Do you all think it would be in the best interest for the OPJAHL and players, if there was a Draft held in May each, year held in a town for all to attend.
And would you say this would make the OPJAHL a more competive league through a draft each year?
Only a thought, but i think it could benifit the league every year!
I know pain inthe butt, but if one of you could put up a voting poll to a OPJAHL Draft every "MAY" taking place in a different OPJAHL arena year bye year, it would be great!
Just to see if "Fan readers" would think this would benifit Teams/Players and the OPJAHL in a whole.
It would get rid of May prospect camps, and have teams "focus"on the Main camp in August of every year, bringing out all of their drafted selections to the main camp!
Sure there may be the odd walk on player,but the main focus would be their draft choices!
craigshaw45 (Login craigshaw45) Registered Members
Re: OPJAHL DRAFT
June 28 2008, 5:35 PM
may training camps are often times not just for getting prospects as realistically teams have over 100 kids come to camps to fight for anywhere from 1-15 spots. camps are a fundraiser for teams to get a head start on finances or catch up depending on the team
I think you would have many no shows and it would hurt the league. Andrew Cogliano was not going to Bancroft to play for the Hawks or to Hunstville to play for the Otters.
if there was a draft cogliano wouldn't have played in the opjhl if bancroft or huntsville had selected him. i think a draft would give everyone a fair chance at the best talent but i would like to see rules that make any player cut or not offered a card by sept.1 become a free agent so that the team that drafts him can't hold him if they won't sign him. if the player won't sign he sits until he's traded or changes his mind.
This would turn into an OHL type problem where some players would say "don't waste your draft pick on me because if you draft me I won't report". The OPJAHL would effectively prevent some good players from playing in the league. In an ideal world all players would report to their drafted team but, even in the OHL, this doesn't happen and never will.
Well you know if a player does not want to play for a club that has drafted him,yes he should sit out till a proper trade can be made, that will satisfy all invovled.
But you know if "Eric Lindros" would of gone to Quebec, and then they moved to Colorado, he would of had a Stanley Cup ring on his finger.
I dont like the idea of a draft for the OPJHL at all.
I do agree that some balance in the league would be a good thing and that this would be a better way of getting teams at nearly even par but again doing this would come down to money.
First of all, you have the players who don't report. One person has said if they are not signed by Sept 1 or don't report they are free agents. Obviously a player would just hold out until he got a chance to go somewhere better. Like someone said, Cogliano wouldn't be seen in a Bancroft uniform ever.
Next, scouting players is something the better teams in the league have done a great job on and their teams benefit from this. Some teams are able to scout all over Canada as well in the US and some of the other teams can't either A) afford to do so, or B) don't have the time.
Yes, a draft could have potential upsides to this league but there are too many problems that would come as a result.
With the current crisis and mistrust in Administration of the OP it would be folly to try and initiate a selection process. Maybe once everyone is on the same page again.
Without a thorough review of the details, I can not even image supporting it and with the discourse amoungst the owners at this time it may just be the straw that breaks the camels back.
It is only a suggestion,how to make this league competive every year, and with your imput could be the answer!
Sure not every drafty will report, but if you are a minor "bantam to major midget player", and without attending "May camps" for a shot at 1 to7 spots, would you not want to be in the draft without payment or doubt!!!
Why waste a players "time and parents money" for hopes and dreams!
Like i said "in this post", it is a way to make clubs in this OPJAHL more competive as you all want, without a Super League or "ODC DIVISION" lets work on what we have and make it competive, without breaking it up!
if there is to be a draft it should be for any 17 year old that was not signed to a chl junior A card at the trade deadline as a 16 year old. any 17 year old that wants to play in the opjhl would have to add their name to a list of players to be drafted. a 3 round draft would be enough with any players not drafted being free agents.if you don't report to team that drafts you they hold your rights for 2 years. if you didn't put your name in the draft the only way to get in is to sign with a team in another league (nojhl etc) and get traded to opjhl.once you're 18 or older if your rights aren't held by a team you are a free agent. since every team is only allowed 2 players that are 16 i don't think they should be drafted to give them a chance to get one of the limited spots.
attackfan,
firsly no player would report to ajax or dixie or streetsville and it would just be more embarrasing for that type of club as it would be very public. secondly it would probably mean more billetts that are expensive and thirdly it would require teams to have legitimate scouting staff with travel expenses involved. another cost that a lot of teams would not have in their budgets.
this would be fine in a twenty team league but not now as the bottom feeders would get worse without territorial rights.
