Off-season 2025

[jpfalcon09]

One of the main advantages of college hockey over the CHL is the ability to go to the AHL sooner for graduated development. Not likely to matter to a guy like McKenna, but right now the transfer agreement between the CHL and the NHL says players have to either have spent four years in Jr or have reached 20 years old by December 20th (I think) of the calendar year to go anywhere but the NHL or the CHL

The upshot of all that is...a player plays a year of Jr..gets drafted and signed but isn't ready for the NHL, he has to go back to Jr's. If he signs out of college, he can go the AHL or..I guess..even Europe to develop against better competition

One of the few things the NHL does right in terms of player development. MLBPA gripes about this all the time as teams do not retain the rights of a drafted player if they choose to return to college.

[pdt1081]

One of the main advantages of college hockey over the CHL is the ability to go to the AHL sooner for graduated development. Not likely to matter to a guy like McKenna, but right now the transfer agreement between the CHL and the NHL says players have to either have spent four years in Jr or have reached 20 years old by December 20th (I think) of the calendar year to go anywhere but the NHL or the CHL

The upshot of all that is...a player plays a year of Jr..gets drafted and signed but isn't ready for the NHL, he has to go back to Jr's. If he signs out of college, he can go the AHL or..I guess..even Europe to develop against better competition

I'm just waiting for the NHL teams to figure out how to circumvent the ELC for a few years. Figure out a way, most likely through a subsidiary, to sign the player to an NIL deal while developing in college, then get them to sign their ELC (which currently negates NCAA eligibility).

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Mercyhurst posted their full schedule, we are nowhere to be found.

[jpfalcon09]

Mercyhurst posted their full schedule, we are nowhere to be found.

Pretty sure Niagara is the only AH team on the regular season schedule this year.

[Flipper]

Rumor online that the AHL is looking to amend rules to allow 19 yr olds from the CHL as opposed to 20 year olds. This could also impact college hockey I suppose

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Rumor online that the AHL is looking to amend rules to allow 19 yr olds from the CHL as opposed to 20 year olds. This could also impact college hockey I suppose

The new NHL CBA being discussed includes a provision allowing NHL teams to assign only one 19-year-old player to their AHL affiliate per season, starting in the 2026-27 season. Feels like the only impact would be to the blue bloods who would be the most likely candidates to land a kid with AHL level skillz at 19.

[Flipper]

Exactly...

Read online that MSU..after losing Isaac Howard to the NHL and Gavin McKenna to PSU..isgoing to go all in on the 6th pick in the '25 NHL draft, Porter Martone

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

This thing seems to be a bone thrown to the CHL who was staring in to the abyss of having all their top players run to the NCAA for "better" development opportunities. Now an 18 yo 5* who doesn't want to crack a book can stay in the CHL then jump to the AHL the next year.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

One of the Tech guys posted the following player rankings showing 3*'s and up based on data from Puck Preps (skaters only, no goaltenders) for players coming into the CCHA. Connor Levis was the only 4.5 star listed. Of the 13 players rated 4*'s and up, 6 will call the Slate home this season. The Tech guys were complaining that if Brandon Whynott is a 4* then Rylan Gould should be as well. It's always something with those guys.

Bottom line: this is yet another data point validating that Willy did a pretty good job this offseason.

[pdt1081]

Princeton in BG November 28-29.

https://goprincetontigers.com/sports/me ... y/schedule

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Behind a paywall, but Trent Singer posted a list of top portal transfers for each team in the CCHA. Hotson was his top choice for us.

https://discord.com/channels/3133541243 ... 5042203789

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

College Puck NXT has Hotson on the CCHA First Team Portal Transfer list.

[pdt1081]

Poster on USCHO that's been on top of all the CHL commitments this off season put together a summary of the incoming freshman for each team in the league.

https://substack.com/inbox/post/1719587 ... irect=true

[pdt1081]

The OHL has signed a 7 year media rights deal with FloHockey.

[mbenecke]

It’s so funny that the CCHA ditched Flo and it immediately decided to become a great streaming app. Meanwhile we’re paying basically the same amount but for a ton less content than we would’ve had if we stayed with Flo.