[Signing] Antoine Laganiere to Anahiem

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by blankall

This is really changing quickly though. More and more players are going to the NCAA, and the NCAA is becomming a much better development league.

It's also not so much that these prospects are amazing, it's that they're free. This is a descent prospect that is the equivalent to a 2nd/3rd round pick for nothing.

That is the key right there

[t0rrent98]

Dustin Penner's had a pretty decent career coming out of Boston College.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Redmonster

Blake Wheeler turned out pretty good

Wheeler was a former 1st round pick of the Coyotes.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

Dustin Penner's had a pretty decent career coming out of Boston College.

The Ducks seem to have good luck getting these guys. I wonder what their secret is (besides the Southern California weather)?

[868904]

Originally Posted by dino7c

so wrong, its a perfect place for young guys to sign now

I think there's a view that the Flames are not good at developing young players, fair or not. If you were a young player, you have to look at the history of development of organizations and the Flames just don't have a good record, its improving it its not there yet. Maybe if next year Sven, Horak, Reinhart, Brodie, Backlubd etc all play well in the NHL, maybe this perception will change.

The Ducks and Hawks, both have a good reputation for developing young players so its no surprise why they would land the top prospects.

Another selling point is the home arena and facilities. Iginla alluded to the great facilities in Pittsburgh compared to the dated facilities in Calgary. These things make a difference, it like any other job, you look for the place that has the best dvekipment and facilities.

[sun]

Originally Posted by getbak

The Ducks seem to have good luck getting these guys. I wonder what their secret is (besides the Southern California weather)?

Southern California women.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by blankall

This is really changing quickly though. More and more players are going to the NCAA, and the NCAA is becomming a much better development league.

It's also not so much that these prospects are amazing, it's that they're free. This is a descent prospect that is the equivalent to a 2nd/3rd round pick for nothing.

Obviously haven't done the math but I just don't see why they should be looked at any different then undrafted overage juniors.

Sure these college guys all had very good seasons, but as in most cases they're seniors, they're older then a lot of their competition either.

While I certainly don't have a problem with looking here for players (just like anywhere else), I just don't see enough of them (undrafted ones, that is) to make ti worth the hype every year.

For every Tyler Bozak there;s a handful of Matt Gilroys or Evan Obergs.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by blankall

This is really changing quickly though. More and more players are going to the NCAA, and the NCAA is becomming a much better development league.

Actually it's been quite the opposite. The NCAA has lost a lot of top end talent in recent years in part because teams are steering their prospects towards the CHL and perhaps due to bribes. If the competition in the NCAA hasn't gotten worse it's because the USA has been getting better at developing hockey talent.

Originally Posted by Ped

Obviously haven't done the math but I just don't see why they should be looked at any different then undrafted overage juniors.

They aren't. It's just that NHL scouts get to see CHL players play more and so teams more frequently use later round picks on overage juniors or extend camp invites (Eg. Andrew Shaw of the Blackhawks).

Originally Posted by Ped

For every Tyler Bozak there;s a handful of Matt Gilroys or Evan Obergs.

Like Blankall said, the key is that these guys are free prospects who are equivalent to a free mid to second round picks. Matt Gilroy is actually a serviceable defenseman. Even Oberg was good enough to be packaged in a trade. Even getting a Aaron Volpatti type player out of it isn't a bad thing.

I really don't know why we haven't heard the Flames being in the mix for these players.

[Redmonster]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Wheeler was a former 1st round pick of the Coyotes.

I realize. He also opted to not sign with the coyotes and was a UFA out of college. I thought we were talking highly coveted college free agents, not specifically undrafted. Oh well.

[PeteMoss]

Its ridiculous that teams don't look at CHL overagers and CIS players at the same level as they look at these NCAA guys. The NCAA is a bit better overall than the CIS but the ratio of guys signed each year shouldn't be 20 NCAA to 0 CIS.

[EldrickOnIce]

CIS guys are often even older, having played out junior before going to college. And outside a couple programs, it's still quite a step below NCAA.
These guys could have been signed as free agents at any time after junior.
Cutting NHL draft to 7 rounds makes for lots more free agent guys like this, wherever they might come from.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by getbak

The Ducks seem to have good luck getting these guys. I wonder what their secret is (besides the Southern California weather)?

That's their secret right there. Notice how many college fee agents signed in Toronto when he was there? Just another reason why he would make a far better manager then what we have in Calgary.

[Enoch Root]

He signed a few in T.O. as well.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by FAN

Like Blankall said, the key is that these guys are free prospects who are equivalent to a free mid to second round picks. Matt Gilroy is actually a serviceable defenseman. Even Oberg was good enough to be packaged in a trade. Even getting a Aaron Volpatti type player out of it isn't a bad thing.

I really don't know why we haven't heard the Flames being in the mix for these players.

Gilroy is a 6-7 guy and he was hyped like crazy the summer he was signed by New York.

But as I said, it's not that these players don't have their uses; I just don't see the point of getting excited about them every year.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

That's their secret right there. Notice how many college fee agents signed in Toronto when he was there? Just another reason why he would make a far better manager then what we have in Calgary.

He wasn't the GM in Anaheim yet when Glencross or Penner were signed, and he's not the GM there now.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

CIS guys are often even older, having played out junior before going to college. And outside a couple programs, it's still quite a step below NCAA.
These guys could have been signed as free agents at any time after junior.
Cutting NHL draft to 7 rounds makes for lots more free agent guys like this, wherever they might come from.

Yes... most of the players go directly from the CHL to the CIS and I doubt many of them are going to turn down offers to leave school. And yes you would focus on the schools out East and Alberta/Sask/Manitoba from the West.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Its ridiculous that teams don't look at CHL overagers and CIS players at the same level as they look at these NCAA guys. The NCAA is a bit better overall than the CIS but the ratio of guys signed each year shouldn't be 20 NCAA to 0 CIS.

I think you're not looking at it the right way. CHL overagers are highly regarded and increasingly so (Colorado drafted Mitchell Heard just before we drafted Sieloff). It's just that CHL players can sign at any time so there isn't this anticipation and opening of the flood gates where NHL teams wait a year, two, or even three years for a NCAA player to turn pro and sign a ELC. For CHL players, there's no need or point in waiting until their CHL careers are over before signing an ELC. It's like how July 1st is the date where most free agent signings occur.


As for players who leave the CHL without NHL contracts, you'll see them attend tryout camps, play in Europe, ECHL, or AHL and try to earn an NHL contract that way before going the CIS route. CIS is simply not seen as an attractive route to take to realize the dream of an NHL career. Until that changes, I don't think it's ridiculous that teams don't look at CIS players the same way. And it's not like every team in NCAA Div I is looked at the same way. There are NCAA programs who aren't seen as good programs and they rarely end up producing players who receive NHL contracts.

Originally Posted by Ped

Gilroy is a 6-7 guy and he was hyped

like crazy the summer he was signed by New York.

But as I said, it's not that these players don't have their uses; I just don't see the point of getting excited about them every year.

Chalk it up to human nature I guess. People like a good deal. As for hype, ya Gilroy was hyped like crazy and initially he looked good but his offense never translated. Conversely, Bozak was hyped like crazy and at first he didn't look so good and looked like the type to be top 6 or bust. It is what it is. Fans and media get excited over prospects. I'm sure when Gaudreau comes over some would peg him for a Calder while others predict that he will spend most of the year in the AHL. You might not get the excitement and that's fine, but I get the excitement. Most of these college free agents have developed to the point where they are considered NHL ready, they are among the college elite at what they do, and they don't cost the team anything except for a contract (usually a 1-2 year two-way contract). For what it's worth, DeKeyser is logging decent minutes with Detroit right now.


In terms of Laganiere, he's attended three prospect camps already so it's not like he's some unknown that just received NHL interest this year. Anyhow, Feaster and Weisbrod have obviously been scouting the NCAA, so why not get into the action instead of trying to acquire players through trade or sign Europeans.