The same reason why people like Jack Hughes played in the tournament. The same reason why Eichel played inthe tournament. They were guranteed a roster spot more than Luke was. Every year there are players like Luke who are virtually guranteed a roster spot that still play in the tournament. Many peopel guratneed a spot don't make the team as they have a bad camp. HAppens every year. There is no risk based approach in pre season. YOu keep players out of the line up inthe last game or two before the playoffs. You don't keep them out of pre season or prospect games. Just becasue he was a top prospect doesn't mean he is guranteed a spot. HE needs to prove this year he deserves a spot. He put up points last year and made some nice plays but also made some complete bonehead defensive plays that made Brendan Smith look good. Nobody is given a roster spot. It is his to lose and although he is a favorite over Nemec that doesn't mean that Nemec can't prove over this tournament that he deserves a spot over Hughes. Jake Sanderson is a similar prospect to Hughes and also played last year as well.
You don't have to be a dick. Taking into account where you are and how you impoved over the summer definitly matters in this tournament. You think all of these teams are doing it so the Sabres can make $3000 in ticket sales to most of the games and that they can sell $250 in Tim HOrtons sales per game. YEs they have a pretty good idea what they are getting with Luke. But the energy level at these games are from kids that are trying to make it. I've seen top prospects dissapear in this tournament and other players prove that they deserve a spot on the team. I sat with John Marinos dad who himself was upset that he was going pro instead of being cpatian at Harvard. Marino was a sixth round pick that was traded away by the team that drafted him and even his own father didn't think he was going to make the team. Then he was arguably the best player inthe tournament and made the team that year. That was becasue of the tournament. That year first round pick Pierre Oliver Joseph had a way better chance to make the team over Marino and proved in that tournament that he wasn't ready for that level of hockey.
unless he shits the bed and Nemec can prove that he deserves a spot over Hughes then it surely could. It means something which is exaclty why they have them. Why exactly do you think an NHL team would play "prospects" in the prospect tournament?
Where did I say he wouldn’t make the team? I’m saying that nobody is guaranteed a roster spot when you are a prospect Generational talent aside. I think I provided a pretty good example as to why the tournament is relevant. I’m not saying that Nemec is going to make the team over Hughes. But it isn’t 100% guaranteed that he takes the spot over Nemec. These tournaments are held for a reason. If Hughes didn’t have a Second overall pick competing against him for one roster spot I would pretty much say Hughes is 100% on the team. But I’m willing to bet even the team is thinking it’s 95% to 5%.
He looked solid in the NHL last year. But he also had some of the worst boneheaded plays that normally end up putting people in the minors or in the press box.
You can be the Leafs and have Martin Jones as the #3 or the Sharks and have Blackwood as your #2.
