Presently, many incoming college freshman hockey players have already been
drafted by NHL teams, since the NHL draft age was 18.  Under the new NHL
settlement, the draft age has been changed to 19, "with 18 year olds having
the right to elect to be drafted".
 
NCAA Rule 12.2.4 states: "An individual loses amateur status in a particular
sport when the individual asks to be placed on the draft list or supplemental
draft list of a professional league in that sport..."  An exception to this
rule was enacted in 1994 for the NBA basketball draft, but for no other
sport.
 
It therefore appears that an 18 year old hockey player who intends to play
college hockey will not be able to "elect to be drafted" as an 18 year old,
but instead will now have to wait another year to be drafted.
 
I wonder if the NHL and the NHLPA had recognized this when they changed the
draft age.