CHL can now play NCAA - change everything !

[4thline]

And for the ones that aren’t, the CHL would have to drop the idea of not releasing their players before age 20. The ones that aren’t playing NCAA next year are almost certainly only spending next year in junior (or if 1 or 2 spend two more in junior they basically suck).

How long does this hold true? A couple years of high quality CHL grads- whether or not they play their OA junior year- displacing tier II and III depth from the NCAA is going to raise the quality of play.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How long does this hold true? A couple years of high quality CHL grads- whether or not they play their OA junior year- displacing tier II and III depth from the NCAA is going to raise the quality of play.

How long does it hold true that NTDP players are going to want to play NCAA before age 20?

Well, I’d assume until the landscape is drastically more changed than the current rumored changes.

Players will generally want to play at the highest level possible. Whether that’s feasible for all of them is a different set of considerations, but of course the .1% of teenage athletes believe in their capabilities and think they can always accomplish more than they probably realistically can.

And I don’t see NTDP players being the ones that are pushed out by CHL players joining the NCAA. For the most part, NTDP players are the elite of the elite that college hockey usually pulls in.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

How long does it hold true that NTDP players are going to want to play NCAA before age 20?

Well, I’d assume until the landscape is drastically more changed than the current rumored changes.

Players will generally want to play at the highest level possible. Whether that’s feasible is a different set of considerations.

And I don’t see NTDP players being the ones that are pushed out by CHL players joining the NCAA. For the most part, NTDP players are the elite of the elite that college hockey usually pulls in.

Yep, the guys that will be pushed out are Tier 2 or 3 talents from places like Howell Michigan, Stillwater Minnesota, Arlington Massachusetts, Hicksville New York, etc who were low level USHL players and/or top end NAHL players.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Players will generally want to play at the highest level possible.

Speaking in the most generalized terms, sure. But I think people also shouldn't view players that are 16 through the lens of professional hockey players trying to play in the NHL. There are a lot more factors involved pertaining to family, culture and education. It's not like all the best 12 year olds move to play in the GTHL for instance, even though it's the "best".

 

[4thline]

How long does it hold true that NTDP players are going to want to play NCAA before age 20?

How long does it hold true that any NTDP player that could still benefit from a CHL season / isn't a NCAA shoe-in at U20 "basically sucks"

This change stands to make the NCAA stronger for sure, and early indications are that the CHL will become stronger as well.

Yep, the guys that will be pushed out are Tier 2 or 3 talents from places like Howell Michigan, Stillwater Minnesota, Arlington Massachusetts, Hicksville New York, etc who were low level USHL players and/or top end NAHL players.

First order impact vs. 2nd order.

1. CHL guys push those ones out, NCAA gets better via new talent pool.
2. 4 year tier IIA NCAA commits shift to CHL, develop more through better competition, NCAA gets better via existing talent pool arriving better developed
3. Players from 2 raise quality of play in CHL and lower it in leagues they're departing
4. Do the players that were formally 2 year juniors develop well enough in their now weakened leagues to jump to the now stronger NCAA at 18 and 19? Or does their decision making change

There is a clear path where the quality threshold between the 2 year and 4 year junior NCAA committed player rises, and the number of U19 and U20 freshmen lowers.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How long does it hold true that any NTDP player that could still benefit from a CHL season / isn't a NCAA shoe-in at U20 "basically sucks"

It’s not just CHL. The ones that need to spend more than a year of junior after being drafted before going to the NCAA, most of which end up currently being those who currently will play USHL, are the types of players at don’t get drafted or are very inconsequential draft selections over time. Go check the list and amount of NHL’ers who didn’t play NCAA until their third season after being drafted. Very few and usually the types of players that had to fight their way into low level NHL’ers.

So sure, maybe they are a market inefficiency that CHL can scoop up. They may end up helping CHL teams, if they can scoop them up. Junior hockey has plenty of good players for its level who don’t end up pro hockey players. Was merely saying in general that those types of players are those that pretty much no one outside of the truest of diehards will have heard of.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How long does it hold true that any NTDP player that could still benefit from a CHL season / isn't a NCAA shoe-in at U20 "basically sucks"

This change stands to make the NCAA stronger for sure, and early indications are that the CHL will become stronger as well.


First order impact vs. 2nd order.

