How Chris Kreider Used NHL Draft to His Advantage
By Michael Schneid
Hockey has a great draft system that perhaps the other leagues can learn from.
In basketball, some kids go to school for one year, because they have to, and then move on to the NBA. The NBA has a "one-and-done" rule. You have to be one year removed from college to declare. Some players are not ready for the pros, and it takes away from what is important, education.
In football, you must be three years removed from high school and declare for draft and once you do you can not return to school.
In baseball, you can be drafted several times in your career. Players do not declare for the draft. They are just drafted and then must make the choice - if they are seniors in high school do they forego college and begins their career in the minors or if they are in college do they stay or go. If you leave, there if no coming back. You go straight to the minors and begin your career.
The common theme here is that in football and basketball once you get drafted, your college days are numbered. Baseball is different as you can return to school but if you do you re-enter draft. Hockey is quite the opposite of baseball. You can be drafted at any time in hockey without declaring, same as baseball. However, the difference is you do not have to make a decision.
Let's user Rangers forward Chris Kreider as an example. Kreider was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2009 draft. Kreider remained at Boston College for three years and won two championships in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Shortly after winning his second NCAA title earlier this year, Kreider decided it was time for the pros and signed a 3-year contract with the Rangers.
If this was baseball, Kreider would have been drafted in 2009, again in 2010, again in 2011, and again this year if he continued to play. And given how successful he was, he likely would have been picked higher each time which may have ultimately hurt him, if he left college earlier.
If this was the NBA, Kreider could have simply declared to enter draft after his first year. And in the NFL he would have waited three years.
The hockey system, while it has his flaws, is great from the standpoint that Kreider was drafted in 2009 and was able to remain in college, free of pressure (relatively) and enjoy college while improving his skills. Pressure free in terms of not worrying about being drafted, he was the property of the Rangers whenever he was ready.
Kreider, who just turned 21 on April 30, already has quite a list of accomplishments. He has two World Junior Hockey championship medals (gold, bronze) and two NCAA championships at Boston College. In fact, he became the first hockey player to win a World Junior Championship gold medal, Collegiate Conference Playoff Championship and NCAA Championship in a single season.
And you can a few more now to the list - Kreider has helped the Rangers win some playoff games. The rookie currently has four goals this postseason, two in the Eastern Conference Finals. Not bad for a kid who was literally taking final exams a few weeks ago and has yet to play a regular season game. Think about that...Kreider has never played a regular season NHL game but is now playing in the conference finals, has been in two game 7s, and has four goals.
Perhaps Kreider can add even more wins and accomplishments to his current track record in the next month or so. But the future certainly looks bright for a 21 year old who, despite being drafted at 18, was able to develop and grow in college.
Hockey has a great draft system that perhaps the other leagues can learn from.
In basketball, some kids go to school for one year, because they have to, and then move on to the NBA. The NBA has a "one-and-done" rule. You have to be one year removed from college to declare. Some players are not ready for the pros, and it takes away from what is important, education.
In football, you must be three years removed from high school and declare for draft and once you do you can not return to school.
In baseball, you can be drafted several times in your career. Players do not declare for the draft. They are just drafted and then must make the choice - if they are seniors in high school do they forego college and begins their career in the minors or if they are in college do they stay or go. If you leave, there if no coming back. You go straight to the minors and begin your career.
The common theme here is that in football and basketball once you get drafted, your college days are numbered. Baseball is different as you can return to school but if you do you re-enter draft. Hockey is quite the opposite of baseball. You can be drafted at any time in hockey without declaring, same as baseball. However, the difference is you do not have to make a decision.
Let's user Rangers forward Chris Kreider as an example. Kreider was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2009 draft. Kreider remained at Boston College for three years and won two championships in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Shortly after winning his second NCAA title earlier this year, Kreider decided it was time for the pros and signed a 3-year contract with the Rangers.
If this was baseball, Kreider would have been drafted in 2009, again in 2010, again in 2011, and again this year if he continued to play. And given how successful he was, he likely would have been picked higher each time which may have ultimately hurt him, if he left college earlier.
If this was the NBA, Kreider could have simply declared to enter draft after his first year. And in the NFL he would have waited three years.
The hockey system, while it has his flaws, is great from the standpoint that Kreider was drafted in 2009 and was able to remain in college, free of pressure (relatively) and enjoy college while improving his skills. Pressure free in terms of not worrying about being drafted, he was the property of the Rangers whenever he was ready.
Kreider, who just turned 21 on April 30, already has quite a list of accomplishments. He has two World Junior Hockey championship medals (gold, bronze) and two NCAA championships at Boston College. In fact, he became the first hockey player to win a World Junior Championship gold medal, Collegiate Conference Playoff Championship and NCAA Championship in a single season.
And you can a few more now to the list - Kreider has helped the Rangers win some playoff games. The rookie currently has four goals this postseason, two in the Eastern Conference Finals. Not bad for a kid who was literally taking final exams a few weeks ago and has yet to play a regular season game. Think about that...Kreider has never played a regular season NHL game but is now playing in the conference finals, has been in two game 7s, and has four goals.
Perhaps Kreider can add even more wins and accomplishments to his current track record in the next month or so. But the future certainly looks bright for a 21 year old who, despite being drafted at 18, was able to develop and grow in college.
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