Clearly more players go to the NHL from the CHL than the NCAA. But going the NCAA allows a player up to four years to develop before entering the NHL. That's four years where a team can control a players rights and let them develop without starting their ELC. I see a lot of positives there, especially if you have someone like Jerry York coaching them.
- Science

Now this is just my opinion here so don't hang me, but I think players going to the CHL look at it as merely a stepping stone or at the very least a proving ground on their way to the NHL. That's pretty much their sole purpose for being there. While NCAA players for the most part would obviously like to get to the NHL but for many it's simply playing out what most likely is their last days playing organized hockey. Granted not all CHL'ers make it to the NHL, I would guess the success rate is moderately higher than that of the NCAA.

I guess my overall point is that although a large majority of NCAA players are every bit as capable of making it to the biggs as CHL players, it's not quite the same focused career path for many of them.

Now this is just my opinion here so don't hang me, but I think players going to the CHL look at it as merely a stepping stone or at the very least a proving ground on their way to the NHL. That's pretty much their sole purpose for being there. While NCAA players for the most part would obviously like to get to the NHL but for many it's simply playing out what most likely is their last days playing organized hockey. Granted not all CHL'ers make it to the NHL, I would guess the success rate is moderately higher than that of the NCAA.

I guess my overall point is that although a large majority of NCAA players are every bit as capable of making it to the biggs as CHL players, it's not quite the same focused career path for many of them.
- MnGump

I would disagree with this.

Look no further than Jack Eichel's reasons for wanting to go the college route:
- playing against older, bigger stronger players (something he's been able to do throughout his career and wanted to continue to be challenged in that way)
- more time in the weight room to focus on his strength and conditioning and more time to practice and work on his skills
- he wanted to get an education
- he wanted to enjoy the social aspects of being in college

To say that players like Eichel or Skjei or Matheson or Schultz or any other blue-chip prospect aren't 100% focused on advancing their hockey career is ignorant of all the things college hockey has to offer a student-athlete.

I would disagree with this.

Look no further than Jack Eichel's reasons for wanting to go the college route:
- playing against older, bigger stronger players (something he's been able to do throughout his career and wanted to continue to be challenged in that way)
- more time in the weight room to focus on his strength and conditioning and more time to practice and work on his skills
- he wanted to get an education
- he wanted to enjoy the social aspects of being in college

To say that players like Eichel or Skjei or Matheson or Schultz or any other blue-chip prospect aren't 100% focused on advancing their hockey career is ignorant of all the things college hockey has to offer a student-athlete.
- jules

Julie come on. if you think he plays anymore than 1 season at BU you'r a bit nutty.
he's from boston and kids grow up wanting to play for BU/BC. that said he could get all of that in the CHL.
what he won't get at BU is a degree.

I would disagree with this.

Look no further than Jack Eichel's reasons for wanting to go the college route:
- playing against older, bigger stronger players (something he's been able to do throughout his career and wanted to continue to be challenged in that way)
- more time in the weight room to focus on his strength and conditioning and more time to practice and work on his skills
- he wanted to get an education
- he wanted to enjoy the social aspects of being in college

To say that players like Eichel or Skjei or Matheson or Schultz or any other blue-chip prospect aren't 100% focused on advancing their hockey career is ignorant of all the things college hockey has to offer a student-athlete.
- jules

Fair enough Jules, but like it or not there is still a big difference between kids going to college playing in the NCAA and kids in the CHL. Kids in the CHL are not there to further their educations or enjoy the social aspects of it. They're there for one thing and one thing only, to go pro.

Ignorant? Maybe, but my comment was not focused on blue chip NCAA'ers, it was more a blanket statement covering guys who aren't on athletic scholarships and who most likely will never be starters in the NCAA even if they play their full years of eligibility.

Does that mean they can't go pro? Obviously not, but logic would most likely dictate that the full career intentions of a CHL player are firmly different from that of your average NCAA player.

Fair enough Jules, but like it or not there is still a big difference between kids going to college playing in the NCAA and kids in the CHL. Kids in the CHL are not there to further their educations or enjoy the social aspects of it. They're there for one thing and one thing only, to go pro.

Ignorant? Maybe, but my comment was not focused on blue chip NCAA'ers, it was more a blanket statement covering guys who aren't on athletic scholarships and who most likely will never be starters in the NCAA even if they play their full years of eligibility.

Does that mean they can't go pro? Obviously not, but logic would most likely dictate that the full career intentions of a CHL player are firmly different from that of your average NCAA player.
- MnGump

and a blue chipper like Jack Eichel is not going to BU for campus life and an education.