If there was ever a doubt that David Branch wants to develop Canadian born players first and import players a distant second, that doubt should be completely erased from your thoughts.
When Canadian Hockey League commissioner David Branch met with Hockey Canada officials this week, one of the topics on the agenda was that the 60 CHL major junior teams will consider banning all European goaltenders in order to give more opportunities to Canadians. While it was said that they wanted to give more opportunity to all “North American” born players, it is absolutely clear that Branch truly means that to be Canadian.
The proof they say is in the pudding. All of the NHL’s Vezina Trophy finalists are Europeans. New York’s Henrik Lundqvist (Sweden), Antti Niemi (Finland) of the San Jose Sharks and Columbus netminder Sergei Bobrovsky (Russia).
Corey Crawford is the of the Chicago Blackhawks is the lone Canadian starting goaltender left in this years Stanley Cup playoffs. With Marc-Andre Fleury sitting behind Tomas Vokoun it is unlikely that another Canadian goaltender will get an opportunity to play for the Cup this year.
The top goalie at last week’s Memorial Cup tournament was Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov of the Saskatoon Blades. Patrik Bartosak was the top major junior goalie this season. He played for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels and was from the Czech Republic.
It’s been five years since a Canadian goalie was selected first at his position in the NHL draft. A Canadian-born goaltender hasn’t been the first goalie taken in the NHL draft since 2008. Of the 24 goalies taken in the 2012 NHL Draft, only 11 were Canadian.
While much discussion has yet to take place, there is already precedent for the potential rule change. Major Junior teams are only allowed two import players at this time, restricting that limitation a little further will not be a hard thing to accomplish. Many involved expect the rule change to pass and be implemented in the 2014-2015 season.
Will the rule change actually change the state of Canadian born goaltender development?
While it may place an immediate focus on the players getting the added opportunity to play Major Junior Hockey, it is unlikely to have a long lasting effect on the true development of players.
With increased import player numbers allowed in United States based junior leagues like the USHL and NAHL, those European goaltenders that would have come to the CHL can simply take their game south of the Canadian border. This could continue the trend of accelerated growth of hockey in the United States.
A rule change such as this has the potential to adversely effect Major Junior hockey at every position. Players want to play with and against the best players in the world. If some of those start heading to the United States, because of a rule change, others are sure to follow. Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it.
