Pierro-Zabotel to WBS

Henry Hank · Post by **Henry Hank** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:21 am

http://www.oursportscentral.com/service ... id=3624539

Got that from Bombulie's blog. Another amateur tryout for another 2007 draft pick to join Veilleux and Caputi. Who knows how much any of these guys will actually play but it's gotta be a good experience for them nonetheless.

wickedsinner · Post by **wickedsinner** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:43 pm

I'm so excited to see this guy play. He is supposed to be great in front of the net. Hopefully NHL network will have some more wbs playoff games to watch.

Post by **eastonpensfan** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:56 pm

wickedsinner wrote:
I'm so excited to see this guy play. He is supposed to be great in front of the net. Hopefully NHL network will have some more wbs playoff games to watch.

You can watch games on a pay-per-view basis on B2. $6.

Post by **WWGRD** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:10 pm

eastonpensfan wrote:
wickedsinner wrote:
I'm so excited to see this guy play. He is supposed to be great in front of the net. Hopefully NHL network will have some more wbs playoff games to watch.
You can watch games on a pay-per-view basis on B2. $6.

I believe it's $7 for playoffs

Post by **penny lane** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:33 am

dumb question?

Can these players recently signed to WBS play for the pens?
Are there injury or contract conditions?

Post by **the wicked child** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:09 pm

penny lane wrote:
dumb question?

Can these players recently signed to WBS play for the pens?
Are there injury or contract conditions?

I beleive theya re all signed to "try out" contracts.

None of them are under contract with the Penguins. I believe they would have needed to be signed prior to the trade deadline to be eligible regardless.

I don't think they would be the first on the Pens' list even if it were possible though... not sure NHL playoffs are the right time for your first professional experience.

Post by **penny lane** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:59 pm

the wicked child wrote:
penny lane wrote:
dumb question?

Can these players recently signed to WBS play for the pens?
Are there injury or contract conditions?
I beleive theya re all signed to "try out" contracts.

None of them are under contract with the Penguins. I believe they would have needed to be signed prior to the trade deadline to be eligible regardless.

I don't think they would be the first on the Pens' list even if it were possible though... not sure NHL playoffs are the right time for your first professional experience.

Just wondering ...

thanks for taking the time to repsond.

Jesse · Post by **Jesse** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:53 pm

Here's the interview I did with CPZ after the draft last year:

http://www.faceoff-factor.com/interview ... ro-zabotel

I really, really like this kid. In fact, I am about as excited for CPZ's development as I was Kris Letang's.

This kid is what the team needs. Straight to the front of the goal. He plays a great north/south game. Says his game is akin to AHolmstrom and he's dead on. Great shooter. Will throw the puck on goal from anywhere. Good at posession in the corner. Not the best skater, but it's gotten better.

Soft spoken kid. Real quiet. Seems to keep to himself. But he's a hard worker and he lays it all out there.

K2 · Post by K2 » Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:24 pm

Can CPZ play in WBS next season?

Henry Hank · Post by **Henry Hank** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:27 pm

According to Fletcher he can but they might send him back to juniors for another season.

DelPen · Post by **DelPen** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:08 am

Henry Hank wrote:
According to Fletcher he can but they might send him back to juniors for another season.

I guess it will depend if they have too many guys on the top end and can't get CPZ enpough ice time. Right now I don't see any new guys besides Jeffrey and Caputi to join Stone and Filewich to make up what should be the top 6 in regards to future potential.

What is the cutoff though, CPZ's birthday is November 8, 1988, seems just a little bit late to be able to play in WBS.

Henry Hank · Post by **Henry Hank** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:22 am

Nick Johnson will be a rookie in WBS next year with Caputi and Jeffrey. With Pierro-Zabotel they seem more uncertain about whether or not he's ready for the AHL than anything. He's only played about a half season of juniors. I bet he goes back to the WHL unless he really shines in training camp.

They've got Minard signed through next season so he'll still play a prominent role down there even though he's not a prospect. Brent, Stone, and Filewich are all RFAs but I'd bet that they'd retain them all. They're all waiver eligible so none of them are guaranteed to even make it down there. But if they do, Brent at least is probably their top center. Stone and Filewich will have to earn their spots back not only on the top end at WBS but also in the future in Pittsburgh.

They'll probably still supplement the roster with some vets because as we saw this season sometimes you need to dip down into the minors. But there should be less movement than last season after they ended the agreement with Edmonton. They're set in goal with Curry and Brown, a decent amount of the D should be back for sure (Goligoski, Engelland, Lovejoy, D'Aversa, Bissonnette) and the forwards I already talked about.

Jesse · Post by **Jesse** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:35 am

CPZ should go back to Vancouver.

We're talking about a kid that was originally slated for Michigan Tech, failed to gain entry, and joined a competitive WHL team halfway through the season without any sort of proper preparation.

I really want to see what CPZ can do in a full year with training camp and a little familiarity with the system.

As an aside, his skating isn't ready for the AHL anyway. He showed marked improvement in finesse after his arrival with the Giants, a full year back there would really compliment his movement and allow him to properly prepare himself for a good run the following year.

Post by **eastonpensfan** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:38 pm

Henry Hank wrote:
Nick Johnson will be a rookie in WBS next year with Caputi and Jeffrey. With Pierro-Zabotel they seem more uncertain about whether or not he's ready for the AHL than anything. He's only played about a half season of juniors. I bet he goes back to the WHL unless he really shines in training camp.

They've got Minard signed through next season so he'll still play a prominent role down there even though he's not a prospect. Brent, Stone, and Filewich are all RFAs but I'd bet that they'd retain them all. They're all waiver eligible so none of them are guaranteed to even make it down there. But if they do, Brent at least is probably their top center. Stone and Filewich will have to earn their spots back not only on the top end at WBS but also in the future in Pittsburgh.

They'll probably still supplement the roster with some vets because as we saw this season sometimes you need to dip down into the minors. But there should be less movement than last season after they ended the agreement with Edmonton. They're set in goal with Curry and Brown, a decent amount of the D should be back for sure (Goligoski, Engelland, Lovejoy, D'Aversa, Bissonnette) and the forwards I already talked about.

A couple extra points to add. Lovejoy is not signed for next year at the moment and Bissonnette is a RFA. Lannon is a UFA and D'Aversa is horrible. The only true AHL-caliber D on the roster now that are guaranteed to be back are Goligoski and Engelland.