I have seen him play, that's why I think he's a bust. It's not just about speed or skill. It's about not getting your ass flattened when someone back checks you while you are trying to lay a forecheck.
You have to have the drive and the will. The determination at this level. He does not have that. It's why he can't play defense. He's not a willing combatant.
You seem to think he's a show pony. If he was a show pony you'd know it by now. It would be more than evident. There are many of them who have come into the league at 21 or younger and actually proven they have that level of skill. He does not. So when you don't have that, you better be willing to do the rest. What ever it takes to stick here. But he's not. And that's all there is to that. It's evident all over the ice. Which is why the coaching staff hides him. If you want it you have to earn it. Because when you aren't the high end skill, the guys who are going to stick are the guys willing to go through a wall to get it.

Nothing you just said is incorrect. The part where I think you're wrong is that it's game over for him. I don't think it's crazy to give a guy a longer look than like 300 NHL minutes when he has proven to be a scorer at every other level he's played at before you call him a bust. At the start of next season, it may be time to worry, but you don't run a hockey team by giving up on guys with that kind of upside in exchange for rentals like Chris Kreider.

you can't teach desire.

Wish this guy wasnt banned so he could admit his monumental L on Kyrou

Invest in Jordan Kyrou futures. A lot of talent there pic.twitter.com/TrimUNSwvX

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 9, 2021