Camp, Conner And A College Hockey Showcase

With two days of the Penguins' 2010 Prospect Development Camp in the books, colors are starting to show.

Like those of top prospects Eric Tangradi and Dustin Jeffrey, both of whom are big, offensive bodies who have almost universally impressed team brass in the camp thusfar. And continue to increase their chances at landing a spot on the big-league roster this fall in the process.

Tangradi, in particular, looks lights-out different than he did last year when he was still recovering from surgery to repair a tendon in his wrist. He acknowledged at the outset of camp that this is the first time since then he's felt really healthy.

It's also been obvious throughout the camp thusfar why the Penguins were so enthralled to pick winger Beau Bennett in the first round of the draft this year.

Bennett just oozes high-end skill. His shot, hands and moves are all above the line. He's not close to being in the NHL and -- even by his own admission -- needs to get a lot stronger, but the hope is that his entry into Division I college hockey this coming year will add a pro-flavor to his game while he maintains his offensive creativity.

What would be a real boon for the Penguins is if one or more of these guys found a way to make a real impact as an NHL rookie -- whether that be this year for Tangradi or Jeffrey, or in the future for Bennett.

Sure, no surprise there. Every team would love to have one of their prospects contend for the Calder Trophy. Especially one who is high up against the salary cap with top-end centers down the middle but an abject lack of real talent on the wall.

Beyond that, though, it's long since about time the Pens' drafted and developed (and kept) someone who can score 30-40 goals for them on the wing. One could fairly argue that Ryan Malone fit that category, but he's gone. Beyond that, the cupboard is pretty thin post-lockout. Even in the several years pre-lockout, it's hard to find someone who was drafted and made a meaningful impact that way.

Who knows, maybe by the time the Consol Energy Center ends up hosting the Division I NCAA college hockey Frozen Four tournament -- something that the Penguins and Robert Morris University jointly announced yesterday they were awarded (which, truthfully, is a real boon for the teams, the City and the Arena) -- the Pens will have someone like that patrolling the boards for them.

Because that won't be until 2013, though -- and maybe when Bennett is starring in it for the University of Denver -- let's hope the Penguins find their winger a little sooner than that.

One guy who won't fill that role for Pittsburgh, but who is a valuable depth player for the organization, is Chris Conner, who the Penguins re-signed yesterday to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $550,00K in the NHL, and significantly less in Wilkes-Barre.

Conner is undersized, but a speedy, skilled forward who had two goals and one assist for three points in 8 games with the big club last year.

His two goals were both scored in a January game in New York against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden when he played on Sidney Crosby's line.

Conner also dressed for one game in the post-season last year, but didn't contribute on the scoresheet.

More soon.