12-28-2018, 08:44 AMztevans Wrote:

12-28-2018, 08:23 AMO4L Wrote: Like Argar went 7th overall because he told GM's he wasn't staying down for over 2 seasons, this is just crazy. GM's shouldn't be expecting guys to spend in juniors for 4 seasons to even consider drafting them. Winning is supposed to be back-seat to first gen development.

This still blows my mind. I wrote about this in a comment on Big Slappy Hour but it'll have more eyes on it here, so I'll repeat it. With SHL expansion on the horizon (cant remember if it was officially announced yet, but it was a terribly kept secret), a first-round caliber pick (especially in the top 4-5) should almost be expected to be gone after one send-down season max because either they're getting drafted to a rebuilder, or they're getting drafted to an expansion team. Argar falling in the draft for saying what any of us in the first round (save maybe Karl, since he's a GM and is operating on a different plane and schedule from the average player) were already thinking and simply didn't say was, well, it was something.

This is also something I have brought up a couple times in podcasts. The Jesster is being awarded to players who are 2+ or 3+ rookies regularly, now and for some reason the standard for junior players is at least three seasons (making a 3+ junior). That is insanity and like others have said this is problematic for keeping new members because they won't be getting the type of ice time players back in the S20s got in the SMJHL their rookie seasons.

The Four Star Cup should really be secondary to cultivating solid members for the future. I have believed this since I have been part of the league. Wanting to hoard junior players for three seasons goes against that.