It is a real concern with drafting players that are going the college route. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the agent/adviser for these kids... I would probably advise them the same way:
You have the luxury of being able to control your own destiny. You've worked hard for years for this chance. If you feel a loyalty to the team that drafted you and want to sign with them that's great... It's admirable and we can go down that road right now. But just keep in mind that this is a business first and foremost... loyalty in this league is a very fickle thing. If you don't believe me... Ask the greatest player of all time. Gretzky lead the oilers to 4 Stanley cups in less than a decade and was traded because this league is a business. Loyalty only goes so far. You can find countless examples like this all over the history of the league. Any NHL team will not hesitate to trade you if it meant a better return... Loyalty or not. Remember that when deciding what team you want to control your NHL rights till you're 26 years old.
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