drpepper
Registered User
- Dec 10, 2013
- 2,606
- 0
Let's take it a step further:
Dumoulin had his ups-and-downs this last call up.
There is no amount of AHL time that can make you ready for the speed and physicality of the NHL. (I argued the same when they kept refusing to play Despres in the NHL)
So, no matter how good Dumoulin has become in the A, based on what we've seen of him in the NHL, and based on common sense, logic, and our entire history of the league, we can safely assume that his time next year in the NHL (no matter which team he is with) will not be without inconsistencies.
So what will make them more-open to dealing with young, inexperienced inconsistencies next year than they are this year, when they had much more depth of experience/age than they presumably will next year?
I would have liked to see Dumoulin up more this year either by taking Harrington's or Pouliot's games or sitting Bortuzzo. Getting him extra games and practices would have been helpful to better assess what he needs to work on and his readiness.
I also have no faith that they will let him play through his inconsistencies given how Dumoulin was handled earlier in the year (particularly the NYR game where Martin was terrible) and how Despres was handled.
Scuderi - Cole sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. This could be just my ignorance of Cole's abilities, but our defense looks so ugly now without a Despres in it to babysit Scuds.
Pens fans have been talking up Cole like he has legit top 4 potential. Blues fans are not nearly as complimentary about his play. Hopefully he moves the puck well enough to cover Scuderi; otherwise Pouliot will have to play with Scuds or one of Pouliot or Cole will be in the top 4 and Lovejoy gets a chance with Scuderi.