University of North Dakota Senior-to-be and Caps prospect Joe Finley has decided to stay in school for his final year of eligibilty rather than turning pro. Of course, that doesn't mean we won't see the mascot-beating blueliner at the Verizon Center this season - UND has made it to three straight Frozen Fours, and next year's is being held at... Verizon Center.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Finley to Stay in School
University of North Dakota Senior-to-be and Caps prospect Joe Finley has decided to stay in school for his final year of eligibilty rather than turning pro. Of course, that doesn't mean we won't see the mascot-beating blueliner at the Verizon Center this season - UND has made it to three straight Frozen Fours, and next year's is being held at... Verizon Center.
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15 comments:
Nobody can be upset when a kid decides to stay in school.
Good for him. I wish him all the best.
I can be upset.
1) Agree with VT. Good for him to stay in school. He's in a top notch college program (probably one of the best) His game seems to be advancing, and he probably wouldn't have made the big club this fall anyway.
2) A guy with such a big frame would probably do well to mature physically as much as possible before turning pro. Its a good thing that the caps are now in a position that they have no need to rush a prospect along.
1.) Faux(es): On what basis are you(s) saying Finley's game is advancing? I mean, have you been watching Badger games for the last few years?!
2.) However, it seems to be demonstrably true that Finley's game is advancing in the area of 'beating the living snot out of mascots and oversized plushies.'
As I noted elsewhere, I've read that UND fans have been disappointed in Finley and some were actually hoping he would turn pro. I'm sure that latter part is a bit of an exaggeration - after all, the guy did lead the team in +/- and was second in their league in that stat - but it is clear that he's not (yet?) the dominant blueliner they had hoped he would be.
I guess the question is would it be better for his development to play in the NCAA or AHL next year, and I certainly don't have an answer on that (though staying in school for one more year pushes back his entry level deal one year, which isn't a bad thing from the team's business perspective).
I'm thrilled he's returning to the University of Wisconsin. And I think after that he'll need a year in the AHL, maybe six.
-- Slapshot.
(But let's not forget, folks, he's at UND, not Wisconsin)
Dude. I'm a mascot. Notre Dame, Wisconsin, it all looks the same through my beak.
-- Slapshot.
I like that he is staying in school 1 more year. It lets him develop his game more, and he'll be more ready for the AHL.
As the article mentions Finley is pretty young considering he went into college early:
As a senior in college, Finley will be younger than every junior on the team. He’ll also be younger than a couple of sophomores.
I have no problem with Finley going back to school. Hershey already has a glut of young dmen.
That's a good point Usiel. There's no need for Finley to rush his way to the pro's.
I'd rather have Finley stay in school and play a couple years in Hershey and be fully ready to play in the NHL, then rush his way to the NHL and struggle.
Big guys also take longer to develop.(Chara)
i can be upset too, thats one year of development he wont get back, college shmollege
...aaaand i just read that hes younger than some of the sophomores on the team?! one more year? fine, but NO GRAD SCHOOL!
Wouldn't you love to just see this kid punch that "Iceburgh" goober in the face?
Finley's pretty young (21 this summer), but saying he's younger than a lot of juniors and some sophomores makes him seem younger than he is. This is the result of guys playing juniors until they're 19-21 and then enrolling in college. I remember when I first went to school I was a scrawny 18 year old and the other incoming freshman hockey players were 20 or 21; the captain of the team (a senior) was 25.
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