If it doesn't involve NCAA players, what's the point? Just to have AHL camp early? NYI don't have the bevvy of non-NCAA prospects to give it a point.
Re NCAA - I've heard it's gotten more complicated on the New York State legal side, and on the NCAA side. Couple that with the fact that NYI play on land controlled by the state, and there's a political aspect. (NYS doesn't want to be seen condoning physically risky unpaid internships. It's a bad look.)
Even beside all of that, it is clearly both risky and expensive for NCAA players to participate. Not only to they have to get here & pay for lodging, they need to purchase (if they are out of state) short term health insurance. And all for what? To show that the families of some NCAA players have more resources than others, that's what.