by eastonpensfan on Thu May 17, 2007 6:47 am
There will be some guys who will come from college (Brown, Goepfert, Goligoski?) and some Europeans (Sersen?, Paquet?) but the cupboard will be thin.
GM Chuck Fletcher will need to be creative because the AHL has a 'veterans rule' that states that only 5 skaters who have played over a certain number of games may dress for any game. That's why there's so much movement among AHL UFAs. By the end of the season, the Pens had a lot of vets who would have to take turns sitting next year. That list includes Brookbank, Bonvie, Carkner, DuPont, Skolney, etc.
The reason I didn't include Ehelechner is the same reason that I didn't add Libor Pivko to the list. Both players said that they would go to Europe if they didn't make the NHL roster. The White Tiger did that this year and would probably do the same next year. It only makes sense because they can make a lot more overseas than here in the minors.
On this team, Peter Ratchuk, Connor James, and Matt Carkner have all been scouted this year by German teams.