member 71782
Guest
Bringing a USHL powerhouse like Chicago into the league doesn't mean they'll be a powerhouse when they get here.
First of all any kids still looking at going to school would not be coming with them.
Second any OHL drafted kids or kids drafted by the Q and W would no longer be part of their roster since their OHL/CHL rights would be owned by other teams.
That likely clears out half their roster if not more.
They would simply be another expansion team.
Any kids they draft in the future would have to make the same decision as any other kid currently drafted, do they want to go NCAA or CHL and if they want to go NCAA Chicago would no longer be an option for them so they'll be dealing with the same issues as any other CHL team. Maybe their reputation helps them to attract some kids that won't report to other OHL teams but probably not much if a kid is determined to go NCAA.
If people want to look at how to improve the OHL after this pandemic then the pandemic provides the opportunity to make some of the tough changes they need to make. To attract better talent or more top tier talent the league has to become more competitive. It's currently watered down and until they centralize the talent a bit more it will continue to go downhill since it's reputation will continue to become that of a more mediocre league. The selling point was always the quickest way to the NHL was through the CHL. As more and more kids are choosing education the level of talent available to the league continues to diminish. Contraction that allows for more high end talent ion fewer teams provides increased competition. Remove the limitations on imports that can play on each team and increasing the import draft back to 2 rounds, maybe even 3 rounds combined with a higher level of talent on each team increases the talent level further. Removing the restrictions on the trading of 1st round picks along with allowing draft day trading of picks including future considerations to include players still playing during the playoffs, or move the draft back to after the Memorial Cup to allow trading players on draft day. Cutting the draft back to 10 rounds, combined with contraction would limit the number of spots available making those spaces more valuable giving the league a more "elite" feel again for those being drafted. Allow for trading of import picks again.
No one will like most of what I suggest but in the end the league has to consider to they want to maintain a failing product and lose the entire league or potentially be faced with a competing league or do they want to improve the product and regain their reputation as the top JR league in the world. I don't think things can be restored under this same business model that has been struggling for quite a while now. They've shown they are having trouble keeping up with the competition and every year they are losing ground so it's time for tough decisions to be made.
First of all any kids still looking at going to school would not be coming with them.
Second any OHL drafted kids or kids drafted by the Q and W would no longer be part of their roster since their OHL/CHL rights would be owned by other teams.
That likely clears out half their roster if not more.
They would simply be another expansion team.
Any kids they draft in the future would have to make the same decision as any other kid currently drafted, do they want to go NCAA or CHL and if they want to go NCAA Chicago would no longer be an option for them so they'll be dealing with the same issues as any other CHL team. Maybe their reputation helps them to attract some kids that won't report to other OHL teams but probably not much if a kid is determined to go NCAA.
If people want to look at how to improve the OHL after this pandemic then the pandemic provides the opportunity to make some of the tough changes they need to make. To attract better talent or more top tier talent the league has to become more competitive. It's currently watered down and until they centralize the talent a bit more it will continue to go downhill since it's reputation will continue to become that of a more mediocre league. The selling point was always the quickest way to the NHL was through the CHL. As more and more kids are choosing education the level of talent available to the league continues to diminish. Contraction that allows for more high end talent ion fewer teams provides increased competition. Remove the limitations on imports that can play on each team and increasing the import draft back to 2 rounds, maybe even 3 rounds combined with a higher level of talent on each team increases the talent level further. Removing the restrictions on the trading of 1st round picks along with allowing draft day trading of picks including future considerations to include players still playing during the playoffs, or move the draft back to after the Memorial Cup to allow trading players on draft day. Cutting the draft back to 10 rounds, combined with contraction would limit the number of spots available making those spaces more valuable giving the league a more "elite" feel again for those being drafted. Allow for trading of import picks again.
No one will like most of what I suggest but in the end the league has to consider to they want to maintain a failing product and lose the entire league or potentially be faced with a competing league or do they want to improve the product and regain their reputation as the top JR league in the world. I don't think things can be restored under this same business model that has been struggling for quite a while now. They've shown they are having trouble keeping up with the competition and every year they are losing ground so it's time for tough decisions to be made.