Todd Cordell: Alexander Kerfoot could out wait Devils, test free agency

Pretty soon no team will want to draft any college players with this stupid loophole.

Just FYI: St. Lawrence University defenseman Gavin Bayreuther signed with the Dallas Stars. So much for the inside track on prior year prospects camp and Lovejoy cousin. Also we are not "in" on Auston Reese either: The Pittsburgh Penguins made a signing yesterday. They were able to acquire the top college free agent on the market in Zach Aston-Reese

even though this may benefit my team in the end, I really do dislike the CBA agreement in terms of allowing college kids to do this.

Pretty soon no team will want to draft any college players with this stupid loophole.
- Velcro300

It seems this loophole helps the teams who are successful (good for them), thus low draft choices and trade away top picks because they can collect free agent NCAA top talent - see Rangers and Penguins. Makes a mockery of the draft though.

It seems this loophole helps the teams who are successful (good for them), thus low draft choices and trade away top picks because they can collect free agent NCAA top talent - see Rangers and Penguins. Makes a mockery of the draft though.
- redmonsters

it makes a complete mockery of the draft. GM's are going to soon cringe when they hear that their picks are choosing the NCAA route over CHL.

This loophole will get fixed next CBA to be sure; it's wrecking league parity.

If I'm a small market team that gets victimized by this disparity, I fill my team with grinders, hitters, and pests that trash other teams, even if they get trashed on the scoreboard. If I can't entertain the fans by winning, I still have to entertain the fans... I'm gonna do it by fighting and hard hits.

I don't like losing him for nothing but, if he does go, it doesn't hurt that much.

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer to keep him. But I doubt he is top 6 potential; plus, he is behind Zacha, McLeod, and Quenneville in terms of our prospect center depth chart. So if he does go, its not the end of the world.

As for the loophole, I personally don't have much of an issue giving kids an avenue to pick the team they want to play on. Every year there are tons of prospects who aren't signed by teams that draft them, so I don't see much of an issue having 1-2 prospects per year opting out of the team that drafted them.

This loophole will get fixed next CBA to be sure; it's wrecking league parity.

If I'm a small market team that gets victimized by this disparity, I fill my team with grinders, hitters, and pests that trash other teams, even if they get trashed on the scoreboard. If I can't entertain the fans by winning, I still have to entertain the fans... I'm gonna do it by fighting and hard hits.
- archromat

Not so sure that it's "wrecking league parity", but yes it should be closed. There is hardly ever a college draftee that leaves their team and goes on to be a major impact player, in fact I can't think of any. To this point, Hayes/Vesey are good, but hardly core guys.

But yeah, the loophole sucks and should be eliminated. No argument on that.

Arizona is now only 2 points back.

Not so sure that it's "wrecking league parity", but yes it should be closed. There is hardly ever a college draftee that leaves their team and goes on to be a major impact player, in fact I can't think of any. To this point, Hayes/Vesey are good, but hardly core guys.

But yeah, the loophole sucks and should be eliminated. No argument on that.
- eichiefs9

Yeah, it has to be eliminated. The instituted the cap years back because big market teams had such an advantage. Well, this is close to the same thing. Big markets can trade picks because they can appeal to these UFAs.

I realize the other perspective, saying that if a kid gambles on himself producing and staying healthy then by all means he deserves this chance. But i do think it hurts the parity of the league. How many of these college kids are holding out on a ELC so they can sign with Arizona, the Devils, or Nash? It's all about the larger market teams.

Arizona is now only 2 points back.
- Devils9503

We have an easier schedule the rest of the way.
NJ has three games against Philly, one vs. Detroit and the Islanders.
AZ has one game good matchup against the Canucks. They have a couple against Capitals and two or three against St. Louis.

We have an easier schedule the rest of the way.
NJ has three games against Philly, one vs. Detroit and the Islanders.
AZ has one game good matchup against the Canucks. They have a couple against Capitals and two or three against St. Louis.
- Queenie_5_hole

Define "easy." We just lost back-to-back games against the worst and second to worst teams in hockey. Nothing is "easy."

Define "easy." We just lost back-to-back games against the worst and second to worst teams in hockey. Nothing is "easy."
- jersey1414

At this point don't you want the devils to take L's if means they have a legit shot at one of Liljergren, Patrick, Hischier or Vilardi?

At this point don't you want the devils to take L's if means they have a legit shot at one of Liljergren, Patrick, Hischier or Vilardi?
- tomburton99

I believe he's saying that the Devils are so bad that who they're facing doesn't matter, better or worse

I can see us drafting our core from the CHL if he doesn't sign with us we have had to many guys just take the easy road out and leave or (frank) off on us. Draft all our top talent out of the CHL so we know they can be controlled. Maybe we pray that Arizona can't sign Keller and we nab him lmao ( yeah right ).

I can see us drafting our core from the CHL if he doesn't sign with us we have had to many guys just take the easy road out and leave or (frank) off on us. Draft all our top talent out of the CHL so we know they can be controlled. Maybe we pray that Arizona can't sign Keller and we nab him lmao ( yeah right ).
- blizzzard

But you've also had Wood, Santini and Merrill sign with you.

I can see us drafting our core from the CHL if he doesn't sign with us we have had to many guys just take the easy road out and leave or (frank) off on us. Draft all our top talent out of the CHL so we know they can be controlled. Maybe we pray that Arizona can't sign Keller and we nab him lmao ( yeah right ).
- blizzzard

Core? Kerfoot wasn't gonna be a core guy. And you can't just draft from one source. Guys like Gaudreau, Werenski, Connor sign with their teams. If Kerfoot wants to go play for a team he feels he has a better shot then it won't hurt us. I would rather have him then some 30 year old AHL journeyman, but whatever.

And they can only be "controlled" for two years from being drafted if not signed. Look at Blandisi. Some guys just need more time to develop and not 2 years.

I believe he's saying that the Devils are so bad that who they're facing doesn't matter, better or worse
- willschulme

Exactly.

he can sign with the rags and play on a line with Vesey and hayes. call it the screw ur drafted team over line

But you've also had Wood, Santini and Merrill sign with you.
- tomburton99

Lou was obsessed with USA hockey, maybe to a fault, but that's by no means placing blame. It just seemed like he preferred those who went through college compared to those in juniors.

(before anyone jumps down my throat, I realize there are examples of him drafting elsewhere and I'm not suggesting he was against the CHL or Europe, but rather he was a really big support of USA hockey. thanks)

Lou was obsessed with USA hockey, maybe to a fault, but that's by no means placing blame. It just seemed like he preferred those who went through college compared to those in juniors.

(before anyone jumps down my throat, I realize there are examples of him drafting elsewhere and I'm not suggesting he was against the CHL or Europe, but rather he was a really big support of USA hockey. thanks)
- jersey1414

AND SWEDES

AND SWEDES
- rawwdogg88

See, I think that was more of Conte. Again, not saying Lou didn't want Europeans, but I know he was outspoken about college kids. And if you look at how Lou ran the ship, he believe in the process, in spending time in the minors, and really earning your stripes. That's basically what the college process does, too.

IDK...doesn't really matter, just discussion points and my two cents.

We have an easier schedule the rest of the way.
NJ has three games against Philly, one vs. Detroit and the Islanders.
AZ has one game good matchup against the Canucks. They have a couple against Capitals and two or three against St. Louis.
- Queenie_5_hole

We are hands down the worst team in the league right now. Arizona has been playing fairly well. We should fall to 2nd worst in the standings soon.