Both Blake Kessel and Jason Gregoire are forgoing their senior seasons and turning pro. Neither has signed a contract with the Islanders and if they don't sign they become FAs after 30 days (this appears to be both of their intentions).
Both are not top tier prospects but they are certainly quality. As far as I know this hasn't happened since Wheeler exploited that loophole (is this true or has it happened since).
http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/mice/2010-11/releases/20110524c29lo6
http://www.uscho.com/2011/05/18/gregoire-leaving-north-dakota-for-nhl-options/#ixzz1MlIXXLcq
Guys want to get paid, so you really can't blame em but its kind of frustrating to be going through this as an Islanders fan. Islanders have shown to be willing to sign college players early (Okposo, Donovan, Ness), so its anyone's guess whether or not Gregoire and Kessel were offered contracts early as well. I would think they would have wanted to sign both if they could.
Often times you think drafting through the college ranks allows you to have that prospect firmly under your control for 4 to 5 seasons. I think this is a nice little lesson to Garth and other GMs around the league: if you think your prospect is an NHL player in the future you sign him sooner rather than later because you want to have that absolute control.
Both are not top tier prospects but they are certainly quality. As far as I know this hasn't happened since Wheeler exploited that loophole (is this true or has it happened since).
http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/mice/2010-11/releases/20110524c29lo6
http://www.uscho.com/2011/05/18/gregoire-leaving-north-dakota-for-nhl-options/#ixzz1MlIXXLcq
Guys want to get paid, so you really can't blame em but its kind of frustrating to be going through this as an Islanders fan. Islanders have shown to be willing to sign college players early (Okposo, Donovan, Ness), so its anyone's guess whether or not Gregoire and Kessel were offered contracts early as well. I would think they would have wanted to sign both if they could.
Often times you think drafting through the college ranks allows you to have that prospect firmly under your control for 4 to 5 seasons. I think this is a nice little lesson to Garth and other GMs around the league: if you think your prospect is an NHL player in the future you sign him sooner rather than later because you want to have that absolute control.