Since ther is not currently a draft in the OP the point is moot however, since we like to discuss potential scenarios I have a suggestion.
How to deal with those refusing to report.
If a kid is drafted to a team and refuses to report, the team that owns his rights (the team that drafted him) should be able to do a number of things to protect their interests.
1. They could trade the kid.
2. They could offer him a spot on their affiliate lower team (assuming they have one).
3. They could play hardball and let the kid stay where he is. (minor team)
If the kid (or more correctly his parents) refuse all attempts to trade, sign or assign the kid then that kid should be NOT be elligible for the next season's draft and should not become a "free agent". The player's right should remain with the team that drafted him. (If he sat out a year and didn't play anywhere then he could become a fee agent). It may sound harsh but if a draft is indeed implimented the rights of each team need to be protected. If they aren't then there is no point. We must keep in mind that parents are the ones who's signature on the card is the most important and as such they are the ones making the decisions.
One of the things the OHL draft has failed to do is deal with these kids who refuse to report. No player should be able to hold a team for ransom and no player is bigger or better than the whole organization. Too many times a kid has made a mockery of the process while other more deserving potential players would gladly be given the chance to play.
If for some reason be it school, undecided plans, distance or whatever a kid doesn't want to go to the team that drafts him he should be talking to the team in advance making it clear so that the team can make appropriate arrangements such as a trade of selection order or something else. A draft is supposed to level the field for all teams.
Am I in favour of a draft for the OP? Perhaps but the OHF is the largest branch in the country and given the geographic considerations it may be impossible. A regional draft may be more feasible.
K2...an equal level playing field is important. However, the draft will allow teams to hold kids at ransom. There are too many teams now screwing with players rights as to where they can play. A draft will only make it worst.
You can "draft" all you want and there will always be the possibility that players will not report and for this league that will likely happen more often that not considering the very slim long term opportunities that playing in the OP actually offers.
I keep hearing about how teams in the OP are broke or at least not making any money. So where would they get the money to properly prepare for a draft with Scouting reports on every player eligible not to mention the tiny little sandwiches at the gala event?
Let's face it, if they haven't been drafted by the OHL then why would anyone want to become the "property" of an OP team without any say in the matter. Even in the OHL the number of draftee's that never see a game are sizable and the draft only works because of the huge number of feeder teams vrs the small number of OHL teams in the Province. Now if the OHF was willing to cut the number of Jr A teams in Ontario to 24, maybe a Province wide draft would work.
A typical draft has only a few purposes for a league:
1) To help balance the league by assigning the higher pick to weaker teams.
2) For teams to lock up players years in advance of needing them to continue their team building program.
3) It's a great PR tool usually done during their off season to remind people that they still exist.
4) Looks good on a kids resume to go in the first three rounds but works equally bad on the kid that gets picked 16th in the 22nd round by the Alymer Home Hardware Hogs.
You are all probibly rite, it was only a thought that could inhance balance in the league,and help minor players reach without May tryouts, (J"A" achievment)
Derby dogs list is a good starting point.
1. Balancing out the teams. Thats the biggest problem in the league rite now and is what caused the creation of the super league. If a draft can even out the system, its worth a go.
