Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
We all get that you're a massive fan of Matthew Phillips, but he's never going to get a shot in the NHL. He's D+7 and every team in the league has better prospects who they would rather invest development time in. If you think that is wrong, there's probably an opportunity here for you to do some investigative work and ask around the league if anyone would take a chance on Phillips. Use that access your supporters are certain you have and put together an article on the future of the player. You could get a scoop and make a name for yourself.
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The bolded is likely true, but it's also the issue with the Flames right now.
Why are we not investing development time at the NHL level with our own prospects?
Why was Matthew Phillips not playing for a team eliminated from playoff contention in 20-21?
Why is Jakob Pelletier, who is the leading AHL point scorer under 22 over the last two seasons one of the only first round picks from his draft year yet to play a game?
These are fair questions. The Flames are stalling their own players development, and not investing in their own prospects at the NHL level.
This goes back to 19-20 now and is four seasons of the team not wanting to take a risk and actually play young players in roles lower down the lineup.
Andrew Mangiapane developed perfectly fine on our 4th line with Ryan and Hathaway...why haven't we tried to give Phillips, or Pelletier, or even Gawdin before that the same opportunity.
Ruzicka has 20 points in 26 games this season and still has to scratch and claw for any real opportunity.
This franchise is only hurting themselves with their ancient views of developing prospects.
Somehow the Avalanche were able to find icetime for a guy like Alex Newhook these last two seasons after only playing 18 AHL games (with 20 points), but Pelletier with 90 points in 92 AHL games needs more time to develop.
And what Scorp posts here as a fan has nothing to do with his professionalism, he's allowed to be a writer and still post here as a fan on the side with his own personal opinions.