The QMJHL last week announced new rules to eliminate “unlawful draft practices.” What does this mean?
“For these reasons, the Board of Governors, with the help of guidelines established by an independent committee comprised of Governors and members of the QMJHL hockey operations staff, have created a form which the Owner, the Governor and other key members of the franchise are obligated to sign and which states that they are bound to avoid using any action intended to jeopardize the selection process with maneuvers such as inciting a player not attend the Central Scouting Challenge, the TELUS Top Prospects Presentation or the Annual Entry Draft or inciting a player to lie about his real intentions or to encourage him to avoid talking to other teams.”
The QMJHL did this to say they did this. I don’t know how they will keep track of this.
“or inciting a player to lie about his real intentions or to encourage him to avoid talking to other teams.”
I don’t think the teams are telling a player to lie about their intentions of playing in the QMJHL or not. I think these kids have “family advisors” and parents telling the kids to “lie.”
Of course the last few years we have seen players not show up at the Top Prospects Presentation (Basically is the top players on the QMJHL Central Scouting list.) and the next day are on the stage getting selected.
Maybe a rule the can enforce is if you aren’t at the Prospects Presentation you aren’t allowed to attend the draft. Obviously not every player is invited to the top Prospect Presentation, so this rule will only be enforced to players that were originally invited but declined.
The Moncton’s, Halifax’s, Saint John’s, and Quebec’s of the world will still select the high profile players no matter what rule the league puts in place. Unless the league taps every phone in the league or hacks every email that’s sent out, back door deals will happened.
Should a team infringe one or more of these guidelines, the Commissioner may assess the following sanctions:
• A fine that could reach up to $100,000;
• The loss of draft picks for the two seasons following the date that the infraction is brought to the attention of the Commissioner.
