CHL can now play NCAA - change everything !

[SergeConstantin74]

Lottin is playing for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL. The article says he could report to the Victoriaville Tigres in the next days. He was taken 7th overall in the last QMJHL Draft.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

While it feels like a big change, something tells me that we are overstating its impact. At the end of the day you have the same number of players and the same general talent pool. All we are doing is redistributing talent among those leagues (primarily the upper-end talent).

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Lottin is playing for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL. The article says he could report to the Victoriaville Tigres in the next days. He was taken 7th overall in the last QMJHL Draft.

Already confirmed.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856718078882775441

 

[landy92mack29]

While it feels like a big change, something tells me that we are overstating its impact. At the end of the day you have the same number of players and the same general talent pool. All we are doing is redistributing talent among those leagues (primarily the upper-end talent).

it's a massive change, CHL teams won't have to worry about kids not wanting to report and will be able to bring in more US players. The only unknown is how it'll look when players turn 19 or 20 and when they head off to college. It's also a massive boon for the NCAA as there'll be a massive influx of talent to a league that sorely lacked it

 

[Blue and Green]

I've been hearing that a split draft is being looked at. Two rounds for 18 year old players and 4 rounds for either 19 or 20 year old players.

Interesting. I can't really wrap my head around that idea. Do you have any details as to why some people think that idea would work better? Is it league, PA, agents pushing it?

 

[Corso]

Interesting. I can't really wrap my head around that idea. Do you have any details as to why some people think that idea would work better? Is it league, PA, agents pushing it?

All about player development, retention and free agency. If you look at the draft, how many who are picked in say rounds 4 through 7 really pan out? Lot of NHL GMs and execs feel that having an extra year (or two) for players to develop before the draft will give them a much better handle on potential NHL players. PA isn't to enamored with the idea of an older draft and this may be a way of placating them. Have the really elite players drafted in an 18 only year draft consisting of two rounds and giving them a 2 year signing window while having a 4 round draft for 19 (or 20) year old players, thereby giving them a longer development timeline.

One thing I do know for sure is that there will be changes to the draft.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Wil McKenna leave CHL for better competition in NCAA next year? That's a tough one. Late Birthday. Seems like it'll be Medicine Hat hosting the Memorial Cup which is a pull to keep him but he probably doesn't have anything left to learn at the WHL level. There hasn't been a guy that has really ripped the League a new one directly from Juniors in a while.

 

[Corso]

Wil McKenna leave CHL for better competition in NCAA next year? That's a tough one. Late Birthday. Seems like it'll be Medicine Hat hosting the Memorial Cup which is a pull to keep him but he probably doesn't have anything left to learn at the WHL level. There hasn't been a guy that has really ripped the League a new one directly from Juniors in a while.

Trust me, recruiters are all over him. Not sure of the probability of success but a lot of schools are pushing for his services.

 

[Blue and Green]

All about player development, retention and free agency. If you look at the draft, how many who are picked in say rounds 4 through 7 really pan out? Lot of NHL GMs and execs feel that having an extra year (or two) for players to develop before the draft will give them a much better handle on potential NHL players. PA isn't to enamored with the idea of an older draft and this may be a way of placating them. Have the really elite players drafted in an 18 only year draft consisting of two rounds and giving them a 2 year signing window while having a 4 round draft for 19 (or 20) year old players, thereby giving them a longer development timeline.

One thing I do know for sure is that there will be changes to the draft.

I understand all of that. To clarify, I meant this idea that you had mentioned with effectively two separate age drafts (two rounds 18YO only, four rounds 19+ only) in comparison to what I'd mentioned in the post that you quoted initially, with the first round being 18+ and all other rounds being 19+. I was wondering why they might want to completely split the age groups; it doesn't really make sense to me, but perhaps it would if I knew more about the underlying rationale.

