We will be discussing the possibility of an AHL draft on this Sundays Year End Podcast, but I would like to know what everyone's opinion is on whether the AHL should have a draft? There are definitely enough players left over in the prospect pool after the NHL draft, and I think it would make taking an AHL GM position all the more worthwhile. Not only would you have a little more control over your own team, but come trade deadline, when teams are out of the playoffs they would have incentive to move good players in return for future draft picks. As it stands right now, if you have a crappy team, chances are you aren't going to return as GM next season. With a draft in place, as a bottom placed team, not only would you have high draft picks, but you would have the ability to acquire more draft picks through trades, and have a good chance at turning around your team in the following season. Some will say that the "real" AHL doesn't have a draft, so why would we have one in LG. Well the "real" AHL doesn't do 4 days of bidding each season to determine their rosters either. I think it makes sense, and would only make the league better, what do you think?
Until the limit to move up leagues exceeds 2 season worth of games I feel there is no reason to have a draft specifically for the AHL. There are over 300 CHL players who can move up this season so the AHL will have plenty of talent to choose from.
It doesn't really have to do with talent, it's more about giving GM's incentive to stay on as managers for multiple seasons, even if they have a bad team. The players that would be in the draft, would all be eligible to be bid on anyways. It's just a way to give some more control to the AHL management, which can be a very tough job as it is right now.
I think all that would happen is some nhl owners not all but some would just use the ahls picks to since in the end they own the ahl team to so they would just be giving nhl more picks im not saying every owner but there are some out there
That's a good point michchas, the league would probably need to put something in place that locks AHL drafted players on the AHL roster or something.
I like your thought process but no because what's the point of the NHL one than ? Just gonna point this out not being rude or anything most common owners will send more than half of there draft picks to start in the AHL. Now we as owners have the choice to send them to AHL or CHL . So they can still be called up to ahl , NHL anytime while playing chl. It wouldn't make any sense giving the AHL a draft . It would cause problems and take away a lot of the purpose of bidding
Agreed with Polska, as there becomes more seasons and drafts, the pick pool will see way more guys starting in the AHL. the NHL talent pool increases every season more of those become players to be bid on. Adding 30-45 more players to the NHL via draft will also allow more guys to fall into AHL bidding, which is where AHL GM's build their teams.
Have the drafts totally separate. Have the NHL draft and then NHL bidding followed by AHL draft. Only players avail will have passed thru NHL bidding but still allows Ahl mgmt to be competitive and trade those picks at the deadline etc
