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3d ago

NCAA Opens Door to CHL Players, Nearly 325 Commit to Division I

The change gives prospects more flexibility, expanding NHL evaluation windows.

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The path south is familiar for Canadian players like Cale Makar. The two-time Norris Trophy winner left his Calgary hometown to spend two years playing for the Minutemen and was voted college hockey's MVP in 2019.

Overview

  • Penn State landed elite WHL forward Gavin McKenna, a projected 2026 No. 1 NHL draft pick, underscoring the early shift in talent.
  • The NHL standardized prospect-rights retention to a player's 22nd birthday, replacing shorter CHL signing windows.
  • College coaches anticipate deeper lineups and significant turnover as incoming CHL players push veterans for ice time.
  • Players no longer must choose their path before age 16, since CHL participation no longer disqualifies them from U.S. college hockey.
  • Some U.S. voices warn of fewer NCAA roster and scholarship spots for domestic players, while CHL officials forecast an eventual equilibrium with college programs.