Thrashers Ink Angelo Esposito to Multi-Year Deal

[Thrillhouse]

The Atlanta Thrashers have agreed to terms with forward Angelo Esposito on a multiple-year contract, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

Esposito, 19, appeared in 56 games with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season and ranked third on his team with 69 points (30 goals, 39 assists). He finished second on the Remparts in playoff scoring with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 11 post-season contests. The 6-0, 190-pound center also appeared in one game for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League after signing an Amateur Try Out on April 13, 2008.

The native of Montreal has recorded 246 points (96 goals, 150 assists) and a plus-69 rating in 173 career regular-season games with the Remparts. He has added 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 39 career QMJHL playoff games. Esposito was honored as the league’s Top Offensive Rookie and named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team following the 2005-06 season. He was also named the winner of the 2006-07 Mike Bossy Trophy, given annually to the QMJHL player judged to be the best professional prospect.

Esposito was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, 20th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. His rights were acquired by the Thrashers from Pittsburgh with Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and a first-round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (Daultan Leveille) for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis on Feb. 26, 2008.

[thepolishkid88]

Good for Angelo. I wish we wouldnt have dealt him away but when you get Hossa back you arnt gonna complain (until he signed with detroit ). I wonder what his role will be especially if he makes the Thrashers? I heard they want Christensen to play on the top line with Illya. So maybe he would be on the 3rd line or maybe 2nd?

[SirYohans]

This kid has superstar written all over him. That deal that the Pens made might go down as the worst in their history. Considering they didn't get to win it all & Hossa is already gone. Bummer for Pens fans.

[chilly666]

the hype is not worth it for this kid. he wont be in atlanta for at least two years. and he wont be a superstar in the nhl when he gets there either. if he is so good, then he would have been drafted in the top 3 of his draft, but instead he dropped to #20. overrated prospect that didnt even score a pt a game in the playoffs when his team probably needed him to score the most.

[Killah_punk]

3 years in a row this guy couldn't crack team Canada at the World Jrs. This guy has some talent but he lacks heart. Each year in the Q his numbers actaully got worse it will be interesting to see how his career unfolds.

[CatatonicMoose]

Originally Posted by SirYohans

This kid has superstar written all over him.

Whatever you're smoking I want some.

Esposito will never be a superstar in the NHL. He is incredibly lazy with no heart whatsoever. No wonder Patrick Roy traded him out of Quebec.

He has some offensive talent but he floats and makes no effort to play any form of a defensive game.

He dropped for a reason. He is overhyped after riding Radulov's coattails in his first year in the Q.

[CatatonicMoose]

Originally Posted by thepolishkid88

Good for Angelo. I wish we wouldnt have dealt him away but when you get Hossa back you arnt gonna complain (until he signed with detroit ). I wonder what his role will be especially if he makes the Thrashers? I heard they want Christensen to play on the top line with Illya. So maybe he would be on the 3rd line or maybe 2nd?

He won't be in Atlanta, He'll be back in the QMJHL with Montreal.

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by SirYohans

This kid has superstar written all over him. That deal that the Pens made might go down as the worst in their history. Considering they didn't get to win it all & Hossa is already gone. Bummer for Pens fans.

Alek Stojanov for Markus Naslund ring a bell?

From everything I've seen and read about Esposito, he'll be lucky to be a 3rd liner in the NHL unless he improves his heart and work ethic. He dropped to 20th overall in last year's draft for a reason. Besides, the Pens already have Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Whitney, Orpik, Letang, Goligoski on the way, Caputi on the way...and you think they're going to miss Esposito? I don't think so.

[canuckfan]

Esposito's career can go either way at this point - there's a lot of hype over this kid, but most of it is way over the top. There's some real good reasons why he didn't make Team Canada's junior team for three straight years - his work ethic, heart and attitude have raised some serious concerns and eyebrows.

Angelo has a buttload of talent - its now up to him to put it to good use. He cculd be an impact player is this league and a solid top 6 forward, or he could flop and spend his entire career bouncing aroound the league, the minors, or in Europe - like another young French Canadian hockey player surrounded by a ton of hype named Alexandre Daigle. When I see Esposito, I'm constantly reminded of Daigle.

Esposito still a lot to prove, and to learn, IMO.

[CatatonicMoose]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

When I see Esposito, I'm constantly reminded of Daigle.

Esposito still a lot to prove, and to learn, IMO.

That's exactly what I see with Esposito.

I've seem him a lot since I follow the QMJHL more than any other league and at times it can be frustrating because you can see the talent he has but also how he is wasting it because he doesnt have that work ethic.

But.........actually the best thing that could happen to this kid maybe just did as he was traded from Quebec Remparts to Montreal Junior, who are coached by Pascal Vincent.

Vincent was the coach of Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and has a reputation of a will over skill type coach. He has got a lot out of teams through sheer hard work and will not put up with a kid who does not put in 100% effort and give his all for the club. Grit is what Vincent loves and that could be a good thing for Esposito, perhaps just what he needed.

We know he's skilled but he needs to pick up that work ethic.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Esposito's career can go either way at this point - there's a lot of hype over this kid, but most of it is way over the top. There's some real good reasons why he didn't make Team Canada's junior team for three straight years - his work ethic, heart and attitude have raised some serious concerns and eyebrows.

Angelo has a buttload of talent - its now up to him to put it to good use. He cculd be an impact player is this league and a solid top 6 forward, or he could flop and spend his entire career bouncing aroound the league, the minors, or in Europe - like another young French Canadian hockey player surrounded by a ton of hype named Alexandre Daigle. When I see Esposito, I'm constantly reminded of Daigle.

Esposito still a lot to prove, and to learn, IMO.

I agree fully with your assessment of Angelo Esposito , he has done the exact same thing as Alexander Daigle, started to collect all the press clippings that were writen about him so he could start a scrap book instead of working to become the best player he could ,
He will be another flop unless he changes his attitude on his work ethic ...

[CatatonicMoose]

There are a lot of people hyping this kid up to be something, who have probably never seen him play and going of the overblown media hype.

There have benn much better players than him over the couple of years in Q, some already in the NHL, some who haven't but a few who will soon:

James Sheppard
David Perron
Jakub Voracek
Claude Giroux
Derrick Brassard

All bring much more to the table than Esposito

[bupz91]

I think Esposito is going to be good, but not as good as giroux will be

[Sourdoughkeeper]

Something thats been said with some frequency and by many on the Thrashers website, the local rag, fan bloggers, etc. is that Esposito just needs to relax and focus on playing instead of the hype that once surrounded him and the disappointment that some feel for his game. As Moose said, he got traded to a new team in junior, and with a new team owning his NHL rights hes got new scenery wherever he is. My guess is that the Thrashers let him play a couple games sorta like they did with Brett Sterling last season but limit his play so he cant kill the team if he sucks or something. But I too would be surprised not to see him back with the Montreal Junior.

That said, something about him, I still kinda like the kids chances, and may end up having to get me a Esposito jersey or tee sometime in the relatively near future.