2009 NHL off-season trades, rumours, draft thread

Agreed. It seems like there have been a lot recently (Sid, Kane, Toews, Ovie, etc.), but it's rare.

 

Would if be fair to say that thos who are a little older, 19-20, or college players who may get drafted later because their ceilings aren't as high as the top prospects, have a better chance of playing in the league next season.

 

What he said.

More than an hour in and we're at No. 7? (Nazem Kadri, who is also Twittering the draft for TSN.ca ... @TSN_NKadri)

 

Leafs pick Nazem Kadri from the London Knights.

Helluva hockey player

Family came to Lebanon back in the 60's

 

Sens table looked a little annoyed.

 

Nah, I like hearing everyone congratulate the Penguins every five minutes.

 

Ha I'll bet you do.

Not sure. I think the ideal age to enter this league is 24-25 after a couple of seasons spent in the AHL. (See the Chicago Blackhawks' model.)

 

Given that, would it be better to restructure the draft so that players are drafted at age 19? Or 20? The thinking being by that stage players would have developed more so teams would be drafting for more immediate help, rather than projecting 3-5 years down the road.

 

If you spend a couple of years in the AHL after being drafted you're 21 or so. If you play until 24 or 25 you're probably either a marginal player, a goalie or a Wings draft pick

 

James Mirtle on Twitter:

No Americans taken in top 10 of NHL draft for first time since 1993: as per TSN's Gord Miller

That's a little troublesome for USA Hockey I imagine

 

Or these guys

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=TeamPlayers&type=roster&location=/roster

You're right though, 21 is a good age, but I'd still tend to lean toward coming up around 23.

Edit: Don't you also have to be 20 to play in the AHL?

 

I don't think so

Drafted OHL players whose teams get booted out of the playoffs routinely play in the AHL playoffs