IIHF Study Opens Eyes to Development Dilemma
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SPECIAL EDITION November 2006 Volume 10 Number 6 Published by International Ice Hockey Federation Editor-in-Chief Horst Lichtner Supervising Editor Kimmo Leinonen Editor Szymon Szemberg Design Jenny Wiedeke IIHF study opens eyes to development dilemma CZECH REPUBLIC FINLAND RUSSIA SWEDEN SLOVAKIA A STAR IS BORN: These players (from left: Jaromir Jagr, Saku Koivu, Alexander Ovechkin, Mats Sundin and Marian Gaborik) are the faces of hockey for their nations and have made a name for themselves in the NHL, but how did they get to be so successful? Which development path was best? The IIHF Study hopes to answer these questions and more. Research determines that in most cases the NHL is worth the wait This is a special issue of the Ice Times as we devote it entirely to the directly to Wall Street trading floor in the belief that he will immediately or even recently conducted IIHF Study on European ice hockey players in North eventually become successful business executive. Some surely would, most America, both in the junior and pro ranks. We do it because want to wouldn't. address a concern that is vital to the continuous and future develop- Too many non-qualified Europeans in the North American system are detrimen- ment of players, the game's most valuable resource. tal to the global hockey community. An ill-advised transfer of a player under development has a three-fold consequence: it hurts the club he is leaving. In RENÉ FASEL EDITORIAL most cases, as the data on the following pages demonstrates, it hurts the player and finally it also hurts the development of a North American player who could ■■ Let me say this immediately - this study was not conducted to place blame have filled the roster spot instead. on someone or to find scapegoats. Rather, it was done to present convincing numbers which address a serious problem, so we can start correcting it before ■■ Make no mistake about it, the IIHF is always pleased for every player that European hockey players become an endangered species. has acquired high-enough a skill and maturity level that he can fulfill his dream to play in the NHL and earn a salary that will make him financially independent The problem is that too many developing European hockey players leave their for the rest of his life. The best players should always be presented with an home environment too early. They may have the potential of an NHL player, but opportunity to compete at the highest level. are not yet NHL-ready. And this is the fine line that the study examines. As the data from the study clearly shows, many of these young players can barely be Since this data has been gathered and presented and shows such an alarming considered NHL-caliber, but they are signed anyway and invariably sent to the trend, the IIHF wants to work with the National Hockey League and the national minor leagues to toil during their prime development years. federations to see how to best confront this problem. A solution is beneficial to everyone. Competitive and financially healthy European leagues will in the futu- This system creates too few success stories and too many casualties. We must find a re secure the development of players to the European clubs, to the NHL and to way to reduce the casualties and to increase the number of success stories. the national teams. ■■ As this is written, we see the same pattern emerging with the Europeans Just as Canadian coaching legend, Dave King, says in the interview on the back who left for North America for the 2006-2007-season. Out of 72 hopefuls 17 are page of this publication: we must find a win-win situation. A win-lose situation on early November on NHL-rosters, with no more than 12 having a significant can only go on for so long. Then it becomes lose-lose. impact. René Fasel It can be compared with luring a student from high school and sending him IIHF President 2 Volume 10 Number 6 November 2006 ICE TIMES SPECIAL EDITION: IIHF STUDY OF EUROPEANS IN NORTH AMERICA INTRODUCTION AND CLAIM THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION he following is a study based on research of European players who were drafted he effects of the above scenarios affect the growth of talent in the European lea- T and/or signed from IIHF clubs and who went on to play in the National Hockey T gues as the European teams rush immature players from their development League (NHL) and/or in the minor leagues and/or in the Canadian major junior leagues system to replace players who have gone prematurely to North America or who were (CHL).1 The research includes three categories of Europeans: signed too early without having the necessary credentials to compete in the NHL. 1. All Europeans with a minimum of 400 2NHL-games upon retirement, Hence, the natural time to replenish the European talent stock becomes too short. including players retiring following the 2005-06 season. (93 players) This hurts the European teams, their leagues, the players and the NHL, who will have 2. Europeans in the NHL or/and in the minor leagues between 2000 and less high-end talent to choose from once the development system of European play- 2006. (621 players) ers has been seriously depleted. 