from Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press,

Prospects must force themselves into the big club's picture and become valuable contributors or the plan just continues to sputter along and never kicks out a winner.

Cheveldayoff has a solid core of players reaching their potential. Blake Wheeler appears to be a point-a-game man. Kane has a 30-goal season under his belt. The trio of Bryan Little-Andrew Ladd-Michael Frolik is a superior puck possession group. Dustin Byfuglien is a power forward with vast potential.

There are warts. If Maurice can't find a way to improve goaltender Ondrej Pavelec's save percentage the entire endeavour will be a waste of time.

But there's no denying there's promise here. The question is whether it's ready to show up.

More of Cheveldayoff's prospects must step forward and expand the core. Patience is fine. But it can't be infinite. Not for the GM and not for the fans of this organization.

Rushing players doesn't make sense. But, as we saw with Trouba and Schiefele, young players don't have to fail.

Cheveldayoff didn't make a lot of people happy this summer. He stuck to his guns and his plan.

It's time that plan begin to supply him with the ammunition to defend his stance.

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