Development isn't restricted to making Player X, a better hockey player.....that's Coaching. Development is all encompassing....it's about hockey lifestyle.
Development is the 'process' of teaching young men how to absorb knowledge in a meaningful and useful way. With emphasis on treating hockey as a career. In a Professional atmosphere. Whilst enhancing their elite skills.
Applying on a daily basis, such concepts as: How to train your body effectively, how to recover from stress and fatigue. How to and what to watch, during video sessions. How to apply what you learn to the on-ice practice. Scheduling meals (non team related), managing time off, maximizing the effects of weight training. Recovering from a 'pro' travel routine and what effects it has on you as an individual athlete, etc.. It's teaching 'former' stars of various levels, how to develop into a good 'Pro'. Paying attention to the little details to become the best player/person you can be.....aka, Developing.
It's an ongoing process of learning the nuances. It's developing your skills within this pressure filled environment. Development has a lot to do with being consistent in your 'game' while taking on all these (much more) demanding pressures. Remember, most of these players have been 'developing' habits since Bantam & Junior hockey. Some transition effortlessly, others...........
A lot of it starts with who you draft. Those individuals that will make the sacrifices to get ahead of others. And to be honest, nowadays, every team is drafting players with very similar traits. Good character, good work ethic etc. etc..
Scoring more points at a 'lower' level (AHL); or scoring less points at a 'higher' level (NHL) of competition doesn't necessarily relate to a player's overall development. It's mostly irrelevant. It's learning 'your' role within the Organization's blueprint of that player's projected ceiling. It's comprehensive, and not easily identifiable by where a player is playing (what league).
For example, when prospects show up to camp; some are physically ready, others are mentally ready. Player A may be able to understand the concepts and compete at the increased pace required, but can't physically be effective. Player B may be physically ready (winning battles), but the processing of the reads & assignments are not yet quick enough. Both need developing in certain areas, at a slower pace.
However, those players that 'prove' in camp to be physically able and mentally sharp enough, will quite often stick (depending on roster limitations). Further 'development' can be attained at the highest level (NHL) because the speed of the game isn't affecting them Physically or Mentally. It becomes a better place to develop. There are exceptions, like players that can't go to the AHL but are to advanced for Junior...but I regress.
Basically prospects DEVELOP: their Mind (attitude, awareness) & Body (skills, training/recovery) as a Professional athlete (earning a living). At this point, it's merely fine tuning. They know how to play hockey. To imply that Development is tied to how early/late an individual enters the NHL is misleading. Though not entirely inaccurate.
In the end, a 'well' developed player can compete 'consistently' at their highest level, in spite of all the external pressures of NHL life. The 'process', is a means to an end.
