It’s my Parting Shot for a follow-up to what I was talking about Tuesday when it comes to how young hockey athletes, their parents and agents are running the sport’s development show…..
On Tuesday, I discussed how the N-C-Double-A rule change allowing their member schools to recruit C-H-L players, with the help of scads of name, image and likeness – or N-I-L – money, who were previously thought to be professionals.
Now, they really are!
Add in the expected rule change by the N-H-L at the Board of Governors meeting this summer to allow their teams to send 19-year-old prospects to an American League affiliate and the C-H-L is going to take another bit of a hit when it comes to their talent level. The big question remains with this rule change is will all 19-year-old prospects signed by an N-H-L team be allowed to be sent to the A-H-L, instead of to their C-H-L team or just one, 19-year-old player per team?
Count me as being hopeful for the latter option, for the sake of the W-H-L!
Having said all that, the thrust of today’s discussion deals with how the now-powerful player-parent-agent combo is going to work the system. Let me use the Prince Albert Raiders as a potential example of what could occur…
P-A fans should not expect to see Braeden Cootes back next season. He was a half-season rental when acquired from Seattle. Even though he will be 19 next season, Cootes is almost certain to be assigned by Vancouver, who selected him in the first round of last year’s N-H-L Draft, to the Canucks’ A-H-L affiliate in Abbotsford.
Here’s where the system might now get used, and screw over C-H-L teams. What if I told Raiders’ fans that stud defenceman Daxon Rudolph isn’t ever likely to wear Green again?! Rudolph is going to be a first round pick in this year’s N-H-L Draft. The team that picks him, tells Rudolph he won’t be considered for a spot on their roster in 2026-27, but may suggest – along with his agent – to commit to an N-C-Double-A school for his 18-year-old season, then play in the A-H-L as a 19-year-old because he’ll be allowed to by the new N-H-L rules!
I’m just using Daxon Rudolph as an example of what could happen. I’m not saying it’s going to for sure, but that’s the potential of what could happen in today’s changed hockey landscape for young up-and-comers!
It’s also why Prince Albert G-M Curtis Hunt made the moves he did this season in order to go after a third W-H-L title in franchise history, something they may just get!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
