Erik Christensen

just thought i would pass this along. its taken from the timesleader, the wbs local paper.

"C Erik Christensen was originally listed to play Saturday but was scratched from the lineup. According to team officials, Christensen left camp and decided to return to his Junior team, Kamloops of the Western Hockey League."

its too bad that he has given up on turning pro this season. this doesnt boad well for his future in the penguins organization.

ugh. He must have really been struggling to do that.

He has nothing to prove in the WHL but I guess he feels leading the league by 40 points is better than furthering his development...

Maybe he just think he's not ready to make the jump...

I dont agree with his decision, but am thinking he was not really prepared to play in Wilkes Barre. I expect he was hoping he wouldnt be sent to Wilkes Barre so quickly, and perhaps he himself was a little disappointed with his showing.

The competition for a top line spot in Wilkes Varre promises to be tough too, so maybe he'd rather play 20-25 mins a night in Kamloops instead of maybe 7-10 mins a night in Wilkes Barre.

I dont expect he will be able to go straight from Kamloops to Pittsburgh without a spell in Wilkes Barre, so perhaps he is regrouping and getting his confidence back in familiar surroundings.

I personally was hoping he'd stick with the Baby Pens. I hope he has made the best decision.

I read an article he was getting sick and tired of sitting around and nothing being done. Nothing new on a contract and didn't even play in the exhibition game in WB.

Only he knows if the decision is good for him. It won't hurt to go back to juniors and maybe add a little more muscle before turning pro.

this doesnt boad well for his future in the penguins organization.

Who's to say? It will just delay him, is all.

This year with Petersen, Endicott and possibly Malone, Sivek, and Beech, all natural centers, that's a lot depth Christensen would have to compete with in the AHL. Is it going to be better next year? Maybe not, but at least Christensen knows what he has to work on to be more competitive at the professional level.

Malone a natural center?

Like he said on the radio, he's not a pittsburgh or WB penguin he's a Kamloops Blazer and it was on his own choice he wanted to come back. I don't see a place for him in the Pens organization and I don't think he sees one either. I doubt he'll ever play in their system from the way he was talking tonight.

Malone a natural center?

Yes, and at times the Pens were using him as so, although Malone can play all 3 forward positions.

I have a feeling the Penguins are going to try and prep him in the mold of a Keith Primeau or a Rod Brind'Amour. Malone probably could have better hands but hopefully his defensive prescene and skills increase with the experience he's about to receive.

Don't be surprised to see Malone and Armstrong work with each other a lot in WB/S. If they get a third partner who's on their wave length (like maybe Surovy or Sivek) they could all develop into forces and move up together.

I wouldn't call him a "natural center" though. He's a winger that CAN play center.

Erik must be a real crybaby.

Erik must be a real crybaby.

Why's that?

Because he's not listening to the team that holds his rights.

If all he wants is ice time than he can go to the ECHL and get paid for it.

He doesn't wanna play in a low level talent league like the ECHL. The kid has too much talent to be playing there.

The ECHL is definitely tougher than the WHL. And the point is that he can work his way up to the AHL by the end of the season.

He doesn't wanna play in a low level talent league like the ECHL. The kid has too much talent to be playing there.

There's mroe talent in the ECHL than in the WHL. He would probably get the same amount of minutes in the ECHL as in the WHL and it would get him acclimated with the style of play in the pro ranks, not to mention the odd call up to WBS when injuries occur.