Penguins notebook: Young Lemieux part of prospect camp

Of all the names on the backs of the prospects' jerseys at Penguins development camp Wednesday, one likely resonated with the fans in the bleachers far more than the others.

The facility at which the Penguins held the practice bears the same name.

Austin Lemieux, the 20-year-old son of Mario Lemieux, skated as one of the 35 prospects that Penguins player development personnel and front-office members supervised over the course of two one-hour practices at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

Lemieux, a first-time participant at the development camp, described himself as fortunate to receive the invitation at his age. Only 11 of the other prospects garnered nods as 20-year-olds or younger.

“I didn't think I'd get here this year,” he said. “I was hoping a little down the line, maybe (after) a few years in college, if I have an opportunity. But it's great for me to be here today.”

This winter, Lemieux finished his first season with Omaha in the United States Hockey League with six goals and eight assists in 57 games.

“Last (season) was a good learning experience,” Lemieux said. “It's just a process. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

“The goal (at camp) is just to get better and see what I have to do to get there, to get to the NHL.”

No Mario sightings occurred at the practices, which were open to the public. But Austin Lemieux understands no one needs to see him near his father to recognize the name.

“You have to be respectful when you have the Lemieux name,” he said. “Make sure you carry yourself well. Just approach every day like it's a new day.”

First impressions

Anyone who showed up to catch a glimpse of the Penguins' 2016 draft picks came away at least slightly disappointed as the most touted selections spent minimal time on the ice.

Swedish goaltender Filip Gustavsson, taken with the Penguins' first pick and No. 55 overall, participated in just a few drills before heading to the locker room about 15 minutes into practice.

Mark Recchi, the player development coach who supervised the practices, didn't have an update on Gustavsson.

“I don't know what happened to him,” Recchi said. “All of a sudden, we had one goalie. That screwed our whole practice up. (But goalie development coach Mike) Buckley was raving about him. Loved everything about the first little part they were working (together).”

Though he did not explain his sudden absence, Gustavsson said afterward he's easing back into training routine after a three-month break from on-ice action.

Third-round selection Connor Hall, a defenseman taken with the pick the Penguins got by trading Beau Bennett to New Jersey, did not practice, though he is present at the camp.

Of six 2016 draft picks, only defenseman Niclas Almari and Joe Masonius went through the full practices.

Red shirt for Masonius

Masonius, taken in the sixth round of the draft after a stellar freshman season at UConn, wore a red jersey while the rest of the prospects donned white or black shirts.

Because he underwent shoulder surgery in April, Masonius must forego contact at the camp. He expects to recover in a few weeks from the procedure, which corrected a season-long ailment he had. It failed to stop him from tallying six goals and 15 assists in 34 games with the Huskies.

The Penguins have a reason to protect Masonius, whom they also welcomed to the prospect camp a season ago as an undrafted invitee.

“Now being a part of the organization, it's just a different feeling being here than being a free agent,” Masonius said. “I wouldn't say there's more pressure. I mean, yeah, there's definitely outside pressure. But it gives me more confidence in myself knowing what they see in me and like in me. I can be comfortable on the ice and just kind of play my game.”

Bill West is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at wwest@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BWest_Trib.