It seems silly to eliminate European players from the NCAA vs. CHL argument. The fact is, the CHL can bring over and develop European talent, while the NCAA is not a preferred path for such players. Also worth considering is the number of players who start in the NCAA but jump to the CHL when they decide that is the better path to the NHL. Patrick Kane being the poster child. But also guys like T.J. Galliardi.
There's little doubt, however, that the NCAA is a legitimate breeding ground, and much of its growth parallels that of the game south of the border. Most American kids are going to at least start in the NCAA, and the increase in talent coming from the States makes the NCAA more attractive. Unfortunately, it also leads to stupidity like the Big Ten Hockey Conference, which will pretty much destroy some long-standing rivalries when it starts up next year.
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