I think the Leafs are actually doing a good with exercising patience with youth actually.
Everyone was screaming for Kadri to be in the NHL long before he was but holding him back looks like it was the right move and was actually no different then the treatment given to guys like Marchand, Roy, Ribiero, Pacioretty.
The biggest area the Leafs need to get better in is managing assets by recycling assets instead of losing them for nothing well rebuilding, retooling or whatever people want to call it. Losing CMac, Grabo, Kulemin (probably) for nothing instead of trading them a few years ago was awful asset management. As did giving up valuable picks for Liles, O'Bryen, Bolland.
Well lots of people want to promote every secondary youngster to a prominent role after a bit of AHL success long before they are ready instead of patiently developing and using call ups to slowly groom players the Leafs have actually been developing prospects patiently.
Before people say Granberg, Percy should be with the team out of training camp they should consider this:
Granberg: 75 AHL games
Percy: 77 AHL games
One AHL season is far from a player being over ripe and giving players call ups opportunities is the best way to groom them into eventually taking over a full time NHL role like Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh did with the following:
Hjalmarsson: 111 AHL games
Keith: 168 AHL games
Kronwall: 102 AHL games
Ericsson: 183 AHL games
Orpik: 182 AHL games
Scuderi: 191 AHL games
At forwards Holland is clearly to good for the AHL and won't benefit much if anything more out of playing there and now needs NHL minutes to continue growing. He is the only youngster that without a doubt who deserves a permant promotion but he has done his AHL time just like Kadri did.
Ashton, D'Amigo, Abbott are quickly approaching that age in their careers where they can't really develop much more in the AHL (similar to the situation Holland was in this seson but they just don't have as much potential) and need to make the jump soon but with two way contracts I expect these guys to be given a lets see the 3 of you battle it out for the final spot or 1st call up chance next season which that competition is good for us. May the best man win!
Guys like Carrick, Leivo, McKegg could all benefit from more AHL time next season.
McClement: 174 AHL games
Bickell: 245 AHL games
Vitale: 167 AHL (after a full NCAA stint)
Byfuglein: 134 AHL games