cbjthrowaway
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2020
- 2,284
- 4,031
this board loves to complain about the jackets rushing guys, but then there's this.This team is screwing up KJ’s development. No surprise, the Jackets are masters at it.
he looked better in the NHL last year than he did this year. last year, he looked like he belonged, as much as a young player with his type of game can look the part. this year he looked like his confidence was shot.Playing in the AHL might have been the right call but a call that should have been made last year. Instead they play him in the NHL all year where he ends up 5th in rookie scoring. No wonder he thought he was an established NHLer and surprised when sent down.
sending him to the AHL was the correct decision for his development. it also gives him an opportunity to play center, play on the top power play, and play big minutes every night. none of those things were happening in the NHL.Theres more to development than just the physical, on ice stuff. There’s also the mental and relationship element, components where Jarmo consistently fails. Hopefully KJ hasn’t lost trust in the organization that comes back to do future damage.
confidence is part of the 'mental' component of development. the relationship between the player and org is a different thing entirely – and that's where the AHL thing gets a bit hairy with KJ – but it was still the best thing for him on the ice.
imo it will all end up being water under the bridge if he stays at center (and in a top six role) when they bring him back up. by all accounts he already understands the team's plan – seeing it to fruition may create more trust in the end.