Luca Caputi
| Luca Caputi | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
October 1, 1988 Toronto, Ontario | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| NHL draft |
111th overall, 2007 Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| Playing career | 2008–present | ||
Gianluca "Luca" Caputi (born October 1, 1988 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.[1] Caputi was drafted as the 111th overall selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. On April 23, 2008 Caputi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[2]
Playing career
Luca Caputi began his minor career with the Mississauga IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2004-2005 season. He played for the same team for four seasons, even after the Mississauga IceDogs moved and became the Niagara IceDogs, until 2007–2008. After his 2006-2007 season, Caputi was drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft as the 111th overall pick. While several scouts projected him as high as the 40th pick claiming that he was a great package of both size and skill possessing a long reach, he managed to drop into the 4th round. Teams passed on him due his inconsistent play of edge and skill with a lack of effective hitting.
In his following season with the Niagara IceDogs, Caputi seemed to have found his balance with 51 goals and 111 points in just 66 games, becoming an offensive juggernaut on the first line. His 111 points were fourth in league scoring and his 51 goals were third in the OHL while both his 51 goals and 111 points are the most in one season for the Mississauga and Niagara IceDogs organization. Caputi led the team into the playoffs where they defeated the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 0 before losing to the Oshawa Generals 4 games to 2 in the conference semifinals.
Following his breakout season, on April 23, Caputi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He then helped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League reach the Calder Cup Finals with 8 points in 19 games.
On February 3, 2009, Caputi made his NHL debut against the Montreal Canadiens, scoring his first NHL goal on his first shift after being on the ice for just 2:03 of ice time.[3]
On March 4, 2009, Caputi was assigned to the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL due to "a violation of team rules.[4]
On January 5th 2010 he was recalled back up from the Penguins due to the injured Chris Kunitz. He scored a goal and played on the Penguins 2nd line.
References
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (2008-08-22). "Caputi's potential has Penguins excited". PittsburghPenguins.com. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ Penguins Sign Luca Caputi
- ^ Penguins Hockey, FSN Pittsburgh, February 4, 2009
- ^ http://community.citizensvoice.com/blogs/penguins/archive/2009/03/04/breaking-news.aspx