Are you thinking of Chris Campoli?
- jhawk159

Yes

But I do not seriously believe he returns to the NHL. But you never know.

Dave Bolland got $5 mill? That has to be a move that Tallon will be getting heat on in a couple of years when Bolland spends more time on the disabled list than the ice.

Are you thinking of Chris Campoli?
- jhawk159

- mrpaulish

Pizzaman revisited!!!

Pizzaman revisited!!!
- paulr

The "original pizza man"

I think we'll begin to see it in the not so distant future. In the past 'can't miss' prospects from North America went the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) route. College hockey was, by and large, for the prospects who weren't sure fire bets to make their way to the NHL.

I think we'll see more and more top end prospects consider, if not choose, to go the College route. I think as a parent the better choice, regardless of the boy's talent, is College hockey. The education aspect is, or should be, a huge selling point. I personally know allot of people, close friends, who thought they had a chance to play pro and weren't good enough. One friend was a star player for RPI in the early 80's and has a degree and a good career, the rest played in the OHL and are all now general laborers.

The other reason you don't see College players making a direct jump to the NHL is game scheduling that sees CHL players play a far more NHL like schedule in terms of number of games played and in competitiveness. But scheduling can be adjusted by Colleges to entice the top players away from the CHL.

I'll be surprised if one day College hockey doesn't begin to attract better players away from the CHL.
- paulr

I can go along with most of this - but I'm not sure the colleges CAN get to an NHL-like scheduling concentration: there are only so many games - and so much traveling - college "students" can do and still have an academic program with any integrity.

The other question is: will this be true for Canadian kids as well as US kids? Probably won't hold be true for the Europeans. Seems that Canadians are much more vested in the CHL programs (which, with all of the games they play, seem like they must have a dramatic effect on high-school educations) - maybe that changes over time.

I can go along with most of this - but I'm not sure the colleges CAN get to an NHL-like scheduling concentration: there are only so many games - and so much traveling - college "students" can do and still have an academic program with any integrity.

The other question is: will this be true for Canadian kids as well as US kids? Probably won't hold be true for the Europeans. Seems that Canadians are much more vested in the CHL programs (which, with all of the games they play, seem like they must have a dramatic effect on high-school educations) - maybe that changes over time.
- StLBravesFan

FWIW junior colleges have seen ice hockey dry up, which is sad because The College of DuPage won a few championships. I know because I covered them for the school paper. The college of DuPage was one of the largest junior college in the nation. They went to the semester system and I am uncertain if it is still a junior college or four year college.

John Hayden sounds like the sort of center Chicago needs. But if he finishes school that would be a couple of years away. Playing at Yale, I wonder if he would need to transition to the AHL. But sometimes players can make a quick seemingly smooth transition even to the NHL from an Ivy League school. Ryan O'Reilly did.

Again I say look at wiz scouting reports before you watch prospect games. Even though his report is from Hayden draft year (2012) you get an idea what sort of player he is.

I found it interesting that Hayden was called fast in the report we got on this board. But this is a prospect camp scrimmage, players are not in ideal shape and beside that, have to see if he still looks fast if he happens to play for a spell in Rockford.

I am sure everyone on this board would love input from those who see the prospects play today and Thursday.

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