Ryan Wilson: NHL Rule Will Slow Down Daniel Sprong's Development NHL Rule Will Slow Down Daniel Sprong's Development

fist

That rule will never change..It's there to protect the CHL teams who invest in developing the players..It protects teams from having talent poached way too early..Everyone plays with the same rules..Dont like it, dont draft players from that league...



Players from European leagues can play in the AHL without restriction.



Draft them.. fixed...

It's a business. All it would take is for the NHL to sponsor the CHl, and make it a youth development league. Bottom line, If enough clubs female dog, it will change.

Toronto media is literally the worst in sports. Why any player would want to play there is beyond me

All I can say to Kap is , welcome to the Toronto Media frenzy.

Toronto media is literally the worst in sports. Why any player would want to play there is beyond me
- gdsmack267

Something something Original Six. Something something history.

That rule will never change..It's there to protect the CHL teams who invest in developing the players..It protects teams from having talent poached way too early..Everyone plays with the same rules..Dont like it, dont draft players from that league...



Players from European leagues can play in the AHL without restriction.



Draft them.. fixed...
- Fruitcakenipple

Agreed. The rule is also in place to protect young kids from being used as hitting dummes/punching bags in the rougher AHL.

That and it's not like Sprong totally dominated the league. 88 points in the QMJHL isn't that impressive. In fact, he was 14th in the league in points, 30+ points behind the league leader. He's got room to improve there.

For once Ryan we are in agreement.

Agreed. The rule is also in place to protect young kids from being used as hitting dummes/punching bags in the rougher AHL.

That and it's not like Sprong totally dominated the league. 88 points in the QMJHL isn't that impressive. In fact, he was 14th in the league in points, 30+ points behind the league leader. He's got room to improve there.
- hardnosed

I'd understand the argument in some cases, but for Sprong, like you said it's isn't as if he is destroying the league. He clearly can improve while staying in the Q.

Not saying this is going to happen, but the Pens could keep him up for 9 games to start the season and then return him to juniors... Maatta and Pouliot both came very close to making the team year one.... If Sprong is a "top 15 pick" that fell because of attitude issues then that places him in the middle of where Pouliot and Maatta were drafted..... Might be good for the kid to be up even if he does not play

They just can't pull a "Grigerenko" like Buffalo and play him 8 minutes on the 4th line.

Not saying this is going to happen, but the Pens could keep him up for 9 games to start the season and then return him to juniors... Maatta and Pouliot both came very close to making the team year one.... If Sprong is a "top 15 pick" that fell because of attitude issues then that places him in the middle of where Pouliot and Maatta were drafted..... Might be good for the kid to be up even if he does not play
- Brianandr1

At least he'll be playing big minutes in juniors. Sitting and watching is of less benefit than playing regardless of the competition level.

At least he'll be playing big minutes in juniors. Sitting and watching is of less benefit than playing regardless of the competition level.
- madmike71

This is 100 percent correct.. but if the kid has "attitude" or "maturity" issues then practicing/ possibly playing a few games with Crosby, Malkin, Letang et... could be beneficial to his development...

This is 100 percent correct.. but if the kid has "attitude" or "maturity" issues then practicing/ possibly playing a few games with Crosby, Malkin, Letang et... could be beneficial to his development...
- Brianandr1

From what I've read, he's not ready for the NHL. Judging by Ruth's assessment of Brittle Beau's handling, I'm sure they'll be patient.....which they should be. There's no room for him on the big club. It feels strange to say that.

From what I've read, he's not ready for the NHL. Judging by Ruth's assessment of Brittle Beau's handling, I'm sure they'll be patient.....which they should be. There's no room for him on the big club. It feels strange to say that.
- madmike71

I tend to agree, lets see what the kid shows in training camp

As more and more AHL teams are being owned by their parent NHL franchises, it will be interesting if that affects the CHL agreement.

