With an increasing proportion of NHL players coming from college hockey, NHL clubs would be wise to consider adding more NCAA talent to their prospect mix at the Entry Draft.
A study from College Hockey Inc. illustrates the following points:
– NCAA players made up 31 per cent of the NHL last season
– NCAA players drafted in the 1st round from 2000 to 2006 (i.e. those having completed a career or still active today) produced a greater likelihood of a 300+ NHL-game career than CHL players (64 per cent) or Europe (49 per cent)
– In the 2013-14 season, of all the NHLers drafted in the 5th round or later (or undrafted), 48 per cent played NCAA hockey
– NHL teams averaged 16.1 NCAA players selected in the drafts from 2000 to 2006. Of the six teams with at least 22 NCAA players selected in that time, five finished in the top-10 in the NHL standings last season
– In several ‘redrafts’ (re-evaluated NHL drafts from previous years), more NCAA players were 1st rounders than the actual draft: 2003 Draft, 2008 Draft, 2009 Draft
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