How many Atlantic Canadians got selected last year in the QMJHL Draft? How did those numbers change over the last 5 years?
I’ve never been a numbers guy, but things haven’t been looking the greatest for awhile now. The “some years are better than others” philosophy doesn’t float anymore, especially where the QMJHL is heading.
With Atlantic Canadian numbers in decline and the talent pool narrowing the overall outlook and prospect of Atlantic Canadians getting drafted will only continue to decline if things don’t somehow change.
This isn’t going to be a temporary trend, it’s the new harsh reality of the situation.
Some will say that’s a pretty pessimistic or negative perspective to have, but let’s face it teams have already shifted their focus and resources to grow their scouting reach south of the border and why wouldn’t they?
Do you honestly think Q teams will continue to draft Atlantic Canadians just because? They’re going to draft the best players available. I know everyone will say they have always done that, but when the landscape was different only a few years back teams would target Atlantic Canadians in hopes of them to staying closer to home or if they knew they were going the school route to have their rights to possible lure them back if their plans changed.. All those games and back channel overtures are a thing of the past.
The talent pipeline here in Atlantic Canada is a lot narrower then than that south of the border. The US invasion of players and key free agent signings is only in its infancy, but you can bet your arse teams will have a shit ton of Americans on their draft boards heading into June’s draft.
I don’t have all the answers, but if things don’t change, Atlantic Canadians will only continue to experience a significant decline in those players being selected.
For countless years Atlantic Canadians entering the league have been noticeably behind from a development standpoint with their Quebec born counterparts. Now that’s been a trend and the harsh reality of that situation for years now.
People in this region better damn well get used to seeing less and less Atlantic Canadians being drafted. When the inevitable happens the blame game will be stronger than Darth Vader’s grasp of the dark side of the force.
So what’s the alternative?
What needs to change?
The writing is clearly on the wall, so what’s being done? What steps are leagues and governing bodies doing across Atlantic Canada to strengthen their programs to help player development?
This won’t be a trend, it’s the new reality, the hockey world in this region better get used to, change things and adapt before it gets left behind.
I’ve never been a numbers or stats guy, but it doesn’t take a statistician to figure this shit out.
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