I don't think the CHL agreement is bad per se... but it would be nice if they could modify it to allow certain players more options if the GM feels the player is ready to try a different league... just my 2 cents.

It will be interesting to see how Kasper does in GR... it will give me more incentive to go to some games this season. Griffins have been terrible the last few years... especially the goaltending. The coaching change was long overdue. Hoping Soderblom starts to really put his game together and exceeds expectations. He was told by management they want him to be more physically involved... we'll see if that happens. Edvinsson is going to be a stud defensman for the Wings... only a matter of time. Johansson had a solid season last year... Still haven't figured out why Reimer was signed... Lyon seems like the better goaltender.
- Vladdie_Kon1

My hope is Lyon is the back in Detroit.

Totally agree, Kaspar is 1, it would be great if Danielson was so good he bumped him from that spot. I think Mazur might be ahead of him because he would line up as a winger and plays a bit more physical.
- Goalie Dad

Depends how we are ranking them I guess. Mazur is more ready to make an impact in the NHL but that doesn’t mean he has the higher ceiling.

Totally agree, Kaspar is 1, it would be great if Danielson was so good he bumped him from that spot. I think Mazur might be ahead of him because he would line up as a winger and plays a bit more physical.
- Goalie Dad

Are we talking about long term ceiling here or the current point in their development?Two very different things. Naturally, Mazur would and should be ahead Danielson in his development. He's two and a half years older, was drafted two years earlier and has been playing D1 college hockey the past two seasons, as opposed to major junior. As for their eventual ceilings, I'll take Danielson hands down. He's bigger, faster, smooth skating with excellent puck skills; projecting as a top six center. Mazur is a real bulldog who has overachieved so far throughout his career. I think he will be the type of middle six winger every NHL team loves to have on the roster.

Personally i think the agreement between the NHL and CHL should be changed so that top 10 drafted players can play in the AHL/ECHL or wherever the team and player feel is best for him.

That being said, sometimes those drafted players are not even done with high school and have a year left of it when they get drafted. Sometimes we forget about that. They at least need to finish high school before turning pro. This doesn't really apply to Danielson since he was one of the oldest prospects in the draft and will turn 19 in early September. This is another reason i wasn't that fond of that pick (that and the lower ceiling).

We'll see how it goes, hope he does well but i still wish they would have picked Benson instead. Wings track record with WHL players isn't exactly good either or at least it wasn't under Holland:


Rasmussen.
Cholowski.
Barton.
Zablocki.
Turgeon.
Ferraro.

Not exactly a star filled list with Helm being the last decent guy drafted from the WHL in 2005. Hopefully Yzerman has better scouts now watching that league.
- dcz28

I think that the amount of development from 16 to 18 or 19 is immense. Physically and mentally. What I’ve heard from team owners is that they need to sell tickets. Having the ability to lock a player in (whether it is best for them or not) benefits a business model more than a player. The SHL seems to have meritocracy built in. If you show up and prove it can be done, you have the chance to play against a higher level of competition. I really believe that having that opportunity with a trade type clause (take a center, give a center etc) gives those players a chance to be where their development is best suited. It’s on a player per player basis, of course. Just a personal feeling about the situation