Steven Stamkos question?

Players are eligible to be drafted when they are the legal age 18 and not before, so even if they don't play right away, teams draft them as prospects. Even if a team thinks a player is too young, they draft them anyway, otherwise they would lose that player to another team.

Once a player is drafted, they belong to that team and no other team can touch them ... unless they take too long to sign that player, in which case their name goes back into the next draft. So teams plan for their rosters for as much as five years down the road, not just for the coming season. Detroit is a great example. As older players have retired or moved to other teams, the Wings have had players developing for years in the minor leagues to replace them and the quality of their team has remained high.

The majority of players who are drafted don't play in the NHL right away and some never do. Tomas Holstrom of the Red Wings didn't make it to the NHL until he was over 25.

By all accounts Stamkos is an elite player and will likely be given every opportunity to play for Tampa this season like Patrick Kane in Chicago this year.

At 18 years of age players who are not yet reached their potential often return to their junior hockey teams (where they can play until they are 20) or college teams where they try to improve to make it to the big league.

Many players who are no longer eligible for college or junior hockey who still can't make the NHL team that drafted them spend several years with their organization's farm teams ... the AHL is one example.

The NHL Entry draft takes place each year when all non drafted hockey players between 18 years of age and 20 years are selected.

Players are drafted and signed or not signed depending on their circumstances on the hope that they will be able to make the NHL in the future.

As long as the drafting team retains these rights the player cannot sign with another NHL team. They are drafted before they are good enough to play in the NHL because some one else might take a chance on the player and sign them.

This years draft was known as the 1990 birth year draft. The majority of those drafted were born in the 1990 hockey year.

Now to Steve Stamkos. He will play in the NHL: this year. That is the statement made by his GM and owner. Should he play? That is another question.

Once upon the time the NHL believed that unless a player was 20 years of age he shouldn't play in the league. This was challenged and the league lost.

That is why Gretzky was never drafted. He was too young by NHL rules to take part in the draft. But old enough to play by court decision. When the WHA-NHL amalgamation took place Wayne was grandfathered into the NHL. Today the league drafts 18 year olds whether they are ready or not. Most are returned to their Junior or College team until they are ready to turn Pro.

Stamkos said he is going to work hard and earn a spot on the Tampa roster for the 08-09 season. Which he will play for the Lightning this year, I'm sure. Some teams take players who aren't NHL ready because they can develop more and get better in college, or they will get sent to the Minors or a junior league. Eric Johnson went to college for a year after he was selected as the #1 over choice in 06. Angelo Esposito who was selected 20th overall in 07, went back and played in Quebec when he failed to earn a spot on the Penguins roster. Not many players who get drafted are fortunate enough to play in the NHL in the same year they get drafted. It even took Henrik Zetterberg a few years to make it to the NHL after he got drafted, and look how good he is now.

he wants to play, the organization want him to play, he has to make the team, and i'm sure they'll do everything they can to get him playing this season because if not their entire campaign will be a waste.

the teams don't have a say in who is or is not in the draft. it's a lottery system and they all just have to hope for the best. of course they send out scouts to see some of these kids play and they base their picks on that and who's left in the group, but not all drafts pan out. they're still kids/young people, some of them grow and learn faster/better than the other. i think it's alright that not all the players can come right in from junior and step into the nhl because i like seeing how they develop. granted playing in the nhl would probably be the best way to get them adjusted but sometimes that's not the fit for the player and yeah they need to either finish playing junior, major junior, go to university and play hockey in a good systeam, etc...

is it a bad thing if i agree with nips. lol. okay i don't want to rag on the parade but i can't wait to see stammy play in the nhl and recieve his first hit because he's either going to outskate the player or he's going to get hurt so bring it on. he's not scared and he's up for the challenge.

Oh there is no doubt he is playing this year. You pick young players to develop into talent. Some are just not ready to jump right into the NHL and need a little time in the minors to smooth out there game.

Its pretty obvious hes NHL ready. Junior league play is oready way too easy for him. 105 points in 61 games, I don't think there is any more room to develop. With all the talent he has he will have to come to prospect camp drunk to not make the Lightning next season.

And teams take young players who can't play right now because they think they will be great players and they don't want other teams to draft them next year.

He will not adjust to the Pace of the NHL right away. He may collect a bunch of points... but like anyone that age, his defensive skills will be exposed in his first year. He will be on the ice for many goals against. In his second year, he will be more adjusted to the pace on the NHL and start to show that he is a good 2way player also.

Stamkos will be expected to step in next season and play for the Lightning. You take players who aren't ready YET, because they might be ready in a season or two. The Penguins had to wait a season before being able to get Malkin in their line-up, and look how that worked out.

whats up lady you're looking stable on your Tee shirt. yet whilst Jay is going to help the group a commerce of this %. ought to do greater advantageous than choosing Stevie Boy. he's not a Vinny neither is he a Tavares. There are some stable D men obtainable in this draft and the 1st for a prospect and a 0.33 or fourth %. could help greater. even perchance sucking Toronto in for Stralman and their seventh. The Maple Leaf faithless could evaluate that for the time of a heartbeat.

i would think he's going to play in the nhl =)