I get what it is (though it does have a rule that a certain number of players should be developmental level). I'm saying change that. There is no reason the focus can't shift from win the Calder Cup at all costs and maybe include kids to develop prospects as well as you can in an environment of competitive hockey.
The interests of prospects you've invested draft capital in should always come before the career minor leaguer that has no upside. There is a veteran roster player upper limit. That doesn't mean we should dress at least that many.
A team absolutely should ensure that a promising young player should get sufficient playing time to develop. A team should also ensure that a promising young player in the minors has enough veterans on the ice to help his development.
Old veterans are useful. They can help kids with their positioning, if by nothing else than providing an example of where to be. Gap control, playing 2 on 1/3 on 1/3 on 2; effective exits and entries and more can be shown to the kids by veterans who know what to do but aren't quick enough to do it at an NHL level any more. Further, a young player will develop better pro habits when his partner does smart things most of the time than when he has to constantly cover for his partner's mistakes.
If a team plays a bunch of kids that don't know what they're doing, then in what way are they developing? Bad situations and bad teammates breed bad habits. Where a defenceman should be positioned when his partner is counted on to do his job won't be where he'll be most effective when his partner is running around out of place.
Similarly wingers, to develop best offensively, need playmaking centers and to develop best defensively need to learn what they are supposed to do when their linemates are where one would expect an NHL linemate to be. Is a scoring winger going to learn by success by going to the right place on the ice when his center isn't good enough to get the puck there?
The Griffins are a bad team. Barring some miracle they aren't making the playoffs. Do we really want them to be even worse by throwing the veterans away and playing guys who aren't ready to play at that level?
The Griffins d-core consists, at the top of the lineup, of:
-Simon Edvinsson, who just turned 20 and is in his first season in North America
-33 year old veteran Steven Kampfer
-22 year old Jared McIsaac who, with his initial pro season being almost completely wiped out with covid, is actually only playing in his second full professional season
-just turned 22 year old Albert Johansson, in his first North American season
That is a young, inexperienced core and includes two players adjusting to the North American game and ice size. I think the Wings are right to be playing a veteran in their top 4 rather than weaken the team even further.
The Griffins' 5th busiest defenceman this season has been 3rd year pro Wyatt Newporter, followed by 32 year old Brian Lashoff who as I write this has played in 34 of the team's 54 games. (per hockeydb) with 20 year old Vero, in his first North American season, 7th. Vero also got some time in the ECHL. The Griffins also have Donovan Sebrango, freshly turned 21 years old, who played 23 games with Toledo and now has also gotten 23 games with the Griffins.
The number of veteran skaters permitted to play in any game is severely limited and this is a young, inexperienced group of defencemen on a bad team. Giving two veterans some games (often with only one of them in the lineup) seems better to me than playing kids who aren't really ready yet.
My only question about Vero's use would be whether it would have been better to give him more time in the ECHL this season. On balance though I think he's good enough to benefit more from being a bottom pair/fillin guy in Grand Rapids than being in the ECHL.
