Do Corbin Knight and Rienhart and Ferland and Wotherspoon and Ramage develop better by being an important part of a great AHL team or being a bit player on a lottery pick NHL team?
Unless they are ready to jump into the NHL role playing more than 10 minutes a game I think that developing a winning attitude and playing in important games is better for them at this point in their career.
I like what the Flames are doing with their current NHL ready prospects:
Right now Hartley is trying to work Brodie (23), Colbourne(23), Backlund (24), Baertschi(21), Bouma(23) and Monahan(19) into the NHL. That is 6 regulars out of 18 .
If 5 out of 6 are better next year than this Hartley should get some sort of award.
That is the prime goal of this season.
Does anyone think Bouma would flourish if he got the McGrattan role and had to fight Gazdic? The Flames sit McGrattan and Jackman then it would be a surprise if Gadzic did not try to inspire the wimpy Oilers by spanking Bouma if Bouma showed up.
Gadzic is on the smallest least aggressive team in the league.
Against the LA , St.L , Dallas, Toronto. Boston teams that have figured out that small skilled teams usually fold when bullied
Montreal has a small soft skilled team and have 14 fights in 19 games....
Yep lets get rid of our fighters and see what happens to the collection of young guys led by veteran small guys Hudler, Cammalleri and Russell.
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