I think some players have been hurt by being rushed. Grigorenko, Couturier, and A. Larsson come to mind off the top of my head.

You can't prove or disprove that a jump right to the NHL hurts players development or not. I feel that most players need at least some AHL time to develop before being thrown into the NHL, but I can't prove it for sure.
- jmatchett383

It is tough for me in this regard, because do we know that Couturier would've developed differently had he stayed in juniors? You would think he would have enough time to work on just his offense considering how long he has been good defensively. I am not sure if "this guy doesn't end up being as good as we thought he would be" always means he didn't develop properly

He is a smallish righty d-man who plays a solid two way game, but has real offensive potential. Plays for Bowling Green, their top d-man. He was a third round pick..
- jak521

We've gotta turn some of these young defensemen with high ceilings into young forwards ready to take that next step.

So Hextall is the only one to practice being patient with his prospects?

If it was better for these guys to just develop in the NHL why did AZ send Strome back to juniors. Carolina should just have Hayden Fleury in the NHL then.

My point is there is no exact science. But I think most GM's will error on the side of caution. I think Hextall and the hockey people know what is best for their guys. Is it really killing them playing in the AHL right now?
- J35Bacher

I just think that, if the current NHL club was better, people wouldn't be as frustrated and wouldn't want the kids up as much. A grass is greener sort of thing.

I hope that 2 out of Morin, Sanheim, Hagg, and Myers will make the jump out of training camp.
- jmatchett383

This is also where I lean towards give them some experience. Hextall wants to remain competitive, but is going to have a third of his defense play their first NHL game at the same time?

The way I see it, 2 rookies makes me feel like 1 spends time as a healthy scratch

I just think that, if the current NHL club was better, people wouldn't be as frustrated and wouldn't want the kids up as much. A grass is greener sort of thing.
- jmatchett383

Agree.

And I am one who thinks winning is good. Even in the AHL. I think winning a calder cup would be a good thing those guys.

It is tough for me in this regard, because do we know that Couturier would've developed differently had he stayed in juniors? You would think he would have enough time to work on just his offense considering how long he has been good defensively. I am not sure if "this guy doesn't end up being as good as we thought he would be" always means he didn't develop properly
- YuenglingJagr

Which is why I said you can't prove it.

Basically, my take is that you can't over-develop them in juniors and the AHL, so why risk throwing them into a situation they may be less equipped to handle? Unless the player shows that he is 100% ready for a regular spot in the NHL, let them work on their games at the lower levels so that, when they do come up, they are 100% (or as close as can be) ready.

We've gotta turn some of these young defensemen with high ceilings into young forwards ready to take that next step.
- SuperSchennBros

that was ray shero's logic and he was ultimately left holding the bag because of it.

Which is why I said you can't prove it.

Basically, my take is that you can't over-develop them in juniors and the AHL, so why risk throwing them into a situation they may be less equipped to handle? Unless the player shows that he is 100% ready for a regular spot in the NHL, let them work on their games at the lower levels so that, when they do come up, they are 100% (or as close as can be) ready.
- jmatchett383

Well I think there is a part of it that requires NHL play...so you don't really know a guy is 100% ready until he proves he is.

I think some players have been hurt by being rushed. Grigorenko, Couturier, and A. Larsson come to mind off the top of my head.

You can't prove or disprove that a jump right to the NHL hurts players development or not. I feel that most players need at least some AHL time to develop before being thrown into the NHL, but I can't prove it for sure.
- jmatchett383

It's impossible to prove. I'm just giving my opinion.

I don't think keeping guys in the minors hurts them. I just think it delays development. You only get these guys on cheap deals for so long. I want them contributing as soon as possible while they're as cheap as possible.

This is also where I lean towards give them some experience. Hextall wants to remain competitive, but is going to have a third of his defense play their first NHL game at the same time?

The way I see it, 2 rookies makes me feel like 1 spends time as a healthy scratch
- YuenglingJagr

Well Hagg just completed his third pro North American year, so I don't know how much longer he needs to stay in the AHL. Morin now has 2 under him. Sanheim, honestly, I think may get traded for a forward, but only has 1 pro year. Myers is the wild card.

I don't think they'll put one on the roster to make him the 7D.

It is tough for me in this regard, because do we know that Couturier would've developed differently had he stayed in juniors? You would think he would have enough time to work on just his offense considering how long he has been good defensively. I am not sure if "this guy doesn't end up being as good as we thought he would be" always means he didn't develop properly
- YuenglingJagr

Wasn't Couturier a 90 point guy in the Q in his last, injury shortened year in junior?

It's impossible to prove. I'm just giving my opinion.

