Week Of Transition

And another dawn is upon us.

The Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Camp ended this week and with it came a big crashing thud as the Pens' prospects fell 9-5 to the Chicago Blackhawks in the third and final game of a propsect tournament involving the two squads, as well as those of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, who the 'baby Penguins' both prevailed over days earlier.

But against Chicago's prospects, Pittsburgh crashed and burned, in no small part due to the abysmal netminding of prospect Mattias Modig.

In his first appearance of the tournament, Modig fished 7 pucks out of his net.

In only about 30 minutes of work.

And looked bad doing it.

Forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored twice for the Penguins in a game that was long out of reach early, and Defenseman Simon Despres finished off a strong camp by scoring on a beautiful individual effort.  Geoff Walker also scored to wrap up a solid camp and tournament, as did power forward prospect Eric Tangradi.

Tangradi, by the way, has a new physical edge on display -- one that was missing from his hulking game last season.  I'm anxious to see it in the big boy camp.

Speaking of the real-deal camp, that's what the Penguins will transition to this week.  It starts tomorrow with the players reporting for physicals and testing, before on-ice sessions over the weekend that are open to the public.

One guy who won't be participating because he's already been sent back to his junior team (along with three other draft picks from this year) is Tom Kuenhnacki, the Pens' 2010 4th round pick, who showed potential among the Pens' prospects, but still has more work to do.

Another guy who won't be participating in the big camp and who now won't be ready for the start of the NHL season -- contrary to what was reported a few weeks ago -- is center Jordan Staal.

Penguins' GM Ray Shero announced today that Staal would be out 5-6 weeks after undergoing another, and what is hoped to be final, procedure related to the torn tendon he suffered on the top of his foot when it was skated over by Montreal Canadiens' defenseman P.K. Subban in game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series this past May.

Staal had already undergone 3 procedures on the foot prior to the most recent one, but he has continued to suffer from complications related to an infection in the area around the wound.  

That's what's kept Staal off the ice most of the off-season.

With Staal being out until after the regular season has kicked off, things are going to be even more interesting in camp than they were going to be in the first instance.

Head Coach Dan Bylmsa was leaning hard towards moving Staal up to play center on the second line and shift Evgeni Malkin to wing with Gronk.

Geno may still play on the right side some while a number of players -- probably most notably new signee Hilary Duff's husband (a.k.a. Mike Comrie) -- get a chance to temporarily fill that role.  

Now, though, there may be some times when Malkin indeed shifts back to get some time at the center position again. 

I think Staal being absent might open back up -- at least somewhat -- a top-6 door for Tangradi that had been closed more with the signings of Comrie and, before him, Aaron Asham.  Not because those guys are wedded to those roles, however, but simply because it pushed the depth chart on the roster down a few more unexpected pegs. 

Now, Tangradi will probably get some time on the top 2 lines in camp and if he dominates, he may just stick.

I'll have a Camp Kick Off Report tomorrow where I'll present and analyze the most pressing issues and storylines for the team in the coming season.

Stay tuned.