Why September 15th?

Eleven

Solid As The Sun
Sep 22, 2009
950
0
Ohio
How was this date chosen to make a player eligible for the draft?

Why not just go by "Turns 18 this year"? Is this a punishment or benefit for players born between September 16th and December 31st?
 

ES

Registered User
Feb 14, 2004
4,151
821
Finland
Of the #1 picks, Stefan, DiPietro, Ovechkin and Tavares would have been available in previous draft had they been about week older, so that didn't affect them much.
 

Cooperman

Registered User
Aug 25, 2007
230
1
Quebec City
How was this date chosen to make a player eligible for the draft?

Why not just go by "Turns 18 this year"? Is this a punishment or benefit for players born between September 16th and December 31st?

Because, pre-season games begin around sept 16 or 17, so the league as to set a date, sept 15.

Let's say that doesn't exist and a player who'll turn 18 on sept 19, injures himself seriously in a sept 17 pre-season game. That would be a mess for the NHL.

So it's all and foremost for insurance and legal reasons.
 

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