Quoting: ClockReads2113
It's not about size. It's about processing the speed of the game. The QMJHL is the weakest of the 3 junior leagues, it is NOWHERE near professional level in terms of speed. Poulin is not ready and won't be ready next year. Protas is better than Poulin and if he isn't ready, neither his Poulin. Sure they could play him early, wouldn't be smart though, it's how you ruin a players development.
It is not about "processing the speed of the game"
that is a myth spoken by people who have never wore skates.
The difference at the NHL and lower levels is the size speed and skill of the player.
You are talking about guys who have the size and speed, and the skill to be there.
Any adjustment to the NHL speed in not something that takes years to over come. It's a shock no matter at what point you are dropped into it.
PLD got moved over because he was physically mature enough to make that jump and his speed of play was there.
The penguins are sitting on two guys who could most likely fill in a role now. But the reason they aren't there is more of a numbers game. If they didn't have numbers they wouldn't be there in the Q.
So if they think these guys are going to help them win the cup and they don't have the numbers they would like, they WILL in deed move them over.
Believe me, playing with guys who are smaller, slower, and not as skilled as them, isn't exactly helping their development and not "preparing them for the speed of the game."
It's them basically tooling around down there waiting for their chance. This is a system that was designed for a time where athletes weren't training like they do now at 17 years old to make it to the pros.
Times have changed. If you are both mentally and physically mature enough as a player is the real hold up.