Originally Posted by Ross The Boss Palmer

Wrote this in the ramblings comments in response to Late Round Gem who said he shouldn't go:


...
Late Round Gem wrote:
"Zibanejad
Zibanejad scored the OT gold medal goal, what more does he have to accomplish at the junior level? Having him continue to refine his pro game is the right decision for the Sens. If Nugent-Hopkins had done the same I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the Oilers would keep him in the AHL this year as well.

Nuge - fair amount of North American pro experience, short on these types of pressure packed games
Zibanejad - the opposite

It's crazy to think that a professional hockey team would purposely hold a player out so their home country has a better chance of winning. This tourney happens every year, the stink of a poorly developed lottery pick lasts far longer than one year of disappointment."



My response:
How long is the tournament? I highly doubt that playing in it will impede his development or disrupt the refinement of his pro-game. I disagree with your stance. If he's not playing in the NHL, let him represent his country and have some fun with peers before the game becomes more and more a business. This is like telling a kid that he can't go to his grade 12 prom because he is smart enough to be in university (even though he isn't yet), and because he went to the prom in grade 11, where he ended up losing his virginity to the prom queen, Kate Upton (the female equivalent to winning the World Juniors in freaking overtime no less).

Let the young man play.