613Leafer
Registered User
- May 26, 2008
- 13,021
- 3,957
Here's a good managerial question.
You leave in the AHL for a season to destroy a lesser league; and to not cost you points in a meaningless NHL season (Because I feel Pettersson will at worst be a 40-50 point offensive player this year)? Bring him up near the end to just get some NHL tastings; then leverage the team next year with your 2019 top 5 pick, Quinn Hughes and Olli Juolevi at the same time?
Essentially guard the kids from a year that'll be really long and hard; and instead have that big energy with them all coming together that first season (similar to a Toronto style approach) which could set the tone for the rest of their careers?
It worked well for the Leafs, but Nylander also wasn't quite as proven as Pettersson is now. So I think it was more justifiable to start Nylander in the AHL for his draft year +2 compared to Pettersson. If Pettersson starts in the NHL this season, he's widely considered to be a top top candidate for the Calder.