FIVE FORMER WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS INVITED TO U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S ICE HOCKEY ORIENTATION CAMP

USA Hockey has invited 34 players – including five former members of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – to take part in the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp, being held from Aug. 17-19, at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Ill.

The camp is designed to assist in the preparation of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the XXI Olympic Winter Games to be held from Feb. 12-28, 2010, in Vancouver, B.C.

Defensemen Tom Gilbert (2006-07), Brooks Orpik (2001-04), Rob Scuderi (2001-06) and Ryan Whitney (2004-06, 2008), as well as forward Ryan Malone (2003) are all vying for spots on Team USA’s final roster.

2009 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp Roster

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas

Defensemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney

Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny.

NOTES: The 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team is under the direction of Brian Burke, general manager; David Poile, associate general manager; and Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey ... The orientation camp roster includes 18 first-round NHL draft picks ... Eleven players invited to the camp have been part of USA Hockey's highly successful National Team Development Program ... A total of 25 players on the orientation camp roster have played U.S. college hockey ... The 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team team will be coached by Ron Wilson with John Tortorella and Scott Gordon serving as assistant coaches ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. National Teams ... The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will take place February 12-28, 2010, in Vancouver, B.C.

Penguins Aim to Add Talent in NHL Draft

Sam Kasan

When the 2009 NHL Entry Draft kicks off Friday afternoon in Montreal, the Penguins will be doing a lot of waiting. By virtue of winning the Stanley Cup, Pittsburgh will be drafting in the No. 30 spot of the first round. Not that the team minds.

“That’s a reflection of what our team accomplished this year,” assistant general manager Jason Botterill said. “We’re all very, very excited about winning the Stanley Cup.”

The Penguins’ ability to draft talented players led to their surging success and the team’s approach to this season’s draft isn’t much different from prior years.

“It has to be best player available,” Botterill said. “You’re drafting 18-year-old kids and you may say you have a need for defensemen. But by the time the kid becomes a National Hockey League player, usually three to five years down the road, through free agency and trades that need for defensemen may change.”

In recent years the Penguins have parted with high-end draft picks in trades to build that Stanley Cup championship team. This year, however, the team opted to hang on to its top-round picks to rebuild the depth pool of talent in the amateur and minor league system.

“We didn’t want to get into a situation where we didn’t have those draft picks, and not giving our amateur (scouting) staff an opportunity to restock our franchise,” Botterill said.

Depth players are vital to any franchise, but especially so with the implementation of the salary cap. With higher profile players carrying a heavy price tag, teams must utilize the draft to build the remaining pieces of their squads. 

In the salary cap world, you have to have young players coming up through your system. - Jason Botterill

“In the salary cap world, you have to have young players coming up through your system,” Botterill said. “You can’t go out on the open market and add players to your team. Financially it’s not feasible at all. You see it with our team this year with players like Tyler Kennedy and Maxime Talbot coming up through the system. These are players that play big roles on our team and you have them at a price that’s more realistic than what they would get on the open market.”

The players selected in the first round usually get most of the recognition – such as Marc-Andre Fleury, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal. But the players selected in the later rounds play a key role in any team’s success.

Integral players from the Penguins’ championship roster were selected in the later rounds, such as defensemen Rob Scuderi (5th), Kris Letang (3rd) and Alex Goligoski (2nd) and forwards Tyler Kennedy (4th) and Maxime Talbot (8th).

“There is always a focus on the first round and our staff has done a great job of picking the right player in the first round,” Botterill said. “They’ve also done a great job of picking some players deep in the draft like Kris Letang, Tyler Kennedy and Max Talbot. Finding these players, that’s what we need to continue to have a team that is vying for a Stanley Cup year in and year out.”

The Penguins were stricken with injuries during the 2008-09 season and had to tap into their farm system heavily at times. The young players ability to step in and play for the team is a testament to the Penguins’ ability to draft and develop good talent.

“Our amateur scouts work hard watching thousands of games throughout the year, pinpointing players and identifying key players,” Botterill said. “After they identify them, it becomes important to develop these players. We brought on Tom Fitzgerald as director of player development. He’s done an unbelievable job in that role. There needs to be a person in that role dedicated to helping our prospects develop from the draft until they get into our organization. Making that step to the National Hockey League is a huge step that requires a lot of work. We have good coaches who will put the time in to help these guys achieve their goals of being National Hockey League players.”

But the first step for any young professional is getting drafted.

“Our amateur staff has worked really hard (preparing),” Botterill said. “Friday and Saturday is their day to shine.”

Nailers To Host Stanley Cup Party Tonight At Generation

The Wheeling Nailers, the ‘AA’ affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced today that the team will host a Stanley Cup party tonight at Generations Pub in Wheeling. The event will start at 7:00 with face-off at 8:00 pm.

Fans will have a chance to register for prizes throughout the game and fans will receive a Pittsburgh Penguins collectors cup while supplies last. Generations will be offering special drink and food prices throughout the game.

For more information call the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL.

The Wheeling Nailers open the 2009 season in October. Get your season tickets today for as low as $200 per seat. Call 304-234-GOAL or online at www.wheelingnailers.com for more information.