June
24,
2004
Postcard:
Opt-ical Illusion
Rule change doesn't draw all to 2004 draft
By
Mike Eidelbes
When the NCAA
decided earlier this year to grant a one-year waiver to its rule
that forced college players who opted into the NHL Draft to give
up their remaining eligibility, it seemed like a no-brainer that
every prospect affected would take advantage of the opportunity
afforded them.
So it comes
as somewhat of a surprise that a fair number of kids who could’ve
made themselves eligible for this weekend’s draft in Raleigh,
N.C., without fear of forgoing the remainder of their college
careers instead chose to wait another year.
“Going
into the year, I planned on not being eligible [for the draft]
until 2005,” Bowling Green defenseman Jonathan Sigalet said.
“It gives me another year to get bigger and stronger. That
was the biggest knock on me.”
| Wait
'Til Next Year |
Pos. |
Name |
School |
2003-04
Stats |
D |
Steve
Birnstill |
Northeastern |
1-6—7 |
D |
Jeff
Caron |
Merrimack |
1-5—6 |
F |
T.J.
Hensick |
Michigan |
12-34—46 |
D |
Jonathan
Sigalet |
Bowling
Green |
3-12—15 |
Sigalet was
no slouch as a freshman, scoring three goals and 12 assists for
the Falcons and playing for the Canadian entry in the IIHF under-18
championship in April. The NHL’s Central Scouting Service
ranked him 55th among North American skaters in its final draft
ratings. He’s one of four college players who could’ve
opted in to this year’s draft but didn’t -- the others
are Michigan forward T.J. Hensick (rated 50th on the final CSS
list), Northeastern defenseman Steve Birnstill (61st) and Merrimack
blueliner Jeff Caron (81st).
Had any of
the aforementioned quartet decided to opt in, they likely would
have been selected this weekend. As evidenced by Sigalet’s
comments, however, it’s the prospect of improving their
draft status for 2005 that plays a big role in deciding to wait
another year.
"Sigalet
would have been drafted on what he had done prior to coming to
school,” said an NHL scout. “In Hensick's case, I
imagine he thinks he's just going to explode offensively next
year.
"Those
guys are slightly built, but really talented. They can really
help themselves if they have a good year and get stronger. If
they struggle, they probably go in the same spot next year.”
Sigalet’s
coach, Scott Paluch, agrees wholeheartedly with that assessment.
The opportunity to further hone skills, build strength and mature
can be worth the wait.
“If
you’re a pro scout or pro coach looking at a player with
two years of major college hockey experience, it can only solidify
their position next year,” Paluch said. “[Jonathan’s]
stock is extremely high right now. Another year of college is
just going to add to that.”
