Anthony Bitetto
Image: USHL

Anthony Bitetto

Hometown:

Island Park New York

Team:

Nashville Predators

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1990-07-15
Position:

D
Eligible for draft:

2008
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2010
Height:

6-1
Acquired:

6th round (168th overall), 2010
Weight:

210 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
7.0

About Prospect Talent Score and Probability of Success»

Probability of Success
  • D

History

2008-09: Anthony Bitetto joined the USHL's Indiana Ice in mid-season after skating for the Eastern Junior Hockey League's New York Apple Core the first half of the year. He was plus-seven with 1 goal and 3 assists in 24 regular season games for the Ice. After finishing third in the East, Indiana captured the USHL's Clark Cup playoff title. Bitetto was plus-five with 3 assists and 6 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games. He committed to playing college hockey at Northeastern in 2010-11.

2009-10: Bitetto played a second season in the USHL with the Indiana Ice. He scored 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points along with 99 penalty minutes in 58 games. He added 2 goals, 2 assists, and 19 penalty minutes in 9 playoff games. Not among the 210 North American skaters listed in Central Scouting's final rankings, he was selected by Nashville in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.

2010-11: Bitetto skated in all 38 games for Northeastern University as a freshman and was the leading scorer amongst the team's defensemen. Bitetto scored 3 goals with 17 assists and was minus-two with 66 penalty minutes. Northeastern finished sixth in Hockey East and was under .500 despite winning three of five games from highly-regarded Boston University late in the season. The Huskies lost a tough one-goal game to defending national champion Boston College in the Hockey East semifinals.

2011-12: Bitetto made his pro debut – appearing in one playoff game with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals – following his sophomore season at Northeastern. He had no points nor penalty minutes for the Admirals. Bitetto was the leading scorer amongst defensemen on a Northeastern team that finished ninth out of ten teams in Hockey East. He scored 4 goals with 11 assists and was plus-three with 34 penalty minutes. Bitetto signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Predators in March 2012 – foregoing his final two years of college hockey.

 

Talent Analysis

Bitetto is seen as a defensive defenseman with a booming point shot. He is a strong, physical player with good size, who finishes his checks. He has the all around ability to be an NHL player, but he lacks polish or consistency. His prospects status will veer one way or the other once he faces a higher level of competition.

 

Future

Bitetto has signed his first pro contract and will likely spend the 2012-13 season with Milwaukee.

 

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