no, no it wouldn't. He's way better off back in the WHL than he would be in the AHL and that agreement is a blessing in disguise for chlers. The AHL isn't really a development league, it's a adjustment league. Going back to play with your peers and focusing on actually improving your skillset in the CHL vs just trying to stay in the lineup in the AHL. Other than the covid years the AHL has a long list of teenagers who struggled and never amounted to much vs the very few who it actually benefitted. The only draw back of the agreement is some teams stupidly keep players up to just play them under 10 minutes a game and scratch them vs simply sending them back. But that's on the teams being dumb
There are some issues with going back for a player like Danielson, because he checks so many boxes most 18 year olds don’t. What Detroit has to think about is, what’s the best situation for him as an individual player? Not the overall argument of CHL vs NHL/AHL thing.
While I agree 100%, the AHL is not a “development league”, and “adjustment league” is a fitting term for playing in the AHL as a young player, what are the main reasons a top draft choice is sent back to the CHL?
Experience is relative to what a player can handle. Especially physically and mentally. It’s mostly to become a more physically matured player, to learn how to be a better 200’ player, and to keep learning how to “think” the game better, and process things faster. All while still working on your overall skillset of course.
Those first 3 things he’s already where most 20 year old players are………. At least compared to other 18 year old 2023 draft choices….. The other one, every player qualifies for, but that can be done just as, or more effectively at the pro level.
So for him it comes down to, what’s he going to get out of the CHL if he returns?? What are the goals for him? These have to be laid out very specific for him to “get something” out of going back, other than confidence and more experience. Confidence is different for different players. Some can turn it on whenever they want, and others almost have to dominate at every single level, before they move up from that level. At least in a hockey sense.. his compete level is already there.
On the experience end of things, it’s really simple for him. Can he handle playing regularly in the NHL? We may not find that out until he actually does. That’s why there’s the 9 game thing.
I’m not sure fans understand, just how much it was Danielson vs the WHL last year in Brandon. If you can still play with the confidence he plays with, after that season, it’s a good bet you fall under the “turning it on like a light switch” category.
That said, I do think they’ll consider keeping him, but only for the 9 games. Give him some of that “what it’s like to be a pro” while they play the game with Brandon, to get him moved to a team where he will get to play with more skilled players... To a team who plays a more up-tempo pace overall. Let him do the World Junior thing, and send him back to the WHL, hopefully for a long run this season, and a shot at the Memorial Cup in Michigan next spring. Who knows, maybe Brandon has already let Detroit know, if he returns, they will pursue a couple of high end players. We see this all the time in the CHL. Red Deer would be a great fit for him IMO. Stacked on the backend, and very balanced, with a couple of real high paced forwards including Kalan Lind. If Red Deer makes a move for Danielson, it could be lights out for the rest of the WHL East. Kelowna might be a great fit too… But I do think Detroit would be very comfortable with him staying in Brandon if they pursued a couple of high end players themselves. They really do owe it to Danielson and Bjarnason.
Detroit meanwhile, has several (roving) skill development guys on staff to work on individual, ongoing skills. So he’d get the individual work he needs. They can stretch those 9 games out, if they wanted to go that route. If by game 15, it’s apparent he’s better off staying in the NHL, then so be it….. He is a Centerman though, so that’s important to mention, because if he stays in the NHL, he’s much more likely to play wing this year. That will come into the decision, and absolutely should. He played a lot of wing tonight btw. Not sure if we should read into that.
It really is much more of an individual, specific decision for a player like Danielson, compared to a Benson for example.
BTW, he was in on another goal for Detroit tonight. The Hanas goal. He had 7-8 shifts where he really stood out again, and never in a bad way. Kasper still has those bad shifts, were just not seeing from Danielson. This isn’t people saying all of this because he scored a goal. He looks like he’s legit, and if the game isn’t too big for him, you have to consider it. Philly had every intention of only keeping Couturier for a few games too, and he’s never looked back.
The last thing you wanna do, developing a player, is to clip his wings and hold him back.
The good thing is, Detroit has this predicament. He looks like he’s going to be a really good NHL player. Still think they send him back. Just not sure if that’s tomorrow, November, or after World Juniors.
