NTDP
Registered User
Nebrasaka-Omaha has 6 NHL draft picks and reached the NCHC championship and lost to Denver. They beat a good North Dakota team to get there too.Overall play I'd say on average they're close but the talent on NCAA teams varies wildly. A BC, BU, Michigan or Denver would most likely beat the top CHL teams. Taking a step down from those few top teams that have most of the top NHL picks to say a Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc they'd have close games vs CHL teams. There's 60 NCAA teams though and over half don't have much for talent on the roster who'd get beat by CHL teams. The talent level in the CHL is better but the age advantage makes the NCAA tougher. The NCAA defenders always bring up the BCs, BUs, Denvers but never bring up the Nebraska-Omahas, Canisus', Lindenwoods, Merrimacks, Mercyhursts, etc. So on average I'd say CHL teams are better but on the high end NCAA would be better and win vs any CHL team
Let's stop discussing who'd win CHL vs NCAA and just look at the players. Way more undrafted kids will get signed by NHL teams than kids that went CHL and never get drafted, which is the majority of them. The NCAA route as it stands right now is the best route for your development unless you're a stud at 16-17. And even then it doesn't mean it's CHL only, Macklin Celebrini could have gone to the CHL and shredded it.
Canisius produced the goalie that transferred to Michigan that got them to the frozen four and is a good goaltender. Lindenwood is a brand new program, let's see where they end up. St. Thomas was a start up a few years ago and they've already made huge strides beating top programs and are now recruiting well. Merrimack just had three kids sign pro deals and were a good team in hockey east. They also have a kid name Zach Bookman on D who could have a pro future, he's been high end since his Millbrook days.
People act as if it's just the same 4-5 NCAA teams we defend. Nearly all these teams have good players. I was at an Erie vs Kitchener game like a week and a half ago and the level of play wasn't any better than two middle of the pack NCAA teams. Believe me I like the CHL and follow it, but some of these takes I'm seeing on here shows some of you don't watch a shred of NCAA hockey and just go by opinions that are outdated.