Alumni in the pros - March 2014

[ACM]

Ferlin Watch 2014: Can we assume that Brian plans to remain with the Big Red given that he has not (yet?) signed a pro contract?

Too soon for that assumption

I knew I was jumping the gun a bit, but it appears as though everyone who signed a contract did so immediately upon their collegiate season ending.

There seem to be two bumps -- one just as the season ends, and then one sometime in late July / easily August --- not sure what that's about, maybe when CBA salaries roll over.

Might be related to the BA.  Or it might just reflect two groups of players.  One set had their minds made up to sign and were eager to get started as soon as possible.  The other set needs time to decide whether to go pro or not.  Once you've missed the end of this hockey season there's no reason to sign until it's getting close to training camp.

Academics plays no roll in this decision making process?   I don't know any player's academic status.   But some of these players turning pro in March must be abandoning or, at least, delaying their degree.    For players in that situation, I know they can come back & complete their studies at a later date.    But, to abandon that for playing time in the ECHL seems crazy to me.    Joe N. going directly to the NHL maybe....   But, Andy to the ECHL?

Cornell's spring break starts this coming Saturday (3/29), classes resume on Monday, 4/7. The Everblades' regular season ends on April 12. Andy (ECAC Hockey's Scholar-Athlete of the Year) is smart enough to figure out how to miss a couple of weeks of classes and still graduate.

[BearLover]

Do really feel that one of the non-seniors will jump ship? I personally feel like only Ryan is ready to make a move to the pros. The rest I do not feel that way.

It's not about being ready.  It's about what gives the player the best chance to have a career in the NHL (plus more money now).

[KeithK]

Do really feel that one of the non-seniors will jump ship? I personally feel like only Ryan is ready to make a move to the pros. The rest I do not feel that way.

It's not about being ready.  It's about what gives the player the best chance to have a career in the NHL (plus more money now).

NHL teams always think that a kid is better off from a development standpoint being in the minor leagues and focusing 100% on hockey. Making your perspective employers happy gives at least a little leg up in making it.

(The money doesn't hurt either.)

[ugarte]

Staying in school for a diploma or a class when someone is offering you pro-athlete money to leave is evidence of a brain injury.

[redice]

Ferlin Watch 2014: Can we assume that Brian plans to remain with the Big Red given that he has not (yet?) signed a pro contract?

Too soon for that assumption

I knew I was jumping the gun a bit, but it appears as though everyone who signed a contract did so immediately upon their collegiate season ending.

There seem to be two bumps -- one just as the season ends, and then one sometime in late July / easily August --- not sure what that's about, maybe when CBA salaries roll over.

Might be related to the BA.  Or it might just reflect two groups of players.  One set had their minds made up to sign and were eager to get started as soon as possible.  The other set needs time to decide whether to go pro or not.  Once you've missed the end of this hockey season there's no reason to sign until it's getting close to training camp.

Academics plays no roll in this decision making process?   I don't know any player's academic status.   But some of these players turning pro in March must be abandoning or, at least, delaying their degree.    For players in that situation, I know they can come back & complete their studies at a later date.    But, to abandon that for playing time in the ECHL seems crazy to me.    Joe N. going directly to the NHL maybe....   But, Andy to the ECHL?

Cornell's spring break starts this coming Saturday (3/29), classes resume on Monday, 4/7. The Everblades' regular season ends on April 12. Andy (ECAC Hockey's Scholar-Athlete of the Year) is smart enough to figure out how to miss a couple of weeks of classes and still graduate.

That's a good plan unless the Everblades go deep in the playoffs (which they often do).   If they do, Andy won't see campus again until sometime in mid-to-late May.    Now, that's a problem.  But, it's his problem and he's been the model student-athelete.    I'm betting he has a contingency plan(s)     ;-)

[Josh '99]

Staying in school for a diploma or a class when someone is offering you pro-athlete money to leave is evidence of a brain injury.

For a guy like Ryan Haggerty making $925k, sure.  The ECHL salary cap is $12,000 per week, so Iles is maybe going to make a couple thousand dollars before the end of the season.

[scoop85]

Ferlin Watch 2014: Can we assume that Brian plans to remain with the Big Red given that he has not (yet?) signed a pro contract?

Too soon for that assumption

I knew I was jumping the gun a bit, but it appears as though everyone who signed a contract did so immediately upon their collegiate season ending.

There seem to be two bumps -- one just as the season ends, and then one sometime in late July / easily August --- not sure what that's about, maybe when CBA salaries roll over.

Might be related to the BA.  Or it might just reflect two groups of players.  One set had their minds made up to sign and were eager to get started as soon as possible.  The other set needs time to decide whether to go pro or not.  Once you've missed the end of this hockey season there's no reason to sign until it's getting close to training camp.

I think the summer signings probably have a lot to do with summer prospect camps and what players are told/believe about their place in the organization.

IIRC, Riley Nash left pretty late in the summer after his Junior year.

[ugarte]

Staying in school for a diploma or a class when someone is offering you pro-athlete money to leave is evidence of a brain injury.

For a guy like Ryan Haggerty making $925k, sure.  The ECHL salary cap is $12,000 per week, so Iles is maybe going to make a couple thousand dollars before the end of the season.

And he can take Incompletes and finish his degree over the summer. The ECHL is effectively an internship more relevant to the future he wants for himself than getting his final classes sewn up this Spring.

[ugarte]

Andy Iles wins his first pro game, which sounds really great until you click through and see the score.

[MattS]

Andy Iles wins his first pro game, which sounds really great until you click through and see the score.

But doesn't look quite so bad after watching the highlights and see how he was hung out to dry on at least 2 of the goals.

[Josh '99]

Staying in school for a diploma or a class when someone is offering you pro-athlete money to leave is evidence of a brain injury.

For a guy like Ryan Haggerty making $925k, sure.  The ECHL salary cap is $12,000 per week, so Iles is maybe going to make a couple thousand dollars before the end of the season.

And he can take Incompletes and finish his degree over the summer. The ECHL is effectively an internship more relevant to the future he wants for himself than getting his final classes sewn up this Spring.

Sure, I agree with you that it's effectively a valuable internship, but that's different from it being about "pro-athlete money".

[Trotsky]

Andy Iles wins his first pro game, which sounds really great until you click through and see the score.

He must have been in shock when his team scored 5 goals; that cuts reaction time.

[sah67]

Scrivens had another game-saving performance last night, stopping 48 of 51 Anaheim shots and surviving a bit of 3-on-3 in OT where Edmonton got the 4-3 win.

[Rita]

Colin Greening has been out of the Ottawa line-up with a "lower body thing". However, that hasn't stopped him from showing why he won the Lowe's Senior CLASS award. He must of minored in Geography ;-).

[sah67]

Moulson had the game-tying goal in Minnesota's 3-2 win over LA last night. Riley Nash had a huge amount of ice time last night (over 17 minutes), and was Carolina's first choice in the shootout, but failed to convert in a 2-1 loss to Ottawa.