Prospects, and the future of the NHL

McDavid isn't the type to do such a thing and neither is his agent bobby orr. If he were to do that he would go back to the erie otters for one more year. The oilers own his rights, he can't become a free agent after one year off.

 

If he took that route, I believe he'd be a UFA after using up his NCAA eligibility. McDavid is a Canadian hockey player and probably what he's wanted ever since he knew he was special was to play in the NHL. He's going to make A LOT of money doing that, but the real payday will not come until after his ELC. He would be risking millions & millions of dollars by delaying the completion of his first contract.

EDM (& BUF) holds the cards right now. Their chance to be the ones with leverage will come three years from now when they're ready for their first non-ELContract.

He will skate for the Oilers in October, and he will make them a lot better. Winning the lottery won't prompt them to trade him, but it may enable them to be active traders with recent high first to get the pieces, (D & G), that could put them over the top.

As a Sabres fan, I would not hate it if Eichel returned to BU for a year; he does still need some development. But he won't for the same money reasons. Both McDavid and Eichel want to get their ELC's out of the way ASAP.

 

all of those reasons are true about McDavid not going the college route but he's ineligible anyway. the second you hire an agent or play in the CHL you give up your amateur status. a player can leave college to play in the CHL but not the other way around.

 

He's a McOiler, trust me.

 

The truth is that there are a lot worse places than Edmonton to ply one's trade, (if your trade is hockey). They have a great tradition there - that was greatly aided by having the Great One. Well, IMO, McDavid will be compared to Gretzsky once his career is over - now that he will be an Oiler, the comparisons will start right away.

 

Now you are trying to predict 18 years down the road Dan? All the articles I've read is McDavid another Crosby? And Crosby is no Gretzky or Lemieux. And I've been watching Crosby since he was drafted. I would put put him a notch below the 5 greatest ever.....

 

whoa, crosby not among the greatest ever?!? do yourself a favor, igloo - just go ahead and turn in your fan card

 

Cindy might be in the Top 10 but not the Top 5. Still has a career to finish and he misses a lot of games due to injury and his playoff stats are not exactly through the roof either.....

 

I do not. I think he'll be better than Crosby. We are all making predictions here, just as when you write: "I would put put him a notch below the 5 greatest ever". I've expressed my opinion, and I'll stand by it.

 

Well wouldn't that just be the biggest swindle ever if McJesus ended up only being the 6th greatest hockey player ever?

 

I detect a wee bit o' blasphemy there; that's o.k. because all's fair in sports and BS. My early bet is on him ranking as the third best ever.

 

i find that comparing players from multiple generations apart is futile. its like chasing your tail.

 

Comparing players from the same era is hard enough. But you cannot stop that train; people will compare because it's just fun, and that's what fans do. Beside, I do not think that people really compare Gretzsky to Howe - they draw comparisons and marvel at what both of them did.

In order to get in the truly elite "best ever" a player needs stats, for sure, but he also must transcend that and heighten the awareness of the sport among non-fans. For that, there may have never been a more important player than the Great One.

 

this is my take on this subject because Ive spent too much time and energy arguing (w/ myself mostly) and never getting closer to any truth.
I would agree that in my lifetime Id take Gretzky but thats based on my memories as a child and the stats I read today. I can't really put those stats in to the proper context because I simply don't know the context. Of course you can compare any player's stats vs their peers of that era but that still doesn't tell the whole story. hockey just has so many variables. and forget comparing the Cyclone Taylor and Eddie Shore era guys. Bobby Orr changing the game but only for a decade. Those Habs players w/ 8+ Cups.
Comparing a player to his peers is as far as I'll usually go but I do enjoy the back and forth from fans defending their own guy(s).

 

This short but important story is titled: TRANSCENDENCE
Around 2011-12, I was at a grocery store in the Lower East Side and I was wearing a Penz t-shirt. This little black kid (with a younger sibling/friend), maybe 9 or 10 years old, points at me and says, "Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby."
I pointed back and said, "that's right kid, stick with it."

 

hockey GOAT?

riley cote.

END OF DISCUSSION

 

Riley Cote or Sylvain Cote?

good work keeping the young brothers interested frank.

 

Comparing era's is impossible, imo......Here is a fact some don't know and that is Eddie Shore is the only defenseman to win the Hart Trophy 4 times.....Orr won it 3 consecutive times.....

 

Thanks I did not know that about eligibility. I wonder with the advent of possibly paying players if the NCAA will revisit the CHL and signing of an agent eligibility? I can see a day when the NCAA states until a player signs a professional contract he remains eligible for the NCAA sports.

 

i agree, they should revisit it mikey. the NCAA is a sham and the hockey having to fight w/ the CHL for elite players while being at a huge disadvantage is ridiculous. when an NCAA kid goes to NHL rookie camps during every off season they have to pay their own way for everything- travel, lodging, food, etc? total horsecrap.