Friedman: Flames have begun extension talks with Gaudreau & Eichel speculation

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

yet impossible

Aw shucks. #97 is available tho.

Actually 98, just to one up Mavi.

[Manhattanboy]

https://twitter.com/mikeFAIL/status/...201929651.html

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

https://twitter.com/mikeFAIL/status/...201929651.html

Good on you! That's awesome. How good if he came and we put 99 on his jersey. Deadmonton would go insane

[Knut]

Lol @ the numner of people that commented that it is not possible because #99 is retired league wide.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by getbak

With four of the top-5 picks from the draft (and 5 total first-rounders) all committed to Michigan for next season, I think it was expected that they'd all go to University for this season.

After they win the Frozen Four next year, they'll likely all sign their NHL contracts the next day.

I don't think there's any risk of any of them playing out the full four years.

With the schedule being unique this year (going to the end of April), it will be interesting to see the college players and if/when they sign. Frozen 4 is April 7-9. The Sabres play 11 games from the 10th to the end of the season. Pretty big window to play a game to burn that year.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Knut

Lol @ the numner of people that commented that it is not possible because #99 is retired league wide.

In this day and age nothing is sacred anymore

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Aw shucks. #97 is available tho.

Actually 98, just to one up Mavi.

98.9


or 999.

[dissentowner]

Wtf is taking so long with this stuff? Get it done already....

[mile]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Wtf is taking so long with this stuff? Get it done already....

Too busy celebrating Johnny's birthday last week, Tre's birthday yesterday, and Darryl's birthday today.

[Zulu29]

Edit: NVM

[stang]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Of course. Just give Eichel 97.

That would be so awesome.

Can you imagine the memes?

<pic of eichel in 97>
When you order a Connor Mcdavid off wish

[stang]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1428423786085429248

Think he was reacting to the Onlyfans news

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by blankall

Would be shocking if a #1 overall bolts as a post-NCAA UFA. Would hopefully finally lead the NHL to finally close that loophole. This is only going to be a bigger problem as hockey progresses in the USA and more players opt to take part in college athletics.

There is just no such thing as an NCAA 'loophole".

Any player drafted in NA as an 18 YO need only not sign a contract for the next 4 NHL seasons and they too become UFA's on Aug. 15 on that 4th year.

Not sure why this is so misunderstood but it has a life of its own it seems.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Knut

Lol @ the numner of people that commented that it is not possible because #99 is retired league wide.

Originally Posted by stang

Think he was reacting to the Onlyfans news

Sorry what news?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by transplant99

There is just no such thing as an NCAA 'loophole".

Any player drafted in NA as an 18 YO need only not sign a contract for the next 4 NHL seasons and they too become UFA's on Aug. 15 on that 4th year.

Not sure why this is so misunderstood but it has a life of its own it seems.

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.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Living in Ann Arbor and being a hockey superstar/ probably a hobey contender in the college circuit will be a lot of fun for another year, I have no doubt (having lived in Ann Arbor.)
But I agree with TC, no way Power would hold out longer than that because the risk becomes obscene. Buffalo therefor has no impetus to trade him.

Michigan is stacked...beyond this year's draft...none of these guys have signed an NHL contract...only Cam York who was a first round pick in 2019 signed as far as I can tell...

2021 NHL Entry Draft
Owen Power Buffalo Sabres Rd. 1 (1)
Matty Beniers Seattle Kraken Rd. 1 (2)
Luke Hughes* New Jersey Devils Rd. 1 (4)
Kent Johnson Columbus Blue Jackets Rd. 1 (5)
Mackie Samoskevich* Florida Panthers Rd. 1 (24)
Dylan Duke* Tampa Bay Lightning Rd. 4 (126)

2020 NHL Entry Draft
Brendan Brisson Vegas Golden Knights Rd. 1 (29)
Thomas Bordeleau San Jose Sharks Rd. 2 (38)
Ethan Edwards* New Jersey Devils Rd. 4 (120)
Jacob Truscott Vancouver Canucks Rd. 5 (144)

2019 NHL Entry Draft
Johnny Beecher* Boston Bruins Rd. 1 (30)
Erik Portillo* Buffalo Sabres Rd. 3 (67)
Eric Ciccolini* New York Rangers Rd. 7 (205)

I'd agree with the other posters - this is going to be a one time thing for a chance to win a national championship...

The 2021 guys never had a chance to play in front of crowds at Yost Arena, be a regular student on campus...Ann Arbor is considered one of the top college towns in the US, so I can see putting off being a professional for a year...

Edit: Monahammer would appreciate this having lived in AA https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/longfor...drafts-top-10/

besides, its Buffalo...better to develop one more year as the defensive stalwart on a potential national championship team than being in the grinder of the sabres organization...

[Freeway]

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.

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.)

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by transplant99

There is just no such thing as an NCAA 'loophole".

Any player drafted in NA as an 18 YO need only not sign a contract for the next 4 NHL seasons and they too become UFA's on Aug. 15 on that 4th year.

Not sure why this is so misunderstood but it has a life of its own it seems.

A question to consider if the difference in economic value between:

1. Completing an undergraduate degree, and becoming an alumnus of a big US college (hard to quantify, but there can be massive potential to leverage those networks)


or


2. A couple years of CHL stipends and a year or two in Europe.

We've seen dozen(s) use the NCAA path to UFA, but none that I'm aware of takin the other path...the proof is in the pudding.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

There is just no such thing as an NCAA 'loophole".

Any player drafted in NA as an 18 YO need only not sign a contract for the next 4 NHL seasons and they too become UFA's on Aug. 15 on that 4th year.

Not sure why this is so misunderstood but it has a life of its own it seems.

It is a loophole because it's a lot easier for a college player to wait that 4 years than it is for a junior player.

Why? Because he can just stay right where he is and get his degree.

For a junior player to wait the 4 years, they'd have to leave the bloody continent to still play competitive hockey and develop.

The rule might not be different, but the circumstances most certainly are.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

It is a loophole because it's a lot easier for a college player to wait that 4 years than it is for a junior player.

Why? Because he can just stay right where he is and get his degree.

For a junior player to wait the 4 years, they'd have to leave the bloody continent to still play competitive hockey and develop.

The rule might not be different, but the circumstances most certainly are.

It is not just that. It is the NCAA and their draconian policies that prevent players from signing NHL contracts before their graduation. CHL players can sign NHL contracts without this affecting their eligibility to continue playing in the CHL.