Corso
Registered User
- Aug 13, 2018
- 577
- 569
Because most everyone agrees that the quality/depth of college hockey will improve from this change, there's a plausible reality where the NCAA becomes a rite of passage for most NHL players in a way that it isn't now. In that case, it will be normal/expected for players to move on from the CHL to college hockey once they are NCAA eligible.
If, as you're suggesting, there are CHL teams actively discouraging players from moving on to a league that the player has an interest/commitment to, that can match their resources/developmental ability, is a step-up in difficulty, and is a normal stage of NHLers development arc, then are they acting in the players' interests?
That is if the NCAA does in fact become "a rite passage for most NHL players" because as of now it is not. What the rule change has done so far, is allow mid tier programs access to a larger pool of talent that will help with parity. It has not so far, shifted NHL bound players away from the CHL to the NCAA. My main argument is that the CHL will do what they have to do to make sure they are the preferred development to the pro ranks, They are willing to make changes to the NHL-CHL agreement to in fact make sure players sign ELCs as early as possible and keep high end players away from the NCAA.
You may be right and the NCAA does in fact become the preferred route for elite players to the pros but I wouldn't bet money on that just yet.
From reading the tea leaves, my bet would be that the NCAA becomes the primary route for those drafted in the latter rounds but need the extra development time before entering the pro ranks while most of the first rounders and a good number of second rounders bypass the NCAA all together.