The unasked questions

[swiss_fan 3]

Here are some questions no one have asked about Tatar and his impressive play in TC:

-Not only Tatar has played well in his native country last year, agering 0,5 pt per game IIRC against men, in a pro league (not far from the AHL level i think), but he played great in Traverse city, in the prospect TC and also in the main TC. So:

-why the heck would it be good for him to root in a junior league? it has to be something related with contracts, but c'mon, you don't ask to a guy like him to waist a year in my opinion..

(i m the opinion would have played before in the NHL Kindl would surely be better now than he is.. but this is not really the point here..)

-If he has produced in his native league, why wouldn't he produce in the AHL, and if he does, when is it legit to think he could receive a call-up? next year is it possible?

Thanks for your opinion

[dat's sick 1,002]

I think the idea is to have him play in a junior league and dominate, build up his confidence and have him develop even more of a scoring touch.

Not sure if that's the way to go, like you say he's been playing in a Pro League and he's done it well.

Don't think he'd be the first in line to be called up though even if he plays in Grand Rapids.

[stevkrause 1,247]

It's all about development. As Holland and staff has said a million times - they like their players "over-ripe"... they'd rather them dominate at a lower level and be really itching so when they bump them up, they explode onto the scene, then they let them tear it up there until their over-ready, so they can burst into the Red Wings and make an immediate impact (ie Ericsson, Helm, Fischer, etc...)

There is no room for projects on the Red Wings roster and really, with the overall depth of the organization, only minor projects or character guys that our prospects can learn from in GR.

Finally, there's something to be said about an 18-21 year old kid and keeping them humble and developing them as PEOPLE as well as players at a lower level. You put them into higher leagues and they have higher salaries, higher notoriety and a more lavish lifestyle, which can then lead to attitude or behavioral problems (ie Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, etc...)... granted, with the leadership here, it's less likely to happen, but the likes of Z, Datsyuk, Draper, Lidstrom, etc, etc, etc... can't be around these kids all the time and eventually they're going to have time alone with their fame and money....

I think having him spend a year or two in juniors tearing it up is a great path...