CHL Can Now Play NCAA - Changes Everything

[2Mototik2]

That's 2/3 amongst a player pool that had essentially already decided they were going to forego NCAA back in the day whenever they originally signed. It's crazy to think what it'll look like in a few years with players that never were forced to making that decision. Probably like 80-90 %.

Again, that poll was just "considering" and not "are going to do it" and did include non-CHL players, but yeah it is a high number. It'll be up to the CHL to retain players for longer and there will always be players who skip the NCAA for pros (or just not want to go that route), but I think it's more of a pathway now as opposed to an either or kind of thing, especially for the non-future pros.

Most NHL teams/scouts will steer CHLers in the direction of the NCAA. A guy like Brooks Rogowski could use time at Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, etc instead of going straight from Oshawa to the A.

I think that will also have to remain to be seen and I don't think you can say "most" right now. I tend to lean towards that NHL teams won't really care/will defer to the player's wishes to an extent and whatever situation may be better for the player. It may be the NCAA for some and it may be the CHL for others.

Some teams may also want to get a player on that ELC right away so they can be closer to the organization and others may view the CHL as the pipeline that has worked best for their team in the past. Or, in the super specific case of a Hitmen or Oil King being drafted by the Flames or Oilers respectively, keeping them in the organization.

 

[MTU34]

Kind of surprised he took this long to commit somewhere. Maybe he was waiting to see if Minnesota would offer him anything.

His rights expired on June 1st so he may not have opened his recruiting much until then. I know our staff had conversations with the Wild brass as a part of this process though

 

[WarriorofTime]

Finn Spehar is obviously the big Minnesota 09 WHL grab. Outside of him though... looks like most players haven't signed at least of today. I'm sure a lot of kids are still out there weighing the options for where to play next season. I guess you could count Brooks DeMars who played in New York last year(?) Not sure how he ended up there. Did his buddy Sampair sign in the WHL?

As expected, most of the American -> CHL movement is coming in the OHL region, which it always has.

 

[Kingpin794]

Finn Spehar is obviously the big Minnesota 09 WHL grab. Outside of him though... looks like most players haven't signed at least of today. I'm sure a lot of kids are still out there weighing the options for where to play next season. I guess you could count Brooks DeMars who played in New York last year(?) Not sure how he ended up there. Did his buddy Sampair sign in the WHL?

As expected, most of the American -> CHL movement is coming in the OHL region, which it always has.

Its not just the OHL. The WHL is getting plenty of movement and the Q is getting WAY more Americans than they normally would.

 

[WarriorofTime]

the Q is getting WAY more Americans than they normally would.

Yeah I mean compared to 0 anything is huge. No doubt there will be substantial American -> CHL growth. Be interested to see to what extent, and what interest CHL has in expanding into American markets which would help it out even more I suspect. A Minnesota based WHL team would be interesting, the travel from MN to the more populous WHL regions just kinda sucks.

 

[bigdog16]

Yes, and many high end ones to boot (and many from states like Minnesota, a state where some thought few players would go to the WHL from).....


Made solid strides this year, a good pickup for the Wolverines.

The passive aggressive comments from you are great.

Literally every poster here knew when the CHL-NCAA rules changed that more Minnesotans would head north. Nobody was questioning that. There were no posters here that said what you are insinuating, and if so, please quote them.

Your claims to always act like you are "in the know" are so lame.

 

[Kingpin794]

Yeah I mean compared to 0 anything is huge. No doubt there will be substantial American -> CHL growth. Be interested to see to what extent, and what interest CHL has in expanding into American markets which would help it out even more I suspect. A Minnesota based WHL team would be interesting, the travel from MN to the more populous WHL regions just kinda sucks.

They’d have to get a team back in Winnipeg, a team in ND and have a couple in MN to make a viable division Brandon. Otherwise can’t see having a team in MN.

The Q is going to try and get USA hockey’s blessing and move into NH and Maine.

 

[WarriorofTime]

They’d have to get a team back in Winnipeg, a team in ND and have a couple in MN to make a viable division Brandon. Otherwise can’t see having a team in MN.

The Q is going to try and get USA hockey’s blessing and move into NH and Maine.

Yeah exactly, a MN team can't just go alone. A bit over half of Minnesota's population lives in the Greater Twin Cities, which is near the Wisconsin border. Even to the nearest "close" big city, Winnipeg, that's an 8+ hour bus ride.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The passive aggressive comments from you are great.

Literally every poster here knew when the CHL-NCAA rules changed that more Minnesotans would head north. Nobody was questioning that. There were no posters here that said what you are insinuating, and if so, please quote them.

Your claims to always act like you are "in the know" are so lame.

