AHL: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Calder Cup Report

Mirroring their NHL-affiliate Pittsburgh Penguins success, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins made it to the AHL finals, but lost in a six game series to the Chicago Wolves. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese was on hand to file notes on their key prospects, such as the game breaking offensive defenseman Alex Goligoski.

Alex Goligoski (Pit), D, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

This offensive defenseman has enjoyed a sparkling rookie campaign, in which he was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team, played in the AHL All-Star Game, and earned a three-game stint with Pittsburgh .. setting an AHL record for defenseman scoring in the playoffs with 28 points, Goligoski is pure dynamite with the puck and on the powerplay .. playing in all situations including the penalty kill has allowed his defensive weaknesses to be exposed .. desperately needs to add strength, as while he does try to take the body, ultimately he is manhandled along the wall and around the crease area by larger opponents .. his defensive positioning is inadequate, as he allows opponents to sneak in the backdoor undetected and struggles taking away lanes while in space .. however, Goligoski was the Penguins' most dangerous offensive threat and led the team in scoring .. his long and strong strides coupled with his powerful first step make him a commanding skater that can start the rush from behind his own net .. innately knows how to generate offense from the point, as he keeps his head on a swivel and his feet active to open passing and shooting lanes .. a beautiful passer that oozes skill, creativity, and poise while distributing .. also a feared shooter with a quick one-timer and an accurate wristshot .. has quarterbacked the Penguins first powerplay unit and looks ready for the NHL next year .. whether he becomes a top-four NHL defenseman will depend on his ability to add strength and correct his defensive deficiencies.

Gianluca Caputi (Pit), LW, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

The former Ontario Hockey League star joined the baby Penguins after compiling 111 points in 66 games with the Niagara IceDogs .. the type of prospect that grows on you with repeated viewings and has a promising future in the NHL .. while Caputi possesses the height and uses his big frame to shield the puck well, he will need to add some strength, as while he tries to take the body, he is currently unsuccessful in overpowering anyone and can lose battles along the wall .. despite the effort being there, he will also need to upgrade his defensive play and overall awareness away from the puck, as currently, he is tardy to most of his defensive assignments .. his skating deficiencies are evident at this level and his galloping strides prevent him from having above-average ice speed .. Caputi has been at his best while on the powerplay where his lethal puckhandling skills and natural offensive instincts are on display .. it should not go unnoticed that when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was in need of some offense late in the games, Caputi was always one of the first over the boards .. he is developing at a rapid clip and is a key prospect that possesses the offensive gifts that are no longer abundant in the Pittsburgh prospect pipeline.

Dustin Jeffrey (Pit), C, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

After scoring 97 points in 56 games while serving as co-captain for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Jeffrey has now begun his professional career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins .. his supple hands and ability to execute flashy moves while attacking defenders one-on-one were impressive, as was his ability to let go a quickly released wristshot in full-flight .. not overpowering yet, but he has the strength to bang bodies in the trenches .. his defensive play is a mixed bag, as at times he came down low to successfully aide in defensive coverage, however the pace of the pro-game also caught him off guard and at times, he failed to notice his defensive assignments .. a knock-kneed skater that at times, got himself into trouble with his sub-par mobility and was forced into taking stick infractions .. doesn't have the high-end upside that Caputi possesses, but he has the potential to develop into an NHL-caliber-two-way forward.

Ryan Stone (Pit), RW, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

After making his NHL debut in a six-game stint with Pittsburgh, Stone seems to be at the crossroads of his pro-career .. to develop his game further and potentially secure a regular shift in the NHL, Stone must improve his sluggish acceleration and concentrate on becoming a defensive forward that can get under the opponents skin .. despite being placed on the point for the first powerplay unit, Stone has no presence with the puck, as despite owning a decent pair of mitts, the game simply moves to fast for him while in possession because of his lack of intrinsic offensive instincts and his inability to see the ice .. most of his points came from his ability to get his shot through from the point .. however, he does succeed on the defensive side of the puck, as he is a full-effort penalty killer that throws his body into harms way to block shots .. he is also a gritty competitor that agitates the opposition by scrapping for every inch of the ice, being active in after whistle scrums, and actively throwing his thick frame around .. beginning to look like a bust and he needs to have an influential summer to have a chance at an NHL roster-spot next year.

