Silly season continues: Michael-Lee Teslak gone at MTU

MeanEgirl wasn't lying when she said that Teslak was as good as gone at MTU over on Siouxsports.com. Today we find out that Michael-Lee Teslak will forgo his senior season with Michigan Tech to sign a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Flyer's.

This is bad for the MTU Huskies and in a way it is bad for the WCHA because they will lose another top player. Not bad for the Sioux because they won't have to face him anymore. Goon's world wishes Michael-Lee Teslak the very best at the next level. It is not unfathomable to think that Teslak should get a chance to play in Philly because they have gotten some really poor goaltending as of late. I should know because I had Biron as my goaltender in fantasy hockey.

It also appears that the story on College Hockey News about Teslak's facebook entry had some truth to it as well...

While we are talking about early departures

Here is an interesting story that I found on line. I think the NCAA has to be careful because if they push this too far with the NHL they risk pushing away some of the top recruits that would have gone the college route.

NCAA to look at Hockey Departures

In today’s Portland Press Herald, Jenn Menendez writes about the recent departures in college hockey. It begin with the uproar over Kyle Okposo leaving the University of Minnesota for the New York Islanders in December. I find it ironic that this was released on Ojposo’s debut. The NCAA wants to build a partnership with the NHL so departures like this don’t happen again. The NCAA is going after the wrong organization. Excluding underclassman that leave after their NCAA season is over, Okposo is the only player in recent memory to leave for the NHL mid season. The up roar of the signing went through the roof in Minnesota. The signing had one sports talk host in Minneapolis (Puffy)to call in sick and in tears. I found this so funny. First I had no sympathy for the Golden Gophers for losing Okposo. This loss won’t affect Minnesota in the long run. I don’t agree with Okposo’s decision but Minnesota has other talent. They are a five star program and hasn’t lost there recruits. Sure there season was a middle of the road but are still in the playoffs.

Who should the NCAA make a partnership with? The Canadian Hockey League. There are more mid season departures to the CHL then the NHL/AHL. The CHL lures college talent to cross the border for more playing time. Like I said above I don’t have sympathy for the five star programs because they are all set for the next three years with top notch recruits. I do have sympathy for the mid major teams. Bowling Green had a five star goalie recruit in Josh Unice. In August before school starts he signs with the Memorial Cup hosts, the Kitchener Rangers. Where’ was the uproar there? The Rangers new all the long they wanted Steve Mason who was with the London Knights at the beginning of the year. They finally got him in a trade in January. Unice is now the back up. They stole Unice from Bowling Green. The only only player that I know of that departed for major juniors this season was Ryan Hayes who signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. He started the year with Boston College. Last season there were a few more.
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If the NCAA wants to have an agreement with the NHL to have kids stay longer, you can kiss all the top players good bye. The agreement wouldn’t work because current players will jump to the CHL. Some NHL teams will tell their draft picks to go that route to. It will hurt development of the US development system. The National Team Development Program could suffer where players would jump to the CHL at 16 instead of waiting a year or two if they haven’t decided if they would play college hockey or junior hockey. The United States Hockey League would lose their top players and maybe join the Canadian Hockey League to retain their top players. If that happens the North American Hockey League would be stronger though because the players who haven’t gotten drafted in the NHL would play there until they head to college. The NCAA and the NHL shouldn’t have an NBA rule and force kids to stay in college against their will. Because it will destroy hockey development in the United States.