I think coming in too early can definitely affect a player longer term. If the player comes in too young before they’re ready and struggles to make an impact it can bring their confidence down and I think that’s something that can be really hard to get past even as they get older. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that could’ve negatively affected Zacha’s development. Zacha never even dominated in the OHL or the World juniors really before jumping to the NHL. Maybe if he had another good year in the O, another World juniors and maybe even a good year in the AHL he might’ve come in as a further developed and more confident 20 or 21 year old and could’ve had more of an impact giving him confidence going forward.
While definitely fair and logical, Ive begun separating confidence and 'being rushed' in terms of young guys in the NHL.
I understand fully that they correlate; I just dont think its a direct Relation, or causation
Confidence can be hampered by a multitude of things; one being, in this example, Zachas father not being around to inspire and push him. This would have happened whether he went to the O another year and then the A.
for a lot of Euros (or long distance NAmericans), just the move alone away from friends and family can be tough.
ive recently decided I dont think its fair to always assume 'oh he was rushed', because what does that honestly mean? If I had to describe being rushed in pro sports, itd be based on fit and physique. Confidence is a huge play but someones mental cant be quantified or, if negative impacted, determined to be an effect of being rushed
Maybe im just wordsmithing or trying too hard to have a different opinion from the norm to try and make sense of it.
I just think its a bit of an easy copout to always assume a player was rushed, when in reality, most of these players come out (like Jack) and say the experience was great for them and they learned things they couldnt have anywhere else.
edit; ill also add one thing. I think the biggest reason why I sometimes want a player to stay down is for playing time. Increased repetition so to speak