NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

[El Fangel]

Originally Posted by Gertner They tire out faster as young players due to juniors being better equiped for the long season. They aren't scouted much because the fast majority of solid players play for North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan or Wisconsin. You're hard pressed to find solid players outside of their conference. The Frozen Four is an amazing tournament, but the level of play is much better in the junior ranks. Plus, there's not alot of parity in the NCAA.

The majority of AUS Hockey here in Canada is rarely if ever scouted. There are alot of good players that never have a scout watch them because it is assumed only the best players are in juniors and no where else. College hockey is a good option for alot of players because with juniors its either do or die, either you make it or you have nothing to fall back on. With a college education, if you don't make it, then you at least have something to fall back on.

Im not saying the overwhelming majority of college players are better then juniors, but alot of them in my opinion would slot in better then juniors as most college players have been playing against men their whole college career.

Their bodies are also more developed and you as a smart hockey fan know that a fair few good hockey players came through college to the NHL.

Originally Posted by Lara Emily I'm sorry what? Is that a serious remark?

No, I just made it to because I don't believe it.

Originally Posted by Lara Emily BTW when we are talking about prospects, older is generally not better.

Yes, you are correct there. However, if I was an NHL GM and I had to pick between

OHL Player - 18 years old, 6'0, 180 pounds and having played 64 games last season

or

NCAA - 22 years old, 6'0, 200 pounds and having played 32 games.

I would take the NCAA player unless its well known the OHL player is in a league his own, the reasons is, he is older, more mature, likely has played longer, body, muscles and likely game play is more developed and NCAA players are generally bigger as well as they are past the end of their growth period and are as big as they are going to get. An 18-20 year old is still growing a bit.

Thats just my opinion though taken from what I have seen.

Originally Posted by Fallen Angel The majority of AUS Hockey here in Canada is rarely if ever scouted. There are alot of good players that never have a scout watch them because it is assumed only the best players are in juniors and no where else. College hockey is a good option for alot of players because with juniors its either do or die, either you make it or you have nothing to fall back on. With a college education, if you don't make it, then you at least have something to fall back on. Im not saying the overwhelming majority of college players are better then juniors, but alot of them in my opinion would slot in better then juniors as most college players have been playing against men their whole college career. Their bodies are also more developed and you as a smart hockey fan know that a fair few good hockey players came through college to the NHL. No, I just made it to because I don't believe it. Yes, you are correct there. However, if I was an NHL GM and I had to pick between OHL Player - 18 years old, 6'0, 180 pounds and having played 64 games last season or NCAA - 22 years old, 6'0, 200 pounds and having played 32 games. I would take the NCAA player unless its well known the OHL player is in a league his own, the reasons is, he is older, more mature, likely has played longer, body, muscles and likely game play is more developed and NCAA players are generally bigger as well as they are past the end of their growth period and are as big as they are going to get. An 18-20 year old is still growing a bit. Thats just my opinion though taken from what I have seen.

The competition is NCAA isn't nearly as good as the CHL, especially outside of the WCHA and even there it's very top heavy. NCAA produces no goaltenders whatsoever, and the CHL is generally the rougher and tougher league. The NCAA is behind the CHL and Europe in terms of development.

Plus, more and more U.S born players are opting for the CHL.

[Champion of Europa]

Jagr finally putting some pucks in the fucking net. Boooom.