I think we could see a trend. You don't get anything by going into the draft early except a chance to go to training camp. That's an awful expensive price to pay just to go to a training camp. The argument against waiting until 19 is that NHL teams seem to be leaning toward Europeans in many cases because they hold their draft rights forever. This would give teams another reason to draft a European.
Younger players seem to get the benefit of a doubt.
There's been a small amount movement in the talks between the New Jersey Devils and restricted free agents Scott Niedermayer and Jason Arnott , although neither is close to signing. He is already college hockey's winningest coach with 871 victories. It's been suggested that he will stay around long enough to win 1,000 games. That may sound like an evasive statement, but that's meaningful for me. It's meaningful because you have to be healthy and have enthusiasm and passion for the game.