theIceWookie
#LeafHysteriaAlert
That's one way to justify a position, ignore actual age, and focus on where the player has been developed.
Hyman 24, Gauthier 21 and here you are saying Hyman gets to age 25-26 but Gauthier get to age 22?
That's what I was trying to say, Hyman is new to Leafs so he's a great prospect whereas a player 2-3 years younger is nearing their end.
Unfortuantely that's exactly what happens. Hockey is often a game of politics and it often will result in a player who SHOULD get more time, NOT getting more time. It's unfortuante but that's sometimes the way it works. It's very similar to how a bigger contract player will get more opportunities than a smaller contract player, even if the smaller contract player has shown a little more talent.
Hyman is a new prospect to the Leafs. He has more opportunity to make mistakes than someone who has been with the organization for three years and hasn't shown much. That's why you saw a younger player like Percy get released, where Hyman is getting a much more prominent position with the organization (in addition to other reasons but I digress).
And for what it's worth, I actually think Gauthier is much more in line with Hyman than with a guy who is on a shorter leash. Contrary to popular belief, he's really only had one year with the pro organization. He's got lots of time still, considering he has two years left on his ELC.