I've always found it funny how schools speak of their ability to "develop" players, and how, conversely, the players go to schools which "develop" NHL players. For instance, the talk about BU and its "developing" of NHL first rounders Tkachuk, Lachance, etc. seems silly, yet, people still tout the same names as examples of a coach's ability. Remember, for every Tkachuk, there is an Alexandr Legault, Mike Pomichter , Billy Peierce etc. who is highly touted but doesn't make the cut. The better test seems to be players who come into the program less highly touted. The true examples should be players like Mike Grier, a late round pick, or (disclaimer: UNH plug to follow) a Bryan Muir, who came as a non-NHL entity and now is in the NHL (sometimes). Another example of this is Wisconsin and its reputation as a goalie school, ignoring that you give schools high NHL draft picks like Mike Richter and Jim Carey, and you have a great leg up. (BTW, the same argument goes for major junior, which claims to have developed players such as Bryan Berard, even though they spend all but one year prior to the draft in a high school program). HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.