What about Tangradi? I recall hearing after we acquired him in the Kunitz deal that he might be NHL ready by this season. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I heard something along those lines. I'm sure he'll start off the season in Wilkes-Barre, but if he's ready, I'd love to see him get a shot. Especially with Max missing the first half of the season.
His future appears to be bright and I guess it all depends on how he looks in camp, but Tangradi will probably spend the majority of the season in the AHL in my opinion. He missed his chance at joining the WBS playoff run last season because he severed a tendon in his wrist during a OHL playoff game and is currently coming off his second surgery (minor) to clean up some of the tissue. Still, it stinks that he was not able to gain some experience at the AHL level last season.
While I would not be completely shocked to see him get some playing time later on in the season, from what I have gathered the Penguins plan on bringing him along slowly instead of rushing him up to the big club. While Talbot could possibly miss the first two months, I would bank on either Caputi or Jeffrey getting the call up before Tangradi this year. Both have experience at the AHL level and both have some experience at the NHL level.
Down the road, Tangradi will hopefully be the power forward who causes hell in front of the net and brings a nasty edge to his game. Something we have been missing ever since an overpaid Ryan Malone left for
greener pastures. From what I have seen, Tangradi reminds me of a poor man's Kevin Stevens. We will be very lucky if that turns out to be the case.
