LETESTU LOOKING FORWARD

Last Updated on Monday, 26 October 2009 12:53 Written by Penguins Manager Monday, 26 October 2009 12:46

Mark Letestu entered training camp with high expectations. The third-year pro was coming off of an outstanding sophomore season, which saw him finish in the top 30 in American Hockey League scoring and third on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 61 points in 73 games.

But he quickly saw his fortunes take a turn for the worse during the first week of on ice workouts heading into the 2009-10 campaign.

“Coming off last year, I hoped I had earned myself a chance to play some exhibition games [with Pittsburgh], and at least let management see if I was an NHL player, at least in their eyes,” said Letestu. “Unfortunately, second day of camp, just a battle drill, I got my knee caught under me and twisted. I tore something in there that needed to be repaired. It took that opportunity for me to get in the lineup for an exhibition game away. It was a little disappointing then.”

Thankfully, the injury only kept Letestu on the sidelines for a few weeks. While he didn’t get the chance to pull on the Pittsburgh sweater, he also didn’t miss a considerable amount of playing time.

“Selfishly I would have liked to play with the Pittsburgh uniform on. It didn‘t happy,” said Letestu, who returned to action in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s fourth game of the season, October 16 in Binghamton. “But it wasn’t a long term injury. I only missed three games and I’m back to playing here. The schedule’s been light, which has given me a lot of time to rehab and get healthy.”

The Elk Point, Alberta native said he felt a little rusty heading into his first action of the year, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell from his performance over the weekend. Letestu set up a pair of first period goals in a 6-3 win at Binghamton, then assisted on the game-tying goal and scored in the shootout at the Pens downed the Syracuse Crunch, 4-3, the following night.

Offensive output is something Letestu has become known for at every level. He captured the Ernie Love Trophy as the Alberta Junior Hockey League Scoring champion with 105 points (50+55) and was named the league’s most valuable player in 2006, then paced all NCAA freshmen with 46 points and was named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s rookie of the year following the 2006-07 schedule.

But Letestu’s first full season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton saw modest numbers, as he recorded just 18 points (6+12) in 52 games.

“I hoped [my career] would have [progressed] faster. But it’s a process,” he said. “Tom Fitzgerald had this talk with me my first year about believing in the process, and believing in what they’re telling me. And it’s really starting to pay off.”

It certainly is. Letestu started the 2008-09 season with just four points through his first 15 games, but finished with 57 points in his final 58 games, and tied for second in playoff scoring with 10 points in 12 contests. Only Jeff Taffe and Janne Pesonen scored more points for the Pens than Letestu last season.

“I was fortunate enough to play with Janne and Nick [Johnson], two really good players. We seemed to complement each other really well,” said Letestu. “I had a great year. It’s something I think I’m capable of having every year. I think it’s something that was expected of me when I was signed. And it’s nice to kind of fulfill those expectations.”

Although he’s only in his third full pro season, Letestu is somewhat of a veteran on a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton club which features 10 rookies.

“It’s a quick turnover [in the AHL], more so than the NHL,” he said. “You come in as a rookie, then you’re the second year guy, then you’re the old guy. It’s really an interesting process. But I’ve put the expectations on myself to pass on what I’ve learned, and I hope to rush along some of these guys’ developments.”

He has one other expectation for himself as well – to finally slip into the NHL Penguins sweater.

“I still have a chance to get up there at some point. I just have to keep working for it,” he said. “I’d love to play in Pittsburgh. But it’s a deep roster. You come off a Stanley Cup, there’s not going to be a lot of changes. But injuries happen. Who knows? I might get up there.

“The role I’ve taken on here has been increased every year. And hopefully I get that opportunity on top.”