The NHL definitely needs to address this issue since it's now a problem due to good quality players being produced in the NCAA now. Teams that draft these players that have their stock rise during their NCAA days should not being getting screwed over by not being able to sign/retain rights of the player once their NCAA career is over. There should be some type of restriction on the players that they just can't become a free agent that can sign wherever they want with ease.
The franchises took the risk of drafting a player that they won't be able to sign for possibly 4 years. They should be rewarded by actually being able to sign the player exclusively for at least a year or two at the end, and/or some type of guaranteed compensation from the other team that signs the player if they're going elsewhere.
Blue chip prospects developing in the NCAA is good for the sport in the US, but the NHL needs to have drafting them protected better.
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