Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE — Joseph Cramarossa has spent the last three seasons playing on the West Coast, so he’ll be a relatively new face when he joins his Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin teammates.
Cramarossa, 25, who was acquired in a trade for Colin Smith on Wednesday, was expected to meet the Penguins in Rochester on Thursday night and will play in Friday’s game against the Americans, according to head coach Clark Donatelli.
While the five-year pro spent the last three seasons playing with San Diego and Stockton in the AHL, plus NHL 59 games between Anaheim and Vancouver last season, who was a familiar opponent to the Penguins early in his career.
During the first two seasons of his career with the Norfolk Admirals, Cramarossa faced the Penguins 10 times, and while he never recorded a point, he did rack up 31 penalty minutes, including three fighting majors.
That physical element is one reason why the Penguins decided to deal Smith to Stockton and bring Cramarossa into the lineup.
“We wanted a little bit more grit here going down the road into the playoffs,” Donatelli said. “This is a good fit for us.”
The trade is essentially a swap of two players who struggled in their first season with a new team. Smith recorded five goals and 18 points over 35 games with the Penguins after posting 47 and 56 points in each of the previous seasons.
Cramarossa had three goals and 10 points in 37 games with Stockton this season, along with 38 penalty minutes.
Donatelli thinks a change of scenery could help Cramarossa.
“There’s no question about it. When you’re playing the right way and playing our system, you’re going to get chances. That’s what we expect to see out of him,” he said.
While it isn’t known where Cramarossa will slot into the lineup, Donatelli noted he can play either wing. Last season, Cramarossa made Anaheim’s roster out of training camp, was briefly sent to San Diego for two games then returned to appear in 49 contests for the Ducks, posting four goals and 10 points. He was claimed off waivers by Vancouver later in the season and played in 10 games with the Canucks before suffering a season-ending injury.
“He’s one of those guys that comes to work every day with a lunch pail and hard hat on. He’s our type of guy,” Donatelli said. “We anticipate getting more out of him.”
NOTES
• Freddie Tiffels and Cody Wydo joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton from Wheeling on Thursday as the Penguins prepare to play three games in three nights this weekend, beginning Friday’s tilt in Rochester.
Tiffels, 22, has appeared in 11 games for the Penguins this season, recording one goal and one assist in that time. Tiffels recently had a five-game point streak to start the month of February with the Nailers. The Cologne, Germany, native and first-year pro posted seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points over the course of the first 27 ECHL games of his career.
Wydo, 26, currently leads the Nailers in points with 50 (22G-28A). His 22 goals are also second-most on the team. This production comes one year after leading Wheeling in goal scoring at the end of the 2016-17 season (30) and finishing tied for the team’s highest point total (60).
