There's no need to shoehorn him into the AHL at 18 or even 19. Let him be a kid instead of forcing him into that meat grinder. There's no shortage of assholes wanting to rip a high draft pick's head off his shoulders when they are still just boys. Klimovich, Sushi, Podkolzin ......Let him score 100 points with an improving young team and make Team Canada. His junior team is mediocre but very young.
This is a kid that was the captain of Team Canada, played in all situations on a team loaded with 1st rounders and led the team in scoring. If at 19 he wants to play a year of college hockey to have access to better competition, better facilities and more time to work out.... support that and he maintains his Junior eligibility.
Keep this kid out of regular season AHL hockey in Abby. I have a feeling he's an NHL regular by 27/28. He's a rink rat. They got a good one
Free Agent "Frenzy" Day
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- Blob Mckenzie
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Re: Free Agent "Frenzy" Day
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Re: Free Agent "Frenzy" Day
So 3 to 4 years.....Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 10:27 pm There's no need to shoehorn him into the AHL at 18 or even 19. Let him be a kid instead of forcing him into that meat grinder. There's no shortage of assholes wanting to rip a high draft pick's head off his shoulders when they are still just boys. Klimovich, Sushi, Podkolzin ......Let him score 100 points with an improving young team and make Team Canada. His junior team is mediocre but very young.
This is a kid that was the captain of Team Canada, played in all situations on a team loaded with 1st rounders and led the team in scoring. If at 19 he wants to play a year of college hockey to have access to better competition, better facilities and more time to work out.... support that and he maintains his Junior eligibility.
Keep this kid out of regular season AHL hockey in Abby. I have a feeling he's an NHL regular by 27/28. He's a rink rat. They got a good one

Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
- Blob Mckenzie
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Re: Free Agent "Frenzy" Day
I think he will make a Horvat type impact by 19 or 20.
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Re: Free Agent "Frenzy" Day
It's been a while since we added a WHL kid from the 1st round. Was it Virtanen? No wonder they spooked ha.Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 12:07 am I think he will make a Horvat type impact by 19 or 20.
After reading up on him there's lots to like about the pick. His numbers don't pop in Seattle but it looks like that has alot to do with what surrounded him. In the under 18s they made him captain and all of a sudden was producing what you want to see out of a top selection (ya ya...short sample size)
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Re: Free Agent "Frenzy" Day
In that case, just in time to replace Bluegers. Raty will have competition, then. This next season is pivotal for Raty's career if he wants to be an everyday NHLer - in Vancouver or elsewhere.Blob Mckenzie wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 12:07 am I think he will make a Horvat type impact by 19 or 20.
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