Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
Shinkaruk is a wildcard. It's great to have a few of these players in the system.
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I think people are missing the fact that you are developing support players on the farm for the most part. You may have two or three guys that have potential to jump in and contribute in the top six, but the reality is that if these guys were that good they would have made the jump directly from their developmental league to the NHL, or after a season in the minors at worst. The guys that hit the AHL have some warts to their game and they need to be developed. Like I said, there could be two or three guys that could possibly break that mold and find a top end role, but those are few and far between. Opportunity plays a very big role in these guys getting the chance to make the jump.
With Shinkaruk I see a guy that is a complimentary player who will have a role until someone bigger/better comes along. The second he stops producing is the second an opportunity opens up for another player, simply because of his size and inability to contribute in other areas. I see him as a good fit (for now) on the top two lines. But that time is likely fleeting if he doesn't become a consistent 25-30 goal guy.
A guy like Jankowski is one of those players that is an exception. Poirier might be as well. They both have great skill sets and character, and they can play up and down the lineup. Flexibility is a big thing when you're trying to break in from the farm, so guys that can play various roles have a chance of taking a full time position and then working their way into a bigger role. I expect both Jankowski and Poirier to do that. I think Jankowski becomes an elite level third line center, kind of like Staal was in Pittsburgh. Poirier likely finds his way to the NHL as a third liner then works his way up the lineup as injuries hit. I think a guy like Brouwer will be key to the development of Poirier once he arrives.