Sorry, CBJ AtW, but Murray is not a "great player stuck in a bad situation," he's a young player who has not seen the ice in almost a year and has never played a professional game. Murray should, as you suggest, start the season in Springfield, acclimate himself to the pro game, and await call-up to Columbus. If he's not ready or not needed, this season? Nothing wrong with a young defenseman spending a full year in the AHL, it happens all the time. At last, the CBJ has enough talent to let guys play where they belong - not where they were drafted, not where they're needed, not where we imagine they should be, but where their development indicates they belong!
And let's hope he doesn't expand too much on the way to Columbus!
Analysis: Say The D core is Phenomenal in front of Bob this season and stay 100% Healthy (Which is a longshot, I Understand), Murray will Rot in the system for another full season. Its not fair to call one of our current NHLers down just to see what Murray can do at the NHL Level. Im also not sure where Murray will fit on the NHL roster. Our points at the power play looked pretty darn good this past season. And the D was not our problem last year.
Gotta agree with Pete and others. There's some mighty silly logic in thinking an organizational strength is a bad thing for either the organization or the kid. Maybe this topic makes more sense if he were in the org 5 years and languishing but he's a 2012 pick coming off his last year in junior (an injury year) who has never played a pro game at any level in his career.
I have serious issues with the concept that 'Murray will Rot (sic) in the system for another full season' First, he hasn't been in the system for one full season yet, so this notion of it being 'another..' is hogwash. Further, please explain why it would be 'rotting' and not 'developing'. the term rot would be better applied to a Murray as 7th dman stuck in the press box. As luck would have it, he can play big minutes against grown men for the first time and learn his game as a pro.
Good god, man, a dearth of D men doesn't make the best prospect among them expendable, it makes the worst prospect among them or older or more expensive pros expendable. Talent will find a way - when the kid is ready to play at the NHL level, they will make room for him. You just could not possibly be more wrong here, IMO.
PS:
unsolicited advice: get an editor so that things like random Capitalized words and "Expandable" are caught before publishing - it will really help your credibility
But can you guys agree that a trade needs to be done? theres not enough room for everyone to fit!
But can you guys agree that a trade needs to be done? theres not enough room for everyone to fit!
I think once Murray is ready, a trade of Nikitin would greatly improve the defense if Murray were to take his spot.
However, what I think will probably happen is that Wiz will go down at some point during the year, at which Goloubef comes up. The next call up would be Murray, no question. And I think that as with Erixon, once he's up here, he's here to stay.
But can you guys agree that a trade needs to be done? theres not enough room for everyone to fit!
Needs to be done? Absolutely not. Possible if the right player is coming back? Most certainly, but I doubt that "right player" will be coming to Columbus anytime soon.
Murray has the highest ceiling of any defenseman we have, and we have the luxury of letting him become 100% ready to see NHL action when we need him. Can we develop a prospect with diligence for once? I don't mean anything offensive, as I know the CBJ gets a not-quite-deserved rep for "rushing" prospects. I just mean we can afford to be patient if we need to, why not take the opportunity?
BTW, I couldn't access the page linked.
Worrying about Murray's immediate future reminds my of a time I was listening to Bob McKenzie on Montreal radio talking about a Red Wings 1st round pick. He said, "Well, it's his third year in the system, so he'll get five games in the NHL." By the Red Wings standard, Murray wouldn't play in the NHL at all this season, but he would play 5 whole games in 2014-15.
That's what happens when a team builds depth.
Hmmm...but Hedberg was drafted in the exact same spot as Murray and some called him a franchise blueliner at the time. Now? Not so much.
EXACTLY...
We can hate on the Wings all we want, but they are the model for doing it right.