Gets pretty murky from here.
Yep. We're officially at the point where you can probably make a case for 6-10 different players based on how you rank your criteria and while others might disagree, you wouldn't be unequivocally "wrong" no matter who you choose.
We're also at the point where basically every prospect worthy of consideration offers at least one clear-cut positive/reason-for-optimism and one negative/reason-for-pessimism.
For me I'm having to choose among Dahlen, Chekhovich, Pasichnuk, and Robins/Bordelau.
For Dahlen the plus is he's more polished and he has pedigree and a decent track record of success, but you have to question his commitment. Does he even want to be here (the NHL system in general, not the Sharks. It seems like he's waiting to be handed a chance to step right onto the big league roster without any more AHL time, and that kind of 'I don't
do minor leagues' attitude, real or just perceived, isn't a point in his favor.
Chekhovich has the highest highs. He destroyed the Q and looked good in his first couple brief stints with the Cuda. He also has the fact that he represents something of a rarity for the Sharks' system: pure, unadulterated offensive skill. But his last season is a big question mark. Did the league adjust to him? Or was he simply caught off guard? More than most, 20/21 is going to be a big flex point in his development path. If he rebounds he's a "real" prospect again. If he falters that's probably the end of the line for him as a player of consideration.
Robins/Bordelau are riding high off recency bias and being skill players in a system that lacks a lot of that. But they're also small in a league that is better for smaller players than it used to be, but still leans away from guys who slide too far under the 6-foot bar. Plus the issue of having less developmental history than everyone else making them bigger wild cards.
Pasichnuk is older, has had success, and seems to be well liked by the org, but he's also a College FA, a class of prospect that generally creates more top end hype than ends up being justifiable (just look back at some of the biggest kids of that type who got tons of attention for sticking it out to graduation and getting to choose their destiny. The Justin Schultzes, Matt Gilroys, Danny DeKeyesers, and Will Butchers of the world, among others. Not to say that none of them are viable NHLers, but they incited frantic attention and competition to sign them and their careers to date have ranged from "ok, but not earth-shattering" to being out of the league within a few short seasons.
Personally I think I'm going to go with Chekhovich. Yes he had a
terrible season, but I'm not giving up yet. 1 data point is not a pattern (even if that 1 point is actually like 60+ smaller points) and it's going to take more than just a single bump in the road in his development to scare me off a kid with legit scoring wing skill. Now if he tanks in Russia this season or decides not to come back if/when the Cuda start up, or if he returns to the North American fold and falters once again, then I'm all for souring on him. But until then I'll believe he still has potential.