I've said this before but now I actually looked it up -> do we really want to make him the first forward 1OA pick since Sundin in '89 to not play in the NHL (in the season immediately following his draft)?
Unless he's completely overwhelmed you simply have to keep him in MTL. I think the fanbase would lose it if he was sent down just for financial reasons
Fan base is already losing it. It's the same fan base that wanted to keep KK in Montreal when he should have never been in NHL at 18.
The amount of games that Europeans play versus what NHL plays and the level it plays at is the tripping point.
AHL is a good introduction to professional NA hockey. Gets him settled in & gives him time to develop.
All these kids were affected by the pandemic, so none of them should be rushed into NHL. It's a different situation.
All we have to do is look at 2021 draft where none of the top 10 played in NHL, including 1st OA Owen Power, so it's already been done.