KTF

Actually only Euros must now be signed within 2 years of being drafted. Both MJ and NCAA players will have a 4 year window before becoming UFA. The difference for college hockey in the new CBA is that they no longer have to wait an entire season after graduating from college to become UFA. They simply have to finish their senior year and thats it. That is why you will see NHL clubs pull the trigger sooner to sign their NCAA players.

You are aware that the CBA you posted is the old one aren't you? Under the new CBA, a player not signed by his senior year will in effect become an UFA by August and before NHL camps open. If Oshie were to play his senior year, the Blues would have only until August to sign him. All Oshie would have to do is wait them out, become a UFA and sign with what ever team he wants to before the start of the season. The chances of the Blues letting that happen are very slim and as a result will sign Oshie before his senior year. My bet is before his Junior year, just to be on the safe side.

I think what many people are forgetting is the new CBA will actually spur more players to leave early. Someone like Drew may hang around because he is under the old CBA but T.J will be under intense pressure to sign probably after his sophmore year. Remember that if players aren't signed before their senior year, they become UFA at the completion of their last year. I have heard the Wild's GM on TV stating that you will see very many players being signed from the college ranks after their sophmore and junior seasons because of this.

The Golden Bears are the defending CIS champions but it looks like they lost a good part of their team and are in a rebuilding mode. I don't know how much better they are than Manitoba but they lost to Sasketewan 3-1 before their game against the Gophs.

Manitoba beat the Beavers last night 5-3. Maybe the Bisons will give the Sioux a game?

Ran across a blurb that said the bisons will actually be playing an AHL team before they take on the Sioux and that they beat the Vancouver Canucks rookie team. So a couple of questions here. How in the heck can a Canadian University team compete against an AHL team when they get blown out by NCAA teams?!? Have they lost their minds in agreeing to play an AHL team?!?!? Or perhaps are they greatly improved and will they give the Sioux a run for their money and perhaps even beat them?