Coffey77
Registered User
Top Shelf said:I think Brule gets the 10 game tryout and then sent back to the juniors.
Yes - he has improved his game quite a bit since the opening of training camp but he has too many factors working against him such as the new UFA rules (which cannot be ignored) and some actual depth in the lineup now for the CBJ.
The CBJ no longer has to play 1st round draft picks during their draft year - we can afford to let these kids develop with key minutes in the juniors/college/AHL/etc.
I know alot of people will say that if he's good enough to make the team now then to hell with the UFA rules - the team will deal with that when he's 25 but I don't think its that cut and dry in the 'new NHL'.
As has been stated before, would you rather have a kid from 18 - 25 or from 20 - 27? Yeah - we would push to sign him at 25 if he was a UFA but there is only so much money to be spent and with the youth this team is building the cap management must start now and taking the new UFA rules into consideration are a big part of cap management.
That said - I don't think the team can deny him a roster spot next year - especially if he continues to mature both mentaly and physically.
Great points. I think you'll see teams be more cautious as to which kids they bring up because of the 7 years of NHL service rule for UFA status. If Brule can't be at least a 3rd liner then might as well leave him in the WHL. When he's 19 he'll make it. No harm in that.