I also saw the graphic in USA Today that stated that 6 college players
were drafted this as contrasted to 17 last year.  The first thing that
came to my mind was that anyone who is not familar with college hockey
and the NHL draft would draw the conclusion that the quality of players
that the colleges produce is going down.
 
As has already been stated, the primary reason for the low figure is
that most collegians are now being drafted before they start college.
Also, as Mike has stated, there are more and more Europeans being
drafted and the draft has been reduced from 12 to 11 rounds (and next
year to 10).  However, the recent NHL expansions have meant that there
are more players being taken per round.
 
I really don't know why USA Today chose to publish this information,
but then again, they publish some of the strangest statistical
information on a regular basis, often IMHO in a misleading manner.  It
is nice to see the attention being paid to college hockey no matter
what the form being used.
 
On another topic, I was shocked a couple of days ago, when someone
called a local (Washington DC) sports call-in show and asked what
effect Notre Dame's joining the Big East would have on their membership
in the CCHA.  Now, this topic has been beaten to death on H-L, but to
hear it asked here in DC was quite surprising.  Even more surprising
was that the host, Ken Beatrice, had the correct answer.  [Maybe, I
shouldn't be surprised, Beatrice worked in Boston about 20 years ago.]
Maybe it is meaningful and maybe it isn't, but I seem to be hearing
more about hockey in general this summer than in most off seasons.
 
 
Ralph Baer    RPI '68, '70, '74