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Originally Posted by Aarongavey
They are playing within the system though. So I would bet that the guys who refuse to sign and force a trade are fine with how the system feels. The folks who say it does not feel right are the ones who want to change the system. Teams still have the right to just not sign them, something that teams do all the time.
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Or not draft them in the first place if that’s a concern.
The fact is, 100% of the players play within the system. For the vast majority, that means they sign with the team that drafted them. For a very tiny minority, it means they don’t.
I get the notion that just being drafted is a privilege and an honour, but at the same time, it’s one that has been completely earned by the player. It’s not some gift, it’s a direct result of the work they’ve put in and the talent they posses. If Winnipeg didn’t draft Rutger, someone else would have. He doesn’t owe the Jets anything beyond what’s stated in the CBA, nor do they owe him anything beyond that.
I think the system is largely fine the way it is. An extra year to take NCAA players a year past graduation might be just what the doctor ordered here, but beyond that people are getting into territory where you have to start arguing for teams having to sign players regardless of if they want to.
If a player shouldn’t have a choice but to sign with the team that drafted them, teams shouldn’t have a choice but to sign every player they draft.