Are young hockey prospects better off learning the game at the NHL level even if they aren’t prospering and the team they play for is losing games?
Or, do such players benefit from getting heavy ice time and winning at the AHL level?
That is the question facing the Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls as their respective seasons roll along, particularly as it pertains to the development of players like Troy Terry, Max Jones, Isac Lundestrom, Daniel Sprong, Max Comtois and Josh Mahura.
All of them were in the lineup for the Gulls on Tuesday night for a 3-1 loss to Tucson at Pechanga Arena.
San Diego (17-16-2-2) had been playing its best hockey of the season while outscoring opponents 22-9 during a season-long five-game winning streak.
On this night, the Gulls finished with a 40-23 edge in shots on goal but fell behind 3-0, went 0-3 on the power play and could not cash in on several decent scoring chances late in the third period against Tucson goalie Adin Hill.
“I don’t think we had a good first half of the game, but we had a good second half,” said Sprong, who came down from Anaheim on Saturday along with Jones and Chase De Leo and scored San Diego’s lone goal. “We had a lot of looks. They just didn’t go in.”
Early on, Tucson mostly controlled the puck, limited San Diego rushes and beat Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle with even-strength goals from Kevin Hancock, Hudson Fasching and Blake Speers.
Sprong’s goal created hope, and the team’s excellent penalty killing unit kept San Diego in the game by stopping Tucson on all four of its power-play chances.
The game may have been even more interesting had Gulls center Justin Kloos been able to cash in a really nice scoring chance late in the third. His point-blank shot to what appeared to be an open net was deflected just in time by a sprawling Hill.
Gulls coach Kevin Dineen pulled Boyle for an extra skater with just over two minutes to play, and his team created more chances but none got past Hill.
Chalk it up to yet another learning experience for the younger Gulls, who have split time between the NHL and AHL all season. None have exactly busted out in NHL games but all have shown flashes in both Ducks and Gulls jerseys.
Ducks General Manager Bob Murray is no doubt paying attention to how they handle going up and down.
Do players who have gotten a taste of NHL life — the nice hotels, packed arenas and high-profile competition — come back to the AHL and pout while allowing their energy and effort to slack off?
Or, do they follow Terry’s example? The former University of Colorado star has produced two goals and assists in six games since coming down on an injury rehab assignment on Jan. 10.
“Well, I know he makes me a lot better coach,” Dineen said.
“As much as he brings a skillset to our team, he’s really brought a level of enthusiasm and sincerity. He goes out there and practices hard, he plays hard, he’s excited to be here and be a part of this. We’ve had some great conversations. He’s a high-character kid. Let’s not kid ourselves, he’s a very dynamic player. He not only puts up points, but boy is he fun to watch.”
Carter is a freelance writer.
