Pittsburgh's annual prospect development camp concluded on Thursday with a scrimmage. For many of the players, this week marked their first introduction to the Penguins organization. It's the first time since 2019 that development camp has followed its typical format, as it was held virtually in 2020 and then right before training camp in 2021, which meant the college kids couldn't attend.
Wrapping Up 2022 Development Camp with Tom Kostopoulos
"We really wanted them to get to know each other, the staff, how things work here - and know that we're all here for them," Penguins director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "So it's basically letting them know that we'll do anything we can to help them develop and reach their potential as a hockey player and young men.
"And we really like players that compete, so just telling them and then showing them the compete level that's necessary to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins one day."
In addition to having on-ice sessions each day, the Penguins organized off-ice activities as well - including a flag football game at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex and a firefighter challenge at a local station.
"It was one of the best things I've seen for team bonding and coming together," Kostopoulos said with a smile. "You could see the groups coming together, so it was fun. Overall, credit to the players, they came in with an open attitude, really worked hard. I think they learned a lot."
Here is some more insight on this past week from Kostopoulos.
WHO STOOD OUT
While Kostopoulos said they were impressed with everyone this week, the Penguins were particularly glad that goaltender Joel Blomqvist was able to come over from Finland and experience Pittsburgh for the first time since being drafted in the second round back in 2020.
"I think he's a special kid, and you guys should get used to talking to him," Kostopoulos told the assembled media.
Read more about how Blomqvist is progressing.
MORE 2020 DRAFT CLASS NOTES
Part of the reason the Penguins drafted Lukas Svejkovsky in the fourth round two years ago is because of his skill level. Not only does the forward put up great numbers, coming off a season where he scored 35 goals in 57 games combined between Medicine Hat and Seattle of the WHL - he does it in style.
Kostopoulos said Svejkovsky, who's listed at 5-10 and 165, looks to have added a little bit more bulk and size to his frame, and that it will be interesting to see how that translates as he makes the jump to professional hockey this season.
"He's pretty dynamic," Kostopoulos said. "He's shifty. He's got hockey sense. He's creative with the puck, and he can make things happen offensively. Pro is almost always an adjustment for a guy coming from junior, but he's got a good attitude and a good work ethic. I think there will be some things to learn along the way. But what he can do with the puck and what he can create is pretty special.
When Kostopoulos was asked about Pittsburgh's fifth-round draft pick from that same class, Raivis Ansons, he said he could go on about the forward for days - and pretty much did so. He absolutely loves the 20-year-old native of Riga, Latvia, the same town that Teddy Blueger is from.
"Teddy Blueger has actually talked to him a couple times, and Teddy's just a perfect guy to talk to anyone, never mind a fellow Latvian," Kostopoulos said with a smile. "I'm really excited about Raivis."
Kostopoulos said that Ansons doesn't realize yet just how good of a hockey player he is, calling him a special player. After starting the year with Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL, he was traded to Saint John, where Ansons helped them win the Memorial Cup.
"He makes little plays with the puck," Kostopoulos said. "He makes wall plays. He's defensive. You don't see many kids at his age block pucks the way he does. He just does all these little things well."
OWEN PICKERING
This week, the locker room opened to the media for the first time since March 2020, and Owen Pickering - taken 21st overall by the Penguins in Montreal right before camp started - got plenty of attention from reporters. He handled that, and all of the other attention that comes with being a first-round pick, with such maturity and grace. It's immediately apparent that the 18-year-old has such a good head on his shoulders and his feet planted firmly on the ground.
"He really came in with an open mind," Kostopoulos said. "He wants to learn; he wants information. That's the best thing you can ask for with a young draft pick, I think. He understands that it's a path, and we're going to help him, and he's open to learning. So it's been really fun to get to know him, see a little bit of his game. The on-ice stuff will be important as we move on, but this week, it was really fun just to get to know him as a person."
COLLEGE FREE AGENT NOTES
It wasn't just Penguins draft picks taking part in camp. The college free agents who signed with Pittsburgh in recent months also participated, like Ty Glover, who appeared in two games with WBS this spring following two years at Western Michigan.
The 6-foot-3, 201-pound forward was a standout in the scrimmage, scoring two goals. Kostopoulos said there are some parts of Glover's game that need to be cleaned up, but that overall, his attitude, work ethic and compete are off the charts.
"He's a great kid," Kostopoulos said. "He's a fantastic teammate. He's come in here, led the way in flag football, he was a beast in the firefighting course. His work ethic in practice on the ice is fantastic.
BIGGER PICTURE
In terms of who is closest to contributing at the NHL level from the overall prospect pool, there are two players in particular that stand out to Kostopoulos.
The first one is defenseman P.O Joseph, who just signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday, the first one-way deal of his young career. While he's spent the majority of his time with WBS since being acquired from Arizona in 2019, the first-round pick in 2018 has appeared in 20 total NHL games, and looks poised for a lot more.
"P.O Joseph, I think, is NHL ready," Kostopoulos said of the 23-year-old blueliner. "I think he can help this team. He's a great kid. He's great teammate. He's a heck of a player. I'm excited about his camp."
The second one is forward Filip Hallander, who made his NHL debut on April 7 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. That's the only appearance to date for the 21-year-old, who was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round in 2018 before getting traded to Toronto, and then re-acquired last July.
"I think Hallander showed us he can play in the NHL," Kostopoulos said. "He was relied on in every situation in Wilkes, and he's a guy that coaches can trust no matter time and score, whatever is going on in the game. Those two stand out."
