Need advice for developing Players

I've often struggled with those who aren't elite or higher when it comes to development.  But the elites will usually have a jump from the 70s into the 80s and then work their way into the NHL.  Every playthrough right now I see Hirose and Ho-Sang fall from Top 6 to Top 9 potential - every time without exception unless I edit it.

I do remember that years ago when Aleksandr Barkov was first drafted, whether or not you had him play in a good AHL line made the difference whether he became a top player or fizzled out as an AHL Top 6 or such.  But I think much of it is supposed to be random to illustrate the uncertainty in potential -- high potential players tend to move up a setting when they move and low potential players tend to move down when they move.  Low Elites are supposed to be a grab bag where they might be great, but are likely to fizzle out - whereas a high elite can very well change to a medium franchise.

Part of it should involve your ability to get them onto the third line for offense or second line for defense to give them a chance to grow - and if you have a good team that can be hard to do.

But, yes.  I agree fully that EA needs to start being transparent with how things work - because otherwise they don't.  They seem too afraid that a competitor will figure it out and copy it to make it usable and an actual asset at all.