The main purpose of the draft as we know it is to be able to let the worst teams pick the best players available first.
But the CHL Import draft is a complete mess in that regards. You have to scout players, then strike deals with them, then hope to god that they will be available when it's your turn to pick...
If this isn't bad enough, half of the draftees never report because they are not happy with the team that drafted them, or just don't want to cross the pond at all and the team took a big chance on them.
Here's how I see it:
- Let teams sign any european player between the age of 17-20 during the summer, up until the end of training camp. The only thing you have to do is agree with him on a deal and bring him over.
- Can only carry two european players at all time. A third european player can be kept on a reserve list if said player was injured or drafted high in the NHL. So if you have a returning euro, you'll only be able sign one more during the summer, as it is right now.
- Cannot trade a european player until 365 days have passed since he was signed.
- Allow teams to bring over goalies, as it used to be.
- A set maximum amount of cash can be paid to the player/his euro team to ensure none of the big market teams (London/Quebec) pay top dollars all the time for all the european stars.
Thoughts?
But the CHL Import draft is a complete mess in that regards. You have to scout players, then strike deals with them, then hope to god that they will be available when it's your turn to pick...
If this isn't bad enough, half of the draftees never report because they are not happy with the team that drafted them, or just don't want to cross the pond at all and the team took a big chance on them.
Here's how I see it:
- Let teams sign any european player between the age of 17-20 during the summer, up until the end of training camp. The only thing you have to do is agree with him on a deal and bring him over.
- Can only carry two european players at all time. A third european player can be kept on a reserve list if said player was injured or drafted high in the NHL. So if you have a returning euro, you'll only be able sign one more during the summer, as it is right now.
- Cannot trade a european player until 365 days have passed since he was signed.
- Allow teams to bring over goalies, as it used to be.
- A set maximum amount of cash can be paid to the player/his euro team to ensure none of the big market teams (London/Quebec) pay top dollars all the time for all the european stars.
Thoughts?
