Did some digging for ya Bezz.

What is the minimum age for an AHL player?

Per AHL By-Laws, the age limit for eligibility to compete in the American Hockey League is 18 years or over, on or before September 15 of each season of competition.

He's 18 right now, so he is eligible to play next season.

He's a truck, has game breaking speed, and will bring the game to his opponents front door. He's exactly what this team needs. I bet he plays at least 9 next season.
- Gullzy

You need to play 4 years in the CHL or be 20 years old to play in the AHL. I think this is his 4th year, so he may be eligible next season.

Same here dude. This may sound odd, but I'm really excited to follow Utica next year. Even more so than the Canucks.

We're going to be adding: Subban, McCann, Virtanen, Cassels, and some college guys to the roster over the next 18 months. Add that to Guance, Shinkaruk, and Jensen and we have the team of the future playing together. Can't wait to see how they do.
- Gullzy

McCaan and Virtanen are both too young to play in the American League next year.

Chara didn't develop until his late 20's...obviously I'm not drawing a comparison but the point is d take longer to develop. And don't worry Benning won't sign him to help justify a trade lol if that's the Case the organization is doomed..that's an egotistical Gillis move not a Benning move.

That being said I believe he will sign him.
- CanuckDon

After ~300 games Chara was 25 and had just come off a season scoring 9 G, 23P, +30 playing 22+ min a game. Chara might not of been a number 1 D at that time but he was showing signs of the player he would become. I have heard it thrown around before by analyst that 200 games is usually the point where team know what they have in a guy and Dmen do take a bit longer.

McCaan and Virtanen are both too young to play in the American League next year.
- LeftCoaster

I thought after you had completed your fourth year you were eligible? It won't matter anyway, he'll make the Canucks next season

I still feel like it's down to earth, sorry you feel otherwise. I know you have been following this thread since the beginning and probably have a pretty good idea of what I'm saying.

And honestly this Clendening conversation is getting pretty silly, I don't have a problem with the deal. I never did and my original comment probably sums it up the best, I said essentially that the deal could be good but for it to be good, Clendening needs to by an NHLer or sign a contract that makes him waiver exempt, otherwise we move a prospect with 4 years of development for a guy who is more or less the player he is going to be.

There has been a number of comments saying that wow what a steal this deal was, and Clendening at worst will be a pp specialist in the NHL.
Looking back through these comments some have been edited which is fine, but that makes more sense why I was getting some of the responses to me from my previous comments.
- belcherbd

Which ones were edited? The originals would still be in the quotes.

I thought after you had completed your fourth year you were eligible? It won't matter anyway, he'll make the Canucks next season
- 1970vintage

Virtanen?

He played nine games as a 15 year old, that doesn't qualify as a year in the CHL to the best of my knowledge.

Which ones were edited? The originals would still be in the quotes.
- boonerbuck

I didn't pay too much attention to which, I noticed when I logged on from home and had to find where I had left off. Maybe some I quoted earlier but can't say I'm too interested in searching through them all. Feel free if you like.....it wasn't meant to be a challenge or anything just something that when I noticed made some of the comments directed at me make more sense.

Virtanen?

He played nine games as a 15 year old, that doesn't qualify as a year in the CHL to the best of my knowledge.
- LeftCoaster

Ya i was trying to figure that out but couldn't find any rules about CHL first year eligibility, looks like he played a full season in the BCMML (no idea what league that is) and then got 9 games and playoffs in the WHL.

Did we trade our first and second yet for Franson and Santorelli?

Would you guys take a chance on Yakupov? If we can get him for Kassian, Sbisa, and a pick with Yakupov and some other pieces coming back, is it worth it for us? Is it worth it for the Oilers?
- Gullzy

Beauty setup by Yakupov on the Derek Roy goal just now for EDM...

Check out the highlight reel on the two Eberle goals...


Wow

I didn't pay too much attention to which, I noticed when I logged on from home and had to find where I had left off. Maybe some I quoted earlier but can't say I'm too interested in searching through them all. Feel free if you like.....it wasn't meant to be a challenge or anything just something that when I noticed made some of the comments directed at me make more sense.
- belcherbd

I can't remember but my post may have had a word or two edited because it got the wrong point across

Did we trade our first and second yet for Franson and Santorelli?
- VANTEL

I would just quit I think

Virtanen?

