Horvat1C
Registered User
- Oct 2, 2015
- 690
- 435
Pointing out that they had three consecutive Calder finalists doesn't say anything about the Canucks' prospect development because Boeser, Pettersson and Hughes skipped the minor leagues, went straight from the NCAA or the SHL to the NHL and were immediately successful.
Boeser went straight from North Dakota to the Canucks in the spring of 2017, suited up immediately and scored 4 goals in 9 games before the season ended. Quinn Hughes went straight from Michigan to the Canucks in the spring of 2019 and had 3 assists in 5 games before the season ended. Pettersson went from MVP in the Swedish Hockey League to starting the 2018-19 season with the Canucks, had 3 goals and 2 assists in his first 2 games and 10 goals and 6 assists in his first 10 games.
The Canucks did nothing to develop these guys. They arrived already good.
That was the Canuck way during those years. A player had to be an immediate NHL success, be a goaltender or wait until he went elsewhere to succeed or he wasn't going to make it.
Given that the Canucks had their own high first round disappointments (Virtanen and Juolevi) who turned out worse than Lafreniere and Kakko have, what is there to make one think that Lafreniere and Kakko would have done better in Vancouver?
The Canucks used their high end rookies as their best players almost immediately and steadily increased their responsibilities. Contrast that with the Rangers who buried their high end rookies and did not play them in situations that fit their skillset, like the powerplay or other offensive situations. That has to do with the way both teams were built, but also the mindset in how you are going to treat your rookies in terms of ice time and opportunity.
Lafreniere would have started in the top-6 and PP1. Same with Kakko.