Take a look at how Tampa developed their top prospects.
Slaf outperformed all wingers in camp but three. He earned his spot on the team. If he can't do a thing for a stretch of games (nine is only a number contract-wise), sure scale it back, but why assume he won't? It's not what Tampa or Colorado do. I like to see what successful teams have done, even if only as a guide. How about Ottawa with Brady and Stutzle? Were they made to "work their way up" when they ALREADY showed they were better than many of the players on the team?
If your issue is just the PP for game 1 or a short time, I actually find MSL refreshing. He has such confidence in Slafkovsky and doesn't want the kid to fool himself that because he got some quick PP points, he does not have to learn how to play the larger part of the game, because '"success".
What are you talking about mate?
Tampa is actually a good model of how players should be properly developed!
Palat spent 2 years in the AHL!
Kucherov spent a year in Russia after being drafted then they sent him to QMJHL for one year and then they started him in the AHL the next year!
Killorn took 5 years before making the team!
Point spent two more years in the WHL before making the team.
Cirelli spent 2 years in the OHL and then played a year in the AHL.
They developed Gourde in the AHL for 4 years before he made the big club.
You could argue they should have sent Hedman to the AHL at the beginning of his career as it took him 5 years before he actually flourished in the NHL, I remember people talking about him as underwhelming for a while.
So who are you really talking about apart Stamkos who was killing it from the get-go and who couldn't be sent to the AHL?