David Brown Is In Town...For Good

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jun 28, 01:53 PM | Hype this story!

David Brown and Bobby Goepfert: two college hockey goaltenders whose rights are owned by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both were among the best between the pipes in the 2006-07 season, and both will become unrestricted free agents if not signed to entry level contracts by mid-August.

The difference?

Brown looks to be staying, while Goepfert looks to be going.

According to this morning’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Brown, an eighth round draft choice in 2004, is at rookie conditioning camp and has agreed in principle to an entry-level contract with the Penguins, but has yet to sign on the dotted line.

He said his intentions are to be in training camp late this summer and to start the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the team’s AHL affiliate.

Goepfert, on the other hand, has not agreed to anything.

Unlike Brown, the former sixth round draft choice in 2002 is not at Penguins rookie camp currently being held in Pittsburgh, leading to speculation that he is just waiting out his final days as Penguins property before becoming an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team he chooses.

So what does this mean to the Penguins?

Well, the black and gold have all-but-secured their starting goaltender position in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, meaning the franchise still needs a backup for its NHL and the AHL clubs.

One would assume both positions will be filled by veterans who can mentor the younger, more inexperienced starting goalies.

Faceoff Factor will have more on Brown and Goepfert — as well as other Penguins prospects — as news becomes available.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Jun 28, 09:02 PM

    With the goal-tending as it is for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they’d better hold onto the BEST prospect they can. While I like them both, neither Fleury nor Thibault is CONSISTENT. Look to the future!

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jun 28, 09:57 PM

    I’m not sure either Brown or Goepfert is ready for NHL action yet — and neither is close to ready to start. At least a full season of AHL action is a must for both.

  3. DaBich

    Jun 29, 06:16 AM

    Maybe the answer is to bring someone else up then. Any ideas who?

  4. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jun 29, 10:52 AM

    Well, Thibault is an unrestricted free agent, which means he’s free to go to any team he wants as of July 1. My hunch is that Shero wants a veteran backup to play behind Fleury — whether that is Thibault or someone else, I don’t know. But, from everything I have read, Fleury is their guy, and it will take an awful lot for them to change that stance. Remember, he is only 22, and remains the youngest starting goaltender in the NHL.

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