John Curry

Curry will look to regain the luster of a once-promising NHL career by playing in a German league in 2011-12.

Curry fell behind Brad Thiessen in the depth chart during the 2009-10 season. The Boston University product set himself up with a strong 2008-09 showing in the AHL, going 33-15-1 with a 2.38 GAA and .920 save percentage. He slumped badly last winter, though, finishing 23-19-2 with a 2.87 GAA and .891 save percentage. If you're looking for a goalie sleeper with Pittsburgh, try Brad Thiessen or even Alex Pechurski. Curry needs to work himself back in the good graces of the Pittsburgh organization or he could find himself on the outside looking in at the age of 26.

Curry rates no better than the No. 3 goaltender option for Pittsburgh in 2009-10. Starter Marc-Andre Fleury figures to start in at least 60 games with newcomer Brent Johnson getting the rest of the opportunities. Of course Fleury has a history of missing a month or two and Johnson has been known to get hurt, too. Curry acquitted himself quite nicely in three games for the Pens last year, going 2-1 with a 2.44 GAA and .913 save percentage, as an emergency backup. He appears capable of playing in the NHL but right now there's no opportunity for him.

Curry, 24, is a prospect already older than starting netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. His most immediate chance at an NHL pension lies with his ability to play well this year at Wilkes-Barre -- Curry went 14-9 with a 2.83 GAA in the playoffs last year. If he does a solid job, then the undrafted goalie could contend for Fleury's backup job next season. Current backup Dany Sabourin will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2008-09 campaign.