PARENT PENGUINS RECALL CONNOR JAMES

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Jeff Taffe from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and returned center Connor James to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it was announced on Wednesday.

Taffe, 26, leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 21 points and 12 goals in 27 games this season. He split last season between the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) and the San Antonio Rampage (AHL), recording six points (4+2) and two penalty minutes in 17 games with the Coyotes, and 40 points (20+20) and 22 penalty minutes in 59 games with the Rampage. He ranked fourth on San Antonio in points and third in goals.

The 6-3,215 pound native of Hastings, MN has appeared in 254 AHL contests, registering 178 points (85+93) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Springfield, Utah, Hartford and San Antonio.

A former first round draft choice by the St. Louis Blues (30th overall in the2000), Taffe has appeared in 100 NHL contests with the Phoenix Coyotes andNew York Rangers, recording 28 points (15+13) and 26 penalty minutes. He was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on July 13, 2007.

James, 25, was recalled by Pittsburgh on December 15, and made his debut with the club that night against the New York Islanders, going scoreless.

Now in his second year with the organization, James ranks fourth on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 16 points (6+10) in 25 games this season. He posted 32 points (12+20) in 70 games with the AHL Penguins last season.

He was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on August 9, 2006.

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