The Pittsburgh Penguins, fueled by a lineup featuring more than fifty percent of NCAA alums, captured the 2016 Stanley Cup with Sunday’s Game six victory in San Jose.
Eleven former college players played for the Penguins in the final series, and at least thirteen will have their names etched on the Stanley Cup.
An NCAA alum scored in all six games of the Cup Final and as a group accounted for nine of the Penguins’ fifteen goals.
This record number of NCAA alumni to capture the cup this season is just another example of the growing trend of NHL teams placing the additional development time allowed by the NCAA at a high value.
Fifty five percent of all NHL free agent singings now come from NCAA programs.
The Sharks too had a fair representation of NCAA alumni on the Stanley Cup rooster with six former players.
Why are so many players choosing the NCAA development path? Why are so many NHL teams seeking out players who are taking the NCAA development path?
One simple answer resounds when those questions are asked. The NCAA development path allows players and teams more time to develop before having to commit to playing professionally. The additional time allowed not only assists the physical maturation process, but the mental maturation process and better prepares players for the adult issues they will face as professional athletes.
Thanks to College Hockey Inc. for information and the title photo.
