Rookie Camp Preview

There are articles in both major papers today about Penguins rookie camp, which began today. The best place to get information, though, is the Penguins website. Check here for the PDF with the official roster for camp (check out the amateur tryouts!), and here is the official schedule. Note that practice is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 - 11:30 am.

As the Trib notes, only Malkin is a lock to make the roster. There will be other players here for rookie camp that we'll see in Pittsburgh this year. Noah Welch will certainly spend some time in Pittsburgh, if not start the season here. Jordan Staal has a chance to make the team. We'll probably see Connor James as a call up this year, as he's a little older and has played in the NHL last season.

Other players that are intriguing at rookie camp:

• Daniel Carcillo - LW - he had 311 penalty minutes in 51 games last season with Wilkes-Barre.
• Mathieu Roy - LW - a QMJHL guy who scored 50 goals (104 pts total) in 65 games.
• Kristopher Letang - D - 25 goals in 60 games (68 pts overall). Oh yeah - he's right-handed. Don't get too exicted yet - he's only 19 and played in the QMJHL.
• Michal Sersen - D - another high scoring defensemen (22+57 in 63 games) from the QMJHL.
• Jordan Morrison - C - amateur tryout - Jordan Staal's teammate at Peterborough last year, though he's three years older. He had 31 goals and 37 assists in 68 games.

I know the QMJHL guys are a way out, but it's fun to see players that could be in the mix in a few years.

Get down to the arena this weekend if you get the chance!