Quoting: NucksFanForLife
He certainly hasn’t been all that I hoped he’d be, but look at guys like Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Bertuzzi, Michael Ferland, Chris Kreider, Mike Hoffman, Anthony Mantha, and Josh Anderson. They didn’t light it up in the AHL, but now they can play in a top six role consistently. I’d wait on him. Players also are not transitioning the same way that they used to. Also, Cleveland is an awful team to transition on. When Gerbe, Milano, Korostelev, Dalpe, Letestu, Broadhurst, Bittner, and Robinson are being played over you, there’s not a ton of opportunity. Abramov immediately become the 2RW on Belleville. I’d be surprised if he can’t turn it around and score at a better level. Obviously Ottawa is high on him, so he might be given a top line opportunity too. Columbus gave up on him. Kinda like Milano. And by the way, Marchessault as well. Proper development goes a long ways towards determining a prospects outcome.
Players have to enter the game faster these days. You can't sit in the minors till you are 25. Careers are ending in the early 30s now.
You look at some of the players you are mentioning. Milano is a 1st rounder, Bittner is a 2nd rounder. They are only 22. Milano has a lot of talent. It just hasn't worked out for him. But he has definitely flashed at the NHL level.
They are better pedigree in my opinion.
I really can't blame it on being in cleveland. No matter what the situation is, if you are getting ice time in 52 games, if you are more talented it will show.
If you stuck a Jack Huges in cleveland, his talent would show. He wouldn't be there long.
So at some point it just is what it is. I think his size is part of his issue. You add lack of size and inability/unwillingness to play defense with not lighting the lamp up and that equals teams giving up on you.
Maybe he does better with a change of scenery. Then again, just making the Ottawa roster doesn't mean anything. They are officially desperate for talent at this point.