2. using drafties as future prospects with no choices would be wrong. how ever as was mentioned earlier, if the team does not offer the draft picks a card they could become free agents. As for the players who do not wish to report they would have no option but to return to minor hockey or perhaps a trade which would benifit the team and make them more competitive which is the idea behind the draft system.(note-money should not be included in this deal as money hungry owners would pocket the cash and the team would not be improved and were back to what we have now. trades should be verified by the league and kept a close eye on,)
3.&4. are minor grievenses and wouldn't be big problems as far as a draft is concerned.
The draft shoudn't be more than 4 or 5 rounds. After the first 150 players the talent evens out and should be classed as free agents.
Just to weigh in - agree with Puckpig - this is the best and the fairest way to ensure the teams have a chance of being balanced and competitive (depends of course on scouting) and it would promote the league throughout the minor hockey ranks.
Thank you playr, i also agree, with all that is happening in the "OPJAHL" this year,it would not only help players in the minors,but make this league competitive in a whole.
This should of been submitted to the league (3 years ago) for approval, but it was not, and now everyone is panicing, how can we try to "survive" this "League" and make it competitive, this is the answer (no other.)
If a "player" wont report to camp, your club still holds the rights to that player,and your club can make im sure, a possitive "trade" to make your club play on a even playing field,and also "trade up" on the next draft,wrong or rite is my question to all.
By saying this, it will "benifit" not only the minor players drafted, but all teams in this league, and not only that, but the "OPJAHL" many years to come.
I would love to see a OPJAHL draft held in "Ajax" on the home pad, and fill the stands with parents and friends to witness, a yearly event where ever it may be, in the "OPJAHL" home towns arena to host this event!
It will promote the "OPJAHL" and the "OHA" to the fullest, and bring back a "League" that was great for so many years, do you all agree?
If so, lets make this happen for the 2009/2010 season,im sure the "OHA" will "try" to make this happen for all involved, if we can get the "GM and Owners" of our OPJAHL clubs, to take it to the "NEXT" meetings,on a number #1 on the agenda!!
This could be voted on ,and make it reality for all May 2009,in a "OPJAHL" town, selected for our first ever (2009 OPJAHL Entry Draft!)
Again, i thank you all for your support on this topic at hand!
As a proud "PARENT" of young hockey players, i would be more than "happy" to see one of my "SONS", put on "any", and i say "any", (OPJAHL or OHL "Jersey"), would you as parents not!!!! (They are in hockey and loving it to the fullest)
After (7) "yes"(7) girls, i have a full "mixed baseball team" to kick "butt" any takers lol!!
I know, as i tell my wife (9) IS ENOUGH HONEY!!
Dont "try" this at home,(dam to late!)
All family (donations), can be made to,(CIBC Toronto) account# $$$$$ Help me! #9
Well, im sorry reader, some are not like you with great "spelling", but if you could show me, what i did wrong in my spelling, i will correct next time.
I did not know, i was back in school after many years, with the "bitch" i had in grade 4!
Maybe as an alternative to a draft a player can be assinged to a team team in each geographic region (i.e. where they live). Based on a list of rankings,a player would be assigned 1 team in each division. Essentially, four teams (one from each division) would have rights to this player. As such the player has the choice to play for one of the four teams that hold his rights. The rights would be assinged by the office based on a rankings list.
An example of this would be:
top ranked(i.e. #1) John McSmith would have his rights owned by one of the four bottom feeders in each division. John McSmith has the choice to play for the following Cobourg,Streetsville,Pickering,Villanova
Greg McJohnson ranked #2 would have his right held by Collingwood,Ajax,Buffalo,Trenton.
Teams would be allowed to trade players but no positions. Although I personally would like to see a draft the costs of billets and the logistics of it aren't feasible at the Tier II level.
"Although I personally would like to see a draft the costs of billets and the logistics of it aren't feasible at the Tier II level. "
If teams don't want to pay billets they can draft local players which would be no different for them than it is now. If there was a draft then a team such as bowmanville wouldn't be able to get all the players from bowmanville to ajax to play for them without drafting them. a draft would give durham,pickering and ajax a chance to pick and sign these players and improve their teams and the league also.
