Quote:
Originally Posted by StrykerSteve
The UFA piece is what bothers me about this. There are so few opportunities for an NHL player to control their own destiny and that is something which is earned through years of service. Becoming a UFA is a big deal. I would just prefer to see unsigned players always re-enter the draft, so they too, can earn the right to become a UFA. Otherwise it is a disservice to the guy that's put in his seven years.
I get why it is the way it is, but I'll continue to dislike it.
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What about a guy like Jooris, who wasn't on anyone's radar during his draft-eligible years? He developed into a solid player over his three years at college and he was able to sign as a UFA with the Flames. Should he have had to go through the draft at 23?
Over the next few weeks, as NCAA teams are eliminated from the playoffs, we'll be seeing a lot of undrafted college guys signing contracts with NHL teams. None of them will be forced to sign with one specific team, yet, a teammate who just happened to be good enough to catch a scout's eye when he was 17 only has one team he can sign with once his college career is over.
Let's be honest, if this was a big enough concern for teams, they would stop drafting players who were going to go to college. That's not happening. In fact, I believe the number of College or College-bound players being drafted has been on a steady rise in recent years.
Not only is the college system a good place for players to develop their skills, but drafting a college player gives a team four years of "ownership" of the player without needing to commit to a contract, as opposed to the two years they get with junior players. For a late-round pick, it can be tough to know what you have in a 20 year-old, where it's much easier to know where you stand with a 22 year-old.