Pick your Development Camp DARKHORSE!!!

[Penspal]

Okay, so we are heading into the Pens Development Camp. Tons of prospects, all hyped up the wazoo by the Pens media & fans. But amongst them all is at least one darkhorse. One who will rise above the rest. I was limited to 20 names, so I have removed some of the more experienced guys as I am looking for the "sleeper" surprise performer at camp.

Who's your pick? (You can pick a total of THREE)

[Penspal]

Harrington was surprisingly Canada's go to D man during the WC last year until he was hurt in the semis.
Zlobin scored 2 goals in the championship game of the Memorial Cup, on a team that should not have won.
Dumuolin anchored the D of a 2 time NCAA champion.

One of these three guys will exceed expectations and when camp comes, will get extra attention and maybe a shot on the roster (not Zlobin, but I had to pick a forward)

[Drewski17]

with all the D drafted, im suprised they have enough fowards for lines during the scrimmages.

[sil]

I think Dumoulin has a very good chance of making this team out of camp.

[steelhammer]

I'm also going with Zlobin. When you see his highlights, a lot of his goals were unassisted and a result of his takeaways in the neutral zone (or even deeper). What can this guy do with some legitimate prospects on his line? Really wish I could be there this weekend. Dang vacation!

Edit: since I had to pick 3, also chose Wilson & Marcantouni.

[penny lane]

Matia Marcantuoni~ for the name & skating factor!

[sil]

I'm also going with Zlobin. When you see his highlights, a lot of his goals were unassisted and a result of his takeaways in the neutral zone (or even deeper). What can this guy do with some legitimate prospects on his line? Really wish I could be there this weekend. Dang vacation!

Skating/speed is Anton's issue. If you (not you personally, but LGP in general) dog Tangradi, I've a hard time imagining you will immediately love Zlobin.

[Penspal]

Matia Marcantuoni~ for the name & skating factor!

Shades of Rico Fata?

[steelhammer]

I think Dumoulin has a very good chance of making this team out of camp.

How? There is absolutely no room in the top 7 unless multiple d-men get traded.

[sil]

Matia Marcantuoni~ for the name & skating factor!

Just tell him to watch tape of Chris Kunitz and copy eveything he does...Matia will be just fine.

[sil]

I think Dumoulin has a very good chance of making this team out of camp.

How? There is absolutely no room in the top 7 unless multiple d-men get traded.

I think he's that good.

[steelhammer]

I'm also going with Zlobin. When you see his highlights, a lot of his goals were unassisted and a result of his takeaways in the neutral zone (or even deeper). What can this guy do with some legitimate prospects on his line? Really wish I could be there this weekend. Dang vacation!

Skating/speed is Anton's issue. If you (not you personally, but LGP in general) dog Tangradi, I've a hard time imagining you will immediately love Zlobin.

I've watched a few of his games and I'm not really sure where all of this knock on his skating has come from? In terms of agility maybe not so great, but he can fly in the open ice and can carve some sharp turns towards the net from the wing. Hopefully someone at the camp can report on how he looks compared to his comrades.

[steelhammer]

I think Dumoulin has a very good chance of making this team out of camp.

How? There is absolutely no room in the top 7 unless multiple d-men get traded.

I think he's that good.

I agree he is going to be a good one, but the Pens need a Strait/Bortuzzo d-man more than they need Dumoulin at the moment.

[penny lane]

I enjoy watching the young goalies too. Did the pens not keep the goalie from phoenix in the trade with Zybie M?

Mark Chervier??

[Jesse]

I think Dumoulin has a very good chance of making this team out of camp.

How? There is absolutely no room in the top 7 unless multiple d-men get traded.

I think he's that good.

I agree he is going to be a good one, but the Pens need a Strait/Bortuzzo d-man more than they need Dumoulin at the moment.

What's the difference between Strait and Bortuzzo over Dumoulin?

Dumoulin has one thing that guys like Lovejoy and Engelland don't. Pedigree. I'd play him over both of them every day of the week. Sadly, you won't see two rookie blueliners this year, so it's Despres or bust.

[Jesse]

I voted for Nick D'Agostino. Was one of the best players there last year and continues to mature in a Dman that projects as a solid #4 at the NHL level. No doubt, the best kept secret in the system.

