THN.com Blog: Third overall pick Kyle Turris likely to join Coyotes this season
Coyotes prospect Kyle Turris has 10 goals and 28 points in 24 games with Wisconsin this season. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Ken Campbell
2008-02-08 18:16:34
Multiple sources have indicated the Phoenix Coyotes are pushing hard to have third overall pick Kyle Turris leave the University of Wisconsin and it's likely he'll be in the Coyotes lineup before the end of the season.
The Coyotes apparently feel Turris can not only gain some valuable experience by playing down the stretch as they chase a playoff spot, but that he can also make a tangible contribution this season.
"I've been consistent in saying that we will sit down with Kyle and his family and his advisor after this season to review Kyle's situation and see how much sense turning pro makes," said Coyotes GM Don Maloney.
But when Maloney refers to "this season," he's talking about this U.S. college season, which for Turris, could end as early as mid-March.
Wisconsin is normally a contender, but the Badgers are in a rebuilding phase this season and go into this weekend tied for fourth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
All 10 teams in the league qualify for the playoffs, which will be completed by March 15.
The league then has a "Final Five" championship series and if the Badgers were to get that far, that would be concluded by March 22.
There is no deadline in the NHL for signing college players, so, assuming the Badgers don't advance beyond the WCHA, Turris could join the Coyotes for the last two weeks of the season and the playoffs, if they qualify.
Turris, who was taken third overall by the Coyotes last June after playing Junior A in the British Columbia Junior League, leads the Badgers in scoring with 10 goals and 28 points in 24 games. That puts him sixth overall in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and fourth among freshmen in the NCAA.
"We're really pleased where Kyle is headed," Maloney said. "Whether that means he'll be playing with our team in April or May or whether it's next September or the following April, I'm not sure. But I'm sure it won't be any later than that."
Ken Campbell is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Tuesdays and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.
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Scott (Posted 2008-02-11 16:45:46)
News like this makes me glad that I got to watch Jonathon Toews for 2 years at the University of North Dakota.
Bob (Posted 2008-02-11 12:30:07)
Dan,
It is simple to get back into school at any point in your life. Especially if the kid has played 10 years in the NHL, has pocketed 50 million, and has the drive for education.
Andrew Mellor (Posted 2008-02-10 15:01:51)
For Dans comment, its very easy to enter into a university/college in the USA or Canada as a "mature" student; which he will be if he doesnt pan out. An education is something he has to fall back on. Take the dream that people would kill to have!!!
Dan (Posted 2008-02-10 13:11:54)
Leaving college is not a smart idea. do you know how hard it is to go back to school in your late 20s or even 30s. He is much better off staying in school and finishing than leaving now. As you some of you have said he is one injury away from his career ending, so why not have a back up plan, if he leaves now and gets hurt, he has no fall back, and it will not be easy going back to school.
Bob (Posted 2008-02-10 12:35:04)
I don't know what Kyle is planning on pursueing in university, but he is wasting his time and potentially putting at risk his entire life. It is silly to try and stick it out in a university/college program to merely obtain a degree while playing hockey. It will just take some jackass to take out his knee and his entire career will be finished. He will make no money in the NHL and his athletic scholarship will be over. Unless he is pursueing to be an investment banker/hedge fund investor he will definitely not make nearly as much as he will in the NHL.
Kyle, when your NHL career is finished you will have all the money in the world to head back to any school in the US or Canada to pursue further achievements.
In my opinion all these kids who are joining professional leagues straight out of highschool are much smarter then the rest, because a career ending injury is the last thing that anybody needs before even starting a career.
Jim Carr (Posted 2008-02-10 11:21:54)
The window for NHL players is finite. They can go to college anytime and get the degree after they bank their millions and can no longer play. Same thing happened to Okposo but he went during the season. Turris should turn pro. Get your money while you can!
Walter Burrows (Posted 2008-02-09 12:57:31)
I feel that Kyle may be better off sticking to his plan of staying in college. If rushed, there is a greater chance his development may be severely compromised, as was the case with many players he sort of reminds me of,Nedved for one.But if he is as good as they think, sooner better than later. Get him signed now! And if he is not ready for the NHL, send him to the AHL, like they did with Spezza, another player Turris is reminiscent of.
sulko (Posted 2008-02-09 11:28:40)
This kid is a stud prospect, all you have to see is gold medal performance. Another year of collage will not help in his development. So show him the money. So we can see him in the show and one day be a star....
steve lange (Posted 2008-02-09 10:18:07)
Go for the NHL A education can wait but a nhl career is a dream. The last comment only wishes he ever had a chance to play hockey
Joe Buchner (Posted 2008-02-09 10:14:06)
Once again, this article shows that the big boys in the NHL do not really care about the future of the players who make them the money that they thrive on...Turris is a freshman and the Coyotes could give a hoot about him finishing his degree...instead it is how fast can we get him up to play here in the bigs....don"t do it Kyle, get your education first, the NHL will still be there when you graduate.
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