From: nlu@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Nelson Lu)
Subject: Re: WJHC: Stats
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 22:34:12 GMT

In article <1992Dec25.192113.29517@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca> golchowy@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Gerald Olchowy) writes:

>There aren't that many players in the NHL who are 22 and under...pretty
>much only the exceptional talent makes it before age 22.  If you

How few?  I see at least these (and I am sure this is not a full list):
(These are players taken in the past 4 drafts (for '89 and '90, only the first
2 rounds, since that is all I have :-), who have played at least one game in
the NHL, whose age is known to me and not over 26)

Roman Hamrlik, Eric Lindros, Pat Falloon, Scott Niedermayer, Scott Lachance,
Richard Matvichuk, Patrick Poulin, Martin Lapointe, Tyler Wright, Phillippe
Boucher, Alexei Kovalev, Glen Murray, Martin Rucinsky, Dean McAmmond,
Ray Whitney, Sandis Ozolinsh, Josef Stumpel, Steve Konowalchuk,
Mikael Nylander, Darius Kasparaitus, Robert Petrovicky, Steve King, Dave Karpa,
Igor Kravchuk, Vladimir Vujtek, Alexei Zhitnik, Bill Lindsay,
Dimitri Yushkevich, Oleg Petrov, Andrei Lomakin, Dimitri Mironov,
Dale Craigwell, Mikhail Kravets, Andrei Trefilov, Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved,
Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, Jaromir Jagr, Darryl Sydor, Derian Hatcher,
Drake Berehowsky, Trevor Kidd, Brady May, Mark Greig, Karl Dykhuis,
Shawn Antoski, Keith Tkachuk, Martin Brodeur, Jiri Slegr, Felix Potvin,
Doug Weight, Geoff Sanderson, Mats Sundin, Dave Chyzowski, Scott Thornton,
Stu Barnes, Bill Guerin, Adam Bennett, Doug Zmolek, Robert Holik, Rob Pearson,
Kevin Haller, Steven Rice, Adam Foote, Kent Manderville, Jarrod Skalde,
Mike Craig, Patrice Brisebois, Byron Dafoe, Brent Thompson.

And other than Hamrlik, Lindros, Falloon, Niedermayer, Nolan, Nedved, Jagr,
and Potvin, I don't see a lot of "exceptional talent" in there.  There is
a lot of talent, but exceptional?

>A 22 or 23 year age-limit will also allow for at least one-kick
>at the cat for any potential superstar from any country when they
>are 18-20...and NHL teams, having such a tournament, might be content
>to let some of their younger players develop in their home countries
>in preparation for such an Olympic program.  The Canadian players

Why?  The players are already allowed to play in the WC and the WJHC, so why
aren't we seeing this phenomenon?  Why would the NHL suddenly change its
mind if the players are suddenly going to be able to play ~15 (exceptional,
for sure, but still just ~15) games extra?

>who have spent time in the national and Olympic team program have
>perhaps benefitted more by their participation in it than they would
>have by playing in the minor leagues.  Selanne garnered the largest

Why?

>And it also leaves open the possiblity of a properly organized World
>Cup of Hockey...

The former participation by the pros at the Olympics in soccer didn't kill
the soccer World Cup, so why would the participation of pros at the Olympics
in hockey kill a potentional hockey World Cup?

===============================================================================
"M. C. Hamrlik: Can't Touch This Lightning."
GO LOS ANGELES KINGS!  Luc Robitaille for Hart!
GO SAN JOSE SHARKS!  Sandis Ozolinsh for Calder!  Jeff Hackett for Vezina!
===============================================================================
Nelson Lu (claudius@leland.stanford.edu)
rec.sport.hockey contact for the San Jose Sharks