3. Europeans drafted to the CHL 1997-2006. (575 players) It is not to say that the 62.5 percent of European players in the lesser categories (1, 2, This study employs a 1 to 5 grading scale to categorize European players: 3-) should be cut by NHL clubs immediately and replaced by North Americans. But with GRADE 5: Superstar, trophy winner, on a NHL all-star team (Ex: Forsberg, Lidstrom, Jagr) a new awareness, a process can begin leading to the 80/20 ratio in the NHL, with no GRADE 4: Star, first-liner (Example: Koivu, Ohlund, Marian Hossa) more than 10-20 Europeans in the minor leagues (as opposed to the current 60-70). GRADE 3: Solid NHLer, plays every game (Ex: Zednik, Sturm, Holmstrom) With more accurate scouting and a patient approach with signing, the number of les- GRADE 2: Marginal players, frequent healthy scratches or callups (Ex: Peter ser graded Europeans (3 and below) can be reduced. Those NHL-roster spots can be Buzek, Denis Shvidki, Branislav Mezei) taken by Canadians recruited from the CHL and Americans recruited from the NCAA. GRADE 1: Non impact, minor leaguers (Ex: Jakub Cutta, Joakim Lindstrom, Zdenek Blatny) If the NHL found a way whereby fewer Europeans of the 1, 2 and 3- categories played in the NHL and fewer still in the minors, then these players could remain as important The major research of the 621 Europeans shows the following: contributors to their club teams in Europe.Thus increasing the quality of play in Europe ■ 62.5 percent (388 players) are non-impact, marginal or below average (graded 1, 2 or 3.) ■ and developing the talents of more players with NHL potential. Hence, using fewer 133 of these players have not played one NHL game. Europeans could be profitable for the NHL. ■ 286 players (46.1 percent) have (as of September 25, 2006) returned to Europe without reaching 400 NHL games. One of the most respected European-based NHL-scouts said when interviewed for this study: ■ 88.0 percent of the players with extended stays (100 games or more) in the minor In my opinion, the top European leagues have lost in quality in the last leagues are non-impact, marginal or below average (graded 1, 2 or 3-.) years. There is no doubt that this is because of the stream of players “ ■ 86.9 percent of the players with at least one year in the CHL are non-impact, marginal going to North America, where many players do not develop as they or below average (graded 1, 2, or 3-.) become career minor leaguers. One ensuing problem is that European 2000 - 2006 GROUP OF 621 EUROPEANS IN N. AMERICA “prospects have fewer and fewer role models in the European leagues. I am convinced that this depleting will affect the quality of the European players that the NHL will recruit in the future. 133 388 of the 621 players (or However, most European clubs accept the fact the best players go to the NHL and few 62.5%) are non-impact play- would think of denying them this chance to prove themselves and to become financi- ers graded 3- and below. Out ally independent. Many European clubs are proud to show that their programs have 233 of the 388 players, 133 have developed players who are of NHL caliber. not played an NHL game. One European Director of Sports and Player Development of a major club team (that has seen more than 40 players from this club only being drafted or signed by NHL club) said when interviewed for this study: 3 & higher We don’t mind when fully developed players, who are ready to step right to the NHL, leave us. We congratulate them, wish them luck 3- & lower and we are all proud that our program has developed players whom the NHL clubs are prepared to reward with large contracts. But 255 3- & lower/No NHL “what is bothering, is when the NHL clubs sign prospects who are games marginal players either on our club or on other clubs in our league. Either, those players simply don’t have the potential or they may Based on its results, this study makes the following claims: have potential but still have a long way to go.