I thought I just did...
No you didn't. You said he needs to gain experience in the AHL. Sure, OK, maybe. But a year or two in the AHL isn't going to put 20 pounds on his frame. He doesn't gain anything from playing against players like that. You think Scheifele wouldn't be getting thrown around if he had played in the AHL first? It really makes no difference. As for whoever commented on his defensive game needing work... Have you ever watched him play? He is a far more complete player than Ehlers at this point.
Experience doing what? Playing against larger, faster players (men). For a small guy who's a playmaker, he'll have to get used to not having the time & space he did against lesser players in Junior. The difference between him and the other little guys in the league (Gaudreau, Johnson) is their skating. I don't think Petan is a great skater.
Anyways, my point (and I didn't say learn, I said "get used to") wasn't just about his size. If it was only about size, I wouldn't be advocating for Ehlers to make the team this year.
Scheifele got thrown around in Junior too. I'm not sure what his problem was. High centre of gravity?