Think he's referring to me, I think here's to date what I've said on WHL-Minnesota topic


November 21, 2024

Minnesota players have historically never gone to the CHL, I think there's a grand total of one Minnesota kid in the WHL right now. I think more Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania kids in the OHL makes sense. But Massachusetts kids brushing up on their French? Minnesota kids riding the bus in Kamloops? That's a bit less likely right now.

January 31, 2025

Tough to say with WHL, unless you are from like Washington state itself, the travel and distance from home is tough. The biggest potential draw for WHL American region is by far Minnesota, which to date, the WHL has never made much in-roads in. Minnesota path (NTDP excluced) has always kinda generally been MN HS -> USHL -> College. Maybe they replace USHL with WHL for whatever kids the WHL would wait around for, but would they outright abandon MN HS or abandon college because they made friends or whatever? Harder sell.

Colorado, California, Texas, kids... certainly more possible. Outside of Minnesota, really aren't many traditional hockey hotbeds in WHL-America region, although some of those places have come a long way.

May 30, 2025

Nobody is denying you probably see a greater number of Americans in CHL but people also forget ten years ago you had a bunch of Americans in CHL and even now still have a decent chunk. It’ll likely just look more similar to ten years ago. When you have like 250 Minnesota kids playing ncaa hockey, indeed will see how many previously will have played WHL. Posting any time one signs and saying “see look I was right, all these kids just want to be whl players” is certainly a lot of premature gloating about an uncertain future.

 

[MTU34]

 

[CBJx614]

Makes sense, further more...



If kids can play in the AHL sooner it's gonna reshape the development path entirely for some of these kids.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yeah basically what we all predicted as far as standardized 4 years. Just makes the most sense.

 

[bigdog16]

Think he's referring to me, I think here's to date what I've said on WHL-Minnesota topic


November 21, 2024


January 31, 2025


May 30, 2025

Your 2 first posts were before the NCAA-CHL ruling. Secondly, there hasn’t been 1 top end 09 to defect yet, despite Corso claiming it was going to happen (or “rumors” as he keeps alluding to). NTDP got every player they wanted, zero defects. None of the USHL tenders have jumped ship like everyone was claiming. The Americans who are heading north are average USHL players lol. All the chest pumping is crazy.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yeah if I have any major egg on my face I'll own it and stand behind whatever I've said which I think is pretty standard stuff, I don't pretend to have all the answers or that I'm hanging around Minnesota High School Freshmen to know how many are super jazzed about moving to Swift Current, SK or Victoria, BC. Nobody makes a post about the various ones who don't go, etc.

 

[Corso]

the passive aggressive comments from you are great.

Literally every poster here knew when the CHL-NCAA rules changed that more Minnesotans would head north. Nobody was questioning that. There were no posters here that said what you are insinuating, and if so, please quote them.

Your claims to always act like you are "in the know" are so lame.

Yeah Ok, I get it, you were embarrassed in the Scantlebury thread because you tried to pass yourself off as more knowledgeable than a couple or reputable scouting services and even went so far as to disparage one of them, cementing your ignorance for all to see.

As for posters who didn't think that all that many Minny kids would flock to the dub, they know who they are.....shit I was one of them! We all had questions in the beginning. As for me being an insider, neve claimed to be one just that I do know some who are connected to the game and from time to time they feed me scraps of good info.

 

[bigdog16]

Yeah Ok, I get it, you were embarrassed in the Scantlebury thread because you tried to pass yourself off as more knowledgeable than a couple or reputable scouting services and even went so far as to disparage one of them, cementing your ignorance for all to see.

As for posters who didn't think that all that many Minny kids would flock to the dub, they know who they are.....shit I was one of them! We all had questions in the beginning. As for me being an insider, neve claimed to be one just that I do know some who are connected to the game and from time to time they feed me scraps of good info.

Yeah Ok, I get it, you were embarrassed in the Scantlebury thread because you tried to pass yourself off as more knowledgeable than a couple or reputable scouting services and even went so far as to disparage one of them, cementing your ignorance for all to see.

As for posters who didn't think that all that many Minny kids would flock to the dub, they know who they are.....shit I was one of them! We all had questions in the beginning. As for me being an insider, neve claimed to be one just that I do know some who are connected to the game and from time to time they feed me scraps of good info.

