UConn Players in the Pros | Page 2 | The Boneyard

UConn Players in the Pros

NHL clubs always think they can develop a player better than the NCAA. So this is no surprise and in fact I called it. Same route as Ron Hainsey who was drafted 11th I believe and left UML after 2 years. Is it the best route? I simply don't know. A year or two more putting on muscle mass in college would be very well spent. It took Ron several years to reach the NHL permanently and it only happened when Montreal put him on waivers to go back down and Columbus grabbed him. But you gotta think Tage has the best advisor in the business in the person of his Dad.

Yeah, I think it is 50/50 whether or not Letunov leaves. Slightly different situation. Maybe he stays one more year. Depends on what his club wants.
 
I think what has hurt UCONN hockey on the ice is solid depth. Our first line was pretty good. Big drop off after that which over the long hall hurts in many ways. Hopefully Max stays and has a Tage type season next year. If everyone else can take a step up and some of the new kids are as good if not better than some of the seniors leaving, we can climb the standings and win a game in the playoffs.
 
Didn't surprise me Tage left. I think
He will get beat up in the AHL in the short term. Needs time strength and bulk but he is talented enough to be a solid player eventually.

I agree that depth has been an issue for us so far. Not really surprising I guess.
 
While not unexpected, it is still disappointing as a UConn fan. Really had high hopes for our teams ascension in HE next year if we had Thompson (was expecting an opening round bye in the HE tournament). Now our ceiling is likely trying to host an opening round series.

If Thompson had stayed, I think we could have had a 'DREAM TEAM' type season that could have really ignited interest in the program in CT. Thompson could have been the first player to see his number raised in the new hockey arena in a couple of years if he had stayed another year and brought UConn to the top of the HE and made our first real NCAA tournament appearance. Oh well.
 
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UConnSportsGuy said:
While not unexpected, it is still disappointing as a UConn fan. Really had high hopes for our teams ascension in HE next year if we had Thompson (was expecting an opening round bye in the HE tournament). Now our ceiling is likely trying to host an opening round series.

If Thompson had stayed, I think we could have had a 'DREAM TEAM' type season that could have really ignited interest in the program in CT. Thompson could have been the first player to see his number raised in the new hockey arena in a couple of years if he had stayed another year and brought UConn to the top of the HE and made our first real NCAA tournament appearance. Oh well.
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While that possibility existed, there was also the chance that he came back, the team continued to flounder, and his stock began to fall. Right now, coming off another great year and a solid performance in the World Juniors, his stock was about as high as it was likely to get at UConn. While it would've been great for the program for him to stay, he made the best decision for him and his future.
 
brasssbonanzaa said:
While that possibility existed, there was also the chance that he came back, the team continued to flounder, and his stock began to fall. Right now, coming off another great year and a solid performance in the World Juniors, his stock was about as high as it was likely to get at UConn. While it would've been great for the program for him to stay, he made the best decision for him and his future.
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Yup. timing is everything in life.

(Btw, I have never been accused of good timing.) ;)
 
So I guess the tweet answers my question, but he starts right away with the AHL team in Chicago?? I didn't realize it was immediate. Can't wait to see how he does.
 
JeannoCT said:
So I guess the tweet answers my question, but he starts right away with the AHL team in Chicago?? I didn't realize it was immediate. Can't wait to see how he does.
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That's one of the fun - weird things about the AHL/NHL. You'll see kids immediately who were playing in college just a few weeks before.
 
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JeannoCT said:
So I guess the tweet answers my question, but he starts right away with the AHL team in Chicago?? I didn't realize it was immediate. Can't wait to see how he does.
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Starts right away. One of the perks for him, and all players, is that they can sign their entry level contract now and begin the clock towards being able to sign their second deal that isn't capped. So if he plays one game as a pro this year that counts as a full year on the ELC clock.
 
brasssbonanzaa said:
Starts right away. One of the perks for him, and all players, is that they can sign their entry level contract now and begin the clock towards being able to sign their second deal that isn't capped. So if he plays one game as a pro this year that counts as a full year on the ELC clock.
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So, the AHL is considered pro, not just the NHL?? I need Cliff notes for this.
 
JeannoCT said:
So, the AHL is considered pro, not just the NHL?? I need Cliff notes for this.
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I mean, it's a professional league. His ELC is likely two-way, meaning he gets paid one amount for AHL games and another for NHL games. The clock starts when he plays his first professional game, regardless of the level.
 
brasssbonanzaa said:
I mean, it's a professional league. His ELC is likely two-way, meaning he gets paid one amount for AHL games and another for NHL games. The clock starts when he plays his first professional game, regardless of the level.
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Thanks so much for explaining it to me. I appreciate it.
 
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Just checked in with how Thompson is doing in the AHL. No points in 4 games so far, but he's on a line with talented, but undersized forwards: Ty Rattie: former 2nd rounder back in the AHL after spending most of this season in Carolina/St.Louis' press box; Andrew Agozzino: 40 pts in 60 AHL games this season.
 
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FYI, I just read in today's Las Vegas Review Journal that the Chicago Wolves are expected to be the AHL affiliate of the new NHL Las Vegas Golden Knights starting next season.
 
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