It is just a three year span. So within two years already 40 20 years olds make the NHL. Thomas has already played his D1 year. Turcotte was just drafted 5th overall.
I explained Fagemo.
Most will play for the Kings a lot quicker than 2022/2023.
Almost every one of those 24 regular pre-age-21 players was a top-15 pick at worst. No, 40 20 year olds didn't 'make' the NHL, most of those guys got less than their 9 games, like I said, only 15 played 40+ games. I can definitely see many of our AHLers doing that next year but I wouldn't call them NHLers because they got a cup of coffee.
I could see Turcotte playing a year of college and coming out and maybe a couple of others getting a taste, but statistically, that's a tiny percentage of players sticking in the NHL before age 21.
Also consider you probably don't want to roll some of those guys directly into a full schedule, for example, a guy like Mikey Anderson who has played a college schedule vs. an 82-game NHL marathon.
I guarantee almost every one of these guys plays a full AHL season with an NHL cup of coffee before sticking. K17 has it right to assert that most guys need 3 years post-draft seasoning. It's not everyone, obviously, but it's not controversial in the slightest to expect that as a development path for the above-average prospect.
You're also correct though to point out that the Europeans have a slightly different scenario because that's something we haven't had to deal much with, guys playing in mens leagues across the pond.
