Stone's presence on the roster would besomething of a rarity for the Penguins. Only a handful of players drafted inthe second round by the Penguins have played at least 82 games for the team. Andnone of them have been "recent" selections. Stone and Alex Goligoski(2004), each have a chance to change that trend and end the franchise's "curse" of poor second-round picks.A look at every second-round pick in the history of thefranchise and how many regular season games they suited up for in a Penguinsjersey: PlayerYeardraftedGamesPlayed Greg Malone1976495Russ Anderson1975353Wayne Bianchin1973264Colin Campbell1973243Jim Hamilton197795Steve Gatzos198189Todd Charlesworth198386Rick Kessell196983Jacques Cossette197464Paul Marshall197959Matt Murley199959Richard Park199458Tim Hrynewich198255Bernie Lukowich197253Shane Endicott200045John Stewart197040Lee Giffin198527Noah Welch200127Rusty Fitzgerald199125Ron Snell19687Dave Capuano19866Brian McKenzie19716Ryan Stone20036Mike Meeker19784Pavel Skrbek19964Alex Goligoski20043Dominic Pittis19931Rick Tabaracci19871Brian Gaffaney19970Michael Gergen20050Marc Hussey19920Paul Laus19890Mark Major19880Ondrej Nemec20020Johannes Salmonsson20040Carl Sneep20060Jeremy Van Hoof19990Keven Veilleux20070Alexander Zevakhin19980 (Photo: BruceBennett/Getty Images)EMPTY NETTER ASSISTSPenguins-Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was awarded with an Order ofNova Scotia Award.To us, that sounds like something you would give someone you would trust indefending your land from marauding invaders.-The Sidney CrosbyShowfound a picture of the award.-The/nhl will be using that "Is This They Year?" campaignagain in its advertising.Crosby will be featured in the national ads.-The Penguins' center ice design won a contest over at Icethetics.-The Hockey News is holding a tournament involving the logos of seemingly any organized hockey team in existence. The Penguins aren't doing too well in the first round. You can vote here. (Kudos to EN Reader Jennifer Nelson of Virginia for the find.)-Tiger Woods? Roger Federer? Brett Favre? They're only halfas good as Janne Pesonen.-Former Penguins goaltender Paul Harrison was awarded with aCommissioner's Comendation from the OntarioProvincial Police.-EN Reader Jarrett Rathke of Milwaukee noticed something rather... um... unoriginal... about the logo of HC Slovan Bratislava a team in the Slovak Extraliga, Slovakia's highest professional hockey league: That use to the Capitals' shade of blue is a complete rip off.Atlantic Division-Former Flyers forward Eric Lindros explained why he won'tbe attending a puppy-drowning ceremony at the Spectrum.Northeast Division-The Senators signed former Canucks forward Brad Isbister toa one-year two-way deal.-Apparently, Empty Netters is a good source for amateurhockey news in Western New York.Southeast Division-The Thrashers signed 2008 first-round pick Zach Bogosian.-The Hurricanes will unveil their third jersey next week.-Forward Jeff O'Neill isn't exactly a lock to make theHurricanes roster this season.-The Lightning's season ticket sales are down this year.Central Division-The Blues signed 2008 first-round pick Alex Pietrangelo.He is a cousin of former Penguins goaltender Frank Pietrangelo.-Red Wings coach Mike Babcock isn't planning on playing forwardsPavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on the same line together.-Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard got to spend a day withthe Stanley Cup.Northwest Division-The Canucks will retire the jersey of former captain TrevorLinden.-New Canucks enforcer Darcy Hordichuk spent some time withmixed martial artist Chuck Liddell.-Former Wild forward Mark Parrish is still looking for work.Pacific Division-The Kings signed restricted free agent forward Jarett Stollto a four-year deal worth $14.4 million.Stoll's rights were acquired from Edmontonin a June trade.-New Sharks defenseman Rob Blake wishes he were five yearsyounger.Norris Division-The KHL is mad at the/nhl again.-Remember when the/nhl cited rising ticket prices a reasonfor staging the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season?We don't either.Source
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment