Former Saint Surprise Visitor For Campers

By Lindsay Kramer - NHL.com correspondent
The 2010-11 season ended too soon for Syracuse Crunch forward Kyle Palmieri. Just as Palmieri was proving himself as the hottest rookie the AHL, it was time to go packing into a long offseason.
It turns out that the abrupt ending may have only been the beginning of something big. And based on Palmieri's hectic previous 12 months, he's needed every deep breath he could draw.
See that "Help Wanted" sign Anaheim has hanging on one of its wing spots? The finally refreshed Palmieri might just have the burst to grab it sooner than most expected.
"There's an opening for a right-handed forward up there," Syracuse assistant general manager Bob Ferguson said in describing Palmieri. "I don't think there's any question he will play in the NHL someday and be a key member of Anaheim." That was the obvious blueprint when the Ducks took Palmieri in the first round (No. 26) of the 2009 Entry Draft. The revisions have been forced by the resiliency Palmieri has shown navigating the endurance test since then. Palmieri left Notre Dame after his freshman year to turn pro with Anaheim. He attended his first NHL camp with the Ducks as a 19-year-old last season and was sent to Syracuse -- but was recalled Nov. 3 and scored his first NHL goal that night. He returned to Syracuse before leaving again to play for the United States in the World Juniors, where he helped Team USA to a bronze medal by tying for the team lead in scoring with six points in six games. Palmieri barely had time to unpack from that trip before heading off to Hershey, where he was the Crunch's lone representative at the AHL All-Star Game. Palmieri fired home 15 goals in the last 14 games of the AHL season, snaring rookie of the month honors for March. His 29 goals were third most for a rookie in team history, and even though Syracuse missed the playoffs he was recalled for the Ducks' postseason.