You’re right. Completely incomparable on account of being completely different sports. Then you have basketball where a handful of the top talent each year probably didn’t need to go to college at all and could have jumped from high school to the NBA, so what’s the point of comparing?
- Victoro311

Yeah. For 1 footballs just (frank)ing easy, 2 basketball is a female sport. No comparison.

Since I’ve been working this scouting job the last 3 years it’s really made me think draft age should be pushed back at least 1 year and maybe 2. You could still do a “generational talent” type like the chl does for the couple players a year that need it.
- pens4life-66

Yeah I agree. By the time a pick makes a debut a can’t remember when they were even drafted.

Competent D and forward support also goes along ways.
- 10inchTerror

Pens were heavily outplayed and out chanced yesterday, though....

Since I’ve been working this scouting job the last 3 years it’s really made me think draft age should be pushed back at least 1 year and maybe 2. You could still do a “generational talent” type like the chl does for the couple players a year that need it.
- pens4life-66

I don't know how the CHL works, but I've wondered for a long time why the NHL doesn't do something like you're eligible at 18 but if you're not drafted in the top X (some number) of picks, then you go back into the pool for the next year. Could do the same thing for 19, etc, not sure what age makes sense to really open things up, presumably around 20 or 21.

I don't know how the CHL works, but I've wondered for a long time why the NHL doesn't do something like you're eligible at 18 but if you're not drafted in the top X (some number) of picks, then you go back into the pool for the next year. Could do the same thing for 19, etc, not sure what age makes sense to really open things up, presumably around 20 or 21.
- MickV

18 only eligible in the top 5-10, 19 only eligible in 1st round, 20 only eligible in first 2 rounds, 21 and above fully eligible. Seems like a relatively simple solution.

Pens were heavily outplayed and out chanced yesterday, though....
- MattStrat

I didn’t watch yesterday’s game they’re all at like 2am here in Africa. It was more of a general comment relating to goalie stats and team D

I think the draft works fine as is. What I'd really like to see is a "Super League". A very limited league for the best Jr aged players. Set up 8 teams in North America and 4 in Europe and put the teams in major cities, not secondary cities like the CHL & AHL.

This international setup will gain exposure for players across the world and having the very best young players all playing each other will help accelerate their development into the NHL. Someone just needs to make it happen.

I think the draft works fine as is. What I'd really like to see is a "Super League". A very limited league for the best Jr aged players. Set up 8 teams in North America and 4 in Europe and put the teams in major cities, not secondary cities like the CHL & AHL.

This international setup will gain exposure for players across the world and having the very best young players all playing each other will help accelerate their development into the NHL. Someone just needs to make it happen.
- MacPatty

12 teams is going to be hard to fill up with “just the best”. Biz was once considered one of the best defense prospects Canada had to offer.

I think the draft works fine as is. What I'd really like to see is a "Super League". A very limited league for the best Jr aged players. Set up 8 teams in North America and 4 in Europe and put the teams in major cities, not secondary cities like the CHL & AHL.

This international setup will gain exposure for players across the world and having the very best young players all playing each other will help accelerate their development into the NHL. Someone just needs to make it happen.
- MacPatty

I don’t see that working at all. The rest of the world isn’t hyper obsessed with youth hockey like Canada is. If you put a youth league team to compete with actual NHL teams in cities like New York and Boston, etc… there is no shot they’d stay above water. What would actually accelerate the development of the elite youth prospects is allowing them to jump into the AHL rather than be tied down by the CHL that no one cares about outside of Canada.

IMO, juniors delays the development for those top 10-20 picks.

Rather than basing it on age, why not base it on years played in Juniors? Either you’re 20, OR you’ve played 2 years of CHL then you’re eligible to move to the AHL if the team offers you a contract. Those 19 year olds who rack up 100+ points per season against 16/17 year olds does not help at all and feels like a wasted year

IMO, juniors delays the development for those top 10-20 picks.

Rather than basing it on age, why not base it on years played in Juniors? Either you’re 20, OR you’ve played 2 years of CHL then you’re eligible to move to the AHL if the team offers you a contract. Those 19 year olds who rack up 100+ points per season against 16/17 year olds does not help at all and feels like a wasted year
- drummer829

Because that would effect the junior leagues bank accounts. The CHL transfer agreement is garbage but yeah it definitely does -- but that won't change with the transfer agreement in place.

I don’t see that working at all. The rest of the world isn’t hyper obsessed with youth hockey like Canada is. If you put a youth league team to compete with actual NHL teams in cities like New York and Boston, etc… there is no shot they’d stay above water. What would actually accelerate the development of the elite youth prospects is allowing them to jump into the AHL rather than be tied down by the CHL that no one cares about outside of Canada.
- Victoro311

To your AHL comment, yes and no. Yes, it would be better having them play closer to an NHL level, but a lot of 17-18 year old kids that may be super skilled, but under developed physically are just going to get killed.

They don't need to sell out 80 games a year. I think in Europe, this would actually be more appealing than some of the Jr and Sr leagues they have out there. Getting the best of the best 16-20 year olds playing day in and day out would be pretty interesting.

There are 60 CHL teams, NCAA, USHL & all of the European leagues to pull from. Take the best 10% of players from all of these leagues and you would have some super competitive, exciting hockey where the best can learn to compete against the best.

For the record, this is not something I have ever thought about before, but am just shooting the poop here. I'd love to see world junior level hockey on a regular basis.

To your AHL comment, yes and no. Yes, it would be better having them play closer to an NHL level, but a lot of 17-18 year old kids that may be super skilled, but under developed physically are just going to get killed.

They don't need to sell out 80 games a year. I think in Europe, this would actually be more appealing than some of the Jr and Sr leagues they have out there. Getting the best of the best 16-20 year olds playing day in and day out would be pretty interesting.

There are 60 CHL teams, NCAA, USHL & all of the European leagues to pull from. Take the best 10% of players from all of these leagues and you would have some super competitive, exciting hockey where the best can learn to compete against the best.

For the record, this is not something I have ever thought about before, but am just shooting the poop here. I'd love to see world junior level hockey on a regular basis.
- MacPatty

The guys who can’t make the AHL are fine in the CHL. The guys that are too good for the CHL aren’t going to get that much more out of playing all star competition from their age group. Their issue isn’t needing to hone their skills more, their issue is adjusting to the physicality of those above their age group. That can only be learned by playing in the AHL or abroad.