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Originally Posted by 868904
Agreed, maybe a better balance is needed; however, both Sven and Monahan actually got more ice than Street, and Street was much more impressive when he was on the ice.
Just think some posters are way too enamoured with the sexy prospects and think they can do no wrong. When Iggy broke in, he wasn't handed 20 minutes a night right away. There were some tough learning experiences for him too. Plus I always see these posters commenting on how great the Oilers do it with Eberle, Hall, RNH, Yakupov and how they load them up with ice time, well, sure those players put up points, but do they win? Can they hold leads? Can they defend? Not really.
You have to teach the kids to play defence properly and to compete in the defensive end when they are young. THat's how it gets ingrained into their game and that's how they become winners. Oilers have some great young players, but they aren't winners, yet. They won't be winners, till those young guys start competing in the defensive end.
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I agree that you have to teach them defense. And I agree that they have to earn their ice-time. And I agree that just giving them first line minutes like the Oilers did is not the right way to develop kids.
Having said all that, Monahan and Baertschi busted their tails all night. They did the things that were asked of them. In OT, one point is already earned and they either get the other point or they don't - no harm no foul.
How about throwing them a little bone and giving them an opportunity to win the game? How about also sending the message that, hey kids, we believe in you? How about also remembering that it's a game and it's played best when the players are having fun?
Giving them one shift in OT is not going to get in the way of them learning things the right way. But it's going to do a lot to instill some positivity and some confidence in them.