Sigh.
Its been explained.
PTO's block no one unless signed to a contract.
The spots they get during pre-season games cannot be filled by rookies because of the vet quotient.
IF a guy is good enough to earn a deal, then so be it and you can start an argument at that point that they might be blocking someone from playing full time in the NHL....but that simply doesnt happen all that often.
If a younger guy, who would already be under contract, is the better option than the vet....the older guy gets released and away you go.
The NHL is not a development league, its where guys play that are good enough to be there. If young guys need more time, there is an entire other league or 6 that addresses that very thing.
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