Report: Former First-Round pick opens up about failing his NHL career.

Nine years ago Quebec Remparts forward Angelo Esposito was destined for NHL greatness after recording 39 goals and 98 points in 57 games in his first year of junior hockey, but now the 26-year-old is fighting to return to the game he once dominated. Esposito was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 20th overall in 2007, but after becoming the victim of numerous injuries and lackluster play, he was shipped around to different AHL clubs before seeing time in the ECHL, Italian and Austrian leagues, and back to the ECHL before deciding to take a year off from the game this season. "It was a tough year mentally and physically," Esposito told the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. "I've been through a lot over the last few years so I took the year off. I just had to clear up my conscience. I started training about two months ago and I'm looking to go back and play in Europe again next year." Esposito impressed many earlier in his career having been named the QMJHL's Best Professional Prospect in 2007 and scoring the game-winning goal for Canada in its gold medal game versus Sweden at the 2009 World Junior Championship. However, things didn't pan out. But Esposito has found an inner peace with that reality. "You grow up," said Esposito. "You mature in your body and you have to learn to accept things. Everyone's destined for something in life. It's too bad I never got to step on the ice in the NHL. "So maybe, you never want to say never, but you have to be realistic. But you come to terms with it. You just try to do ... there's something else waiting out there and hopefully I get to achieve something else." Not every story ends up with a storybook ending.