To me, the latter seems like a much simpler change that would accomplish the goal of allowing NHL teams to get a better handle on most potential draftees but still allow the top kids to be selected and perhaps get started on a pro career at 18. Hardly any guys drafted outside of the first round see NHL action in their D+1 and not many of them are even ready for steady AHL duty so it doesn't seem overly restrictive in terms of their realistic options.

 

[Corso]

I understand all of that. To clarify, I meant this idea that you had mentioned with effectively two separate age drafts (two rounds 18YO only, four rounds 19+ only) in comparison to what I'd mentioned in the post that you quoted initially, with the first round being 18+ and all other rounds being 19+. I was wondering why they might want to completely split the age groups; it doesn't really make sense to me, but perhaps it would if I knew more about the underlying rationale.

To me, the latter seems like a much simpler change that would accomplish the goal of allowing NHL teams to get a better handle on most potential draftees but still allow the top kids to be selected and perhaps get started on a pro career at 18. Hardly any guys drafted outside of the first round see NHL action in their D+1 and not many of them are even ready for steady AHL duty so it doesn't seem overly restrictive in terms of their realistic options.

No idea how this will play out, the NHL and PA don't know how this will be settled just yet and your idea of one draft for 18 YO only followed by 19YO may come to pass. The PA and most agencies aren't to fond of an older draft so I really do believe that they will at least have an 18 YO draft in some capacity. The NHL though would love for the draft age to be higher however, hence the talk of a hybrid draft age.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Beau Courtney (2004, Colorado native) of Everett in the Dub commits to Alaska Fairbanks

 

[Blue and Green]

No idea how this will play out, the NHL and PA don't know how this will be settled just yet and your idea of one draft for 18 YO only followed by 19YO may come to pass. The PA and most agencies aren't to fond of an older draft so I really do believe that they will at least have an 18 YO draft in some capacity. The NHL though would love for the draft age to be higher however, hence the talk of a hybrid draft age.

The idea that I floated is first round being 18+, not 18YO only.

Another idea that I'd float, if I was CHL president: remove the restriction that limits teams to three 20YO's. As many as they like.

 

[Corso]

The idea that I floated is first round being 18+, not 18YO only.

Another idea that I'd float, if I was CHL president: remove the restriction that limits teams to three 20YO's. As many as they like.

Understood but they would have to have a cut off at some point since as of right now we have an 18+draft.

I would assume that if the NHL does indeed raise the draft age, then it's likely that the CHL may allow unlimited amount of 20YO's.

 

[Blue and Green]

Understood but they would have to have a cut off at some point since as of right now we have an 18+draft.

I would assume that if the NHL does indeed raise the draft age, then it's likely that the CHL may allow unlimited amount of 20YO's.

Cutoff for 18YO's would be end of first round, but there's a difference between first round being 18YO only vs 18+. 19+ could be selected in the first round.

I don't see any need to wait until the draft age changes. CHL will be losing some good 18YO/19YO players to NCAA starting next season. Keeping as many 20YO's as possible would help to offset that talent loss, thus keeping the calibre of play as high as possible and also helping to maintain continuity and leadership on the team which is appreciated by managers, coaches and fans/communities.

 

[Corso]

Cutoff for 18YO's would be end of first round, but there's a difference between first round being 18YO only vs 18+. 19+ could be selected in the first round.

I don't see any need to wait until the draft age changes. CHL will be losing some good 18YO/19YO players to NCAA starting next season. Keeping as many 20YO's as possible would help to offset that talent loss, thus keeping the calibre of play as high as possible and also helping to maintain continuity and leadership on the team which is appreciated by managers, coaches and fans/communities.

Would more 20YO really help with the talent level though? We can assume that most decent 20YO will be either in college already or about to enter college, so what will you really be left with?

The CHL is about to gain a large influx of talent, especially from the U.S, within the next couple of seasons. That influx will help mitigate the loss of some 18 and 19 YO players that will jump to the NCAA.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Would more 20YO really help with the talent level though? We can assume that most decent 20YO will be either in college already or about to enter college, so what will you really be left with?

