I’m all for prospects developing in the minors. There is a tipping point where they need to show what they can do at the next level. If a 22 year old isn’t ready to be tested in that regard then they will probably never make it - time to cut bait. If they’re a question mark, time to test whether they can do it. The team has 4 or 5 prospects in this category.
I think you’re right that for some players there is a point at which you have to see what they can do, but I don’t think that there are any Comets’ defencemen in that position.
The question of when it is appropriate is probably a point of some disagreement. I don’t see how it makes any sense to apply the idea of clearing out space to see what someone can do unless:
-the player is already really good in the AHL, good enough to be considered potentially ready to be a regular at the NHL level, and
-the player has finished his minor league development.
The reasons for this are pretty simple. If the player hasn’t finished his minor league development you can let him finish in the AHL and you don’t yet need to clear space for him at a higher level.
If the player isn’t showing so well in the AHL that there’s reason to consider him a regular, then there is virtually no point in making room for him. There’s no need to clear space for a depth player. He’ll get a few chances through injury anyway, but you can pick up that level of player cheaply on waivers or as unwanted free agents every season. You don’t want to force someone into your lineup when he hasn’t given any indication that he really belongs there.
This is really different from a higher level of player who has given every indication of being ready. I don’t think anybody on the Comets’ defence has given any indication of presently being more than a fillin when necessary.
Let’s look at the Comets’ defencemen:
Olli Juolevi: Not finished developing and his defensive and physical play are poor even at the AHL level. People hope he’ll develop into a top-4 defenceman in the NHL but he’s not there. There’s no reason at this time to clear space for him.
Mitch Eliot-rookie professional, has just begun developing and hasn’t shown himself capable at the AHL level. Clearing NHL space for him at present would be silly.
Josh Teves-in a similar position to Eliot
Ashton Sautner-He’s 25 years old and turned into an AHL defenceman, but even at the AHL level he provides next to no offence and merely decent defence. He isn’t near being too good for the AHL and has shown absolutely nothing to make one think he’s more than depth at the NHL level. I don’t mind at all that Sautner is one of the guys they can use when desperate, but there’s no reason to make room for him to develop into the kind of depth that is available cheaply every year in free agency and on waivers. He just isn’t good enough to have to make room for him.
Guillaume Brisebois-22 years old but otherwise in much the same position as Sautner. Despite Benning and Johnson pumping his tires, he provides very little offence even at the AHL level and is no rock on defence either. At this stage there is no reason whatsoever to think he’s a capable NHL regular. If he’s going to get there he needs further development. He’s on his last elc season but will be a cheap RFA next season and imo he hasn’t shown nearly enough to deserve a regular look at the NHL level. Again, he’s, at best, depth at the present time. No reason to make room for him yet. Let him develop into what the organization hopes he can be, don’t force him into a slot he hasn’t shown himself ready for, nor send him to the NHL pressbox when you hope he’ll develop further.
Jalen Chatfield-was injured much of last season, poor at the AHL level when he was healthy and makes Sautner and Brisebois look like offensive stars by comparison. I presume nobody thinks there is any reason to make room for him at the NHL level.
Brogan Rafferty-Going by some reports, he might be the Canucks defensive prospect who is closest to being ready, but even though he’s 24 years old, he’s a raw rookie who still needs some adjustment to the pro level. Even if the organization feels he’ll come along quickly, he’s only played 3 professional games and certainly isn’t finished developing in Utica. If he develops as people hope I could see a time coming when room should be made for him but even for the most optimistic projections he can still learn for at least part of the season in Utica before there’s any likelihood that he’s knocking down the doors to the NHL. I wouldn’t dream of making room for him at this time, but the Canucks may want to review his progress part way through the season.
Just like it is bad planning to spend much money on bottom line, bottom pair and depth skaters, imo it is just as poor planning to make room for prospects that haven’t finished developing or who are unlikely to develop past the depth defence level. Use them if they’re the best depth you’ve got, slot them in when too many injuries hit, but they are easily replaced and you really don't want them in the lineup on a regular basis.
I don't believe in calling up youngsters for prolonged stays in the pressbox. For prolonged stays in the pressbox, you want a guy like ... Alex Biega. Cheap, dependable, accepting of his role and not good enough that another team will snap him up for it's roster unless the regulars are hurt.
Disclosure: I'm not normally a Comets watcher, so my opinions about the players come, almost entirely, from reading reports about them. Note I'm not in any way projecting what they can be in the future, but am making judgments about what they've demonstrated themselves to be at this stage of their development base on reports from other posters.
