I've seen this article. It is based upon projections (which are in reality predictions based on what the pundits induce from what they know, have seen, and/or have learned about through other means). I never trust projection. I like to see the player produce to his projected level first. When that happens the projection was good. More often than not the projections are higher than the end results from anyone lower than those sure fire, can't miss blue chip #1s. Those not in that group with rave projections end up with kids being called busts when they don't live up to the projections even if they do end up good players. It's even worse for those blue chippers that don't knock the world on it's ear.
Most top prospects living up to the projections are in the NHL as soon as they are eligible, spend little time, if any, in the AHL and make an impact when inserted into their NHL team's lineup. Pettersson is the only one of those five that may follow that track in this group.
Boeser lived up to the raves as a 1st round selection in his draft year bursting into the NHL at 20 years of age.
Gaudette as a 5th round selection got the benefit of spending his 20 and 21 yr-old seasons in the NCAA instead of the pro minors in the AHL. He will start next season at age 22. That is an age that the top prospect that is usually going to be a major NHL impact player, TOP 6 forward/TOP 4 D-man, is expected to be in the NHL or had better be about to move up during that season. At 23 he would be less likely to become a major impact player based on NHL statistics for top 6 forwards. It wouldn't mean he wouldn't, but the odds start ganging up against him.
Juolevi is disappointing to many because he is D+2 and not progressing at the pace they think he should have relative to his #5 OA selection. This may be a bit of overreaction since he will only be 20 entering the upcoming season.
The expectations for Lind and Gadjovich are probably not as high, but more like hopeful. They will be in Utica where they will be charged with developing to a level where they can force their way into the Vancouver lineup. That will take longer than next season and require some other talents on the farm to play with so they can actually develop.
Demko can go either way, up or down. It depends on how Vancouver wants to handle his progression to the NHL. They currently have 2 goalies under contract for next season. It is not imperative to put him into the rotation next season. Those of us who have watched his every move for 2 seasons realize he could go up, but are not convinced it's really in the best interest of his development. He hasn't played to a level where anyone can look at him and say this guy is being wasted in the AHL. Markstorm had achieved the level where that was the case. Vancouver set up a perfect progression for their keepers that would see Demko in the NHL in 2019-20 with DiPietro moving into his spot in the AHL to begin the progression to the next goalie in Vancouver to team up with Demko.
There are no goalies in line designed to play on the farm next year and 2 more would have to be acquired for next year and one of them likely signed with expectations of mentoring the development of DiPietro the next 2 to 3 seasons. With the way Benning has provided the farm with play making centers, #1 D-men , and a couple scoring forwards if he promotes Demko to start next season, I don't see that future farm goalie plan getting a whole lot of thought until he is informed there are no goalies on the farm. By then the good ones will be gone and he will be looking for fill ins in the same manner he's once again looking for centers, high level D-men, and scoring forwards. The goalies will just be 2 more players added to the rest he's trying to find that are already signed elsewhere. This kind of planning has to be addressed in the summer, not after the draft, free agent period, and development camps are all in the past.
Juolevi and Gaudette will be given every chance to make the Canucks based on the current roster that is contracted to return next season. Benning holds the key to where many of the young guys in the Vancouver system will start the season. If he picks up UFAs like he did last season and returns players many fans hope he will trade, there will not be many openings in Vancouver and Utica will get players I don't ever expect to see here.
Dahlen is in this mix as well. Goldobin and Boucher are also still in the mix, but are no longer shiny new toys.
This summer may be the most interesting yet since Benning was hired.