Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
It's not fast tracking him when he fits in fine.
What is he going to learn in Junior? Going to hammer in an extra year of learning Systems, Coverage and Playing styles that are irrelevant in the NHL?
The only valid reason that has been suggested for sending him down is to have him be "the guy" in London. Is being "the guy" really that valuable of experience considering he won't be counted on to be "the guy" in the NHL for 5 years? It's not like 25 year old Tkachuk will look back on to that one year he spent in junior 5-6 years ago and remember all the "leadership" skills he learned then. He'll learn how to be a leader in the NHL by growing in a league where he is surrounded by leaders.
Add the fact that playing in the NHL will be better for his development in pretty much every facet outside of leadership exposure and I think keeping him up is no brainer unless he really starts to struggle, which he hasn't yet.
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What could he learn in junior? He could more finely hone his offensive skills and creativity as well as grow as a leader. A lot of talented players that are rushed into the NHL regress offensively because they are thrust into roles where they have to play simpler games. I simply don't see the benefit of having him play on a struggling Flames team where he's going to endure likely some press box time and reduced ice time. I'm not saying he's going to turn into Yakupov or anything but I simply don't see the benefit to the Flames to keep him past nine games unless you have no faith in the depth of your organization and maybe that's the case. I don't know. It just starting to feel like the Flames are turning into Oilers south plugging in these guys too early as there's nothing wrong with having them play another year of junior as look at the Jets with Scheifele and Ehlers. They were (and still are) a mediocre team like the Flames but they don't rush their guys and they look pretty good when they do get their chance.