CHL can now play NCAA - change everything !

[kyle44]

Misa and Martone don't really need a 4th year of OHL, imo. If the vibe they get from the draft process is that they aren't Day 1 NHL guys, college for a year makes a lot of sense as a natural progression. Remember, the college kids can sign when their season ends and still get in end of year games if they're ready by that point as well.

I don't think the whole Training Camp then slide back to Junior thing is that enamoring for prospects, or else every top 3 round pick would drop their college commitment and go to a CHL team, regardless of whatever they had done to that point.

Agree with this. IMO, Misa could survive but likely not thrive in the NHL next year, and I do not feel Martone has the pace to play in the NHL next season. I think both would benefit from a year in college getting used to playing against older players with less time and space before their rookie season.

 

[jtechkid]

It makes 100% sense for these kids go to college play against men then do another year in the kids league chl . Look at Dickinson - martone playing pick up hockey in the OHL - getting unrealistic points and they both really stunk in the world juniors - especially dickinson free wheeling in OHL - they need play against 23 men not 17-18 kids chl lol .

 

[NTDP]

Agree with this. IMO, Misa could survive but likely not thrive in the NHL next year, and I do not feel Martone has the pace to play in the NHL next season. I think both would benefit from a year in college getting used to playing against older players with less time and space before their rookie season.

I don't think Misa or Martone are ready for the NHL next year. I've seen a few league games this year and need to watch more - but I don't think they're ready yet. I also don't think Hagens should be in the NHL next year either, he should play another year of College. But hey I've been wrong plenty of times.

 

[Kingpin794]

It's for sure a culture thing I agree, but also on the Canadian side where if you're a decently high pick you typically sign because that's what everyone's done before you (thus creating the culture). I agree with others that guys like Martone, Misa, etc don't need more years in junior and should absolutely take their game to the NCAA.

I think this notion will slowly change as people realize it's not a slight to not sign in your draft +1 or 2. A spot will be there for them when they're ready. All it takes is the first couple kids to do it and people will realize it's literally no big deal to not sign with the NHL team right away. As you know, this hasn't hurt Americans that've done this for years, or even guys like Hage, Boisvert, and Wood that chose the NCAA route. Not signing right after you're drafted will be a non factor in a few years.

Agree that the extra years of NCAA doesn't hurt guys. I would also say the extra year or two of junior doesn't hurt high end players either. Talented and motivated players will succeed one way or another. It's all going to come down to preference for each individual player.

 

[NTDP]

Agree that the extra years of NCAA doesn't hurt guys. I would also say the extra year or two of junior doesn't hurt high end players either. Talented and motivated players will succeed one way or another. It's all going to come down to preference for each individual player.

That's fair, and to your point there's guys drafted out of the USHL who returned there along with Europeans who've gone CHL or USHL in D+1.

 

[MTU34]

Don’t think this one was mentioned yet

Noah Reinhart (2004, QMJHL, Val-d’Or) to Michigan Tech

 

[WarriorofTime]

Agree that the extra years of NCAA doesn't hurt guys. I would also say the extra year or two of junior doesn't hurt high end players either. Talented and motivated players will succeed one way or another. It's all going to come down to preference for each individual player.

I agree talent and hard work will figure it out either way, regardless of path. I don't necessarily think though that the current system is the most optimal. Especially if the main justifications are just that it's how it's always been and worked fine enough to this point. If you look at Swedish and Finnish kids, they're constantly on the move. They go from U16, to U18 to U20 to second division pro to first division pro. They're never in one spot or level for very long, it's a natural progression as they get older. Of course made all simpler because it's one organization that is running all of those teams. CHL is really the one place where very high end players will routinely play 4 years and 200+ games in the same League and where the only way out is to go directly to the NHL which is a very high bar and massive leap for the vast vast vast majority of players.

 

[Corso]

Agree that the extra years of NCAA doesn't hurt guys. I would also say the extra year or two of junior doesn't hurt high end players either. Talented and motivated players will succeed one way or another. It's all going to come down to preference for each individual player.

Pretty well much this. As others have said, the next CBA contract will go a loooong way in determining how this all shakes out.

The CHL knows that their monopoly on 18–20-year-old players is coming to an end and from what I'm hearing, they have proposed a hybrid type scenario similar to what the European Junior leagues and their respective pro teams have. In short, players are loaned for a certain number of games then are returned back to their junior clubs with only the very elite staying up for the entire season. From the CHL's perspective, they would rather be viewed as a feeder to the pros (even the AHL) as opposed to strictly a NCAA feeder like the USHL.

The NCAA is trying real hard to have elite players commit in order to establish both a precedent and narrative that playing college hockey after the CHL and before the pros is the natural progression. Most college hockey coaches realize that the majority of the best talent, whether Canadian or American, will soon be in the CHL. So, making that narrative a reality is a priority.

ECL deals will also factor in, as some players will simply not want to forgo the money. Yes, I know that some here think college hockey NIL deals run in the 6 figures annually for even those drafted in the 2nd round, but they don't, at least not yet and probably won't for the foreseeable future.

Again, let's wait for the next CBA because that is when the tale will be told.

 

[Bjindaho]

What are the academic requirements for a player entering a USA university from the Quebec education system? Are both years of cégep needed? Most of these kids will be entering at 20 anyway so should have time to complete it, but just wondering.

It's common for kids in the Q to do distance learning.

Also, 1/3 of the teams in the league are outside of Quebec (currently called the Maritimes Division, but will likely be renamed to Atlantic Division when Bathurst moves to St. John's). On top of that, some Quebec cities would have schools that don't fall within the CEGEP model.

 

[Kingpin794]

I agree talent and hard work will figure it out either way, regardless of path. I don't necessarily think though that the current system is the most optimal. Especially if the main justifications are just that it's how it's always been and worked fine enough to this point. If you look at Swedish and Finnish kids, they're constantly on the move. They go from U16, to U18 to U20 to second division pro to first division pro. They're never in one spot or level for very long, it's a natural progression as they get older. Of course made all simpler because it's one organization that is running all of those teams. CHL is really the one place where very high end players will routinely play 4 years and 200+ games in the same League and where the only way out is to go directly to the NHL which is a very high bar and massive leap for the vast vast vast majority of players.

It's also easier for them to play in second tier European pro league because well, they aren't that great compared to other leagues. It also why some high end Europeans come over to play in NA whether that be the CHL or NCAA. You don't see it going the other way. Playing in the same league for 4 years isn't a bad thing inherently. Playing tier 2 is about as productive as playing CHL.