AHL hockey is bad hockey to watch, period. And as a result of that, there aren't a lot of AHL teams who have very good attendance. It would be in an NHL team's best interest for the AHL to be more entertaining. And a lot of that goes with young, high draft picks playing instead of 30 year old fringe NHL grinders.

If you can make a few bucks on your AHL team being successful, and get to develop and assess your prospects in your controlled team, that's a win/win.

Can't they compromise at 19? AHL hockey could use an infusion of talent. Boring, beat em' up hockey.

While itd be nice for him to play in the AHL I don't think this is the biggest deal in the world.

Toronto media is literally the worst in sports. Why any player would want to play there is beyond me.

It's the centre of the hockey universe, so it all depends on the personality of the player. If they're an extrovert, it can be absolute heaven. If they're an introvert, it can be the seventh circle of hell.

It's the centre of the hockey universe, so it all depends on the personality of the player. If they're an extrovert, it can be absolute heaven. If they're an introvert, it can be the seventh circle of hell.
- The Shrike

It's the greatest media and fan scrutiny in the world for their professional hockey team too. Obviously it should get better overall once the team is competitive again in a few years, but to outsiders a lot of the Toronto fans and media appear incredibly irrational.

Sprong was a great pick for you guys, especially where you got him. Excellent value. I was really surprised the Leafs picked Dermott over him, but we'll see what the future holds.

I love that quote from Kapanen, too.

As stated by a few guys earlier, the transfer agreement is there to protect the CHL and their product. Owners have a lot of money invested and play a crucial role in developing young players, if a kid gets drafted and makes the Nhl at 18-19, GREAT! But if a kid isn't good enough for the NHL, he's still got room to grow and improvements to be made that can be done in the CHL.
To say It is a disservice to Sprong to spend another year in the Q is a joke. The kid is not Connor McDavid. Sprong was a second round pick, is only 18 years old, and from all reports I've read he very much needs to build on his defensive side of the game and back checking. Where better than the CHL where he is playing top minutes against other kids his age, size and strength.

As more and more AHL teams are being owned by their parent NHL franchises, it will be interesting if that affects the CHL agreement.

AHL hockey is bad hockey to watch, period. And as a result of that, there aren't a lot of AHL teams who have very good attendance. It would be in an NHL team's best interest for the AHL to be more entertaining. And a lot of that goes with young, high draft picks playing instead of 30 year old fringe NHL grinders.

If you can make a few bucks on your AHL team being successful, and get to develop and assess your prospects in your controlled team, that's a win/win.
- rival22

I don't think the AHL attendance numbers are that bad. They're about on par with the CHL's numbers, but with smaller, far less hockey crazed markets.

I've been to Utica. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Utica's attendance figures would have a better chance of increasing if they signed Steve MacIntyre and Georges Laraque than they would if they had instant access to CHL guys.

The last part of this is that how do we know that players would want to toil away in Adirondack instead of being demi-gods for the London Knights or Quebec Ramparts?

Toronto media is literally the worst in sports. Why any player would want to play there is beyond me
- gdsmack267

No arguing about the Toronto media, although in particular the hockey media. It's all-or-nothing for players with the Leafs though. The bad side is really bad, but if it ever gets good again, the players will own the city.

I don't think the AHL attendance numbers are that bad. They're about on par with the CHL's numbers, but with smaller, far less hockey crazed markets.

I've been to Utica. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Utica's attendance figures would have a better chance of increasing if they signed Steve MacIntyre and Georges Laraque than they would if they had instant access to CHL guys.

The last part of this is that how do we know that players would want to toil away in Adirondack instead of being demi-gods for the London Knights or Quebec Ramparts?
- hardnosed

That last part I don't agree with. A competitive sportsman's dream is to play at the highest possible level. They'll go to whatever league has the highest competition in order to prepare for the ultimate goal of reaching the NHL. If a player would rather put up 100 points in the CHL than test his metal against a higher level of competition in the AHL, then he probably doesn't have the right attitude to succeed at the NHL level.