In sending Nikita Filatov back to Russia, the Columbus Blue Jackets have conceded that their 18-year-old hotshot isn't ready for the NHL.
The Phoenix Coyotes reached a simlar conclusion with Kyle Turris a few weeks ago, shipping last year's heralded rookie to the American Hockey League.
That kind of patience is increasingly rare in today's NHL, where so many teams can't face reality: their over-hyped kids aren't ready to conquer the world.
The current youth movement dates to 2005, and the end of the lockout.
The "new" NHL got a jump start from one of the all-time great rookie classes.
Ovechkin, Crosby, Carter, Getzlaf, Boyes, Richards, Keith, Vanek, Perry... all arrived with immediate impact.
Since then, the leap from junior hockey to the NHL has become commonplace. No more wasted years in the minors. The modern prospect is NHL-ready on arrival.
Plus, he arrives with a dirt-cheap, entry-level contract. Very attractive in these salary-capped times.
But the youth movement ain't all it's cracked up to be. Consider a few prominent examples:
- Carey Price. (20-year-old rookie in 2007-08)
Asking him to be a goaltending hero at that age goes down as one of Bob Gainey's brutal mistakes as GM of the Montreal Canadiens. Jury's still out on whether he'll ever be a true number-one goalie. - Steve Mason. (20-year-old rookie in 2008-09)
The Rookie of the Year is off to a wobbly start in Columbus. Is it ridiculous to suggest a year or two in the minors might have produced a more consistent goalie? - Sam Gagner. (18-year-old rookie in 2007-08)
Thrown into the Oilers' lineup as an undersized teenager. Is it any wonder he's still trying to find his game? - Dion Phaneuf. (20-year-old rookie in 2005-06)
Performance has yet to match the world-class hype that greeted his arrival. Skilled but erratic. Another guy who could have used a year or so in the minors. - Luke Schenn (pictured). (19-year-old rookie in 2008-09)
Desperate to give fans hope for the future, the Maple Leafs showcased Schenn by giving him a regular job straight out of junior hockey. Now he's this season's favorite whipping boy.
Developing and nurturing a prospect is one of a core functions of an NHL team. Maybe the experts are convinced that on-the-job training is the best way to bring a guy along, no matter how ugly it sometimes looks.
But the results in many cases look mixed (Phaneuf), ineffectual (Schenn), or downright disastrous (Price).
(Photo: Nick Laham/Getty Images)
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