I agree that it's frustrating to see players leaving early, but I can understand why it happens. Even if you're going to start out in the minors, there's still that chance of getting called up and earning a job with the big club, and that's got a lot to do with why players go early. Something could happen (injuries) and they might not get that chance again, while you can always finish your degree. That's why I have a lot of respect for those players who work to get their degree in the off-season after turning pro, and there are a lot of them. Basically, a player has to do what's best for him, and I can't fault anyone for that. I don't think we'll see this situation change much in the future. The NHL probably won't change the way it drafts significantly in the future (except for what may happen with the new CBA), meaning players will still always have that option to either turn pro or go to college. And the NC$$ has recognized this, as they're allowing players to negotiate contracts but still return to school if no deal is signed. If anything, it is most frustrating for the coaches. They recruit players with the hope that they'll be around for all four years, but there's no guarantee. Sometimes you sign a player knowing full well that he won't be around more than a year or two. Good examples of this are the Ferraros, Kariya, Amonte, and Leetch. Probably the most difficult thing is when the coach doesn't know until late summer whether the player will return, because if he goes, that scholarship is suddenly available but it's usually too late to offer it to someone else. --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors *HMN* 11/13/93 (All opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.)