could not disagree more
AHL vet rule is valuable as long as league's primary purpose is development of emerging players to NHL
No strong reason for AHL to fill up their rosters with more marginal AAAA veterans beyond the handful every AHL team is allowed
IF, at some point, player prefers the money and alternative of playing in Europe,
then he'll follow the dozens every year who extend their playing careers in those leagues
I’m not so sure you’re even disagreeing with me. Your point is just, you’re good with it, as long as it keeps the AHL “the” feeder league, correct??
My major point being, AHL vets, or fringe NHL players, are getting screwed over in North America. It’s hard to argue that point. It’s happening more and more every year, with how many Americans we now have playing pro hockey.
Remember, there’s only so many spots for North Americans in European Leagues as well. While we have nothing protecting North American players in our professional leagues, like Europe does.
You’re just in favor of the rules, that keep it “the” feeder league.. I think those are two very different things.
I know the NHLPA is worried about it as well, and it will be brought up in the next CBA. Especially with so many NHL teams now owning their AHL team.
Call me partial because of my own situation in the early 90s, but I remember how fun the IHL and AHL were back in the day. The days of the Long Beach Ice Dogs, Detroit Vipers, Oklahoma City, etc, etc. Very few AHL teams bring that type of excitement anymore, when you know teams aren’t exactly playing to win. Just look at the entire argument between the Chicago Wolves and Carolina.
I think there’s a happy compromise. Open it up to 2 more vets on each team, but they have to be 24-27 and have to be North Americans. That’s 64 pro hockey jobs for North Americans. That’s Grimaldi, Czarnik, Bowey, etc, getting to stay in North America, and not have to worry about a job every June. Those older guys would take the current exemptions and younger guys can have these new exemptions.
I’m looking at it 100% from a North American player’s perspective.
If we go over every AHL roster, I guarantee you we find at least 2 players, who should probably still be in Europe, or playing in the ECHL. Very rarely do you have a team like Grand Rapids this season, with so many young ELC players, who will likely be their best players as well.
I’m not sure it hurts the commitment to being “the” feeder league, at all.
Look, believe me, I get the reasoning behind it. I just think they chose the wrong exemption numbers. Doesn’t mean it’s not screwing guys like Grimaldi every year though..
I think it’s time to revisit the number at least. Especially with how many more American Pro Hockey players we have now, and how many of these vets, are the players actually selling the tickets every night.