What would happen if there is no OHL season?

[MatthewsMoustache]

How many of those taxi squad guys are big pieces of a franchise?? The guys that have performed at a high level in the AHL have these NHL teams investing a lot of money into them for the present and future.

Drysdale
Perfetti
Tomasino
Byfield
Kaliev
McMichael
Harley
Jarvis
Wisdom
Foerester
Perreault
Suzuki
Robertson
Rees

This isn't just a couple players it's a list of top prospects for these NHL teams. Why is it watered down you have never had this type of prospect talent at this age ever in the AHL a lot of those guys are going to be playing in the NHL and making lots of money.

We also see European players come over at 19 years old and hold their own every year.

 

[beastintheeast]

The big problem that lowering the age limit will pose is at the international level. Naw many of these players in a normal season would be available to the WJC as the NHL AHL training camps are at the same time as the WJC camp and the tournament is in the middle of the season.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

The big problem that lowering the age limit will pose is at the international level. Naw many of these players in a normal season would be available to the WJC as the NHL AHL training camps are at the same time as the WJC camp and the tournament is in the middle of the season.

I think those decisions would more than likely be a collective discussion between the AHL/NHL teams. If the NHL team believed a player would be better served to play in the WJC they would let the player do that. There have been a few players that have fallen under that lately. These CHL players that have performed well in the AHL this year who still have CHL eligibility. I can see there being a discussion about whether or not they should have to come back to the CHL for 21-22.

The larger discussion point can be why should 18-19 year olds be limited in what they can earn in the CHL as compared to the AHL? The NCAA has changed the game with the NIL (Name Image Likeness) and how athletes in college can now make money based off of jobs, promotion etc.. The CHL/OHL has a lot of thinking to do moving forward. Athletes can easily make a fair chunk of change in 6 months by playing college hockey and getting a nice side gig from an alum that runs a billion dollar enterprise. The CHL doesn't have those connections right now, and doubtful they ever do.

 

[Otto]

No surprise... Memorial Cup is officially canceled

 

[GindyDraws]

OHL still hems and haws about playing a season in spite of the cancellation.

They'll continue debating playing the 2020-21 season deep in 2022.

 

[MatthewsMoustache]

It is April 13th. Schools have been sent back to online learning. We are in lockdown until May. About 2 people get vaccinated every day. Cut it out and cancel this please.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

It is April 13th. Schools have been sent back to online learning. We are in lockdown until May. About 2 people get vaccinated every day. Cut it out and cancel this please.

I thought April 1st passed???? Live from WFCU Centre its the Sarnia Sting vs Windsor Spitfire July 23rd 2021

 

[Diaero]

I'm sure this has been asked ad nauseam, but what happens with the draft order?

 

[Generalsupdates]

I'm sure this has been asked ad nauseam, but what happens with the draft order?

Either you go with the same draft order as last year, or draft lottery. Really only the 2 options

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Things might get interesting.



Full fledged free agency???

 

[Otto]

Things might get interesting.



Full fledged free agency???

It's just one person's musings... nothing more

 

[OMG67]

I'm sure this has been asked ad nauseam, but what happens with the draft order?

I'm voting for Thunderdome!

 

[rangersblues]

It's just one person's musings... nothing more

Even if it was the case, not that many of them would have options.

 

[Otto]

Even if it was the case, not that many of them would have options.

Exactly, it's a huge risk to take

 

[TerryN]

Either you go with the same draft order as last year, or draft lottery. Really only the 2 options

I would do a random draw or use 2020 order, then reverse the order every other round. Thus if you draw last in 1st round you then draw 1st in second round.....

 

[sbpointer]

Random draw would be cool. It's the only way I want to see the Knights get the number one pick. ( of course the random draw would be fixed by Branch am I right guys? )

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Random draw would be cool. It's the only way I want to see the Knights get the number one pick. ( of course the random draw would be fixed by Branch am I right guys? )

There's no reason to trust Branch so you're probably closer to the real truth.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Things might get interesting.



Full fledged free agency???

I’m not surprised to see speculation about this issue. Back in late November, John Shannon suggested that more than a few agents were talking about “breach of contract and the OHL.”

There is a history to this, if anyone cares, dating back to 1974 and John Tonelli, a member of the Toronto Marlboros who legally broke his contract with the club to sign with the WHA.

The Marlboros tried in court to stop him but lost.

Why did they lose? It’s all about Ontario contract law and minors.

Generally speaking, minors are legally bound by contracts UNLESS the terms are not beneficial to the minor.

In 1974, Tonelli turned 18, wanted to turn pro, and was easily able to demonstrate to an Ontario Superior Court judge that the contract he signed with the Marlboros when he was a minor was not “beneficial” to him.

Ontario case law is fairly clear: a contract can only be repudiated by the minor before or shortly after he/she reaches the legal age of majority. That’s what Tonelli did, and he legally walked away.

Subsequent to the landmark Tonelli legal ruling, major junior hockey leagues changed things to prevent any other players from doing the same thing.

The OHL has ensured that there are clearly spelled out benefits being passed both ways, which means minors are now provided with “beneficial” contracts. For instance, clubs now agree to pay for a player’s post-secondary tuition, pay for the player’s room and board while a member of the team, provide professional training and quality coaching, and a bunch of other things that were not part of Tonelli’s contract.