He played nine games as a 15 year old, that doesn't qualify as a year in the CHL to the best of my knowledge.
- LeftCoaster

Ah, I didn't look closely at his stats, only that this was the fourth line of Hitmen hockey.

In that case, I believe you're right, he would have to play another year in Calgary or with the Canucks.

Here's a pretty easy to read article on how the CHL-NHL agreement works

http://www.stanleycupofch...-agreement-CBA-talks-2012

I would just quit I think
- bezz44

That's what the Leaf fans said were we're going to pay on Eks blog

Ya i was trying to figure that out but couldn't find any rules about CHL first year eligibility, looks like he played a full season in the BCMML (no idea what league that is) and then got 9 games and playoffs in the WHL.
- belcherbd

British Columbia Major Midget League - like Midget AAA hockey

Oh boy, Nucker is selling Alex Tanguay!

That's what the Leaf fans said were we're going to pay on Eks blog
- VANTEL

I would burn my jersey in front of club 16 and then eat a bunch of donuts

Ah, I didn't look closely at his stats, only that this was the fourth line of Hitmen hockey.

In that case, I believe you're right, he would have to play another year in Calgary or with the Canucks.

Here's a pretty easy to read article on how the CHL-NHL agreement works

http://www.stanleycupofch...-agreement-CBA-talks-2012
- 1970vintage

Don't be surprised if he is a Canuck next year. His competition sucks

I would just quit I think
- bezz44

I would laugh/cry pretty hard if we ended up getting Santo for picks after many thought he was deserving of a contract after last year. Still like his game but realistically he went which opened up a spot for Vey, which while I complain about the value in the Garrison trade, like that we have youth playing.

Did we trade our first and second yet for Franson and Santorelli?
- VANTEL

two firsts and a second I think

Don't be surprised if he is a Canuck next year. His competition sucks
- VANTEL

Yeah, I already said that. Plus then Benning looks like a genius for having his first ever first round pick make the NHL in his draft +1 year. Technically Horvat did that for Gillis, but it took him 7 years of drafting to get one right...

I would laugh/cry pretty hard if we ended up getting Santo for picks after many thought he was deserving of a contract after last year. Still like his game but realistically he went which opened up a spot for Vey, which while I complain about the value in the Garrison trade, like that we have youth playing.
- belcherbd

Ideally we would have kept Santo and traded Burrows

Yeah, I already said that. Plus then Benning looks like a genius for having his first ever first round pick make the NHL in his draft +1 year. Technically Horvat did that for Gillis, but it took him 7 years of drafting to get one right...
- 1970vintage

And it wasn't Gillis that let him play.

Ideally we would have kept Santo and traded Burrows
- bezz44

Isn't getting a third line Santorelli a step backwards . We have enough Higgins Burrows Hansen typ players. He doesn't give us scoring or grit

Isn't getting a third line Santorelli a step backwards . We have enough Higgins Burrows Hansen typ players. He doesn't give us scoring or grit
- VANTEL

Exactly, I bet the organization is considering who to keep and who ship off as we speak. Having too many third liners, with no top 6 players, is a sure fire way to the bottom.

Realistically speaking, one of Higgins, Burrows, Matthias, or Richardson wont be back next season. Im hoping the lines look something like this.

(signing/trade/Callup)/Henrik/Vrbata
Daniel/Bonino/Kassian
Jensen/Horvat/Hansen
Higgins/Richardson/Dorrsett

Edler/Tanev
Hamhuis/Bieksa
Stanton/Clendenning

Burrows/Matthias are both gone. Don't get me wrong on Matthias, I like what he is bringing this year. But I don't want to re-sign him if the asking price is above 2 mill. The reason he's looked so good recently is because he is literally out skating everyone on this team. His lack of finish coupled with a high price tag is not worth the marginal gains we'd get from him over a player like Jensen. We have plenty of PK'ers that can fill his role once he leaves. Kassian is a placeholder in case Virtanen is not ready. If he is, figure out what works best for this team. Kassian is a positive Corsi player, but so was Booth. Figure it out, and ice the best possible line-up. That is all I can ask for.

The Sedin's need a player who can drive to the net with speed to create some space out there. When they are both playing together, the whole line is too slow. Split them up, cause I can with certainty say they will play better. Both are play drivers according to their positive corsi's. It would benefit the entire team if they were split up so they can spread some of that positive corsi love throughout the lineup.

Let Clendenning gain some experience, keep Corrado in the minors, and wait for Bieksa's contract to be up. His contract has what two more seasons after this one?