As a fan forum member stated, in order for a minor league player to be in a OPJAHL draft, he would have to submit his name on a pre-draft list, which would be recorded on a main OPJAHL scouting list for teams in this league.
He and his parents would know the rules, that he is accepting if drafted to report to that OPJAHL club as drafted by them!
I don't understand why you guys were slagging Bancroft and Huntsville a few weeks back. I'm not sure what year Cogliano would have been drafted but Bramalea would have picked before the Hawks or Otters ever since I can recall. Maybe he would have gladly played for the mighty Blues!
I don't know why many of you cry about billeting players,
this is a Jr A league with no limits on imports. If you don't want to billet players play Jr. B. They only allow 4 imports. Also the hue and cry about busing. Southern Ontario has the easiest bus trips in Canada. Huntsville which to most of you seems like a north pole trip, our longest trip is two and a half hours. In northern and western Canada JR. A leagues that is probably their shortest trip. If these kids can handle 10 hour bus trips and still get good scholarships I think our kids can a 4 hour trip. Jr. A is serious hockey and these kids want serious hockey. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
I don't think Cogliano would have submitted his name to a draft. He played OPJAHL simply because he had some control of his destiny this way ... probably why he DIDN'T go the OHL route. You try to bring in a draft to this league ... it will fall apart. There isn't the money in it (right now) to allow for parity. I don't think buying a team for your kid to play on works in the OHL ... but it does here cause there IS NO draft.
It won't work as things are. Maybe if this central division trial run works ... and catches on??? But look for a lot less teams in the league ... frankly, a different league in the end. All the 'lesser' teams dropping to Jr. B status????
But as things are now ... a draft just wouldn't work.
Well what you just said is a perfect reason why this league is unbalanced, and without a draft it will always be just that, the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker!
History in the OP shows that financially poorer teams and basically greedy owners will sell any asset they have at almost anytime, so I could easily see them selling off their draft picks for cash in their pockets and be happy to be "bringin' up them local boys" as a front for living in the bottom half of the league for decades.
The draft is a waste of time. Recruit the kids with a good honest program like Huntsville. They do it right. Good coaching , great crowds and schooling. Draft are for lazy dishonest people who draft a kid to places that nobody wants to go. If you run a good program you will get the kids. Just look at Wellington.
"The draft is a waste of time. Recruit the kids with a good honest program like Huntsville. They do it right. Good coaching , great crowds and schooling. Draft are for lazy dishonest people who draft a kid to places that nobody wants to go. If you run a good program you will get the kids. Just look at Wellington"
Sounds like truthman may have had a bit too much heat!!! Though I appreciate what he is saying - and Wellington does run a top notch organisation, at least the draft idea will help the "places that nobody wants to go" become stronger, better and more appealing. As mentioned in previous posts above, it works in the OHL and helps keep all on an even keel. If there is fairness and equity in the league then it will be much more enjoyable for fans to watch, rather than lopsided games. If a player does not want to play for the organisation he was drafted to, then they ask for a trade.
"I think the next OP star would rather play for Aurora,Oakville or Georgetown before what teams you refered to wexdog!"
You missed the point ... as usual.
The good players will not want to play for Ajax, Pickering, Bramalea, etc.
The top players will want to play for ST.Mike's, Markham, Newmarket, Wellington as well as the teams you mentioned Aurora and Georgetown.
It all depends on what you call a good player. There are two types.
Type D wants to make it in the NCAA ... he's young, never played in the OHL, and probably isn't a fighter.
Type P is older, might have played in the OHL but wasn't going to make it onto a team as an overager, and would rather make a few extra bucks and 'drop down' to an OPJHL team that is a serious contender.
When each player joins a team the average age doesn't change that much for that team.
Type D player would love to play in the new central division.
Type P player won't be looking to play in the new division, because probably none of those teams would dare break the rules.
