Young player development?

[Davey]

I read another post somewhere, where he said his Marlies had a 20-game unbeaten streak. Don't know whether he was running the Marlies or the Leafs, but here's my comment and questions :

I too had a very long undefeated streak with the Marlies,( I think they won their first 17 games of the season) while I was running the Leafs. That mostly had to do with the talent I was keeping on the Marlies. Had quite a few veterens on their all year.
So my questions then are...

1. Can it hinder the kids who weren't getting the ice time on that Marlies team because of the veterens in the lineup?

2. Will having such a great season as they obviously did, improve the kids more than being part of a last place team? If that's the case then I'm thinking I have to not only develop kids from the farm for my parent club, but try as well to make my farm team at least respectable.

3. What is the number of veterens the farm team is allowed to have on it? I noticed sometimes there were only 7 forwards and 4 defencemen dressing for games, I think due to the overwhelming number of roster spots being taken by veterens!

All info appreciated!! Thx.

[Systemfel]

What is the number of veterens the farm team is allowed to have on it? I noticed sometimes there were only 7 forwards and 4 defencemen dressing for games, I think due to the overwhelming number of roster spots being taken by veterens!

The reason for dressing so few players is that the AHL team doesn't have enough non-veterans, i.e. players with less than 260 pro games played. You can dress 7 veteran players as the GM of an AHL team.

Can it hinder the kids who weren't getting the ice time on that Marlies team because of the veterens in the lineup?

Well, you don't seem to have that many "kids" since the AHL team only dresses 11 skaters. You don't have enough non-veteran players on the farm.

[E5150_ca]

I read another post somewhere, where he said his Marlies had a 20-game unbeaten streak. Don't know whether he was running the Marlies or the Leafs, but here's my comment and questions

That was my Marlies team. I was controlling both the Leafs and the Marlies, so I had the payroll to sign a few youths (Orpik comes to mind) I only had 3 players on the Marlies over the age of 25, so playing with a lot of veterns wasn't really a factor for me. I would tell you how the development went, but the file was lost whilst transferring to a new computer. Sorry.

[Davey]

Thx for replying and providing the insight guys!

Another question please....

On the topic of providing players for your farm team...When I control the Leafs, I have 2 farm teams (Marlies & Pensacola) with which to send down players. But most of the time Pensacola is full,and I can't move around too many players from that roster to free up spots like I can with the Marlies.

Where else can I send players to develop? I know I can loan players out, but they must clear waivers first,in which case I risk losing them. If I do loan them, is that for the rest of that current season? Or can they be recalled at some point as easy as they can be brought up from the Marlies?

I'm still trying to familiarize myself with all the little things involved in the business side of things, such as transfer windows and payments, etc.

Thx again.

[E5150_ca]

You can loan AHLers to any other AHL teams, Personally I pick a team at the bottom of the standings so I know my guys will get alot of ice time. You can choose how long the loan will last, but if you want him back earlier its as easy as just recalling him.

[Minstrel]

It is basically pointless to have veterans clogging your AHL/ECHL teams; on my teams if they aren't borderline NHLers awaiting an injury related fill-in call-up or players with strong leadership/influence (possibly add stamina to that as well if you have youngsters with low stamina) get rid of 'em.

It all depends on how your 'pieces' come together on the particular team at the particular time, but in general I do like to keep a vet with good faceoff ability and passing in addition to leadership/influence/stamina to work with my top two wingers on a first line at the Farm. I also like to have a steady stay-at-home veteran defenseman that I will use at times to cover for a developing offensive d-fenseman youngin' and at times to work as mentor for a young stay-at-homer in training. I find a similar vet that is a defensive specialist at forward to play on a line with young guys that are projected to be eventual fill-ins for the checking lines on the Big Club. Those are three roles that can really help not only in your farm team's results/consistency but also with developing your youngin's

Another angle we've been talking about a little here is the question of playing time decisions. First off goalies; I get my #3 and #4 (since NHL has 1 and 2) guys to play most every game in the AHL and ECHL. No point to have your 3 & 4 guys trading off at the AHL, get them as much time as possible.

Positionally, again it's a matter of where your talent lies but in general you have to have a clear future role with the Big Club in order to play 1st or 2nd line on my AHL team. That can be the previously mentioned veteran leaders/mentors, players that should at least be ready to make the NHL club within the next few years (usually around 23-25) and might fill in with a rash of injuries at the NHL level or super-prospects who might only be 20-21 and just need development time.

3rd liners in general are projects/potential role player fill ins. If a player has anything above average talent and due to this would end up playing 4th line and like five minutes a night I'd rather have them play 18 on a 1st or 2nd line at the ECHL instead or go on loan to someone for time. That's how I usually try to set things out and my teams usually win both the AHL and ECHL titles fairly easily which is good as they get playoff experience and more games a year too

That's my usual approach. I do a lot of deadline work and early season work trying to keep making my farm younger and more talented. Players being moved along from the NHL team I take their value and recycle it into picks/better prospects giving me room to start moving some ready to go players up into those slots which then free up their vacated roles on the farm allowing the development process to continue to flow without players getting stuck playing below their talent/development levels.

[Davey]

Great input Minstrel, thx.

So I'm assuming you added a GM and have total control over your AHL affiliate as well? ( Which I just found out you could do, so am starting all over and diving head first back into everything with renewed vigor!!)

But I have a few related questions then if I could pick your brain again!?....

1) As far as loaning out, I guess the AHL,WHL & QMJHL are all the same level,and the best place for experience?

2) What about Europe? Possible to send kids there, or is that a "sign contract play whole season" situation?

3) I run the Leafs, so it seems I only have control of the Marlies, not Pensacola as well in the ECHL. So as far as getting them max playing time, I'm scouting teams where the player I'm sending has better stats than the ones already there, assuring him being inserted on a top line. Sound strategy?

4) And once I have a player loaned and in a good place to play, I'm assuming it's best to leave him there for the duration of their season(especially if they make the playoffs) rather than recall him a couple of times for spot duty on the big club?

Thanks again for the helpful info!

[munky]

The WHL and QMJHL are junior leagues, the AHL is a minor league. You can't loan players to a junior team, I'm pretty sure. You can loan them to an ECHL, UHL, or CHL team though.