And I can argue that you are placing an 'artificial ceiling' on Klimchuk by basing his future as a pro solely on his rookie seasons production, while not acknowledging the role he was used in. So you aren't making much of a point here.
I'm placing his ceiling on the fact that, whether it was Junior or AHL, he's never shown any element to his game that gives him an edge. I'm well aware of the limitations that being used as a depth player may have put on his rookie season, but they're not a sufficient excuse for the lack of offense. They might excuse some of the production, but even depth players can get breakaways and pot a few garbage goals at the AHL level.
I don't disagree, and as I said above there are some bottom pairing D who are more valuable than your average 4th liner, but as you have pointed out yourself here with your examples most of them come and go very quickly, just like your average 4th line guy.
Yeah, but neither Wotherspoon nor Kulak nor Culkin are that kind of bottom pair D that you're aluding to (Keegan Kanzig and Kenney Morrison may be). Again Wotherspoon and Kulak easily have 2nd pair upside but even if they top out as bottom pair guys it'll be closer to a guy like Jokipakka or Schlemko - guys you're not terrified of moving up to the #4D spot if there's an injury. A lot more valuable than a 4th liner or even utility 3rd liner. (Note: Frolik/Backlund are utility 2nd liners. Highly unlikely Klimchuk gets to that level)
The importance of bottom pair D can be evidenced in last year's SCF, where the Polak and Dillon pairing were pretty much the difference between winning and losing the Cup.
I think that would be a focus given three full years of development yes, to improve his offensive game.
To what extent though? Klimchuk is at an age just short of where forwards begin to plateau offensively. Even if he has a jump in his production with better linemates and power play time, you're overestimating how much better his individual offensive ability will get, which is clearly below a guy like Poirier who's projecting towards a third liner. Ability is not measured by stats, but Klimchuk doesn't ace the eye test either. His best asset is away from the puck, but that's not enough to separate from the pack. Defensive ability peaks later in forwards, so the pack will only get better defensively and catch up to Klimchuk.
This doesn't say very much to me honestly, because it's applicable to a great number of our prospects when you describe them. Different prospects bring different qualities, we have already gone over Klimchuk's.
Yes, different prospects bring different qualities, but a prospect has to separate himself from the pack somehow. It's sort of like what the knock on Wotherspoon has been the past few years - do something to make us think you have value added. The difference is Wotherspoon plays a much more crucial position and has shown NHL competence as early as when he was Klimchuk's age.
