>>Merritt writes ...
>>>What's the news on Paul Kariya possibly entering the pro draft this June?
>>
>>Wayne Smith responds
>>Paul Kariya is so successful that anyone and everyone will cook up
>>stories about what he or someone will do after this season.
>>
>
>And Arthur chimes in with
>
>Kariya, since he's the right age, is eligible for the NHL entry draft whether
 he wants to be or not. The NHL's draft rules are different from those for the
 NFL and NBA. In those leagues, an underclassman who wants to be considered must
 declare his interest (and thus lose his remaining collegiate eligibility). In
 hockey, players become eligible for the NHL draft in the year in which they
 turn 18, but do not lose collegiate eligibility solely by being drafted. So, in
 June Kariya (or any other 18-year old college player, for that matter) could be
 drafted by any team in the NHL. He would then have the option of returning to
 college or turning professional.
>
>If anyone has a rational explanation for this, I'd love to hear it.