Thread: Kyle Turris vs Phoenix Coyotes - News and Rumors

I've put off following this situation for a bit so that I could catch up (and procrastinate) on other stuff. In any case, I'd like to respond to Raza and apologize for the delay with my reply.

Originally Posted by ->Raza<-

NOTE: These are my opinions

I firmly believe that being drafted is rather a privilige than a young players (prospect) right. I also believe that these young players/prospects have to earn their right to pick teams as free agents. How manny scouting and development hours went into getting a player like Turiss to NHL? And quite frankly this kid (that has the Aki Berg syndrom) doesn't deserve to pick his own team just jet. He has nothing to show for (other than big ego) to do so. Why should a GM Maloney(sp?) give away a prospect (they spent a lot of hours and money to develop) so the kid will feel better?

If tommorow Toffoli/Bernier decides that he wants out, how would you feel? You know how Lombardi felt regarding Holloway/Möller?

I am definitely on the same with you in regards to a developing prospect's rights and the team's investment of resources into said develoment, but as I've said, the whole situation just seemed odd to me. My bias obviously plays a part in my perception, but even with all those cited prospects who left Phoenix flaming out, it also begs the question of what right does a prospect have in terms of the choice he is making in terms of his own development.

You mentioned Aki Berg, which is appropriate since I want to reference him, Jamie Storr and, to a lesser extent, Olli Jokinen. It can be argued fairly easily that all three of those prospects were done a disservice in their respective development by prior Kings management. Berg, Storr, and Jokinen were considered top-level prospects early on during their respective careers but each were rushed to the NHL due to the organization's lack of capable talent on the roster. Sure, these kids were being paid to play hockey but assuming you want to be the best hockey player that you can be, can you really fault a prospect who's seen the track record of an organization's handling of previously thought of near-ready prospects for exercising some leverage in trying to get himself into a better environment for his professional development?

What would you do in such a situation? Risk certain career suicide or use the only legitimate leverage you have in exercising your right as a restricted free agent to position yourself in an environment that is less toxic? You can't take for granted that a good prospect will eventually find his way. Just look at Dan Cleary's career: another highly thought of talent who flamed out in Chicago and was lucky enough to find his way in Detroit to recover a little to being a contributing hockey player. Would his career trajectory been signifcantly different had he been with the Red Wings developmental system the entire time? Would Storr, Berg, and Jokinen? Also, what would Jonathan Bernier's status be nowadays had Lombardi employed the organization's old tactics of rushing prospects?

I'm glad things worked out where Turris signed, but I'm anticipating that he'll get traded, if not before putting on a Coyotes uniform, then by the end of this offseason. While there was little interest in offering him an offer sheet, there is no shortage of teams willing to trade for him, and I personally still hold out hope that we somehow acquire him.