I also voted for Dumoulin, for obvious reasons.

My final vote went to Ken Agostino. Feel like he's really developing into a solid forward. His ceiling is in question, but we don't have any forward prospect like him in the system. Maybe Ben Hanowski, who couldn't make it to camp this year.

[sil]

I voted for Nick D'Agostino. Was one of the best players there last year and continues to mature in a Dman that projects as a solid #4 at the NHL level. No doubt, the best kept secret in the system.

I also voted for Dumoulin, for obvious reasons.

My final vote went to Ken Agostino. Feel like he's really developing into a solid forward. His ceiling is in question, but we don't have any forward prospect like him in the system. Maybe Ben Hanowski, who couldn't make it to camp this year.

Do we know why Ben can't make it?

[sil]

I enjoy watching the young goalies too. Did the pens not keep the goalie from phoenix in the trade with Zybie M?

Mark Chervier??

Nope. He was not tendered. Just a throw in to get PHX under the contract limit.

[Jesse]

I voted for Nick D'Agostino. Was one of the best players there last year and continues to mature in a Dman that projects as a solid #4 at the NHL level. No doubt, the best kept secret in the system.

I also voted for Dumoulin, for obvious reasons.

My final vote went to Ken Agostino. Feel like he's really developing into a solid forward. His ceiling is in question, but we don't have any forward prospect like him in the system. Maybe Ben Hanowski, who couldn't make it to camp this year.

Do we know why Ben can't make it?

Rules regarding NCAA prospects attending pro camps are very different. In most cases, they have to foot their own bill and things of that nature. The Penguins typically make it pretty easy on them, but a lot of guys miss camp because of NCAA restrictions on travel, gear usage, etc.

[steelhammer]

I think Dumoulin has a very good chance of making this team out of camp.

How? There is absolutely no room in the top 7 unless multiple d-men get traded.

I think he's that good.

I agree he is going to be a good one, but the Pens need a Strait/Bortuzzo d-man more than they need Dumoulin at the moment.

What's the difference between Strait and Bortuzzo over Dumoulin?

Dumoulin has one thing that guys like Lovejoy and Engelland don't. Pedigree. I'd play him over both of them every day of the week. Sadly, you won't see two rookie blueliners this year, so it's Despres or bust.

Strait/Bortuzzo have AHL experience (were two of the best defenders in the league), NHL regular season experience, and NHL playoff experience. They specialize in playing shutdown roles and that's precisely what the Pens need. You can only have so many fancy skaters and hybrid d-men on a roster. How about we wait to see what Dumoulin looks like against some stiffer completion before we move him up the depth charts? Lots of players with "pedigree" end up getting overwhelmed on the pro leagues.

[Idoit40fans]

we don't have any forward prospect...in the system.

I knew it!

[meecrofilm]

I believe Hanowski is also taking a summer class as well.

[sil]

Strait/Bortuzzo have AHL experience (were two of the best defenders in the league), NHL regular season experience, and NHL playoff experience. They specialize in playing shutdown roles and that's precisely what the Pens need. You can only have so many fancy skaters and hybrid d-men on a roster. How about we wait to see what Dumoulin looks like against some stiffer completion before we move him up the depth charts? Lots of players with "pedigree" end up getting overwhelmed on the pro leagues.

Wait, I thought this was a pick your darkhorse thread based on our estimates of players...waiting to see what they do in camp is precisely part of the equation. ??? Also, I personally wouldn't label Strait a 'shutdown' guy just yet (actually I don't know if I'd label Bortuzzo 'shut down' either), nor would I define Dumoulin as a 'fancy skater.' Brian's a great skater, but he brings a whole lot more to the table. Dumoulin reminds me a lot of Orpik when he was that age...with better offensive upside.

[sil]

I believe Hanowski is also taking a summer class as well.

Hopefully it's Backchecking 101.

[meecrofilm]

He shouldn't be a "sleeper" but I picked Bennett anyway as one of my three because some people think he's going to suck or something. He's 200 pounds now and has been doing his off-season training with T.R. Goodman, who is one of the best in the country. Real character builder too.