All Penguins’ Prospects Who Glitter May Not be Gold

Back in 1982-83, a feisty 20-year-old center named Mitch Lamoureux tore through the AHL like a comet. Skating for the Baltimore Skipjacks, the Penguins’ top farm team, Lamoureux piled up 57 goals and 107 points.

Labelled a “special player” by one of the team’s execs, he appeared to be tailor-made for a black-and-gold team in the throes of a pre-Mario Lemieux teardown. However, after earning a spot out of training camp in ’83-84, the former eighth-round pick fizzled and was quickly dispatched to the minors.

Although Mitch returned in ’84-85 to enjoy a modestly successful season (10 goals in 62 games), save for a cup of coffee with the Flyers down the road that was pretty much it for his NHL career. A classic example of a prolific minor-league scorer who, for whatever the reasons, couldn’t make the grade at the big-league level.

Why do I dredge up a tale from the distant past?

For the first time in a long, long while there’s reason to be optimistic about the Pens’ prospects. Where only a couple of years ago the cupboard was replete with cobwebs, there now resides a batch of intriguing hopefuls honing their skills (and by all accounts, developing an esprit de corps) in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

It’s beginning to feel like the early 2000s, when Colby Armstrong, Rob Scuderi and Max Talbot to name a few were forming a similar special bond at Wilkes.

Perhaps the most promising of the current batch is 21-year-old left wing Ville Koivunen (pictured). The jewel of last season’s Jake Guentzel trade has sparkled in his first full season in North America, pacing the Baby Pens with 53 points in 58 games, including 20 goals. For good measure, he leads all AHL rookies in scoring.

Following a sluggish start, 21-year-old right wing Rutger McGroarty is adjusting nicely to the pro game. Coming on like a freight train rambling toward the station, the former 14^th overall pick has eight goals and 17 points in his past 15 games. With his pro-sized body (6’1” 203), it seems only a matter of time before he makes the NHL grade.

Peppery right wing Avery Hayes, recently signed to a two-year, entry level deal, has been a most pleasant surprise with 18 goals and 36 points in 46 games. Former second-round pick Tristan Broz battled back from a bout with mono to pot 17 goals in 46 games.

On defense, Owen Pickering, selected to play in the AHL All-Star Game, is developing nicely. Although a bit long in the tooth for a prospect at age 25, hulking right-shot Jack St. Ivany is rebounding from an injury-marred start.

In goal, Russian wunderkind Sergei Murashov has been excellent in Wheeling and unbeatable in Wilkes (a perfect 9-0-0 record). Although he’s endured a bit of a rocky ride, Joel Blomqvist still holds promise.

Based on these performances, it would appear the future for our Pens is bright, right?

Well…not so fast.

Not to douse our hopes with a bucket of ice water, but the fact is, not all that glitters down on the farm is gold.

With 47 goals in 76 AHL games, the Baby Pens’ leading goal-getter, current Pen Emil Bemström, has made a career out of tearing up the minors. Yet through 238 NHL games success has proven elusive (only 34 goals). During his present, and in all likelihood, last gasp with the Pens, the UFA-to-be has a lone assist in 10 games and has been anything but noticeable.

Koivunen trade-mate Vasily Ponomarev has put up solid numbers for the Baby Pens (13 goals, 35 points in 46 games), but according to reports his overall game is lacking.

Former first-round pick Sam Poulin has emerged as a strong AHL scorer (32 goals in 88 games spread over two seasons). However, he’s washed out in three incredibly brief (and forgettable) cameos with the Pens, presumably due to a lack of foot speed.

Oh, and Valtteri Puustinen (remember him?) has re-emerged as one of the Baby Pens’ more productive players, tallying a dozen goals and 31 points in 39 games. Puusti showed flashes during 52-game run with the big boys last season, but failed to stick following a 10-game trial this season.

I didn’t even mention left wing Boris Katchouk. The rugged 26-year-old has 19 goals at Wilkes and 174 games of prior NHL experience, yet he doesn’t appear to be even remotely in line for a callup.

The lesson here?

Don’t count your budding stars before they hatch.