VOB
Registered User
db23 said:I think a lot of them just want to cover the bases and mollify their parents. Most NCAA recruits (at least the best of them) commit a good 2 years before the draft. Chris Higgins was ranked as the 150th best North American prospect when he left Avon Old Farms for Yale. The following year he was the 9th best. But when he was 17 years old, 5-10 and 175 pounds as a high school senior, a pro career must have looked pretty remote. Eric Himelfarb, another Hab draft pick who is about the same age and size chose the other route. He was highly recruited by several top schools as a 16 year old in Ontario, but chose to go to the OHL. He was still there this season at the age of 21 in what would have been his junior or senior college year. He has only an amateur tryout contract to show for his decision.
For the smallish player it all depends on how he plays the game. Eric Himelfarb is not only small but slow (relatively speaking) as well. The same is true of Corey Locke. Their chances of playing in the NHL are remote at best. Did they make the wrong decision though? I don't think so, going the NCAA route for either one of them would not have made them legit NHL prospects. At least they could have earned a degree by going the NCAA route you say? Well guess what, if they want they can earn a degree by playing in the OHL because that league will pay for their post secondary education so long as they don't play in the NHL or AHL.
You had a better believe that Gilbert Brule and Brian Little did not make the wrong decision when they chose Major A over college. Both are on the smallish side but they have the intangibles that will bring them success at the next level. Brule is a silky smooth skater while Little plays bigger than his size and loves the high traffic areas. Both are legit NHL prospects.