The Lions' Pride

Again, here is the Google Map (similar to the football offers one) with all of the commits hometowns: http://tinyurl.com/PSUHockeyMap

Then there is an eligibility matrix to see how many guys are committed by year, and includes links to stories about each player: http://tinyurl.com/PSUHockeyMatrix

No problem, NCAA college hockey is new around these parts.

When the Blues drafted Gardiner, they didn't sign him which allows him to continue playing amateur hockey, whether that is at the junior level or at the NCAA level. They still hold the rights to Gardiner after selecting him in 2010, and are now just watching his progression.

If a player is not signed by the NHL team that drafted him within two years of being selected, can re-enter the draft, as long as he is 20 years old or younger at the time of the subsequent draft. Players over 20 become unrestricted free agents.

NCAA players are an exception: NHL teams retain the rights to a college player until 30 days after the player has left college, whether that is due to graduation or leaving early for the NHL.

I think Gardiner was quoted as being unahppy with the playing time at Minnesota. Not sure if he was a scratch for some games or left to go to the USHL midseason, but I know he only played 17 games that year. Either he wasn't even getting into the lineup or he was tired of the low minutes.

Either way, I think he is still a legit NHL prospect if he can improve at PSU. He has good size and you don't become a finalist for Mr. Hockey in Minnesota without some talent.

A lot of prospects that go the US college route will still go pro, they are just taking a different route that takes about the same length of time.

Many (if not most) Jr players in Canada will spend a few years in the minors before they get called up to the NHL. So Jr until 20 then AHL until sometime in their 20's. College kids do school until 21 or 22 then AHL until mid 20's. The stars may go straight to the NHL, but most prospects take their full jr time and a few years in the AHL. A college star can also make the jump straight from college to the NHL but it is prob a little more rare. IMO that is b/c most that are that good know it and hit the JR A route at 16 and don't plan to go the college route.