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Originally Posted by kehatch
He would be getting development focused coaching, working with trainers, and playing high level hocky. It may not be the ideal situation, but its much better then forcing him into the NHL if he isn't physically, mentally, or developmentally ready for it. Not to mention he still needs to show up in camp and earn a spot.
To be clear, I am not saying he isn't ready for the NHL. But if he isn't ready then you don't force it. The premise that he should be in the NHL no matter what because we can shelter him there and junior isn't an option is a bad one in my opinion.
See how fitness testing and camp goes. If he earns it then give him up to 9 games. If he continues to earn it and your confident he is ready then give him game 10. But it's August and camp hasn't even started. Lets not put Baertschi level expectations on the kid because he had a great junior year and one good NHL game.
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He would be getting NHL-level coaching and training and playing NHL-level hockey in the NHL, which is far superior to the OHL, so not sure I see the value there.
I just see the argument that he should be in junior entirely based on hypotheticals. Nobody wants to says he’s already a lock for the NHL but I think everyone, including Conroy, knows it would take a pretty epic step backwards this summer for that not to be the case, which I don’t think anyone is predicting.
If your argument was some AHL seasoning, sure, but that’s not an option, so having him join the long list of NHL defencemen who started their careers under 20 years old is not controversial.
I think we have to accept that he’s not going to win the Norris year one, he’s going to make mistakes, he’s going to need some sheltering as he develops. That’s true of almost every rookie defenceman at the start, so it’s not unusual. The real question is why wouldn’t you want that?
The Baertschi and Edmonton references are just distraction. And suggesting this is about one good game or one great season totally ignores the reality. That one good game shows he can hang in the NHL. If it’s not every game, let him watch some games, but give him the benefit of NHL practice, training, etc. And that one great season, which is actually one season of one of the most dominant junior careers from a defenceman ever, shows he’s outgrown the OHL.
Growth requires challenge, you don’t get better if you never challenge yourself. Given the options on the table and what we know/have seen today (not hypotheticals or predictions of giant steps backwards), another year in the OHL will delay his development far more than managed minutes and deployment in the NHL will. Fine if he’s a total disaster and completely lost, but nothing suggests that will be the case.
Just re-adjust your expectations of what a first year defenceman is going to be. If he comes in and puts up 20-30 points and is a minus player it’s a huge success. He’ll join the long list of 18/19 year old defenders who did exactly that and went on to become top tier players.