I think sure-fire top prospects don't give their 100% in those development camps (when you're a 4th rounder, you have to make your mark). They are naturally giving a chance to the invitees, new draft picks and obscure prospects to shine a bit. Kind of a like Dzingel started making a name for himself a few years ago, being a 7th round pick
It might even be some kind of directive.
It's natural for a player to adjust against the quality of competition. Alex Burrows could have destroyed my deck league a few years ago (he was still a 4th liner in the NHL) but he took it easy, adjusting to the competition. Did that make him a player who can't raise his game? He went on the following years to score 25 goals or more with the Sedins in 4 straight seasons.
I'm like that too, I play much better in better levels of competition.
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Now, since people have derailed the thread and only talk about Lindberg
shakehead), I'm going to change the subject a bit...
You're right, compared to Puempel he looked like a super star for sure.
I frequently go to these camps, I've seen this kid within arms reach of me on at least a dozen occasions, and as a first round pick I've made a special point of watching him. I respect the season he had in the AHL. I have to give Luke Richardson, with his 1000+ games of NHL experience, a ton of credence when he tells me he likes the kid. But I've seen what I've seen, other people have too, and when I've never seen this kid stand out in any major way against his peers again and again now, I have every right to question how much of an impact he's going to have at the next level. .
I'm done with this topic. We'll see who's right. I'm here saying that Puempel won't end up being an impact player at the NHL level.
You can have your opinions/predictions fine, but what people are trying to tell you :
10 AHL Games >>>>>>> 1000 hours of camp scrimmage.
Also, keep in mind that Brian Lee never really impressed in those, not even in the AHL