I just fail to see how the two various sides of the debates (Reinhart vs. Grigorenko) have to be competing: one or the other. Just talk about the two players separately.
I thought Grigorenko played very well - well enough to the point where if the staff kept him up, I would have been fine with it. But they went the long term route, sent him down to be top dawg.
Reinhart wasn't overly impressive in ways you expect from a top two player. That's the bottom line. Yes, his cerebral game is astounding... Blatantly off the charts and ahead of kids his age and many pros. Already. But he was so clearly not ready physically, that - just as I would've been with going the other way with Grigs - had they sent Reinhart down, I would have been okay with it. Especially if that was what our professional staff deemed the best route.
Reinhart didn't look ready to play. He very much looked ready to learn and be with the team and continue to grow game by game as he has this preseason. Being ready to play and being ready to be here aren't the same thing to me.
Bottom line for me: fine how it played out and am anxious to see how Grigorenko responds - both on the ice with the anticipated major role, and off the ice with confidence, maturity and handling adversity.
I thought Grigorenko played very well - well enough to the point where if the staff kept him up, I would have been fine with it. But they went the long term route, sent him down to be top dawg.
Reinhart wasn't overly impressive in ways you expect from a top two player. That's the bottom line. Yes, his cerebral game is astounding... Blatantly off the charts and ahead of kids his age and many pros. Already. But he was so clearly not ready physically, that - just as I would've been with going the other way with Grigs - had they sent Reinhart down, I would have been okay with it. Especially if that was what our professional staff deemed the best route.
Reinhart didn't look ready to play. He very much looked ready to learn and be with the team and continue to grow game by game as he has this preseason. Being ready to play and being ready to be here aren't the same thing to me.
Bottom line for me: fine how it played out and am anxious to see how Grigorenko responds - both on the ice with the anticipated major role, and off the ice with confidence, maturity and handling adversity.
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