TSN Ranks Riley Nash #33 for the upcoming draft

[redhair34]

http://www.thepipelineshow.com/clips/season_2/Riley_Nash_June25.mp3

[Rita]

[quote DILLIGAF]Might point was that edmonton isn't thrilled with his choice of going to cornell.  That is true.  To quote Lowe, "it's something they will look at in the near future".  

Do you think that there won't be pressure to play in the WHL?  He is a first round draft pick.  The WHL will throw a lot of money to entice him to play.  Is Cornell a fast track to the NHL like North Dakota or Michigan or Minnesota?  Absolutely not.  Riley Nash should listen closely to edmonton, they will say all the right things about college, but they will not want him in Ithaca.  It isn't the right college for a first round kid on the fast track to the NHL.[/quote]

I am NOT a hockey talent evaluator, so take this with a big grain of salt, but I find it hard to belive that Edmonton "isn't thrilled" with Nash attending Cornell. It isn't like Edmonton drafted him and then Nash announced his decision to attend Cornell.

It has been known for a few months that Riley Nash is going to Cornell. Given that his brother his there, one would think that Riley is very aware of Cornell's hockey philosophy and should have fully evaluated (with his parents and "family advisor") how Cornell fits into is plan of becoming an NHL player.

Also, Edmonton knew going into the draft that Riley  was going to Cornell, and should have a good idea of Cornell's hockey philosophy as well. I would like to think that Edmonton did "its homework" with respect to Nash and what Nash's goals are for his hockey career. Evidently having their draft picks play in the WHL is not such a deal breaker for Edmonton. If it was, I'm sure there were other players within 10-15 draft spots as Nash that would have been more amenable to playing in the WHL as an Oiler draft pick.

These kids are 18 years old, and for the most part I think it is pretty hard to determine how a kid is going to develop over the next 2-3 years. So as long as the draft is for 18 year old kids (and not 20 year old kids) my position would be (if I were the GM) to let the kids  play for the next 2 years where ever the kid thinks he will be most comfortable. Then, after those 2 years, evaluate their progress (physically and mentally) and how  they now fit into your organization. A lot can change in 2 years, to both the kid and to the coaching/management staff of the team that drafted him.

[scoop85]

[quote DILLIGAF]

Is Cornell a fast track to the NHL like North Dakota or Michigan or Minnesota?  Absolutely not.  Riley Nash should listen closely to edmonton, they will say all the right things about college, but they will not want him in Ithaca.  It isn't the right college for a first round kid on the fast track to the NHL.[/quote]

If you want to make the point that major juniors is more appealing to NHL teams than the college route, fine; but your assertion that going to North Dakota, Michigan, etc. would be any different for "fast tracking" to the NHL than going to Cornell is nonsense.  Ed O'Byrne will likely be wearing a Canadiens jersey in the near future, and just look at the Anaheim roster to see how much an ECAC career impeded the aspirations of McDonald, Marchant, etc.

[Drew]

[quote scoop85][quote DILLIGAF]

Is Cornell a fast track to the NHL like North Dakota or Michigan or Minnesota?  Absolutely not.  Riley Nash should listen closely to edmonton, they will say all the right things about college, but they will not want him in Ithaca.  It isn't the right college for a first round kid on the fast track to the NHL.[/quote]

If you want to make the point that major juniors is more appealing to NHL teams than the college route, fine; but your assertion that going to North Dakota, Michigan, etc. would be any different for "fast tracking" to the NHL than going to Cornell is nonsense.  Ed O'Byrne will likely be wearing a Canadiens jersey in the near future, and just look at the Anaheim roster to see how much an ECAC career impeded the aspirations of McDonald, Marchant, etc.[/quote]
Couldn't agree more. If you are good enough, you will make it. If you are good enough they will find you.

[ursusminor]

[quote scoop85]
Ed O'Byrne will likely be wearing a Canadiens jersey in the near future, [/quote] Never heard of him. ;-)

[Josh '99]

[quote ursusminor][quote scoop85]
Ed O'Byrne will likely be wearing a Canadiens jersey in the near future, [/quote] Never heard of him. ;-)[/quote]He and D'Brickashaw Pokulok left Cornell to sign pro contracts last summer.

