Rocco wrote:meow wrote:MRandall25 wrote:RxBandit66 wrote:It annoys me that the Pens announcers and sometimes management talk often about how it takes defensemen so long to mature. Maybe with some players it does, but i look around the league and there have been quite a few rookies playing every night and playing good solid hockey over the past several seasons. I think they should leave Despres in there every game and let him develop.
Rookies play on other teams because other teams have 0 guys to fill that spot. They can't afford or attract veteran options, so they're forced to play a rookie every night.
I agree with this. No one wants to rush a player into the league before they are ready. So if you can give him sheltered minutes and play a veteran to spell him, why not bring him along slowly?
Because the rookie is better than the veteran, and the veteran is pretty much a mediocre player?
Lots of young guys/rookies are better than a veteran in the same organization. All over the league. You can't over groom a guy. Having a press box night once or twice a week isn't going to hurt him.