Can Faber even come to camp if he is for sure staying in the NCAA next year? I'm not saying he is ready or should leave college but his profile is that of one of these guys that you weren't expecting much from anytime soon but blew through expectations in his D + 1 to the point where it makes you wonder if he could be a guy that shows up to camp and just takes a spot. He isn't small and his height/weight might be from the time of the draft.
This is the kind of unexpected jackpot guy that Blake needs.
@Herby...I'm not trying to ignite a debate on the pros and cons of staying in school for one's D+2 season. It's more that this board annually says they expect so-and-so to make the team out-of-camp in their D+2 year even if the D+1 year wasn't extraordinary. This is actually a kid who seemed to win a larger-than-expected role at both Minnesota and at the WJC as an August birthday with that larger-than-expected role pretty much being a guy on the top pairing.
The evidence is overwhelming, players who play a second year of college do much better. This is one of those situations where teams fans would be critical of another team for "rushing" a guy, but then will defend their team doing the same thing. I think our fans (like other teams fans) know the best ways to develop and understand rushing is not good when its about the other 30 teams, but whether it is eagerness to see a player up close or just thinking our players will be different change their tune. And again this isn't something that is exclusive to this board, every team board has discussions on whether (Insert this years most overachieving 2nd or 3rd round pick) can make the team at 19 or 20.
I really like Brock Faber, I think he was an extraordinary pick by Blake in the 2nd round, he is right there with Kaliyev as one of the best value picks not only for the Kings but in the NHL entire NHL in the last 2-3 drafts. He would be a consensus 1st round pick if he were in this draft. That being said, he, just like Turcotte has more to prove at this level, he can be a dominant defenseman next year in the Big Ten and can carry that (as well as maybe 10-15 more pounds) into his pro career starting about this time next year. Could he play in the AHL this fall? Sure he could, but he is not going to be a dominant player at that level next season, and history says that will limit his long-term upside. Cam York could have played this season in Lehigh Valley, doesn't mean it was the best path for him. I think Faber is right there with York, maybe a tad below due to ceiling but right there (excellent considering York went #14). Let him do exactly what York did this year, be a dominant all-American, maybe also captain the WJC team, try and win a national championship as one of the best players on his team and then as soon as the season ends jump right into the AHL for a playoff run. You get the best of both worlds, the confidence of being a dominant player, the experience of developing leadership qualities, more of an ability to spend time in the weight room and also get that valuable AHL experience that will help him as he potentially competes for a roster spot at age 20.
My attitude changes if he were an NHL player, but I don't think Faber is good enough to play in the NHL next fall, he is very good, but teenagers shouldn't be in the NHL unless they are the elite of the elite.