I don't think keeping guys in the minors hurts them. I just think it delays development. You only get these guys on cheap deals for so long. I want them contributing as soon as possible while they're as cheap as possible.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes, but what if they're not ready to contribute at that level yet?

This is also where I lean towards give them some experience. Hextall wants to remain competitive, but is going to have a third of his defense play their first NHL game at the same time?

The way I see it, 2 rookies makes me feel like 1 spends time as a healthy scratch
- YuenglingJagr

well I definitely don't want young players here if they will be healthy scratches. I want to see openings for these kids. just seems like at this point Hagg and Morin have been in the AHL for a long time and from most accounts they have played well.

This is also where I lean towards give them some experience. Hextall wants to remain competitive, but is going to have a third of his defense play their first NHL game at the same time?

The way I see it, 2 rookies makes me feel like 1 spends time as a healthy scratch
- YuenglingJagr

Such a long time away.

There will be trades and possibly even one of the prominent d prospects could be moved for a forward prospect. Maybe they make a move to unload MacDonald the way Chicago move bickell.

Things will sort themselves out.

that was ray shero's logic and he was ultimately left holding the bag because of it.
- stayinthefnnet

You think what he did was wrong though? I guess the Despres trade could've turned out better, but he hasnt done much.

It's impossible to prove. I'm just giving my opinion.

I don't think keeping guys in the minors hurts them. I just think it delays development. You only get these guys on cheap deals for so long. I want them contributing as soon as possible while they're as cheap as possible.
- PhillySportsGuy

yeah. with today's NHL its almost impossible to field a team with enough talent throughout the lineup without at least a couple of ELCs holding down roles.

It's impossible to prove. I'm just giving my opinion.

I don't think keeping guys in the minors hurts them. I just think it delays development. You only get these guys on cheap deals for so long. I want them contributing as soon as possible while they're as cheap as possible.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think at a certain point, there is diminishing returns with keeping a player in a lower league, in terms of development.

They key is recognizing when there is nothing more to be gained by keeping a player in a lower league. Or recognizing that the player just might not be as good as they thought when they drafted him.

Well I think there is a part of it that requires NHL play...so you don't really know a guy is 100% ready until he proves he is.
- YuenglingJagr

Oh, absolutely, you have to let them play at some point. But at the same time, if the coaches that watch these kids every night don't feel that they're ready yet, maybe they aren't. Also, I don't think that a handful of games can prove they are ready for the NHL, but can prove that they're not.

Such a long time away.

There will be trades and possibly even one of the prominent d prospects could be moved for a forward prospect. Maybe they make a move to unload MacDonald the way Chicago move bickell.

Things will sort themselves out.
- J35Bacher

It really isn't a long time away. The way Hextall does things there won't be 2 open spots that the best of the kids get to fill. It isn't the way he works

Oh, absolutely, you have to let them play at some point. But at the same time, if the coaches that watch these kids every night don't feel that they're ready yet, maybe they aren't. Also, I don't think that a handful of games can prove they are ready for the NHL, but can prove that they're not.
- jmatchett383

Do we know that they don't think they are ready? I think all we know is that Hextall doesn't want to call them up. Ghost wasn't ready until he had to be

They can be sent back to the AHL....like Ghost

Couldn't have said it better myself
- PhillySportsGuy

Zip it, peasant.

Do we know that they don't think they are ready? I think all we know is that Hextall doesn't want to call them up. Ghost wasn't ready until he had to be

They can be sent back to the AHL....like AMac
- YuenglingJagr

ftfy

Slightly, if at all, overpaid top-4 defenseman.

You think what he did was wrong though? I guess the Despres trade could've turned out better, but he hasnt done much.
- YuenglingJagr

i dont hate what shero did. hindsight is always going to be 20/20. its sort of ironic and unfair that he was never able to seemingly draft young forward talent, but now all of the young guys that everyone is enamored with were his picks/acquisitions that just took time.

i hated the despres trade. ultimately it worked out fine, but I just don't like getting bailed out because the guy with upside cant stay healthy.

the pouliot pick was the real killer.

on one hand, i just dont like the notion of intentionally having an unbalanced cupboard with the intent of trading later. if you continually go BPA and it slants that way, so be it.

It really isn't a long time away. The way Hextall does things there won't be 2 open spots that the best of the kids get to fill. It isn't the way he works
- YuenglingJagr

How does he work?

His first few years he has been stock piling prospects and trying to trim fat from the roster.

Like I said. Hextall will be patient until it's time not to be.

Yes, but what if they're not ready to contribute at that level yet?
- jmatchett383

That's never stopped the coach from playing Bellemare and Vandevelde