One more rule change

[countryboy]

In addition to the talk about the shortened schedule, there was another rule change that the QMJHL will implement for the upcoming season. I happened to see it in one of the stories in the local PEI media.

Previously, any team that cut a 19 or 20 y/o player would need to waive the player through the league and he would be eligible for a waiver pickup by any other team.

Starting in 24-25, this will include 18 y/o players. So any player who is 18 or older and is cut in training camp or is released during the season will be subject to waivers and may be picked up by another team.

[lirette]

Feb 26, 2024 13:41:18 GMT -4 countryboy said:

In addition to the talk about the shortened schedule, there was another rule change that the QMJHL will implement for the upcoming season. I happened to see it in one of the stories in the local PEI media.

Previously, any team that cut a 19 or 20 y/o player would need to waive the player through the league and he would be eligible for a waiver pickup by any other team.

Starting in 24-25, this will include 18 y/o players. So any player who is 18 or older and is cut in training camp or is released during the season will be subject to waivers and may be picked up by another team.

I think this is a good change. I'm all for anything that gives good players more ways to make it onto the way of a Q team. Thinking about Moncton, Coopier Cormier & Ryan Hackett would have been picked up by someone in September in this scenario.

[Mika]

Feb 26, 2024 15:27:46 GMT -4 lirette said:

Feb 26, 2024 13:41:18 GMT -4 countryboy said:

In addition to the talk about the shortened schedule, there was another rule change that the QMJHL will implement for the upcoming season. I happened to see it in one of the stories in the local PEI media.

Previously, any team that cut a 19 or 20 y/o player would need to waive the player through the league and he would be eligible for a waiver pickup by any other team.

Starting in 24-25, this will include 18 y/o players. So any player who is 18 or older and is cut in training camp or is released during the season will be subject to waivers and may be picked up by another team.

I think this is a good change. I'm all for anything that gives good players more ways to make it onto the way of a Q team. Thinking about Moncton, Coopier Cormier & Ryan Hackett would have been picked up by someone in September in this scenario.

Beneficial to rebuilding teams too. Kind of a win-win for some teams and the players. You wouldn't get a star, but you'd at least get someone who could be an upgrade on your 3rd or 4th or maybe even 2nd line. It's a good rule change that pushes for better roster management.

[countryboy]

I do like this rule. In my experience, usually teams will make their decision on a player after viewing him in two training camps. If you draft a guy at 16, only a top end talent will debut in the league as a first year eligible player. After watching the guy in two training camps and two seasons, if a guy is cut in his 3rd training camp (at 18) he likely doesn't have a future in that organization, beyond be a guy who might be useful as a call up when needed.

It seemed this year more than ever at the Christmas trade period, we saw substantially more players changing teams through waivers. I feel now more than ever it can be tough to populate a 4th line, carry a couple of extra forwards, and a 7th d-man.....especially for a rebuilding team. Many players have shown that instead of playing exclusively 4th line duty, or being a 13th/14th forward, or being a #7 d-man, they'd prefer to play down a level in Jr. A and be one of the best players in that league..... and that is fine.

If waivers are going to be they way to find that guy who'll fill a roll for a team, then it is probably wise to make the pool of waiver eligible players deeper. This makes it easier for rebuilding teams to fill out their roster properly. It also creates more opportunities for guys who might be bubble players to find a role in major junior. Maybe a guy is buried in a deep organization and can't get an opportunity .... now he might be able to find a role on a different team that might not have as much depth.

[Citris]

I'm also a big fan of this. It gives players the opportunity to play and creates a bit of competitive balance in a league that, let's face it, sometimes sorely lacks it.

[BecauseItsTheQ]

I really like this change. There are so many potential benefits.

- As mentioned by everyone else, it gives these 18-year-olds a chance to stick in the league with someone else.

- It benefits rebuilding teams by giving them better access to younger players who can fill a spot easier, but it could potentially allow those rebuilding teams to not give up draft capital to acquire those players. Specific examples I think of are:
- Islanders trading an 8th round pick for Alexis Jacques
- Gatineau trading a 7th round pick for Cory MacGillivray
- Val d'Or trading a 6th round pick for Connor Macey

It may not necessarily be the case (teams may still make trades to guarantee players before they hit waivers), but there is potential.

- It also, in a roundabout way, could also benefit the Junior A leagues in Quebec and the Maritimes; as Q teams make decisions between, say, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old, they may opt to keep an 18-year-old in the mix for fear of losing their rights, where they wouldn't have the same fear with a younger player. Those players may choose to go Junior A rather than back to U-18.

I'm sure I'm forgetting other benefits, or stretching some potential benefits, but overall this is a good change.

[bois]

I guess it's a good change..... it can as mentioned possibly save teams tossing away late draft picks tho i'm not sure how big a deal that really is

I think it likely hurts the fringe 19 year old more than anything else..... which likely helps the tier two leagues as those guys wind up down there rather than as spare parts on a major junior team

overall it's really not a big change but i do see it as a positive