as15

Get lucky.

I bet 90% of the player's that didn't stay at least 3 years, were 1st rounders or undrafted.

Unless you are a sure-fire NHL player, and just need to refine your game a bit, I would choose the CHL, but there aren't very many of those kinds of players. Most CHL player's play what would be there freshman and sophomore year's at the college level. How many player's are ready to make the jump to the NHL after their sophomore year of college? Not very many, maybe a few players a year, that is why I like the college route better. How many of those CHL player's would've benefited from playing two more years (in college rather than the CHL) before heading to the pro league's? I would guess an extremely large amount. What if Matt Frattin played in the CHL instead of UND? Would he be NHL ready after two year's in the CHL? Absolutely not, he was an above-average college player after his sophomore year, nowhere near NHL ready. Many players just need time to develop, college hockey gives them that, the CHL does not.

I remember reading an article a few years back saying how the CHL education packages only pay out the amount of tuition of the school that is closest to his hometown. So in Bittner's case he would get tuition for UM-Crookston, which is about $10,000 a year. That really limits a player on where he can go to school. You will not find many 4-year institutions that are less than $10,000 a year in tuition, and if he is going to finance his education solely with that money, it basically guarantees he has to go to school in Minnesota, ND, SD, or Wisconsin. I also want to say that the player get's one year of tuition paid for every year they are in the league.

With his contract I can see him playing alot of time in the NHL next year. As weird as it is, several NHL teams are very near the cap floor and have a hard time staying above it, the Islander's are one of them. Having an ELC loaded with incentives like Brock's, will allow the team a little more roster flexibility in terms of staying above the cap floor.

I would say right now it is between him or Nathan MacKinnon for 1st overall, but alot can change in a year.

The only reason he should withdraw is if he would be the starting goaltender for an AHL playoff team, which probably wouldn't happen. He can still sign and attend school, he just can't play NCAA sports.

Wow, I really feel sorry for a kid that struggle's that much with school. Hopefully this move works out for him as he really is limiting his options to just a hockey career. I could be wrong, but I believe CHL player's still have to attend High School while they are playing.

Ha I meant it as a joke sorry.

I have extremely high hopes for him, but seeing how David Rundblad struggled this year, who was touted as the best player outside of the NHL, I try to temper my expectations until I see how they actually perform in the NHL.

Who knows, I think all of those guys will be solid player's, but I don't think any will turn out to be stars with the only exception being maybe Granlund.

It seem's there have been more Minnesotan's leaving the high school ranks for Major Junior's this year than any year I can remember. I wonder why more and more are deciding to go this route.

Yes, Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, Zack Phillips, Johan Larsson, Jason Zucker, and Brett Bulmer could all make the NHL team next year as first year pro's. Only one of those players I listed is a defenseman.

I know they both will graduate HS this spring, but if one does come in I think it will be Caggiula. From what I have heard, Caggiula is a very physical forward so it seems he would be more suited for a lower line role. Tambellini is more of a high-end, skilled prospect, so he will would probably stay in Junior one more year. In 2013 he would enroll and hopefully become a solid contributor as a freshman.

You are telling me a former Broadmoor and MacNaughton Cup winning goalie, not to mention a former All-American, is going to lose his job to a freshman with no college experience and a transfer from Alabama-Huntsville? If Dell didn't lose his starting job this year with his struggles, and with a 2-time All WCHA goalie backing him up, there is no way he will lose it next year. He is not leaving due to lack of playing time next year.

I know he attended Montreal's prospect camp last summer and was offered by them last year as well. Apparently Dell prefers a Canadien team, not really sure where that rumor started though.

It would be almost idiotic for him to leave early for an AHL-ECHL contract. I would be willing to bet 100% that the contract Dell signs will be a 2-way NHL-AHL entry level contract. I'm not going to look into it further but depending on his age it will be either 2 or 3 years.

Frattin with the Gordie Howe hat trick so far tonight. It was was his first NHL fight, and got worked by Marcus Foligno, never thought I would see Frattin get worked in a fight given his strength.

Agree with everything you said, people are just disappointed because if everyone would've stayed, next year could have been very special, not that it still can't be, but unproven players will have to step up next year which could very well happen.

Jayson just posted that will be all of the news for today, everyone can stop holding their breath now.

Good point he is probably their #1 forward prospect right now. Strome is still pretty raw and they are in the process of ruining Nino.

I agree, the only thing holding him back is strength/weight. I would be extremely surprised if he didn't see NHL time sometime next season.

I don't think Snow had much to do with Brock's decision. Earlier this offseason someone tweeted that the Isle's weren't going to pressure him, that it was all up to Brock. Apparently Brock decided it was time to move on, which is very understandable after his big year. Best of luck to him and make UND proud! Thanks for your great 2 years.

Grimaldi on twitter: "No, I am not leaving NoDak for Major Junior's"

I have not seen him play, all I am going off of is report's of people who have seen him play. It just worries me that he has been demoted to the U-17 team when he is supposed to be a high end recruit.