F Andrew Cristall - Kelowna Rockets, WHL (2023, 40th, WSH)

[BKarchitect]

Would Cristall have benefited from the AHL allowing 19 year-old North American players and being able to play high pro level hockey and going through whatever growing pains he’s gonna have versus completely dominating at the junior level? Was thinking about that with Cal Ritchie as well, who was sent down and instantly at 2 PPG in the OHL in the blink of an eye after looking NHL competitive but just a hair off from being truly NHL ready.

I’m not so much wanting to get into a philosophical debate as to why or why not the AHL should allow all 19 year-olds - more just wondering if in Cristal’s specific case and that were an option, how would people feel about the pros and cons of each path?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I feel like any player who isn't ready for the nhl isn't too good for junior.
Not quite big enough, strong enough or fast enough for the nhl??
That would be why Cristall was sent back. The ahl isn't the place for teenagers to go work on that. It's mostly a league full of big, fast, grown men who aren't in the nhl because they lack in the skill department. Not to mention the full on goon shows. Plenty of them in a league that seems pride itself more on throwback hockey than prospect development. The league mouthpieces can say what they want on that topic, i've watched their product.

 

[BKarchitect]

I feel like any player who isn't ready for the nhl isn't too good for junior.
Not quite big enough, strong enough or fast enough for the nhl??
That would be why Cristall was sent back. The ahl isn't the place for teenagers to go work on that. It's mostly a league full of big, fast, grown men who aren't in the nhl because they lack in the skill department. Not to mention the full on goon shows. Plenty of them in a league that seems pride itself more on throwback hockey than prospect development. The league mouthpieces can say what they want on that topic, i've watched their product.

Thanks for your thoughtful answer. I do think Hershey and the Caps have a pretty great development system - Miroshnichenko has been shepherded very well as a young teenager straight from Russia and they’ve done a great job integrating young talents across the board. I think certain NHL/AHL relationships are more geared towards development of very young prospects…Rochester strikes me as another one.

But clearly you cannot control what the other teams/player compositions are or what the overall play style is going to be from night to night. I totally get not wanting to subject a young talent who is not physically ready to the whims of a league full of grown men who are trying to make names for themselves in any way possible.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Not to derail the thread any furthur from Cristall:
Who's having the best offensive season production wise in 30+ years:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/whl/stats/all-time-season?sort=ppg

but Miroshnichenko is exactly the kind of teenager who is suited to play in the AHL, big (looks bigger than listed) fast, agressive north-south type of player. Who played against men for years in Russia already. He's back in the show with the Caps now.

 

[MrCreamm]

Hope we finally get to see him at the WJC for Canada.... Could've used him or Heidt last year for some scoring for sure.

 

[57special]

Hope we finally get to see him at the WJC for Canada.... Could've used him or Heidt last year for some scoring for sure.

I think that they can use both players(Heidt is a C, and PK's), but Team Canada will probably take neither.