1. CHL guys push those ones out, NCAA gets better via new talent pool.
2. 4 year tier IIA NCAA commits shift to CHL, develop more through better competition, NCAA gets better via existing talent pool arriving better developed
3. Players from 2 raise quality of play in CHL and lower it in leagues they're departing
4. Do the players that were formally 2 year juniors develop well enough in their now weakened leagues to jump to the now stronger NCAA at 18 and 19? Or does their decision making change

There is a clear path where the quality threshold between the 2 year and 4 year junior NCAA committed player rises, and the number of U19 and U20 freshmen lowers.

Okay and this is maybe something that might happen, but I think you are being presumptive about a few things I don’t see as a given.

Also, I don’t think even if there’s an impact that it makes a big difference on the average players progression. The reality is that the majority just either have the hockey talent at like 16 or 17 to be on a path to playing NCAA at 17-19 or they don’t. Usually is pretty cut and dry.

 

[4thline]

It’s not just CHL. The ones that need to spend more than a year of junior after being drafted before going to the NCAA, most of which end up currently being those who currently will play USHL, are the types of players at don’t get drafted or are very inconsequential draft selections over time. Go check the list and amount of NHL’ers who didn’t play NCAA until their third season after being drafted. Very few and usually the types of players that had to fight their way into low level NHL’ers.

None of the past includes an NCAA bolstered by CHL graduates, and previous NCAA feeder leagues weakened by CHL experience being allowed.

 

[Corso]

Some informative discussions with Bob Turow on Dan K







Bob feels that the NCAA needs to get younger, but I just don't see that happening.

 

[Bubbles]

Connor Levis (2004, Vancouver Giants, Winnipeg Jets 7th rounder) to Bowling Green.

Now this is an interesting one. The Jets probably told Levis that he will not receive an elc, so Levis commits to NCAA. He's played OK so far, but probably not well enough to be signed. He will do very well in college though I'm sure. I wouldn't be surprised a few years down the road, you'll see his name in those college free agent lists.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Now this is an interesting one. The Jets probably told Levis that he will not receive an elc, so Levis commits to NCAA. He's played OK so far, but probably not well enough to be signed. He will do very well in college though I'm sure. I wouldn't be surprised a few years down the road, you'll see his name in those college free agent lists.

Cases like these should result in massive CBA changes in terms of how long teams hold CHLers' rights for. Not all will go to the NCAA, some will sign right away (which could result in massive CHL-NHL Agreement changes in regards to AHL eligibility), but most will probably go to the NCAA so teams will ask for a longer rights holding period for them.

Ripple effects across every league will be insane. The NCAA opening up to CHLers will result in altered Clark Cup, Memorial Cup, NCAA Tournament, Calder Cup, & Stanley Cup champions due to these ripple effects from player movement & better/worse development paths.

 

[Bonin21]

Cases like these should result in massive CBA changes in terms of how long teams hold CHLers' rights for. Not all will go to the NCAA, some will sign right away (which could result in massive CHL-NHL Agreement changes in regards to AHL eligibility), but most will probably go to the NCAA so teams will ask for a longer rights holding period for them.

Ripple effects across every league will be insane. The NCAA opening up to CHLers will result in altered Clark Cup, Memorial Cup, NCAA Tournament, Calder Cup, & Stanley Cup champions due to these ripple effects from player movement & better/worse development paths.

I mean...

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I mean...

It will affect the development path/curve of top end prospects (mostly Canadians) that will affect how they play at the pro level, including the NHL

 

[rsteen]

Okay and this is maybe something that might happen, but I think you are being presumptive about a few things I don’t see as a given.

Also, I don’t think even if there’s an impact that it makes a big difference on the average players progression. The reality is that the majority just either have the hockey talent at like 16 or 17 to be on a path to playing NCAA at 17-19 or they don’t. Usually is pretty cut and dry.

I'd assume most of the USNTDP selections would assume or hope at 16 that they fall into that group (as would USA Hockey). If you are planning to be playing NCAA at 18, then the program of junior competition at 16 and a mix of junior and NCAA competition at 17 is still going to be the most attractive path. Maybe some players at the margins chose the CHL instead if they're already thinking at that point they'll need more time in junior.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Now this is an interesting one. The Jets probably told Levis that he will not receive an elc, so Levis commits to NCAA. He's played OK so far, but probably not well enough to be signed. He will do very well in college though I'm sure. I wouldn't be surprised a few years down the road, you'll see his name in those college free agent lists.

I think some people just don't really understand that the CHL is very watered down at the moment. They look at the list of players that come out which is really impressive when presented as an all star list, or maybe even watch the Memorial Cup and see entire league's worth of teams trade players over to the best team in the league for draft picks/17 year olds. But there's 60 teams across three CHL leagues. The vast majority of players just aren't that good and aren't borderline NHLers just because they play in the same league as McDavid, little more than anyone is almost an NHL player because they played on the same Atom team as Crosby.

