Mess
Global Moderator
The Messenger said:Don't be so sure ...
Some teams did not want to take that chance ... Phaneuf, Anthony Stewart, Cory Perry and Ryan Getzlaf all go signed the last minute and day to make sure they remained property .. No one knows for sure what will happen to the 2003 draft class ...
Lockout sends prospects back to junior
Canadian Press
9/27/2004
(CP) - One of the top NHL prospects in North America isn't at an NHL camp nor does he have a contract to make him feel better about it.
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Jeff Carter, the 11th overall pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2003 draft, headlines a group of elite 19-year-old players who would otherwise be playing in the NHL if there wasn't a lockout.
Some first-round draft picks from the same draft class as Carter, such as Kingston forward Anthony Stewart, Red Deer defenceman Dion Phaneuf, London forward Corey Perry and Calgary forward Ryan Getzlaf signed contracts just hours before the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and its players expired at midnight on Sept 15.
Phaneuf was the ninth overall pick by the Calgary Flames, Getzlaf 19th by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Stewart 25th by the Florida Panthers and Perry 28th by Anaheim.
The Flyers signed neither Carter nor Kitchener forward Michael Richards, the 24th pick in that draft.
Carter, a six-foot-three, 182-pound centre from London, Ont, accepts his situation as a fact of life under the NHL lockout.
``Obviously when the new CBA gets approved, there's going to be cutbacks,'' Carter said Monday from Sault Ste. Marie. ``Guys aren't going to be making as much money. The entry level contracts are going to be lower. I'm not surprised a lot of the teams decided to wait it out.''
The group of players born in 1985 was unusually deep and talented, particularly in Canada, which would have resulted in an influx of teens into the NHL if there wasn't a lockout.
If those players didn't stick for the whole season, they would have at least got long looks and some NHL games under their belts.
``Obviously if there was a season, that's where I wanted to be,'' Carter said. ``This year I would have went into camp and hopefully had a good shot of making the team.''
Other top teens heading for junior include Lethbridge defenceman Brent Seabrook (Chicago), Portland defenceman Braydon Coburn (Atlanta), Rimouski forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Edmonton), Moncton forward Steve Bernier (San Jose) and Brandon winger Eric Fehr (Washington).
Bernier feels the double disappointment of not going to San Jose's camp and not having a contract.
``If the lockout lasts one year and I didn't sign, I'm going to go back in the draft,'' he said. ``That's why it's bad for me.
``I went last year to the camp and had a good experience, but this year, I don't like that, not going to camp.''
Read on: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=100144&hubName=nhl
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