My opinion is that:
- Prospects should be put on a team based on what's best for their development, not based on what the NHL roster looks like.
- The top 6 forwards we've brought up through the AHL like Zuccarello and JT Miller needed to score a point-per-game in the AHL before they were successful in the NHL. Even Jesper Fast scored almost a point-per-game in the AHL before he stuck in the NHL. While the 0.6-0.7 ppg that Chytil and Andersson posted in the AHL last year are great numbers for 18 & 19 year olds, they don't indicate that Chytil or Andersson are ready to transition to the NHL yet.
- It is totally fine if prospects aren't top-6 NHL forwards before they can legally buy a drink. Chytil and Andersson will still be ahead of a lot of guys who turned into very good NHL players if they improve on their production next year in the AHL.
It's also very tough for players to transition from a junior league to the NHL. Dylan Strome scored over 2 points-per-game in the OHL and he couldn't stick in the NHL last year. I'm not sure it's reasonable to expect guys like Hajek and Howden to do better than he did.
Personally, I will be happy if Chytil, Andersson, Howden, and Hajek all have good AHL seasons that show continued development.