Every year, a number of very high end CHL players, championship winning 1st line players with great stats, high character, team captain types sign AHL Contracts and try to cling to their life to an AHL lineup spot and avoid getting sent down to the ECHL, which is hard as draft picks are universally prioritized and then you have the veteran players that were typically fringe NHL players themselves (and often do have some varying degrees of NHL experience).

Right now, we're getting overage players with more limited NHL prospects that are going to low level NCAA programs that will very rarely send any players to the NHL. That's kind of how it's always been, just the players are a bit better, but still not the 13 NHL Draft Pick type of scenarios you see with the big teams. This is working the margins right now. We'll really have to wait until the offseason to see if we get any big paradigm shift, like if Michigan is able to poach McKenna or Martone to leaving their CHL teams early. That's the far more interesting scenario at the moment to keep an eye on.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I think some people just don't really understand that the CHL is very watered down at the moment. They look at the list of players that come out which is really impressive when presented as an all star list, or maybe even watch the Memorial Cup and see entire league's worth of teams trade players over to the best team in the league for draft picks/17 year olds. But there's 60 teams across three CHL leagues. The vast majority of players just aren't that good and aren't borderline NHLers just because they play in the same league as McDavid, little more than anyone is almost an NHL player because they played on the same Atom team as Crosby.

Every year, a number of very high end CHL players, championship winning 1st line players with great stats, high character, team captain types sign AHL Contracts and try to cling to their life to an AHL lineup spot and avoid getting sent down to the ECHL, which is hard as draft picks are universally prioritized and then you have the veteran players that were typically fringe NHL players themselves (and often do have some varying degrees of NHL experience).

Right now, we're getting overage players with more limited NHL prospects that are going to low level NCAA programs that will very rarely send any players to the NHL. That's kind of how it's always been, just the players are a bit better, but still not the 13 NHL Draft Pick type of scenarios you see with the big teams. This is working the margins right now. We'll really have to wait until the offseason to see if we get any big paradigm shift, like if Michigan is able to poach McKenna or Martone to leaving their CHL teams early. That's the far more interesting scenario at the moment to keep an eye on.

I would suspect that NCAA teams are all over some of these top 2025 and 2026 NHL Draft prospects who are currently in the CHL right now, but would expect actual commitments to come later after these guys take official visits.

 

[jtechkid]

clanko media reported that usa hockey - ushl ect in talks to put export limit of usa kids allowed to play in Canada - CHL .

 

[WarriorofTime]

clanko media reported that usa hockey - ushl ect in talks to put export limit of usa kids allowed to play in Canada - CHL .

Never heard of “export limits”. Don’t know how that even makes sense or would get enforced. How do you decide who to sign a transfer from for?

 

[Bonin21]

Clanko media aka someone no one has ever heard of making junk up

 

[jtechkid]

I think some people just don't really understand that the CHL is very watered down at the moment. They look at the list of players that come out which is really impressive when presented as an all star list, or maybe even watch the Memorial Cup and see entire league's worth of teams trade players over to the best team in the league for draft picks/17 year olds. But there's 60 teams across three CHL leagues. The vast majority of players just aren't that good and aren't borderline NHLers just because they play in the same league as McDavid, little more than anyone is almost an NHL player because they played on the same Atom team as Crosby.

Every year, a number of very high end CHL players, championship winning 1st line players with great stats, high character, team captain types sign AHL Contracts and try to cling to their life to an AHL lineup spot and avoid getting sent down to the ECHL, which is hard as draft picks are universally prioritized and then you have the veteran players that were typically fringe NHL players themselves (and often do have some varying degrees of NHL experience).

Right now, we're getting overage players with more limited NHL prospects that are going to low level NCAA programs that will very rarely send any players to the NHL. That's kind of how it's always been, just the players are a bit better, but still not the 13 NHL Draft Pick type of scenarios you see with the big teams. This is working the margins right now. We'll really have to wait until the offseason to see if we get any big paradigm shift, like if Michigan is able to poach McKenna or Martone to leaving their CHL teams early. That's the far more interesting scenario at the moment to keep an eye on.

Michigan head coach was on spittin chiclets and said its dramatic better path for high end chl player to move ncaa at 19 then stay chl and play against 16-17-18 year kids .

 

[Bonin21]

I mean ya that is obvious the competition is way better and more pro-like play.