Nov 20, 2009 6:45 pm US/Eastern
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens Dream Of Playing In NHL
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Nikolai Kulemin No. 41 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is stood up by Nate Guenin No. 2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during a pre-season NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on Sept. 22, 2009, in Toronto.
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With the recent rash of injuries to the Penguins, fans have gotten a glimpse of what the future of the team may look like as a handful of minor leaguers have already gotten the call-up this season to the NHL.
But there are 25 young players in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton who hope one day to skate alongside the likes of Pens' superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
"It would be a great honor," said Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Eric Tangradi. "I try to take it day-by-day and get better everyday, but it's always in the back of your mind."
Tangradi was acquired last year in the trade sending defenseman Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks and also brought Chris Kunitz to Pittsburgh.
Tangradi is expected to one day own the opposing team's crease - much like former Penguin Ryan Malone.
"He's probably the guy that has the best chance of playing in the NHL," said Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Todd Reirden.
"In junior, I was always the go-to guy, and was able to build that role in two to three years," said Tangradi. "But now, it's kinda - you gotta bear down right away if you want to become pro player."
The trek from Wilkes-Barre to Pittsburgh is about 250 miles, but it's a trip the players say they think about making all the time.
"It's always in the back of my mind - and it's a goal and it's intriguing - but I have to prove down here that I'm ready to play before they give me the opportunity," said Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Luca Caputi.
He got a brief taste of the NHL life last season when he was called up for four glorious games.
"It's hard to describe how the lifestyle is different going from riding on a bus to going on a plane, and having all your stuff taken care of for you," said Caputi. "When I was up there it was the best two weeks of my life."
While playing in Pittsburgh last season, Caputi skated for a few games with Crosby, and some say he could be the future linemate of the Penguins captain.
"It's something I can't really describe," says Caputi. "[It] sends chills up my spine every time I hear it. He's one of the best in the world, and to be in same sentence as him is an honor."
Defenseman Nate Guenin grew up in the area and cheered for the Penguins as a kid. Last week, he got the call he has been waiting a long time to hear.
"I didn't really think about that till training camp and being back home ... [I] sat back and thought how cool it would be to play in my hometown," said Guenin.
And for Reirden, seeing the players head to Pittsburgh is a great reward.
"Those are my best meetings - when I tell them they're going to the NHL," said Reirden. "That's their goal, that's my goal for them. I love to be the distributor of that message."
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