Quote:
Originally Posted by GFG#1
He may want to make his mark sooner rather then later, start getting NHL stats etc. I believe they still have to sign an entry level deal after 4 years, but I think its only for 1 or 2 years?(again not certain) so that may play a role in the decision.
Obviously top athletes in College are football and basketball, again not arguing that.
https://www.si.com/college-basketbal...-via-nil-deals
Olivia Dunne is on this list at 4.1 million gymnastics and she wasn't even the best gymnast, she was an alternate for a lot of her time at LSU. (I also get her gymnastic skills are also not the reason for the majority of her followers)
But looking at the list it really doesn't look like it would be that hard for someone like McKenna to make 1 mil plus at a school with a good hockey program and a following. I don't think he would be giving up much money.
looking at getting 4 years of stats, think about if Bedard had gone this route and then after his 4 years are up picked Toronto, Florida, Edmonton. Nuggent Hopkins had 100 point season in Edmonton, I would think Bedard could top that, so it wouldn't take too many seasons to probably jump ahead in the stat line over 4 years of 60-80 point seasons.
NIL is just getting started, I am not saying it is 100% going to be an issue with McKenna just that in the future it could be, and who knows. The money was a big factor when they couldn't make money in the NCAA but they can now, and IMO it may become a problem in the future. |
College athletes don't get paid. They are allowed to make money off their image. No one is paying college hockey players big money for endorsements.
I think I posted it in another thread, about how ridiculous it was that Karprizov, after winning the Calder, was doing an ad for Supercuts, and that add had to state who he was.
College Basketball/Football are huge sports. Many times bigger than the NHL. Particularly in a few states.
Many college gymnasts are in the olympics, before they go to college. Also, Livvy Dunne is very good looking and has a huge social media following. According to her wiki page, she has over 8 million followers on social media.
Bedard is also already earning $4,450,000/year. It's way too much money to leave on the table. Plus, the other option of just being a prima donna and forcing a trade is so much better.