How big a loss is Shane?

[jtwcornell91]

Wonder what Red Berenson has to say about this...

[Brian]

Here is an article out of the Ithaca Journal that quotes Schafer saying that he had no knowledge of Shanes signing until he told them a couple of days after he signed.  Shane also talks about some of the conversations he has had with the Ducks.

http://www.ithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050820/SPORTS/508200329/1006

[jas27]

Here's the link to the article I was referring to in my earlier post.  It's about 2/3 of the way down.

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2005/08/21/bruins_green_along_blue_line/?page=full

[Steve M]

[Q]jas27 Wrote:

 Sounds like we'll be seeing even more of this down the road.  I wonder what a NHL 3rd liner, let's say a Marty Reasoner, for example would say?  Was it 'worth' it to leave the college game for a 'jump' at the AHL and a checking role in the NHL, or looking back would he stay at BC for a run at championship, and the pure enjoyment of college (stress on the non-college-hockey benefits as well)?   [/q]

I've been wondering the same thing myself.  With Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Chris Kunitz, and the #2 pick of this year's draft, Bobby Ryan, the Ducks are stacked with young talent at the forward position.  So Hynes, unfortunately, may be spending a lot of time in Portland before he makes it to the NHL for more than a game or two at a time.  I think it could help him financially if he does make it at as an NHL player because he gets the 3 year entry contract done a year sooner.  If I were in his shoes, I'd much rather be an impact player on the Big Red with a good shot at a national title next year than playing for the Portland Pirates of the AHL, but I haven't spent the countless hours he has training to get himself in a position to achieve a life long dream.

Anyway, these quotes aren't surprising and I wish the best for him:
 â€œI have mixed feelings, but I think it is the right path for me to take at this time,” said Hynes.

“This was probably the toughest thing I ever had to do in my life,” he added. “It has been the best three years of my life (at Cornell). I plan to keep close ties with the players, the coaches, the program.”

[Steve M]

Good article.  Thanks for the link.

[ninian '72]

Red's disappointed about it but seems to accept this will be SOP for the immediate future:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/aanews/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1124203249231190.xml&coll=2&thispage=1

[KeithK]

I wonder if this will affect the balance of power in the NCAA in any way?  Do Michigan, Minny, etc. have to recruit more if the mid range talent because their blue cippers leave early?  Or maybe removing some of the blue chip talent from the college game reduces the gap between top and bottom?  In the short term (this year and maybe next) it probably hurts some of the better teams because of unexpected, late departures like Hynes and Tambellini.  But I don't know about longer term.  Thoughts?

[David Harding]

I distinctly remember (though perhaps incorrectly) an interview during his freshman year when he said something to the effect that college hockey was great, you spend a couple of years taking your game to the next level, then you turn pro.  It certainly sounded to me then as though he didn't think of Cornell as a four-year commitment.

[Trotsky]

[Q]KeithK Wrote:

I wonder if this will affect the balance of power in the NCAA in any way?  Do Michigan, Minny, etc. have to recruit more if the mid range talent because their blue cippers leave early?  Or maybe removing some of the blue chip talent from the college game reduces the gap between top and bottom?  In the short term (this year and maybe next) it probably hurts some of the better teams because of unexpected, late departures like Hynes and Tambellini.  But I don't know about longer term.  Thoughts?[/q]

Compare college hoops.  As first junior, then sophomore, and now even freshman defections have become progessively more common, how has it affected the Usual Suspects?  It doesn't seem to have produced any great leveling.  The most significant effect seems to be more turnover between the top 10% and the next 10%, as programs cycle between the tiers.  I heard an interview with Roy Williams on the John Thompson Show today in which he opined that the major change in hoops has been that you now plan to recruit on a 2- rather than 4-year cycle for each position player.

Let's hope that the same reasons that induce a player to come to an Ivy rather than a Jock Factory will also work to decrease the likelihood of those players moving on as quickly.

[ursusminor]

[Q]Trotsky Wrote:

Let's hope that the same reasons that induce a player to come to an Ivy rather than a Jock Factory will also work to decrease the likelihood of those players moving on as quickly.[/q] Greg,

I have no doubt that a hockey player at an Ivy will be less likely to turn pro than a player of equal hockey-talent at a Jock School. Those who do turn pro will turn pro later than those at the Jock School. Be that as it may, there will be some players who will turn pro early at any school that can attract pro-caliber hockey players. The question is, does one want a Leneveu or a Hynes who turns pro early rather than one of lesser talent who stays for four years? I suspect that I know the answer. :-)

Another question is will Hynes be motivated enough to complete his degree at Cornell (or elsewhere) over summers?

[KeithK]

Well, if this does create more turn over between the top 10% and the next 10% in college hockey I think it may well be a good thing.

[ninian '72]

It may also work the opposite way, in that blue-chippers see committing to top-ranked teams that lose players to the pros early as a fast track to the NHL.  Rather than having to recruit lesser players to stabilize the program, these teams may be better able to recruit more of these short-timers.  What this does to team chemistry is another question.  It may make it more difficult to build a system and develop players within that mold, if they're not around very long and if their focus is on what they need to do to get beyond their college experience.

I know Berenson hates it when he loses players early, but he'll work with his better players in evaluating when they're ready to leave.  He's not on good terms with several former players who bolted early without keeping him in the loop.

[profudge]

Patrick Eaves left BC to sign a contract  before his senior year -  see:    TSN.ca   [Q]22-Aug-05:     Signed by the Ottawa Senators to a three-year, entry-level contract.[/Q]

[jy3]

that stinks for the team, but congrats to shane. Hope he learns the flying V (j/k ::nut:: ) . a day after my wife and I were talking about college athletes leaving early...

[profudge]

Also  Maine goalie Jimmy Howard has signed a professional contract with the Detroit Red Wings and will not return for his senior season.  see USCHO