I have several thoughts on your post.
1. I don't see this as a CHL problem as much as I see it as a Canada problem. If you use this draft as a guideline, Canada is not producing the top level talent like they used to. Canada seems to have been passed by the US, Finland and Sweden Even some of the picks in the first 3 rounds that will be credited to the CHL are actually imports.
2. The US has most of their best players playing together in Plymouth (USNDT). If you take away players from this team, the USHL and HS are far less represented than the CHL. I still maintain that the CHL is much better than the USHL (not including USNDT).
3. Some of the players on the USNDT may be overrated. If you put all of the best players on one team and add in top notch coaching, Most players will step up their game. It is much easier to score when you usually receive perfect passes, etc. The truth will be told when these players step up from this All-Star team to an ordinary team at the next level. The best players will still stand out, but some players will then begin to look very ordinary. Further proof of this is the back-to-back Mem Cup Spitfires. Most of those players were either drafted or signed a Pro deal as an FA. However, Hall, Ellis, Henrique, Kassian, Watson and Grubauer are the only ones to have achieved a substantial NHL career. One could argue that Nemisz and Wellwood (project him to make it as a coach) would have joined them if it had not been for injuries.