The CHL is about to gain a large influx of talent, especially from the U.S, within the next couple of seasons. That influx will help mitigate the loss of some 18 and 19 YO players that will jump to the NCAA.

I would think more 16/17 year olds, less 18/19 year olds would be a net negative to the overall level of play, but more high quality players will have passed through.

 

[Fatass]

Lottin is playing for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the BCHL. The article says he could report to the Victoriaville Tigres in the next days. He was taken 7th overall in the last QMJHL Draft.

It just makes sense for guys to play in the best league they can. The CHL is the best league for young players in NA. Now guys in that league can go to the NCAA. Of course they will choose Major Junior (now) over the junior A leagues. The junior A leagues will need to go back to basically being farm clubs for the Major junior teams. .

 

[SergeConstantin74]

It just makes sense for guys to play in the best league they can. The CHL is the best league for young players in NA. Now guys in that league can go to the NCAA. Of course they will choose Major Junior (now) over the junior A leagues. The junior A leagues will need to go back to basically being farm clubs for the Major junior teams. .

Lottin was pretty much ecstatic to be able to play in the QMJHL and then head to the NCAA. He was torn between the two paths. Now he can choose both. Very talented player but with his size the NHL is far away so the NCAA iwill be a great place for him. We never know what could happen when he fully develops and ends his NCAA career.

 

[Otto]

Cutoff for 18YO's would be end of first round, but there's a difference between first round being 18YO only vs 18+. 19+ could be selected in the first round.

I don't see any need to wait until the draft age changes. CHL will be losing some good 18YO/19YO players to NCAA starting next season. Keeping as many 20YO's as possible would help to offset that talent loss, thus keeping the calibre of play as high as possible and also helping to maintain continuity and leadership on the team which is appreciated by managers, coaches and fans/communities.

CHL will be losing very few if any 18/19 year olds

 

[WarriorofTime]

CHL will be losing very few if any 18/19 year olds

Tough to say

 

[SergeConstantin74]

CHL will be losing very few if any 18/19 year olds

And I think the NCAA top programs will get older because of the influx of 20 yo CHLers.

 

[MeHateHe]

And I think the NCAA top programs will get older because of the influx of 20 yo CHLers.

Counterpoint: this influx would hurt the NCAA if it means fewer top end draft picks are being announced from the NCAA, which is possible. If a coach is pressed for wins, he might opt for a lower ranked older player instead of a guy who might be a top draft pick.

 

[Wieters]

The reality is that no one knows exactly how this will shake out as between the NCAA and CHL specifically. Making declarative statements about this league retaining/gaining certain players vis a vis the other league is just conjecture. This is a message board so speculation is par for the course, but any definitiveness should be treated skeptically.

 

[Otto]

Tough to say

Not really. I'm assuming the WHL & QMJHL are the same as the OHL. if a player leaves the OHL prior to their 19 year old season they forgo their OHL scholarship. If they were leaving early then they would probably need a full ride scholarship. If a player is elite enough to deserve a full ride scholarship then chances are he's already drafted, at which point where do you think his NHL club would rather have him be at 18/19? 68+ games? or half that?

Frequently Asked Questions Pertaining to NCAA Player Eligibility Changes - Ontario Hockey League

1. What NCAA eligibility change has taken place? Canadian Hockey League players have been deemed eligible for NCAA Division I hockey programs following a decision ratified November 7, 2024 by the NCAA’s Division I Council. The language that outlines the specific NCAA eligibility change that goes...

chl.ca

Counterpoint: this influx would hurt the NCAA if it means fewer top end draft picks are being announced from the NCAA, which is possible. If a coach is pressed for wins, he might opt for a lower ranked older player instead of a guy who might be a top draft pick.

20 year old top draft picks are not playing CHL or NCAA

 

[MeHateHe]

20 year old top draft picks are not playing CHL or NCAA

My point is that there will be fewer top draft picks from the NCAA if the NCAA now has a greater access to former CHL players - 18 year olds will get squeezed out because the older players will have those roster spots.