It felt foolish even having to ask the question yesterday of some within the BU hockey program, but it was once again necessary after yet another firestorm of rumors out of Canada that Jack Eichel was “jumping ship” to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League after the World Junior Championships concluded.

The response, by the way, after some laughter, was a definitive “no.”

No one at BU is worried about Eichel, yet rumors persist. SportNet’s Junior Hockey Podcast tweeted yesterday that there were “rumors” that Eichel was going to sign with Saint John after the tournament. Host Jeff Marek – who I respect, but he’s way off on this – made an argument for why, in his mind, Eichel should leave college hockey. It’s the old “he’ll play a more pro schedule” argument that we’ve heard a million times.

More games doesn’t make Eichel, or anyone else, a better player. For most 18-year-old stars making the jump to the NHL, which I’d expect Eichel to do after this season, skill isn’t the issue, it’s strength. Playing a 60 or 70-game schedule allows for very little time in the weight room. Playing two games per week at BU, along with a lot more practice time, allows Eichel the chance to get in strength and conditioning work with BU strength coach Anthony Morando, a disciple of the great Mike Boyle.

I wrote a story on this very topic for College Hockey Inc. last season. 

“You can see the difference between the college and junior guys,” Chicago Blackhawks strength coach Paul Goodman said in that story. “The schedule in college allows you more time in the weight room, just with the number of games being less, so the biggest thing that I notice is that they’re more well-rounded in the room during the workouts. They’re familiar with the technique and they also have a very good base.”

BC defenseman Mike Matheson was 16 years old when he was trying to decide between the QMJHL and college hockey.

“My dad and I sat at our kitchen table and put schedules side by side,” he said. “We just took a basic college schedule and a basic QMJHL schedule, and looked at how often the games were and in juniors, you’re playing pretty much every two days and there can be a lot of travel at times, so getting in lifts would have been hard. On a typical week at BC I can get in at least three good workouts per week.”

So this “pro schedule” argument sounds nice, but it’s not always the best route for a player.

The bottom line is that BOTH ROUTES WORK. Plenty of players have played college hockey, and then played in the NHL. Plenty of players have played in the CHL, and then played in the NHL. It’s all up to the individual player. People who make a habit our of ripping 16-year-old kids for choosing the CHL over college hockey seem petty. At the end of the day, it’s THEIR careers, not yours, mine or anyone else’s. If the player feels like college hockey is the best route for him, then great. If a player feels like the CHL is a best fit for him, best of luck to him.

Saying either route doesn’t work is ridiculous.

But in Eichel’s case, he’s had his mind made up for some time. He’s had every opportunity to join Saint John. When Jack Parker left, he could have joined Saint John. When BU struggled through last season, he could have joined Saint John. He didn’t. So why now leave when he’s the leading scorer on the nation’s best team?

Sam Cosentino, Marek’s co-host, said that he heard the rumor from “three good sources.”

It’s all a matter of where that information is coming from. Throw myself into that mix, too. The people I’ve spoken to who say Eichel isn’t going anywhere are, with the exception of one, all college hockey people. I’m sure Cosentino’s sources are all from within Major Junior, or at least a large majority.

Three years ago, Charlie Coyle was in this exact position. He left BU at the break – rumored to be academic issues – and joined Saint John for the second half of the season. In 16 games with the Terriers, he posted 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists). Including the playoffs with Saint John, he appeared in 40 games, totaling a whopping 72 points (30 goals, 42 assists). Eichel, I’m told, has no academic issues.

So which league is tougher to play in? Coyle went from competing against some 23 or 24-year-olds to some 16 or 17-year-old players in the QMJHL. If you’re Jack Eichel, and you want to prepare for the NHL, wouldn’t you rather play in the tougher league? The numbers don’t lie. Coyle was a fine player at BU, but he went from a 0.88 point-per-game player to a player who scored almost 2.0o points per game in the same season. Just months apart.

That’s pretty telling.

If Eichel wanted to play for Saint John, he would have signed before this season. Period. There’s no reason to leave BU at this point in the year. He’s cemented as the No. 1 or No. 2 pick no matter where he finishes this season. Right now he’s the leading scorer for the No. 1 team in the nation. If BU had four wins at the break, I’d tend to give these rumors a little more legs, but none of this makes any sense and screams of QMJHL sources holding on to a pipe dream.

It just doesn’t add up. His grades are fine, he’s academically eligible, and he’ll remain a Terrier … at least until the end of this season.

WHL Takes a Chance on Demko

The Eichel rumors came just one day after the Spokane Chiefs traded Thatcher Demko’s rights to the Calgary Hitmen, setting off a domino effect of rumors that the BC goaltender could be on his way to the WHL.

Moves like this happen quite often, really. In fact, the Hitmen gave the Chiefs nothing for Demko’s rights. He was literally traded for nothing. The only way Spokane gets any compensation is if Demko were to sign with Calgary, which according to a source close to the family, is not happening.

This move was a little different than the Eichel rumors on Wednesday. Calgary GM Mike Moore said in a radio interview on Tuesday night that he didn’t intend for the trade to create such a story, and admitted it was a “long shot” to get Demko signed.

Thursday, December 18th, 2014 - 11:35 am | Commentary, Hockey East, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings