At first I really liked the idea.
Then I hated it.
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We drafted Barkov because he was mature and low maintenance. He doesn't need a baby sitter.
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I think he'll be better if he endures his growing pains on his own.
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He can always skype his hockey mentor if he needs some guidance. No need to have him in the locker room.
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I think it will hurt his standing in the locker room and ability to bond with his teammates.
The only way Nieminen will come over is if he's guaranteed a spot.
What message does it send that Barkov gets TWO roster spots without even stepping onto NHL ice.
You took the words right out of my mouth ATF.
At first I too thought it was a great idea as well, bringing in Nieminen to help ease his way into the North American game, but the more I thought about it the less I liked it.
Barkov is a big boy and has proven he can handle tough situations by playing in a men's league at age 16. If Ville comes over, his adjustment will be longer, he won't be forced to use English as much, and it might create some separation between him and his teammates.
He's going to be an integral part of this franchise for years, so the sooner he can integrate himself in the locker room the better. With Bergy here he's not totally in the dark and we have a lot of guys in the same age group that will help him out.
The comradery I see between our prospects on Twitter and in interviews and locker room stuff seems like there is some real genuine friendship among Huby/Matthias/Shore and Co.