Everyone knows the system needs fixing!
Here are my thoughts:
OHL can only draft 17 year old players and older. No restrictions on number of 17 year olds.
NHL can only draft 19 year old players and older, and once a player is drafted, they are part of the NHL team or affiliates.
Provincial Junior A and Junior B has no restrictions, player must be 16 years and older. They are allowed 5 20 year olds (two of whom played for the team as a 19 year old as of September the year before) and two 21 year olds (who played for the team as a 20 year old as of September the year before). The team can only have 20 players signed at one time, and 20 is the maximum you can dress for a game. AP'd minor hockey players must be local and can play up to 10 games. AP'd junior players can play up to 20 games. No roster reduction on December 10th, but the trading deadline is December 20th, it gives players a chance to change schools.
Junior C and below, same player restrictions as the Junior A and B, but the 16 year olds must be from a predetermined kilometer radius of the Junior C and below center.
As for owners, they have to sign a 5 year contract when they purchase the team, with a penalty if they sell or fold the team in that 5 year term, thus they have to put up a bond. Exception is a community based team.
Just some thoughts, we can dream can't we. Anyone have any ideas.

I think in fact that a player drafted by the NHL must actually be offered and sign a contract within a certain time period to become the property of the team and/or affiliates.

I thought the rule was the NHL could draft 18 and the OHL could draft 16

Yeah I thought the same as Marvin

DUKES_FAN

MCole,
You are right, I am saying it should change.
Kids are being drafted at 16 by the OHL and only 4 can sign, the first two have to signed. As for the NHL, drafting at 18 should be raised to 19. Assures at least two years in the OHL.
Just a thought.

the nhl draft age used to be higher but the threat of legal action brought it down to 18. i think the argument was at 18 you were of legal age to earn a living and that a court challenge of the nhl draft at the time would allow 18 year old players to sign pro contracts so the nhl changed the draft age to 18.