The mantra Penguins assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald has preached with the team’s evaluation camps for prospects since he took over running them in 2009 is simple: “Education over evaluation.”
The 2015 edition of the camp, which begins today at Consol Energy Center, won’t be any different.
“This is not an evaluation camp,” Fitzgerald said by phone. “These kids are not making the team in July.”
A few of the players who are scheduled to attend will have a fair chance to make the NHL roster when training camp convenes in mid-September. Defenseman Derrick Pouliot and right winger Bryan Rust, who each made their NHL debuts last season, will be expected to pass on any lessons they’ve learned about being professionals to the more inexperienced attendees.