K-9

He is the worst.

That would make you a masochist.

Poor Kulich.

Kulich with the game winner in OT on the PP.

Easy now, Sue.

If you can’t accept the premise that playing against better competition is better for a player’s development, fine. I have nothing more to add to this conversation.

Common sense suggests that skills are best honed against better competition. The better competition for Savoie just doesn’t reside in junior hockey. So yeah, the best place for Savoie and others like him is the AHL. So I will amend the statement of mine you cited and instead of only develop, I’ll say best develop. And by the way, I said he can only fully develop playing better competition. That isn’t just a little tweak in context that you left out when quoting me.

Greenway would have to carry a heavy D load. Kulich and Rosen, while showing improvement in their D game, sometimes make VO look like a Selke candidate. Then again, the entire Amerks team often looks lost defensively.

Especially dominant junior players.

For crissakes, I’m am not even remotely suggesting Savoie is being ruined by returning to juniors. Just that his development is not best served by facing lesser competition night in and night out. I put zero stock in the idea that he is a delicate little waif who shouldn’t be subjected to withstanding a full season in the A playing against older men. If the rule prohibiting his eligibility to play in the AHL wasn't in force, he would still be in Rochester and nobody would be worried about it at all. And in his short stint in the A this year, he more than showed he is ready for that level. Playing in the A slides the NHL ELC so that is simply not a concern.

I know that. The point is if Kulich had been in juniors and given what we know of his development as a teenager in the AHL thus far, would his development be better served by having to return to a less competitive league. Savoie’s interests are not being best served by forcing him to return to juniors.

Either way, bottom six is not a good situation to bring these guys into. Now, if either can get a look in a top six role playing with more gifted offensive players to compliment their skills, I’m all for it, but they will be a liability defensively and we’d need to be patient with that aspect of their games.

They aren’t giving much at all, but I don’t agree with bringing them up just to replace fourth line forwards at the moment.

That is an impossible ask. And you know that. But the point isn’t about players who failed to “fully develop” in junior hockey. The point is that players who are clearly in need of a bigger challenge can’t get it because of a rule that denies them the opportunity. Yes, Savoie is going to spend considerable more time in Rochester next year, where he has shown he already belongs, but his progress as a pro hockey prospect will have been hindered in the meantime because he would be that much farther along is allowed to compete in the A vs men as opposed to teenagers. Would Kulich be better off in juniors and more fully developed if he were forced to return to that level at 19 years of age?

As I’ve said before, it’s not that Savoie is too good for Jr hockey, it’s that Jr. hockey isn’t good enough for him. He can only fully develop by playing against superior competition and he simply won’t find much of that in the WHL. He needs to be in Rochester. The CHL rule prohibiting that is a detriment to players like Savoie and others who need a level of competition between juniors and the NHL to facilitate the their development.

Cliffy almost 10. 😂😂😂

Have you watched them play defense? Neither has a developed 200 foot game at this point and that's against ahl competition. It understandable that they haven't been called up yet. That said, I think they'll get a look sooner than later.

Melons wiggle

Nice play by Rousek to set up Rosen for the empty netter. Four point night for Rosen.

Stillman! 6-5 good guys.

Metsa! Now 5-5 in Cleveland.

Well that sucks. Monsters take the lead 5-4. Defense and goaltending issues are an organizational issue.

Anybody else’s AHLTV crap out all of a sudden? Edit: Looks like it’s just a problem with the app as I can watch it on the AHLTV website. And just as I get the game back, the Monsters tie it at 4 early in the 3rd. I’ve managed to miss five of the 8 goals scored tonight.

Kozak has looked good skating with Kulich and Rosen tonight.

What’s impressive is that the Monsters went up 2-1 in the opening seconds and the Amerks wasted no time responding. They’re moving better tonight than I’ve seen in the last several games.