But for the import draft, a lot of it is based on an NHL team wanting their prospect to play in North America instead of Europe, before they make the jump to the AHL. Unless you take an older player, you're drafting without even knowing which team has selected the player you want, so how could you ever know if his team wants him in NA or not if he doesn't even have a team yet
Let’s say the OHL delays for the NHL draft.. which could happen in September/October if they are waiting on completion of current NHL season
If the OHL waits that long and they are able to resume practice/play by the later fall, that means that the import draft would basically be at the start of their season. You could argue it means players have no chance of coming here with that short notice and the circumstances of the season
The OHL season is already in an uphill battle to even play. So it’s going to impact imports REGARDLESS of when the draft is held. At least holding it now allows teams to have contact with their draft imports and give them a better plan and recurring updates when they know more. Imo it’s the best way to entice any of these players to maybe come over once the OHL starts back up.
I just don’t get the continued big stink about it by you and others.
My stance is “who the hell cares..”
Sorry but times are unprecedented. The OHL will be lucky to have a half season. Hell they will be lucky to have any type of season. Life is abnormal right now. They already canceled the playoffs. Why the stink about having an import draft now vs later?
Adjust the rules if that’s what it takes. Allow teams more flexibity on import draft selections/holding the rights of guys. And if not, still my stance would be who the hell cares. Nothing can be normal right now anyways
If you think holding the import draft after the NHL draft (after the nhl season) will somehow make things “normal” with imports signing, you are delusional. Just get the draft over with and allow OHL to plan accordingly with their assumed thought process of the season starting by late fall/early winter