Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Precisely. The only differences:
1. Junior players re-enter the draft after two years if unsigned. They then have to spend the next two years not signing with a different team, which is no big deal.
2. NCAA players generally have a place to play for the whole four years before going UFA. Junior players need to find another option when their junior eligibility expires. This is where the problem generally occurs, and why you seldom see players out of junior going straight to UFA.
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Minor correction: undrafted junior players can sign with any NHL club between the draft and the beginning of their junior season OR at any time after their third year of draft eligibility. (Glenn Gawdin signed with the Flames midway through the WHL season after he had gone unclaimed in his third draft of eligibility.)