HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Should More Draft Eligibles Follow In Auston Matthews' Footsteps?

Ryan, great point about the CHL/NHL Indentured Servitude Clause for CHL kids under 20 yrs old. Why don't we see kids like Max Domi already drafted, but due to the Indentured Servitude Clause, stuck in the OHL instead of the AHL where he belongs while his development is stunted?

Ryan, great point about the CHL/NHL Indentured Servitude Clause for CHL kids under 20 yrs old. Why don't we see kids like Max Domi already drafted, but due to the Indentured Servitude Clause, stuck in the OHL instead of the AHL where he belongs while his development is stunted?
- Mr Ricochet

I agree that players like Max Domi should be given a shot at the AHL and even stay the year there but it would hurt the CHL a ton to lose players like Max Domi. The CHL thrives of keeping talent like Domi, Draisaitl, Bennett, etc for an extra year to promote games and their leagues.

I think it would be better for some players development such as Domi who have already learned so much in junior and could use the next step, Drouin was also a good example who went back to Halifax the next year after being a late cut by TBL.

Sean Monahan was in a similar situation early on in his rookie year where CGY ended up keeping him in the NHL when maybe (at the time) a year in the AHL would have been better but CGY didn't feel sending him back to junior was a good idea.

Not many would be eligible. Mathews is a late birthday draft eligible so he is old enough to get a work permit but not yet drafted.

Not many would be eligible. Mathews is a late birthday draft eligible so he is old enough to get a work permit but not yet drafted.
- Canada Cup

I believe Eichel was also in a similar position but I could be wrong.

Anomaly case here, the birthdate will weed out most North American kids. Many factors to consider, one of the main ones is instruction - coaching plus ice time.
I do not have numbers but the NHL does have more non traditional Euros playing these days who have gone this Swiss / German league route, but the level of play in CHL and number of games etc bold better for the kids to get a shot at a younger age in the NHL.
Farm systems are another factor teams like AZ, FLA, CAR and more have traditionally sucked the life out of potential kids making the bigs because of there shoddy development systems or lack there of. Bringing these kids to the dance way to early.

I believe Eichel was also in a similar position but I could be wrong.
- Nucker101

Later birthday (October) than Matthews but would miss a couple of months of season before he turned 18 and eligible for work permit

FWIW, you should probably include a sentence or so about where Auston Matthews is actually playing next season just so us readers who aren't up on their Auston Matthews news aren't instantly leaving your article to find out what the deal is via the ol' google machine.

I agree that players like Max Domi should be given a shot at the AHL and even stay the year there but it would hurt the CHL a ton to lose players like Max Domi. The CHL thrives of keeping talent like Domi, Draisaitl, Bennett, etc for an extra year to promote games and their leagues.

I think it would be better for some players development such as Domi who have already learned so much in junior and could use the next step, Drouin was also a good example who went back to Halifax the next year after being a late cut by TBL.

Sean Monahan was in a similar situation early on in his rookie year where CGY ended up keeping him in the NHL when maybe (at the time) a year in the AHL would have been better but CGY didn't feel sending him back to junior was a good idea.
- doublej7

I absolutely love junior hockey, I follow the USHL here in Chicago, and watch most any CHL games on the NHL Network. Have made the trip to Plymouth (they've moved to Flint this year) and Saginaw to see the OHL live. The CHL is without doubt, and I'm a USHL fan, the greatest junior hockey in the world.

Firstly I understand that the removal of The Indentured Servitude Clause would be a huge hit to the CHL. It would be just like the USHL in that the very best players would move up, be gone, (as they should for THEIR development) at 19 yrs old........... That is the difference between the USHL and CHL. The very best USHL players have moved up by age 18 or 19 whereas the CHL can hang on to 99% of theirs until they are 20.

I'm conflicted, but most times side with labor over the corporation, especially child labor.

I don't know what the future holds for the CHL on this account. Seems a solid case brought to court can defeat the Indentured Servitude Clause or a country like Sweden, Switzerland, The Czech Republic or any other hockey nuts country can change their laws to allow a Domi, Bennett, Druin or Drasaitl to play in their pro league before they turn 20 and can play in the AHL.

