There are very compelling arguments both ways.
What sways it for me in the end is that even though they control his development in Stockton does not mean that the coach will always think he's one of the best 6 defensemen when they are trying to get wins. If he's playing 6th/7th minutes in Stockton which isn't an unlikely scenario then obviously his development would be better served playing more minutes in junior. 20 year old Brett Kulak couldn't make the AHL full time at the start of last year after having played several season of junior. I know Kylington is a higher calibre prospect but he's also two years younger.
So while control over development is assured, ice time is far from assured. The coach cannot play a guy over better options. So unless he absolutely dominates at camp and Huska think he's a top 4-5 d-man in Stockton for sure I think you send him to the WHL to dominate, learn the NA ice, learn the NA game, learn the NA culture, beef up, play more physical, round out his defense while being guaranteed huge minutes. He just isn't guaranteed to get enough minutes in the AHL as an 18 year old d-man IMO.
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