This is where the (potential) problem is today. OHL teams are not providing ANY of these benefits to the players. In theory, based on the Tonelli ruling 47 years ago, players would be able to repudiate their standard player agreements because they are not “beneficial” to them.

The issue is not who is or is not to blame for what amounts to a cancelled season. Rather, the issue is “does the player clearly BENEFIT” from the contract.

I don’t expect too many, if any, players and agents to go down this road and actually repudiate the standard player agreements.

But it’s not theoretically impossible.

 

[cupcrazyman]

See you in Sept.
I'm going fishing.

 

[Otto]

I’m not surprised to see speculation about this issue. Back in late November, John Shannon suggested that more than a few agents were talking about “breach of contract and the OHL.”

There is a history to this, if anyone cares, dating back to 1974 and John Tonelli, a member of the Toronto Marlboros who legally broke his contract with the club to sign with the WHA.

The Marlboros tried in court to stop him but lost.

Why did they lose? It’s all about Ontario contract law and minors.

Generally speaking, minors are legally bound by contracts UNLESS the terms are not beneficial to the minor.

In 1974, Tonelli turned 18, wanted to turn pro, and was easily able to demonstrate to an Ontario Superior Court judge that the contract he signed with the Marlboros when he was a minor was not “beneficial” to him.

Ontario case law is fairly clear: a contract can only be repudiated by the minor before or shortly after he/she reaches the legal age of majority. That’s what Tonelli did, and he legally walked away.

Subsequent to the landmark Tonelli legal ruling, major junior hockey leagues changed things to prevent any other players from doing the same thing.

The OHL has ensured that there are clearly spelled out benefits being passed both ways, which means minors are now provided with “beneficial” contracts. For instance, clubs now agree to pay for a player’s post-secondary tuition, pay for the player’s room and board while a member of the team, provide professional training and quality coaching, and a bunch of other things that were not part of Tonelli’s contract.

This is where the (potential) problem is today. OHL teams are not providing ANY of these benefits to the players. In theory, based on the Tonelli ruling 47 years ago, players would be able to repudiate their standard player agreements because they are not “beneficial” to them.

The issue is not who is or is not to blame for what amounts to a cancelled season. Rather, the issue is “does the player clearly BENEFIT” from the contract.

I don’t expect too many, if any, players and agents to go down this road and actually repudiate the standard player agreements.

But it’s not theoretically impossible.

Imagine a player terminating his contract because he thinks he can get a nice payday then gets buried in the ECHL and loses out on his education fund.

Aside from that, the OHL has enough to go on that the overall situation is out of their control.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Imagine a player terminating his contract because he thinks he can get a nice payday then gets buried in the ECHL and loses out on his education fund.

Aside from that, the OHL has enough to go on that the overall situation is out of their control.

How is that tangibly different from being buried in his parents’ basement for the entire 2020-21 season and losing out on his education fund?

As stated in my post, the issue isn’t a “who is to blame for the pandemic/ OHL cancelation.” Sure, if it came to it, the league could walk into court and say, “not within our control.” But some things are within their control, such as offering unconditional releases from the standard player agreements to those who want them.

We do agree that none of this is likely to occur. But it’s not out of te realm of possibility.

 

[Otto]

How is that tangibly different from being buried in his parents’ basement for the entire 2020-21 season and losing out on his education fund?

As stated in my post, the issue isn’t a “who is to blame for the pandemic/ OHL cancelation.” Sure, if it came to it, the league could walk into court and say, “not within our control.” But some things are within their control, such as offering unconditional releases from the standard player agreements to those who want them.

We do agree that none of this is likely to occur. But it’s not out of te realm of possibility.

The Provincial government has already announced that money is being provided to the OHL for education packages

 

[swoopster]

How is that tangibly different from being buried in his parents’ basement for the entire 2020-21 season and losing out on his education fund?

As stated in my post, the issue isn’t a “who is to blame for the pandemic/ OHL cancelation.” Sure, if it came to it, the league could walk into court and say, “not within our control.” But some things are within their control, such as offering unconditional releases from the standard player agreements to those who want them.

We do agree that none of this is likely to occur. But it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Like the NCAA... one or two and out, which I'm not a fan of either, but reality is what it is and its getting easier to go the NCAA route. I'm telling you Otto there is going to be a real wake-up call for many US players and possibly a few Canadians as well.

 

[BadgerBruce]

The Provincial government has already announced that money is being provided to the OHL for education packages

Players earn 1 term of tuition for playing at least one game prior to January 10, and a second term for playing one game after January 10.
That’s in the standard player agreement.

Provincial government money is to cover scholarship obligations. Very few obligations were accrued this season.

 

[MatthewsMoustache]

Players earn 1 term of tuition for playing at least one game prior to January 10, and a second term for playing one game after January 10.
That’s in the standard player agreement.

Provincial government money is to cover scholarship obligations. Very few obligations were accrued this season.

Gold education packages guarantee 4 years post-secondary. Players on the roster also have tuition/expenses covered if attending post-secondary while a member of the team that doesn't come out of their scholarships. Not sure if that applies if there's no games played, but they are signed to the team technically.