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Montreal got offer sheeted. It is a rare, but one of many ways in which player development after drafting can go off the rails. For Detroit, it was simply a matter of a courtship period that somehow went sour when it comes to former prospect Keith Petruzzelli.
It’s been reported that former Wings prospect Keith Petruzzelli has signed with Toronto’s AHL affiliate. This is, finally, a bizarre end to a situation that “hit the fan” early this year.
Most of you know that I reported early on that “Petro” had no interest in signing with Detroit. At that time, I was told he had interest in joining the Bruins organization. After attending a training camp, it looked like he was headed back for one more year of school. I was actually prodded a bit, again, that my insistence that KP wanted out was overstated. “He just wanted to play another year in college”. It didn’t sit right, to be sure.
So, in a bizarre twist, the goalie heads to the Toronto system. Hoping for Boston and going to Toronto is almost like switching to a rival gang after initiation. For whatever reason, he didn’t stick at Boston’s development camp. It’s possible that Tukka’s decision to try to come back this season for “cheap” affected KPs ability to compete for a job (no clue). Toronto needs goalies. They need a breakout candidate who can fit within their cap structure (i.e. - groupon for goalies). If KP performs well at the AHL level he could well get a PTO should injury strike in the “bigs”.
At the end of it all, for whatever reason, KP didn’t want to be in Detroit. But, he wanted to be a pro this year. Yzerman’s acquisition and draft of Nedeljkovic and Cossa (respectively) more than made up for the organizational loss. KP has yet to play at the NHL level, Ned has the experience and at an age that’s comparable. Cossa signed his ELC, so there’s no danger of a repeat on this scenario. At this point, it looks like Detroit is in better shape with these two in the system than if KP had stayed. The jump from college to the pros can be a bit daunting, particularly from just sheer exhaustion. The travel is so different and wears first year players out. Again, having a young goalie with NHL experience under his belt is a boon to the organization.
No sour grapes. Whatever KPs reasoning was, he’s moving forward. Wish him the best and turn the page. In most draft years, you’re going to say goodbye to 4-6 prospects at some point or another. The parting of ways could end up working out for everyone’s best interests. Yzerman took a situation where he couldn’t call the shots and created one where he did. Petruzzelli did the same. The credit to any human being is to seize control of your destiny and direction. Only time will tell if the direction was best for each.
Check out my previous posts:
Montreal got offer sheeted.
Would you experiment with the top line?
Filip Zadina is my breakout candidate this season.
Hakan Andersson pounded the table for Liam Dower Nilsson
Thoughts on preseason games
Prospect to watch - Alex Cotton
recapping the 2020 draft
Fedorov jersey retirement puck seen online
Svechnikov signs AHL deal, PTO with Jets
Nielsen is being bought out
Seider vs Nedeljkovic for Wings rookie of the year?
The 2019 draft 
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