Jonathan Filewich (Pit), RW, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Despite making his NHL debut this season with Pittsburgh, Filewich has endured a trying season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where his offensive production decreased dramatically .. his future in the NHL is contingent on him becoming a physical and defensive-minded forward, although he has been hesitant to adapt to this role so far .. he is not a softy, but he will need to develop a mean streak and finish all of his checks with more authority .. a swift skater that can speed past the opposition while carrying the puck through the multiple zones, however he lacks the exemplarily puck skills or offensive ingenuity to manufacture offense once he gains the offensive zone .. offensively, he was most effective when he was driving the net with or without the puck .. however, he does have the tools to excel as a defensive forward and is being utilized on the penalty kill, although he looks to go forward too often and can be hindered by his persistence to go on the offensive attack instead of staying home and making sure his defensive assignments are fully fulfilled first .. beginning to look like a bust and he needs to put it all together soon to be able to perform in a defensive role in the NHL.

Tim Brent (Pit), C, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

The former Anaheim Ducks second round selection has finally broke out in his fourth year as a pro where he achieved career highs in all offensive categories .. has been a leading goal scorer in the Calder Cup Playoffs and scored the game winning goal in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals .. playing in all-situations including the first penalty kill and powerplay units .. his strength in the faceoff circle is a valued asset, as it allows him to be on the ice at the critical moments of the game .. he is handling the puck with a lot more confidence now and attempted the odd dangle while attacking defenders one-on-one .. an astute puck distributor that also uses space well to remain an asset while not in possession .. still a loose skater, Brent relies more on his anticipation than pure speed, although he does own a deceptive burst of straight-line acceleration .. a solid penalty killer that innately keeps himself on the defensive side of the puck at all times .. his toughness and grit are endearing, and Brent will challenge for an NHL checking role next-season.

Nick Johnson (Pit), LW, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after captaining the Dartmouth Big Green during his senior season .. he is a big man that is at his best while playing a strictly north/south type game .. still a bit uncoordinated in his large frame and his game instantly suffers when he tries to finesse things .. tricky for opposing defenders to contain when he powers his way to the net and is difficult to move once there .. owns a hard shot and possesses the hand-eye coordination to tip point shots on net while fending off checkers .. playing on the fourth line and while he does backcheck hard, his defensive awareness overall must be upgraded to be considered for more icetime .. he is a decent straight-line skater once he gets going, however he will need to become more agile, sturdier on his feet, and improve on his first few steps .. enough raw tools are here to keep his development worth monitoring.

John Curry (Pit), G, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

This undrafted free agent signing has outperformed more highly regarded Pittsburgh goaltending prospects en route to carrying Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the Calder Cup Finals while being named to the AHL All-Rookie Team .. a natural athlete, when Curry is confident and making saves, he is a difficult goaltender to beat on the first shot .. however, when a few get past him he begins to second guess himself and his fundamentals instantly suffer .. he does not manage the game well and will overextend himself at times, open holes while moving laterally, and will go when unnecessary .. he likes to challenge the shooter, but he does not always properly position himself and can struggle to get square to the shooter .. his rebound control is below average and is a glaring flaw he must correct to have a future in the NHL .. once he gives up a rebound, it is all down hill from there, as he resorts to flopping far too often .. his blocker side is adequate but his glove is sub par and hard, outside shots can still beat him .. Curry's top asset is the flexible and quick legs he possesses, as he can stone the opposition at times with an outstretched kick save .. gave up 23 goals in six games during the Calder Finals and once again his status as an NHL prospect is an uncertainty.

Ryan Lannon (Pit), D, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Earned his first NHL recall this year in his third pro-season, although his future in the NHL remains in doubt .. strictly a stay-at-home defenseman that lacks any offensive ability .. his feet stop moving when he receives the puck, he takes far too long to identify the open man, and he struggles to make the first pass .. the play usually dies on his stick if he receives the puck in the offensive zone, as he will force shots into heavy traffic .. a healthy-sized defender that does a commendable job defensively if he keeps the play in front of him .. ultra-competitive for the puck and his toughness is praiseworthy .. an astute shot-blocker that is tough to beat one-on-one thanks to his adequate gap control .. still, he does have a glaring defensive weakness that would be exploited by NHL-caliber forwards .. his pivots are slow and he simply cannot contain speed in transition, as speedy opponents can easily separate from him .. likely will not carve out a niche as an NHL defender.