[RichH]

More interview clips here:

http://oilers.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=322891&page=NewsPage&service=page

Basically, the common theme in the Edmonton media:  "So...Cornell.  Why??!!" and reading between the lines, "how can we get this kid out of there?"

I just hope all this attention and talk in his ears doesn't make him lose sight of the fact that he's going to have to work hard here and there's still a lot of development to do in Ithaca, and lots of great resources for him to do it.  It's obvious that Joe Edmonton Radio-Guy doesn't understand one thing about NCAA hockey in general and CU hockey in particular.

[DILLIGAF]

they will want him in the NHL in 2 years.  Your first round pick isn't a long term project.

[DILLIGAF]

one could argue he knows Cornell Hockey all too well.

[mgl11]

and one would be wrong.

Guy Flaming? is that a real name?

[Josh '99]

[quote DILLIGAF]one could argue he knows Cornell Hockey all too well.[/quote]And clearly you're determined to make that argument over and over and over and over and over and over and over.  We get it.

[bothman]

Not necessarily.  First off, the WCHA is a much better conference then the ECAC, so if I'm an NHL GM who wants my 1st rounder to improve, where would I want him to play?

Second, how many games does Cornell play in a season relative to the WCHA or WHL for that matter?  Again, as an NHL GM, where would you want your investment?

I'm not saying Cornell or any ECAC school can't send kids to the NHL.  I'm just saying that it does have some significant hurdles to overcome relative to other teams.

Plus, when you factor in Cornell's annual abysmal non-conference schedule (I know, enough already), that's just another thorn in the side....

[Josh '99]

[quote bothman]Plus, when you factor in Cornell's annual abysmal non-conference schedule (I know, enough already), that's just another thorn in the side....[/quote]I guess going 0-8 in four years of Beanpots is better preparation for the big leagues?  :-|

(Oh, sorry, 1-7, Harvard did at least manage to beat Northeastern once in their last four tries.)

[Robb]

[quote bothman]Not necessarily.  First off, the WCHA is a much better conference then the ECAC, so if I'm an NHL GM who wants my 1st rounder to improve, where would I want him to play?

Second, how many games does Cornell play in a season relative to the WCHA or WHL for that matter?  Again, as an NHL GM, where would you want your investment?

I'm not saying Cornell or any ECAC school can't send kids to the NHL.  I'm just saying that it does have some significant hurdles to overcome relative to other teams.
[/quote]
I don't think you're giving enough consideration to the level of talent coming in.  The WCHA gets the most talented players; therefore, they produce the most NHLers.  I don't think it has as much to do with the difference in actual player development between the leagues.  Good players will make it to the NHL regardless of whether they play in the ECAC or the WCHA.

[ftyuv]

[quote Robb][quote bothman]Not necessarily.  First off, the WCHA is a much better conference then the ECAC, so if I'm an NHL GM who wants my 1st rounder to improve, where would I want him to play?

Second, how many games does Cornell play in a season relative to the WCHA or WHL for that matter?  Again, as an NHL GM, where would you want your investment?

I'm not saying Cornell or any ECAC school can't send kids to the NHL.  I'm just saying that it does have some significant hurdles to overcome relative to other teams.
[/quote]
I don't think you're giving enough consideration to the level of talent coming in.  The WCHA gets the most talented players; therefore, they produce the most NHLers.  I don't think it has as much to do with the difference in actual player development between the leagues.  Good players will make it to the NHL regardless of whether they play in the ECAC or the WCHA.[/quote]

It would be interesting to see a breakdown, by league (or even by ncaa vs. minors), of how long a similarly-drafted player spends in the AHL before making it up to the NHL.  Does the average 30th pick end up in the AHL longer if he ends up going to the ECAC than if he goes to the WHCA or WHA?

There is perhaps a bit to be said for the "if you're good, you'll find a way to make it" argument.  The question, though, is whether it'll take you longer to "make it" not as far.  I'm far from an expert in this, but it seems to me that even the highest level of talent will go further faster if it's better cultivated.