I don't feel like Bednar has been holding him back while he was up here. He isn't ever going to be an offensive cog, his NHL career will be as a bottom sixer who forechecks, wins board battles, and probably kills penalties. And aside from the PK part (which would be a very tall ask at this point) that's exactly the role Bednar used him in.
The argument for him in the AHL is to try to develop more of a well-rounded offensive game in him. But Bednar has given him nothing if not a crash course in how he's going to win an NHL paycheck this year.