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The NHL's current Collective Bargaining Agreement created incentive for U.S. college players drafted by professional franchises to join their development systems as soon as possible. The general salary cap immediately emphasized younger and cheaper over old and bloated, causing affiliates in minor leagues like the AHL to reach out to a slew of prospects whose roster spots may have previously gone to journeymen. As College Hockey News pointed out, a reduced rookie salary maximum actually encouraged teams to aggressively court college players without as much financial risk as in the past.

For college players, that financial incentive has caused waves of prospects to leave school early; as a result, some of the most storied programs in collegiate hockey have taken a hit as star underclassmen bolt for the minor leagues. It's all part of a time-honored hockey life-cycle: "The NHL robs from the college and the college robs from the juniors and the juniors robs from the high school," Minnesota coach Don Lucia told the Wisconsin State Journal.

Is the NHL Anti-College Graduation? - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog