U underestimate his abilities...
- Fruitcakenipple

How many different Eklunds are there?

Anyone else notice how different blogs have different prose?

I don't think Ek wrote this blog... I could be wrong.

I don't think Ek wrote this blog... I could be wrong.
- jimmc7722

You usually are you little fink.

I think that for the most part, the way it is right now works. There are always exceptions to the rule though, and that needs to be taken into consideration. Maybe it should depend on where the player was drafted in the NHL draft. If they were a 1st rounder, the team should have more options, or something along that line

A one and A two and A three . . . . . . .

I think that for the most part, the way it is right now works. There are always exceptions to the rule though, and that needs to be taken into consideration. Maybe it should depend on where the player was drafted in the NHL draft. If they were a 1st rounder, the team should have more options, or something along that line
- HonkFortheGoose

I disagree, the rules have to be the same accross the board no matter where the player was drafted. Who's to say a 7th round player doesn't develop faster and become better than a 1st rounder? I just don't think exceptions should be made period. Same rules should apply to everyone no matter who they are or when they were drafted.

I disagree, the rules have to be the same accross the board no matter where the player was drafted. Who's to say a 7th round player doesn't develop faster and become better than a 1st rounder? I just don't think exceptions should be made period. Same rules should apply to everyone no matter who they are or when they were drafted.
- MnGump

- ShootingSemin

You are personna non gratta in the Rangers thread I see?

This must be an all time low, for posts to an Ek thread. Looks like hockey fans are starting to tune out the CBA show. They sound disgusted and pissed off, that they're season is probably going to be ruined and that a shortened season is not what they bargained for.

I have been making this argument for years. If I'm an NHL GM, have drafted a player, and thought highly enough of him to be willing to PAY him, I want him developing in MY system.

As is pointed out here, I can pretty much guarantee that any GM with half a brain in his head will let the kid play in the junior tournament, if he knows that the AHL is the next stop after that- big game experience is invaluable to any player. However, it is senseless to send him back to the OHL to score 500 points playing against children, once the tournament is over. It is equally senseless to have putting him on my NHL fourth line, and having him struggle nightly playing with players who likely aren't good enough to be out on the ice with him, as my only other option (I submit Nino Niederreiter as a fine example).

Ideally, I want him anchoring line one for my farm team, learning my system, and developing where I can keep tabs on him. The only 20-year-olds playing junior should be the late developers who are hoping to impress enough in the final year to get a shot. Guys who were drafted in (especially) round one at age 18, in contrast, should be well on their way to becoming part of their pro team by age 20. If I'm spending my money on that player, there's really no way some other group of people should dictate how I use MY employee- it's a no-brainer, in my opinion.

I disagree, the rules have to be the same accross the board no matter where the player was drafted. Who's to say a 7th round player doesn't develop faster and become better than a 1st rounder? I just don't think exceptions should be made period. Same rules should apply to everyone no matter who they are or when they were drafted.
- MnGump

Agreed....in general, it's going to be your first or second round players who we're discussing, but there is no reason why it can't be anyone who I'm willing to pay to play hockey for my organization. That has to take priority over anything else.

Change the daft age to 19.

Change the daft age to 19.
- Champ

1) Why?
2) How would that help the current topic of discussion?

So that (frank)ing Goof Cloutier writes a blog ranting how stupid Canadians are at sports and to grow a pair - and the BLOGS LOCKED? seriously wtf if the guy can write bullpoop like that, then i should be able to (frank)ing reply..unlock it so i can tell him hes a huge pile of dog poop

thanks

They should call this the Nino Niederreiter rule!
- bsrisles1971

or the Ryan Murphy rule

So does this mean the following scenario could come true? Without a NHL/CHL agreement, if a lockout occurs this fall, then the NHL teams that have 18 year old juniors that they just drafted and signed this summer could assign them to the AHL?