I've been curious about this question:
What would the Q be like if trading was banned entirely ?
1. All teams would build through the draft with a full allotment of draft picks ... everybody gets a first ... a 2nd ... and so on. Euro draft would stay as is.
2. All teams would have the ability to still bring in FA players.
3. Shorten the protected list to say 40 so that there would be an abundance of decent players out there unprotected for Q teams to grab as FAs. Drop the mandatory US picks as many of the Quebec teams have little chance of landing higher end guys. This will make room on the protected list.
4. I think you'd see far more parity from top to bottom, which would make the playoffs far better in RD 1 ... nobody loads up.
5. We'd likely be less competitive at the Mem Cup but who cares. If we aren't good enough to win then that is tough. It would identify a need to have better player development at lower levels.
6. Disgruntled players that normally ask to be traded would have to apply to the league to go on waivers, and the team losing the player would get a compensation pick. If a team claims the player on waivers then they'd have to give up a player from their roster (not just protected list), and the team losing the player would get first choice.
7. Obviously more thought is needed on the whole idea, but I wonder if it would be better for the league. I know we all love the trade deadlines and the blockbuster deals ... but those are not really good for the league and certainly not the student athlete. It would work far better if it was move that was CHL wide.
8. Or ... perhaps limit the number of trades in a year to 3 per team ... or something like that.
9. I think we should ban the trading of 1st round picks immediately ... it will be better for the league and better for each team to go to the draft knowing they have an opportunity to grab a high end player.