Don't want the CHL crippled but also don't think a kid's development/liveliehood should be stunted either.

I absolutely love junior hockey, I follow the USHL here in Chicago, and watch most any CHL games on the NHL Network. Have made the trip to Plymouth (they've moved to Flint this year) and Saginaw to see the OHL live. The CHL is without doubt, and I'm a USHL fan, the greatest junior hockey in the world.

Firstly I understand that the removal of The Indentured Servitude Clause would be a huge hit to the CHL. It would be just like the USHL in that the very best players would move up, be gone, (as they should for THEIR development) at 19 yrs old........... That is the difference between the USHL and CHL. The very best USHL players have moved up by age 18 or 19 whereas the CHL can hang on to 99% of theirs until they are 20.

I'm conflicted, but most times side with labor over the corporation, especially child labor.

I don't know what the future holds for the CHL on this account. Seems a solid case brought to court can defeat the Indentured Servitude Clause or a country like Sweden, Switzerland, The Czech Republic or any other hockey nuts country can change their laws to allow a Domi, Bennett, Druin or Drasaitl to play in their pro league before they turn 20 and can play in the AHL.

Don't want the CHL crippled but also don't think a kid's development/liveliehood should be stunted either.
- Mr Ricochet

I agree, I would never want the CHL to hurt from the loss of amazing talent like Domi, Draisaitl, etc (HUGE junior hockey fan myself) but they don't learn anything more by staying in a league they have already destroyed the previous year.

I think that letting that talent leave for the AHL or Europe could help other players who may be late round NHL draft picks or undrafted players develop. Players like that would receive a boost in ice time and more time on special teams.

This could seem like a bad thing at first for the CHL but may turn into a good thing for the game where players considered "long shots" could be given more opportunity to shine.

I agree, I would never want the CHL to hurt from the loss of amazing talent like Domi, Draisaitl, etc (HUGE junior hockey fan myself) but they don't learn anything more by staying in a league they have already destroyed the previous year.

I think that letting that talent leave for the AHL or Europe could help other players who may be late round NHL draft picks or undrafted players develop. Players like that would receive a boost in ice time and more time on special teams.

This could seem like a bad thing at first for the CHL but may turn into a good thing for the game where players considered "long shots" could be given more opportunity to shine.
- doublej7

The bolded is a lot like the NCAA. Some top end guys leave for the pros, or even Major Junior, by the time they're 20 but the slower developing, especially physically smaller guys are allowed a much slower rate to develop. Besides an education that will/can last 60 years it's a great option for some kids.....The NCAA route is working. In the last 7 years 36% of all NHL debuts were from kids who had played in the NCAA.

Yes, if players were allowed to leave for the AHL at 18 opening that roster spot/ice time for the players development for all concerned would improve. But the talent and quality of hockey in the CHL would be reduced and that's bad for the CHL as a business.

Again I'm conflicted and also think the CHL will hang on to the status quo as long as they possibly can.

The bolded is a lot like the NCAA. Some top end guys leave for the pros, or even Major Junior, by the time they're 20 but the slower developing, especially physically smaller guys are allowed a much slower rate to develop. Besides an education that will/can last 60 years it's a great option for some kids.....The NCAA route is working. In the last 7 years 36% of all NHL debuts were from kids who had played in the NCAA.

Yes, if players were allowed to leave for the AHL at 18 opening that roster spot/ice time for the players development for all concerned would improve. But the talent and quality of hockey in the CHL would be reduced and that's bad for the CHL as a business.

Again I'm conflicted and also think the CHL will hang on to the status quo as long as they possibly can.
- Mr Ricochet

I agree 100% the CHL lives off promoting the league from using guys like McDavid, Domi, Dal Colle... pick a name. I'm sure they're praying Strome and Marner go back to Erie and London.

The CHL will fight to the end to keep things going the way they are now.