Some of these reactions here... are we really writing off the kid after one bad year? Especially after he's progressed very well each of the year before? Especially when he was always known to be a long-term project?
It was disappointing not to see him grab the 3C spot, yes. Let's see if this year goes better.
Also don't think a year in the KHL would be the end of the world, as long as his relationship with the Panthers remains good and it's just one year.
The kid seemed so excited to be a Panther when he was drafted. Still seemed very excited not long ago. What changed?
Regardless of this rumor and even if it's completely "Borgstrom suddenly turned into a prissy primadona", IMO we should look long and hard at our AHL system. Since 2005, we have five first round playoff exits and one second round playoff exit in 2011/12; not a single playoff appearance since 2016 and we were not going to make it this year either. Six playoff appearances in 15 years for our AHL affiliate.
While some promising defencemen have recently come from Springfield, what about forwards? Since Trocheck, Tippett is the one guy who currently looks like a potential top6 player... that's awful. Heck, show me a solid top9 guy (not Trocheck) who we developed in the AHL recently. I can't think of anyone.
As badly as the Panthers need... something, our AHL system needs it just as bad, maybe more.
And I know it might be just rearranging chairs on the Titanic, but will we ever fire Kinnear?