Ryan Wilson: The final chapter of Flower and Penguins has been written The final chapter of Flower and Penguins has been written

Throwing in my 2 cents about juniors.

It is a mix of size and skill that allows you to be ready. AHL is more physical than NHL so many kids no matter how skilled can't play there. And if they have over that skill, they might skip to the NHL.

Yager is a guy that is too skilled to learn much at the junior level, but not physically ready to go pro. His best development was somewhere else. Poulin and Howe were two examples of guys that were too physically mature to get much out of their last junior year, but don't have the skill to play in the NHL at that age. They'd have been better in the AHL or at least college hockey or playing overseas.

Koivunen is currently tied for third in the AHL is points. Yet at would have been the end of his junior career he looked like he may never succeed at that level.

Even McGroarty, a guy thought to be close to NHL ready and a big player, at the start of the season, struggled big in his first month against grown men. That just took a month though. 12 goals and 34 points in 42 games since is fine for a 20 year old and one of the youngest guys in the league.

My TLDR, the problem isn't that guys can't go from juniors to the AHL. Most aren't ready for it even of they dominate juniors. It's that they don't go from juniors to a league that would help them develop and waste their age 19 season.

If the awful transfer agreement wasn’t in place then a lot more junior players would go to the ahl and it would alter the league’s makeup making the league better physically for said players.

I’ll tell you what really hurts players development in Pittsburgh, Mike (frank)ing Sullivan.

I’ll tell you what really hurts players development in Pittsburgh, Mike (frank)ing Sullivan.
- Grinder47

Don’t agree with you on much. But… yup. Past the best by date.

Don’t agree with you on much. But… yup. Past the best by date.
- ChrisMS

Feels like the one thing everyone agrees on

If the awful transfer agreement wasn’t in place then a lot more junior players would go to the ahl and it would alter the league’s makeup making the league better physically for said players.
- ChrisMS

I thought about this a little and I don't think that would happen. Teams are always going to put vets in the minors that are good for call ups. And they often have a tough guy or two stashed there in case they need them, like a Boko or Steve McIntyre. It's never going to become a league for most 19 year Olds. But they need to go somewhere besides juniors.

Is the transfer agreement only between nhl/ahl and juniors? Let them play in Europe or something like what Mathews did. I think that would be awesome.

I thought about this a little and I don't think that would happen. Teams are always going to put vets in the minors that are good for call ups. And they often have a tough guy or two stashed there in case they need them, like a Boko or Steve McIntyre. It's never going to become a league for most 19 year Olds. But they need to go somewhere besides juniors.
- Tojo.

No. Not a league for 19 year olds. Just a bit aged down. A readjustment of sorts. It would slightly alter the age gap. Overall the league would be better for it.

Don’t agree with you on much. But… yup. Past the best by date.
- ChrisMS

Even worse is I doesn’t seem like the Pens are worried about developing 3rd and 4th liners. Like I don’t know what’s talked about in Wilks but you hear stories all the time of coaches telling players you need to play this way to make it to the NHL. Sure doesn’t seem like that goes on a lot in the Pens organization. Like someone should have grown a set of nuts on Drew O Connor but never did. Now he’s still skating around with a vagina out there.

Even worse is I doesn’t seem like the Pens are worried about developing 3rd and 4th liners. Like I don’t know what’s talked about in Wilks but you hear stories all the time of coaches telling players you need to play this way to make it to the NHL. Sure doesn’t seem like that goes on a lot in the Pens organization. Like someone should have grown a set of nuts on Drew O Connor but never did. Now he’s still skating around with a vagina out there.
- Grinder47

I just checked in on your boy DOC haha. 2 goals and 2 assists in 13 games since joining the Nucks averaging a few more mins a game than when he was with the Pens....meh

One empty net goal.

One empty net goal.
- 10inchTerror

One of DOC's was EN?

One of DOC's was EN?
- MattStrat

One empty net, one penalty shot. See how long he lasts on the second line.

One empty net, one penalty shot. See how long he lasts on the second line.
- 10inchTerror

hahaha...I knew one was a penalty shot....so it appears he's still a black hole at 5 on 5 hahah

An interesting rule change will be announced by U Sports. Hockey players who have played pro will be eligible to play U SPORTS with no sit out period (was 365 days). It will be effective in fall so there are young players in pro now who would be avail to U SPORTS roster in fall

From Darren Dreger. I think this related to a earlier conversation about transfer agreements? Not sure exactly tho

I just checked in on your boy DOC haha. 2 goals and 2 assists in 13 games since joining the Nucks averaging a few more mins a game than when he was with the Pens....meh
- MattStrat

I bet he’s still choosing self preservation over a 50/50 puck too.

So glad we're calling Nieto up with our 3C out. Would have been a perfect chance to take a look at that young center they got last deadline who was supposedly NHL ready then.

So glad we're calling Nieto up with our 3C out. Would have been a perfect chance to take a look at that young center they got last deadline who was supposedly NHL ready then.
- Tojo.

Seems clear they want to keep the group in WBS together, probably equally as beneficial for their development to play in an elite team down there vs race to the bottom with the big club.

Finally get to watch a game. 5 days in Kentucky back woods where bars don’t have tv’s. Then every game starts at the witching hour. Hoping for a big win.

Seems clear they want to keep the group in WBS together, probably equally as beneficial for their development to play in an elite team down there vs race to the bottom with the big club.
- abasin

For the rookies I get that. For Ponomarov he's had 3 years in the AHL and will have to clear waivers next year. Time to see what they have in him.

Nevermind I'm dumb. It's emergency recall so the guys called up can't play unless someone else gets hurt. In that case good use of Nieto.

For the rookies I get that. For Ponomarov he's had 3 years in the AHL and will have to clear waivers next year. Time to see what they have in him.
- Tojo.

I also don’t like how many scrub contracts we have for next year as well.

For the rookies I get that. For Ponomarov he's had 3 years in the AHL and will have to clear waivers next year. Time to see what they have in him.
- Tojo.

Nothing. The answer is nothing.

Man Kolyochonok or however it’s spelled can skate, man. Really like him.