This may be a dumb question, but something I wouldn't mind clarification on...
Perhaps I just don't understand the inner workings of the rules about the NHL draft, but how exactly do players get picked in the HFNHL draft last year that are still yet to be drafted in the NHL and rated for this years draft? Do players simply become draft eligible at a certain age then remain that way for a few years until they become too old and a UFA like some of the college players everyone has been after this year? I'm more familiar with something like the NFL or NBA draft where players are eligible to be drafted a particular year and become FAs if not selected.
Jeff, with our draft (unlike any other FHL league I've seen or been involved with), we hold our entry draft BEFORE the NHL does.
Therefore, some of our "genius" selections end up going undrafted, despite whether we may think we've hit the jackpot. Conversely, other players fall through the cracks of our 7 rounds, and then get drafted in the NHL draft (some quite high).
So then the following HFNHL draft, quite often teams will include these players on their draft lists, because they still fit within the age regulations (1989-1991 NA, 1987-1991 Euro), and because they are already high NHL draft picks. For example, Steve Mason was someone who went undrafted in our HFNHL draft, then got drafted by Columbus in the NHL draft, then the following year was drafted into the HFNHL.
So essentially, any player not yet drafted in the HFNHL, and fitting within the age regulations, is eligible to be drafted at next weekend's festivities.