Buzz: AHL Or NHL For Derek Stepan
According to Steve Zipay at Blue Notes, while he has rights to play in Calgary of the WHL, it is not likely that Derek Stepan will play there.
Zipay writes that Stepan is expected to either have a spot in Hartford or with the Rangers.
….I don’t think he is NHL ready and that Hartford is the logical place for him to start his pro-hockey development. Again, this is my belief that a highly regarded prospect should play big minutes in the minors rather than small minutes, with a guy like John Tortorella who has his line changing issues.
I think Calgary isn’t really an option for the same reason that Evgeny Grachev didn’t return to Brampton last season. The Rangers want him to be one-step away, with the chance to practice, even if he doesn’t play, with the Rangers. It’s a higher level of competition, more realistic to the NHL, that he could likely step into the NHL sooner if his development goes right.
