Rookie center Ryan Stone, Pittsburgh's second selection in 2003, is putting together a strong season in Wilkes-Barre. He debuts on the list at 42 green to pro skate in a field that has a lot of quality maturing talent.
Having been a top line center in junior with the Brandon Wheat Kings, where his passes helped make line mate and Washington prospect Eric Fehr last year's WHL scoring champ, Stone has had to round out the rest of his game on the fly.
According to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach Joe Mullen, Stone is making great progress.
"I think Ryan has really developed," said Mullen, who took the reins in Wilkes-Barre following the mid-season coaching shakeup by the big club. "He seems to be maturing at a rapid rate. Now I'm trying to get him in all different situations."
That includes match-ups against the opposing team's top center, a chore Stone is likely to be handed once he does make the jump to the NHL.
To that end, Stone realizes that his NHL future is as a "three-zone" player.
"I think things have gone pretty (well)," he said. "I had a slow start, but I've picked it up here, of late. I'm playing with more confidence, and feel like I'm skating a bit better. I think I'm catching my stride, now."
Mullen is in full agreement.
"I really like the way his game's coming along," he said. "He's doing all the little things, out there. Now he needs to get an extra half step.
- Dan Hickling
