Herby,
I hear what you're saying, but the best players always persevere and rise to the top, regardless of the development path.
With Kaliyev, there are definitely shortcomings in his game that made him drop in the draft. His best ability is that lethal shot and the fact that he just seems to have a nose for the net. He will need to fill out the rest of his game in order to be a truly complete player in this league. He just has some goofy tendencies. It would be nice if we could get him more involved on the PP, but ultimately I think he's going to be involved in a trade.
With QB, i'm not concerned with how they handled his development. He had that injury issue and needed to marinade in the AHL for a bit. He wasn't placed on the first line right off the bat. They had him in a 3rd line situation, but that changed when Iafallo got hurt and they have to move some lines around. I think the decision to move him with Kopitar and Kempe was very smart in that he's learning from 2 of the best on the team. Has he made some pretty big mistakes in the playoffs? Yup, but that's part of the learning process. I don't think that this will damage him beyond repair, but he will need to rise to the occasion.
Why did QB have to marinate in the AHL? The vast majority of players taken in the Top 3 never see AHL time, are you just of the opinion that QB is one of the worst players to be taken in the Top 3 over the past 2-3 decades? I mean he could be based on early returns, but if that is the case then why did the Kings take the next step in their rebuild? And does Blake who was supposedly the ultimate deciding factor in taking QB over a player who is a budding superstar deserve any of the blame for that?
And I don't disagree that most responsibility falls on the player, and I agree the truly elite ones would overcome poor choices. Had Dave Taylor put Kopitar in the AHL at 18 or Dean had sent Doughty back to junior, its likely they are still elite NHL stars. And I'm not sitting here saying that had Byfield and Turcotte been handled in ways that have been traditionally successful that they would be Malkin and Toews, they aren't at the same level as those guys, or of AK and Drew, but it's very unlikely it is this historically bad (and that's not hyperbole, it's historically bad for both Top 5 picks). For players of that caliber the development choices absolutely do matter a lot in reaching potential and the poor ones Blake has made have undoubtedly caused damage to the players. If QB has an NHL season in a low pressure situation next to Carter and has 60 more games than he has right now, it's way more likely he is at least a competent Top 6-9 player for the Kings. If Turcotte had a 2nd season in college, getting bigger and getting more confident in all 3 zones it's very likely he is at least capable of centering a 4th line right now. Neither of those things are a reality right now for either guy, and it's fair to say the wasted season in the AHL for both is a big reason why.
As far as Kaliyev, the thing is, he's never going to be a complete player. He is an offensive zone player who has an elite high-end skill in shooting the puck and flaws in other areas. The Kings knew this when they drafted him with a high pick in the 2nd round. When you take a player like you have to know that the only way he becomes successful is in a role where his talent can be maximized, which is playing in a scoring line role, preferably with a player who can get him the puck and minimize his shortcomings. It's the same thing with Montreal who took Caufield with an even higher pick in that draft. They did the usual two years in college routine and immediately added him to their roster (on a team that made the final!), and put him in a position to succeed, and he scored some massive goals for them in their run to the finals (while his shortcomings were highlighted by many here for some reason). Contrast that with the Kings, who since Kaliyev was drafted have traded one of their elite prospects and a 1st for a scoring winger in Fiala, traded picks for another scoring winger in VA, signed Moore and Iafallo to extensions, and moved two of their failing center picks to the wing.
If you aren't willing to give the player that type of chance that Montreal gabe Caufield, either don't draft a player like that (take another center who can't score for the 858th time) or trade him for help in areas you need it LHD or (shockingly) C. The way guys like Kaliyev and Bjornfot have been managed is criminal, if you don't like them anymore as players, that is fine, but trade them to improve other areas, don't let their value plummet. And that is the case, both players are way less valuable now than they were after last season ended.
Again I just don't know why defensive shortcomings or lack of physicality is a reason for a player with an elite offensive skill to not be given a chance or criticized by some around here while players like Kupari, Turcotte and JAD who couldn't score on a soccer goal are praised or given chances to succeed. Why are their shortcomings overlooked, but Kaliyev's arent?