Neutral Zone isnt a reputable scouting service, just so you are aware. There is a good chance you might just be one of the many hacks they employ by the way you talk abojt how great they are. But its largely a bunch of individuals who topped out at ACHA and the fed. Theres like 2 guys in their company with pro experience. Theres more hockey experience that post on these boards than neutral zone lol

 

[Corso]

Neutral Zone isnt a reputable scouting service, just so you are aware. There is a good chance you might just be one of the many hacks they employ by the way you talk abojt how great they are. But its largely a bunch of individuals who topped out at ACHA and the fed. Theres like 2 guys in their company with pro experience. Theres more hockey experience that post on these boards than neutral zone lol

Suuure like who....you lol....you obviously know absolutely jack shit....go educate yourself about Rinknet....who uses them and who they are affiliated with (hint...NZ). Maybe go ask your "family" members who work in that low level D1 program you alluded to and they will tell you to stop further embarrassing yourself because there are posters here who are indeed connected and in the know and you certainly give them a very good laugh!

 

[Corso]

Makes sense, further more...



If kids can play in the AHL sooner it's gonna reshape the development path entirely for some of these kids.

Apparently the CHL-AHL change will happen for this upcoming season and yes it will change things.

Still talk of changing the length of the draft (less rounds) and even having a one or two round draft for 18 year old players and four for 19 or 20 year old players

 

[bigdog16]

Suuure like who....you lol....you obviously know absolutely jack shit....go educate yourself about Rinknet....who uses them and who they are affiliated with (hint...NZ). Maybe go ask your "family" members who work in that low level D1 program you alluded to and they will tell you to stop further embarrassing yourself because there are posters here who are indeed connected and in the know and you certainly give them a very good laugh!

Rinknet isnt a bunch of hacks giving their opinions on players. Don’t drag them into this. Awfully defensive for someone who allegedly doesn’t work at Neutral Zone.

There are posters here who are indeed connected, and you aren’t one of them despite what you try and portray. You read shit on Twitter and pass it off as your own. I wont get into a dick swinging competition about who has more connections, but going thru all of your posts its pretty clear you have zilch. Cheers

 

[Corso]

Rinknet isnt a bunch of hacks giving their opinions on players. Don’t drag them into this. Awfully defensive for someone who allegedly doesn’t work at Neutral Zone.

There are posters here who are indeed connected, and you aren’t one of them despite what you try and portray. You read shit on Twitter and pass it off as your own. I wont get into a dick swinging competition about who has more connections, but going thru all of your posts its pretty clear you have zilch. Cheers

Best a yappy dog like yourself can say I suppose....as for Rinknet, they are used by everyone and I mean everyone in the game. You obviously know little ( evident by your silly posts) and have never scouted a day in your life nor probably know anyone who has.

As for myself, nope I don't work for NZ nor am I a scout, nor pretend to be one (like you who desperately tries to pass himself off as one) but believe me, you have lost all and any credibility (if you ever had any) by the comments you previously made about them.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Best a yappy dog like yourself can say I suppose....as for Rinknet, they are used by everyone and I mean everyone in the game. You obviously know little ( evident by your silly posts) and have never scouted a day in your life nor probably know anyone who has.

As for myself, nope I don't work for NZ nor am I a scout, nor pretend to be one (like you who desperately tries to pass himself off as one) but believe me, you have lost all and any credibility (if you ever had any) by the comments you previously made about them.

It's too bad Rinknet's UI feels like it was built for windows 95. Rich player database and some of the integrations are pretty useful. It's true they have a NZ scouting integration with an AI summary layer, but honestly most hockey ops people just use their own reports.

 

[bigdog16]

Best a yappy dog like yourself can say I suppose....as for Rinknet, they are used by everyone and I mean everyone in the game. You obviously know little ( evident by your silly posts) and have never scouted a day in your life nor probably know anyone who has.

As for myself, nope I don't work for NZ nor am I a scout, nor pretend to be one (like you who desperately tries to pass himself off as one) but believe me, you have lost all and any credibility (if you ever had any) by the comments you previously made about them.

Rinknet and Neutral Zone are entirely different things. I understand everyone uses Rinknet. We used it when i played ncaa. I can promise you we didn’t use Neutral Zone or their rankings to scout anybody. I can firmly promise you that.

Your second paragraph literally describes you to a T. You act like something your not. Also Im not sure there is anything I care less about than my “credibility” on an online message board.

 

[Corso]

It's too bad Rinknet's UI feels like it was built for windows 95. Rich player database and some of the integrations are pretty useful. It's true they have a NZ scouting integration with an AI summary layer, but honestly most hockey ops people just use their own reports.

True, but the NZ reports are used by more than just a few to supplement their own reports. It's too bad an idiot is trying to drag them through the mud on this site as they are a very good scouting service and are used by a lot of USHL/NAHL GMs and coaches and even college coaches as a reference or supplement.

 

[Kingpin794]

Well this is a bit different. This time its a coach going from the USHL to the WHL.