I like the JVR-Fantilli-KJ line. This seems like they are trying to help two young guys get better by putting them with a veteran who will try to teach them. This is 100% the kind of thing that I think we should be doing this season.
I hope Jiricek has a very clear understanding of what is expected. By clear understanding, I mean written out targets and videos of what is desirable and not desirable. I also hope there is an understanding that he can start in the NHL but if he is not meeting goals or repeatedly making mistakes that he will be sent down.
I want Mateychuk to be put in all sorts of situations in the AHL. I hope he is really challenged at times and shows what he can do. Let’s have a specific plan designed for his development (e.g., 30 AHL games with these particular objectives on and off the ice) and not bounce him back and forth the AHL and NHL based on what is happening in Columbus.
Here are our recent high picks (1st or top of 2nd) -
2014 - Milano
2015 - Werenski, Carlsson, Bittner
2016 - PLD, Peeke
2017 - none
2018 - Foudy
2019 - none
2020 - Chinakhov
2021 - Johnson, Sillinger, Ceulemans
2022 -Jiricek, Mateychuk
2023 - Fantilli, Brindley
2024 - Lindstrom, Elick
2014-2019 - Although there was some early excitement about some of the guys, only Werenski has amounted to anything long-term for the CBJ.
2020-2024 - I have already written off Ceulemans. The rest look like a pretty solid group, but we have been fooled before.
Our future really depends on having a much higher success rate with drafting and developing players from the last 5 drafts than we did in the previous 5 drafts. I hope the team is evaluating itself and what it has done and learning from mistakes. Foudy and Carlsson (to me at least) are examples of the team not thinking long-term about how to develop prospects.