Outside of a select few who catapult right to the NHL, most hockey prospects take a much less direct route in their development journey. Deciding what that path looks like can be a challenging task for team management.
The Chicago Blackhawks organization probably had the easiest decision of the summer when presented with the opportunity to draft Connor Bedard first-overall in June, followed closely by the obvious choice to send him straight to the NHL.
But the decision on how to approach the first years of a prospect's career after draft day isn't always simple. For some, it can be quite apparent if spending some years playing in the CHL or NCAA would benefit them.
Or if the player has experience in European leagues, like David Reinbacher, a preferred choice can be the option to send them back overseas to gain more top-level experience. However, that can sometimes be a delicate decision: would they be better off in Europe or should they be given an immediate chance in the NHL? This debate has been a hot topic for Canadiens fans in recent years, given the path Montreal chose for Juraj Slafkovsky.
Taken in the same draft as Slafkovsky, plenty of eyes have been on the path the Seattle Kraken have chose for Shane Wright. They tested him for eight games at the NHL level before sending him down to the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds. He stayed there for just five games before finally settling in the OHL for the season, playing for the Windsor Spitfires.
At the end of his junior team's season, he returned to Coachella Valley to play in their final three regular season games, and went on suit up for 24 playoff games as the Firebirds went on a deep postseason run.
If he doesn't make the Kraken's roster out of camp, current rules in the CHL-NHL agreement dictate that he would need to be returned to Windsor, as he is not yet old enough to qualify for the AHL. However, on a recent edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman hinted that it's possible the CHL will agree to make an exception for Wright to play in the AHL.
That nugget of information has caused a bit of a stir among many around the league. If the CHL will make an exception for one player, why not for others? The Montreal Canadiens themselves could make an argument for prospects like forward Owen Beck.
To explore this topic further, we invite you to listen to the latest edition of The Press Zone podcast, hosted by Amy Johnson, joined by Patrick Williams (AHL writer, NHL.com). This weekly show provides Habs fans with the latest news, analysis, and commentary regarding the Laval Rocket, Canadiens prospects, and American Hockey League news.
This Week’s Show: TPZ ep 321 | Should An Exception Become The Rule?
Segment 1 | Rookie Camp Update
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Segment 2 | AHL Update
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Listen to the Episode
You can listen to this episode of The Press Zone podcast here: Should An Exception Become The Rule?