Thunderbirds 2024-25

[TheOrganist]

Right. I’m not getting the clamoring to rush his development. He’s exactly where he should be.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

Right. I’m not getting the clamoring to rush his development. He’s exactly where he should be.

Not only that, I have no desire to rush him to the NHL only to play him on our dumpster fire of an offense.

I’m fine with a late season call up as a reward, but let him play massive minutes in Springfield.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Not only that, I have no desire to rush him to the NHL only to play him on our dumpster fire of an offense.

I’m fine with a late season call up as a reward, but let him play massive minutes in Springfield.

Honestly, that’s what he needs. He needs lots of reps and lots of ice time especially with the two players he’s skating with now. He can learn a lot of that stuff from Peca. He may just be an AHL center, but he just does everything right. Good player to learn from at this point in his journey. I would love for Steen to work with him some too. Don’t get me wrong. He is going to be a vital piece for years, but he has an apprenticeship to learn.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Dvorsky added an assist today. Probably past the point of stat watching, clearly producing isn't going to be a problem for him. Now it's the things you don't see on a scoresheet of getting his complete game NHL ready.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

The last thing you want for Dvorsky is another Oskarshamn IK incident. If you remember, he was given a spot to start the season, but as the team struggled he lost more and more ice time to older guys. This happened because the team was bad, and they had to fight to stave off relegation. They just didn't trust an 18-year-old to do that.

I'm not saying Monty's Blues are in that exact situation -- obviously we aren't at risk of relegation. But it's clear that Army and Stillman think we can make the playoffs this year. If they were committed to a down year, then yeah Dvorsky getting some games makes sense. But as it is, I don't want him riding pine because of a silly turnover or a young-guy mistake. You want him back out there the very next shift after those. He can do that in Springfield, but I don't think Monty would have much choice but to let him sit in favor of veterans who are less likely to make those mistakes.

It would also be different if we had a guy like Ryan O'Rielly still around that we wanted Dvorsky to learn from. I'm as big of a Robert Thomas fan as there is, but he (and Schenn, frankly) just don't have the same "I'm going to positively influence the young guys" vibe that ROR had for awhile here. Rob Tom isn't going anywhere. Let them hash it out over the summer.

 

[bleedblue1223]

The last thing you want for Dvorsky is another Oskarshamn IK incident. If you remember, he was given a spot to start the season, but as the team struggled he lost more and more ice time to older guys. This happened because the team was bad, and they had to fight to stave off relegation. They just didn't trust an 18-year-old to do that.

I'm not saying Monty's Blues are in that exact situation -- obviously we aren't at risk of relegation. But it's clear that Army and Stillman think we can make the playoffs this year. If they were committed to a down year, then yeah Dvorsky getting some games makes sense. But as it is, I don't want him riding pine because of a silly turnover or a young-guy mistake. You want him back out there the very next shift after those. He can do that in Springfield, but I don't think Monty would have much choice but to let him sit in favor of veterans who are less likely to make those mistakes.

It would also be different if we had a guy like Ryan O'Rielly still around that we wanted Dvorsky to learn from. I'm as big of a Robert Thomas fan as there is, but he (and Schenn, frankly) just don't have the same "I'm going to positively influence the young guys" vibe that ROR had for awhile here. Rob Tom isn't going anywhere. Let them hash it out over the summer.

I don't think the situations are remotely similar, especially after our change from Bannister to Monty. With Bannister in charge, I think you'd have a stronger argument, on some level Bannister was coaching as someone that didn't want to be fired. Monty will be coaching as someone with a 5 year contract who is no where near the hot seat. I don't think it's clear that Army and Stillman view this team as a playoff team. Monty was a move of opportunity, not one of desperation to turn the ship around this season. I don't have the exact quotes in front of me, but the things I remember from Armstrong is about how he expected them to compete, so still being a bubble team like last season, and that we are in the middle of what his plan was, so to me that also doesn't scream how making the playoffs was an expectation.

If and when Dvorsky is called up, they've already talked about how it will be when he's ready to never see the AHL again. In the off-season Army would make comments about how you can call a player up too early, but it's never a bad thing if they are down a little longer, or about he kind of regretted how they handled Neighbours. I do think the plan will be for Dvorsky to come up at some point this season, I don't think there is any rush on it, I don't think we should expect it soon, and I think we are handling it the right way.

We already had a massive need at center, and we avoided what we did with Tage Thompson in 17/18.