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Post by Eric - Washington GM on Jun 30, 2003 2:11:28 GMT -5
I read in the Local newspaper (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) that Rick Dudley tried to draft Alexander Ovechkin, 4 times, this past draft. Ovechkin was born 2 days past the cutoff date fore draft elligable players, and Rick Dudley argued that if it wasn't for leap years, he would have been elligable. Now with that arguement, the NHL stated that if it holds up and he can be ruled elligable, then the Panthers would own his rights. Now I dont know about you, but that would be unfair(to a point), and also fair since he did try to draft him but wasn't allowed. but Kudos to dudley to trying to pull one over. heres the address to the article: www.post-gazette.com/penguins/20030629nhlnot0629p5.aspps. I know im behind on the times, I Live in the states.
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Post by edmontongm on Jun 30, 2003 14:38:56 GMT -5
I don't believe that it would be. This is called 'creativity'. The NHL rule book states that one year constitutes 52 weeks + 1 day. (365 days). When the collective bargaining agreement took place, september 15th was the cut off..however, there have been 2 extra days, not allocated by that agreement. Which would make this draft, players born september 17th (like ovechkin) eligible.
If this wasn't the potential first overall pick next year, I would see them (the NHL) accepting it and moving on. But this is Ovechkin, and as a 9th round selection he wouldn't get the same money as Dan Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk (which might be the only thing I see as unfair). If he were, then I think that the Panthers ownership (not Rick Dudley, since he was against it, according to sources here in Canada) has found a wonderful loophole, and it's Gary Bettman's own stupid fault. (Gotta love it when you can blame Bettman for something).
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