Prospect Info: Aiden Fink - RW | 218th Overall | 2023 NHL Draft

[Porter Stoutheart]

All college players of any sport are, I'm just not sure how much you are really going to get unless your sport is either producing lots of money or you just happen to have a booster that decides he wants to try and get certain guys in.

Yeah, NCAA hockey is several orders of magnitude below football or basketball. This isn't going to be A Thing for hockey prospects (yet, if ever).

 

[Armourboy]

Yeah, NCAA hockey is several orders of magnitude below football or basketball. This isn't going to be A Thing for hockey prospects (yet, if ever).

I figure eventually you will see a shift in how everything works. I gotta wonder how long before college really is just a minor league system where teams have the players under contract and then choose where to put them for development, especially in a case like the NFL that doesn't have a minors system atm.

 

[wmupreds]

Yeah, NCAA hockey is several orders of magnitude below football or basketball. This isn't going to be A Thing for hockey prospects (yet, if ever).

I would be shocked if the big time hockey programs aren't already dabbling in the NIL world to a fairly significant degree. Not anywhere near what football players are paid, I'm sure. But even WMU is running ads on their broadcasts for NIL donations.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I would be shocked if the big time hockey programs aren't already dabbling in the NIL world to a fairly significant degree. Not anywhere near what football players are paid, I'm sure. But even WMU is running ads on their broadcasts for NIL donations.

Well, there are very few players heading to NCAA hockey programs who are "known names" atm. Maybe that will change. Probably the handful of "known names" do get NIL notoriety. But it's probably not happening for the Aiden Finks of the world anyway. Or for any other player ever on a Penn St. ice hockey roster. But sure, get a Celebrini or Hagens on a big time hockey program... that's a different story. And then... maybe the Finks of the world start dreaming about being on those big time program teams...

 

[Predsanddead24]

One other consideration for any Canadian players is that they are in a student visa so can't receive money from US companies or NIL collectives. This was an issue for Zach Edey who is Canadian in college basketball last season.

 

[glenngineer]

So who's got the better shot at making it in the NHL, let alone becoming a top 6 player for us?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

So who's got the better shot at making it in the NHL, let alone becoming a top 6 player for us?

Stiga.

 

[ShagDaddy]

For those that are interested, Fink and penn State are currently playing on ESPN2. First time I’ve got to watch him live. Kid plays at Mach 2 with his hair on fire.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

What does Fink do after the season?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

What does Fink do after the season?

Hopefully grow. And learn to skate faster.

 

[ShagDaddy]

What does Fink do after the season?

Stay in college. If the way he played defense last night is how he always plays defense, he’ll never make it in this organization. His best bet is to stay in college until he’s a UFA and sign somewhere else.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

What does Fink do after the season?

Duh...Calder Memorial Trophy obviously.

 

[Soundgarden]

Duh...Calder Memorial Trophy obviously.

I've got him penciled in for the Art Ross.

 

[GoldOnGold]

I've got him penciled in for the Art Ross.

I have to respectfully disagree - I think he'll win the Jack Adams

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I have to respectfully disagree - I think he'll win the Jack Adams

You can win both the Vezina and Jack Adams, I'm pretty sure. I'm not sure about Art Ross and Jack Adams. I guess Martin St.Louis is currently trying?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Penn St. - UConn game is 2-2 late in the 3rd.

Would be cool if Fink made it to the Frozen Four, despite playing for a "lesser school". Funny he's going against the team Wood left for being too weak.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Deep in OT now... must be a fun game to watch!

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Deep in OT now... must be a fun game to watch!

The game is on ESPN+ and ESPN2 if anyone wants to watch.

 

[Predsanddead24]

Turned it on for OT and it was great. Fink had a couple decent plays in OT but didn't really stick out to me. The Ceratto kid who had the assist in OT looked real good though.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Amazing that Penn St. goes to the Frozen Four!

Fink hasn't done much in the tournament yet. But it's still fun that he's going there. Looks like Stiga is about to get bounced, so maybe it is just Fink left to represent?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Penn St. vs. BU

Congrats to wmupreds...

WMU vs. Denver?

The NCAA is fun, because you don't always see the NHL-drafted powerhouses represented. Good coaching, team structure, etc, can give you teams that are winning big time at this level. Lesson to... ?

 

[wmupreds]

Penn St. vs. BU

Congrats to wmupreds...

WMU vs. Denver?

The NCAA is fun, because you don't always see the NHL-drafted powerhouses represented. Good coaching, team structure, etc, can give you teams that are winning big time at this level. Lesson to... ?

That's not wrong, per se, but I think the biggest reason some of the teams without a lot of draft picks succeed is that they're bringing in 20 and 21 year old freshmen which gives a physicality and maturity advantage over teams that rely more heavily on 18ish year old draft picks. Although all the F4 teams this year outside of PSU have quite a few NHL picks.