PITTSBURGH RECALLS STONE, TAFFE

The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forwards Jeff Taffe and Ryan Stone to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Taffe tallied one assist in three games on his previous stint with Pittsburgh.  He began the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins appearing in one game on Oct. 4.  The 27-year old ranks second on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) and a plus-8 rating in 25 games this season.
           
The 6-3, 215-pound forward played 45 games with Pittsburgh last season, scoring 12 points (five goals, seven assists) along with eight penalty minutes.  Taffe registered 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 27 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2007-08.  He has played 149 career games in the NHL over parts of five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes and New York Rangers, tallying 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) along with 36 penalty minutes. 

The native of Hastings, Minnesota was originally drafted by St. Louis in the first round (30th overall) of the 2000 Entry Draft.  He signed with the Penguins as a free agent on July 13, 2007.     

Stone, 23, has registered 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 28 games for Wilkes-Barre, ranking fourth on the team.  His 47 penalty minutes also rank fourth among the Penguins.  

The Calgary, Alberta native played six games over three stints with the Penguins during the 2007-08 season.  He made his NHL debut on January 10th vs. Tampa Bay and registered his first NHL point on March 12th vs. Buffalo.  The 6-2, 207-pound forward tallied 39 points (11 goals, 28 assists) and 129 penalty minutes in 65 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) during the 2007-08 season.  He was sixth on the club in scoring and tied for third in assists.

Stone also appeared in all 23 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the team advanced to the Calder Cup Finals.  He scored 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) and led the team with a plus-nine rating in the postseason.  

Stone was originally selected by the Penguins in the second round (32nd overall) in the 2003 NHL Draft.  He has played three seasons in the AHL for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton recording 108 points (32 goals, 76 assists) and 324 penalty minutes in 181 games.  Stone has also played 44 playoff games, registering 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) and 66 penalty minutes.

Group and Season Ticket packages for the Penguins 10th season are on sale through the Penguins Ticket Offices at 570-208-7367.