Kovacevic Strubble Harris have not been much better than Barron and Strubble has been drafted 1 year before, Harris two years before… Barron is MTL second best puck moving Dman after Matheson.
How have the three players mentioned above secured a spot above Barron ? My point was that Barron would not clear waivers and neither should be sent down, losing Struble Harris would not hurt as much and having Barron would allow to have Guhle on the left.
Sure, Barron being young and waiver exempt and needing to play are factors for him being in Laval.
But Struble is also waiver exempt and young, but he's still with the big team even if they'd need a right shot D more than a left. That should tell you a lot.
They gave Struble one chance and he took it. Barron had multiple chances already and he's still in Laval.
Kovacevic is barely NHL caliber. I don't think he's in the long time plans so it's ok if they keep him as 7D for the moment and not play him much.
I don't think Harris is in the long term plans either. He was rumored to be available and it's not surprising.
I like him but there's just no place for him in the future.
But he's still been better than Barron.
My point is they can't play Barron at the NHL level next year just because he can't be sent down. He has to be better than what he's shown so far.