The worst thing they could do for Brisebois right now is call him up and throw him in the deep end now that he's finally making strides at the AHL level. But I agree, that's what they'll probably do.
They won't have any other choice. Only A & B exist in Utica for call-up duty. A is McEneny and his skating after the 3rd knee surgery has not come back. That leaves B, Brisebois. There is nobody else here they CAN bring up unless Benning wants to sacrifice one of his remaining 50 spots that he hoards like precious jewels and sign Blujus like they did with Archi last season.
Of course the portion of the fan base that thinks a guy practicing with the big club somehow actually develops their game further, won't see any problem with sitting him in the press box until such time the Canucks have their guy/s back.
I've said it before and repeat, if practicing with the big club developed players to become ready for the NHL, there would be no need for the AHL. every NHL team just carries 40 guys. They practice every day in 2 sessions an in a year or 3 those guys are NHL players. You cut bait every season to replace those not progressing fast enough to make room for the new draftees who reach professional age eligibility, but also allow as many as possible to play their overage Jr. year to make the bait cutting a smaller number giving every guy the utmost time before he goes into the regular work force with the rest of the masses. That would be idiotic because we all know that would waste an awful lot of careers because it wouldn't actually develop them at all. You have to play to develop. That's why there are minor leagues.
So much for the theory that practice with the big boys readies a player for the transition. Practicing with the big boys shows whether or not a guy might be ready to play with the big boys or needs to get his ass back to the minors pronto to develop further. Press box time is best suited for vet tweeners, not rookies.
