Yeah, coaching may not be able to influence the standings by more than a handful or so points over the course of a season, but in addition to those handful of points, they make the team so much more competitive, even in close games and losses.
And develop young players into better hockey players.
Like we saw with Petey in the SHL, Boeser and Hughes in the NCAA.
Not what we've seen with anything out of Utica or here in Vancouver, other than our goalies who were coached by Rollie, Clouts, and Clark.
I'll ask you once again. Who has Benning assigned to Utica that was actually NHL material? You saw Goldy, Boucher, and Baertschi. They are the best to ever play in Utica. Boucher and Goldobin are in Europe and Sven will be back there after he collects the balance of what he's owed playing in Utica this season. All 3 were picked up in deals with NHL teams who had given up on them and we learned why.
Who else was assigned here? H-m-m-m-m-m.
The kind of forwards they have sent here were either AHL real gud but flawed for the NHL a la the 3 above or crash and bang but short on the offensive end a la MacEwen.
Shinkaruk arrived as damaged goods. Still nursing an injured hip recovering from off season surgery and out of shape due to little off season training. Still played 74 of the 76 games and put up 16G/15A/31 Pts, most in the last third of the season. Came back his 2nd season to lead the team in goals and points when traded after 435 games. His 21 goals were still #1 on the team at season's end. Another Comets All-Star.
We all know the Gaunce story. He was a very successful 2-way center/wing with the Comets and put up lots of points. Didn't work the same in the NHL, but was a a very good defensive center.
Joe LaBate. Best season as a rookie with 20 Pts in 66GP. Next 2 seasons hurt more than he played. Wasn't qualified. Played the next 3 seasons (this is the 3rd) with AHL Belleville 39 Pts in 125 GP. Never was and never will be.
Jonathan Dahlen. Another great trade acquisition by JB. An Allsvenskan hero Played 50,games with the Comets and proved to be uncoachable. Traded to San Jose and they assigned him to the AHL. In 2019-20 he went back to the Allsvenskan on loan from San Jose. He tore the league up, 77Pts in 51 GP. He re-signed to play there again this season and has amassed 71Pts in 45 GP so far. His rights still belong to San Jose. The guy is tickled to death to excel in the Swedish version of the AHL. With all those points in the SHL is disinterested? WHY?
Petrus Palmu. A waste of a draft pick.
Then there's the center who was incapable of actually carrying a line a la Cole Cassels. He wasn't offered a QO, spent a year in Germany, came back and spent a season between the ECHL and AHL Belleville and Wilkes Barre Scranton and this season is with Belleville again. He has amassed 72 Pts in 260 AHL GP.
Kole Lind and Lukas Jasek. Lukas will be an AHL player until he either doesn't get a QO or decides he can do better in Europe. Lind might get a shot if the Canucks have to sign cheap contracts, but he will be a place holder. He has to be top 6 and I don't see it. Bottom 6 will require a different style and I don't think he's up to it.
Jonah Gadjovich will be like MacEwen if he can actually skate in the NHL. Mack has a forward type scoring ability and Gadj is a front of the net garbageman.
Focht is a project.
Lockwood has one half of what it takes (forecheck and backcheck) but is short on the other half (puck skills, which lead to any kind of offense).
There have never been promising high level D-prospects until Rathbone.
Rafferty only played one season here and finished last season as #3 scoring D-man in the AHL and was named to the 2nd AHL All-Star team. He has been in the Taxi all season with the exception of one NHL game that this season that proved he was not up to the level of one single guy they have been icing below their top 4.-----------Jordan Subban was also an AHL D-man, but in his 2nd season. Jordan's already made it to Europe. Brogan will likely find another NHL team that will take a flyer on him if Benning doesn't re-sign him. With all the contracts he has to renegotiate Brogan is not high on the list. Neither can play D worth a shit.
Briesbois was a 3rd rounder who has achieved tweener status and that's the best you'll get from him.
Juolevi? Came here with high expectations. Proved tpo have major flaws right off the bat, but got injured after only 18 games and was gone for the season. The following season played 45 in a season shortened to 6i by COVID, but had injuries again and had the same defensive problems. Maybe he gets it together in Vancouver or at least gets to remain there combined with his draft position, Benning being in charge, and the lack of talent on the back end in Vancouver.
Mackenze Stewart? I won't waste the space.
Now, Rathbone and Woo are actually performing at a level above any of the other D-prospects Benning sent here. It's hard to tell if it's the level of opposition talent or the skill level of the players. With the Bone I can see both. Woo shows the intelligence, positional play, and solid D-zone play.
Don't put the blame on the development city. Place it with those who assign the players that are sent here. If you don't send players with the innate talent they won't suddenly turn into stud NHL players. Basically, the top draftees did have good seasons here. What happens next is out of our hands.