time
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- Feb 26, 2005
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MN_Gopher said:The thing i never get then is how do guys like Bouchard then survive the CHL only to need 4 years to catch up to the NHL. Where guys like Paul Martin. A bean in skates adapted to a full NHL season and the physical play with basically only one rough week to start the season. And Ballard has opened an eye to his recklass/fearless style. Forgot who he fought but Matt Greene just gave some guy a hand full.
But i guess i like watching hockey and not Lord of the Flies ice capades.
The Lord of the Flies quip is a good one.
Listen, the RSl and SEL also produce high level hockey, and very talented (and tough) players come out of there as well, but they always end up in the NHL. Top shelf players usually go for the CHL because it is the highest level possible at that age group. Simple, really.
The bigger question the US has to face is how they can hothouse their players in a development program and not win the under-18 every year. They send the only team which has (mostly) played, practiced and lived together for a year or two. It's a bit like the old Soviet system.
The US should dominate the under-17, 18 and do consistently well at the under-20.
Wassup? Is it systematic failure in the coaching ranks, or a thin talent pool?