Quoting: TheRealisticGuy
Calm down cowboy
Hutson and Engstrom are YEARS away
Hutson will play another season or two in the NCAA or one in the NCAA & one in Laval. After those two years, Savard contract will be expired
Engstrom will probably play another 2 years in the SHL before making the jump in North America
Kovacevic is overrated, he is a #6 defenseman and ideally a #7
Next year :
Matheson-Savard
Guhle-Edmundson
Xhekaj-Harris
Kovy
2024-25 :
Guhle-Savard
Matheson-Barron
Xhekaj-Harris
Kovy
2025-26 :
Matheson-Harris
Guhle-Barron
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Kovacevic ?
Maybe
Matheson-Barron
Hutson-Guhle
Xhekaj-Harris
This all looks great in Theory.
The last Dman to rank this high won the Hobey Baker over people who produced more as forwards.
The last Rookie to Win the Hobey Baker was Paul Kariya
The last Hobey Baker winner to not turn Pro after was Paul Kariya who got injured missing most of the year.
That said despite missing his 2nd year he opted for after not turing Pro , He turned out a winner despite leaving the NCAA right after.
Kariya ended up playing for Team Canada in the Olympics Silver and World Championship Gold he wouldnt have if he was in the NHL that year.(NHL didnt send all its stars)
That's my main hang up is he's going to finish the top NCAA player.
Whats left for him now at that level?
I'd rather send him to SHL then the AHL
SHL has bigger ice to give him more space and time to learn the defensive side NCAA failed to educate him on.
Bringing him to the AHL the way our players get hurt down there , its not something im anxious to due with an overachieving teen.
If he wasnt overachieving so much and MTL wouldnt be making history by keeping him in the NCAA when they've got nothing left to teach.
If we're keeping him its time for an Auston Matthews level mature move where he went oversea's and became a complete player.
Players who only rely on offense especially with defensman dont win championships, at best you get a Torey Krug you can lose in big games with.
Overall though i think you're just compounding the problem with those defensive combinations the way you got them laid out.
It assumes that like this year and last with Ghule and Xhekaj last year then Huston and Engstrom this year jumping well ahead of projections.
Next year we'll probably have a similar story i think atleast in part due to the adding of Skills Coach Nicholas as historically MTL is lucky to get anyone develop on time let alone early.
I guess im just preparing for tomorrow as a log jam on LD is not as easy to move out at fair trade value with no leverage .
The league's full of LD prospects but RD Prospects on the other hand are paid a premium.
Lets say we wait too long trying to distribute minutes without stunting development or value will be a nightmare even if every veteran was removed overnight *poof*