This is why I don't like picking up other teams failed prospects. Every team has these 30 something vets that are clinging to a roster spot. Every team is going to choose the 22 year old kid to play if that kid is at all near the same level as the vet. When they don't it tells you something.
Yup.
Explains why Goldy and Boucher were sent to Utica. Vanek and Gagner were now in the way.
Jake forced his way on the scene or Dorsett and Burmistrov would have sent him down as soon as Gaunce became healthy. Eriksson is now also in the way.
Don't put it past Jim to add a couple more before next season. The cap is supposed to increase and if the Sedins are not re-signed or even sign for half of what they get now, Jim is going to be like the kid in a toy store with a large wad of $$$$ burning a hole in his pocket.He may commit to enough new NHL ready players that there is no roo m for the incoming rookies.
The fact that the kids would all have a season to play together is the way I think they should be brought along anyways. Then if one of them just sets the league on fire and proves he belongs at the next level you bring him up. That's much better than how Jake and Jared were handled. It's probably just me, but iwould have given Stetcher and Huttona t least a few monthes in the AHL first as well. Boeser and Bo are the only kids that burst upon the scene and made a big impact rather than just being able to survive while having a few high points throughout the year that showed what they might be capable of. Now those 2 are under heavy criticism from a good sized group of the fan base with some actually stating point blank that one or the other or even both don't even belong in the NHL at this time. Jake has now become a bust in many people's eyes even if he survives as a bottom 6 forward due to his draft position and the play of those drafted after him. There are those who say he belongs in the AHL right now. The kid is just 21. It would not have been unheard of to have given him another Jr. season. Put him in the AHL last year as his first pro season and then started him there again this year.
Pettersson and Dahlen are being handled exactly like that right now. Dahlen is now in a league equivalent to the ECHL which is actually a downgrade from where he should be (AHL).His mono was a short range excuse. He didn't go back to Sweden and sit out a spell, regain his health, and then gradually work his way back into the game. That was a BS exciuse handed to the fan base who were unlikely to give a ****. He went home on Oct 10th and was playing with Timra on Oct 13 and has played 28 games of their 35 game schedule. He wasn't in Sweden for their first 7 games which are the only games he's missed.
If he doessn't make the NHL next year he belongs in Utica and no excuses will be acceptable here. We are watching all kinds of young European players on the Comets opponents and many don't come with the credentials this kid supposedly had when he was acquired.
Pettersson is playing with men in the SHL which a lot of expert hockey minds equate to the the top half of the AHL teams. He is starring, but his coach says he didn't make the Olympic team because he doesn't have the strength to compete at that high level. Remember the Olympics won't have NHL players so he is playing against the same kind of players he sees regularly in Sweden. If the NHL players were there, he likely doesn't even get mentioned as a possibility. He's not ready for this level, but so many see him as a regular on the Canucks in 9 months. This kid is going to have to go through an amazing metamorphosis in a very short period of time. It would be better not to force that pressure upon him until he at least shows he can fl;y in the AHL just like Toronto did with Nylander. He gets a few games in Vancouvewr throughout the season. Goes back to Utica and works on what it was determined he needs to improve and the next season may start in Utica again and then graduates to Vancouver where he fits in perfectly without needing to be sheltered. Hey, I'm not Shanahan, Lou Lam, Babcock or Linden, Benning, or Green, but I prefer the way the the first 3 have handled young talent over the way Trevor and company have done things.
Mathews was the epitome of top talent in his draft season and MacDavid in his. The Canucks have not drafted one of those. Therefore, the approach with the high but not #1 pick probably should get a little different approach. Just how I see it and I know there are those who oppose my view and that's just fine. I didn't post this to argue just to state where I stand on the issue.