When George Gwozdecky took over the University of Denver hockey team in 1994, the coach had two NHL draft picks on his roster. Every player was expected to play four years. Discussing a player’s professional future took place after his eligibility expired.
Today, the Pioneers have a program-record 13 NHL draft picks, and some underclassmen who joined the program at age 18 might not be around to see their junior seasons.
The rapid-fire turnover has turned Gwozdecky’s summers into a high-anxiety period.
“The landscape has changed,” Gwozdecky said. “It makes the assistant coaches’ jobs far more challenging, because not only do they have to build the incoming freshman class, but look at replacing some of those guys two, three years down the road, way more than in the past.”
Longtime recruiting coordinator Steve Miller is the man in charge of replenishing the roster. For a school proud of its high academic standards, DU’s hockey program has become a short-term NHL development camp for many. Since 2000, 12 players have left the program early for the NHL, including nine in the past 3 1/2 years. Centers Paul Stastny (2006) and Tyler Bozak (2009) signed NHL deals after their sophomore seasons.
Some other underclassmen left because they felt they could develop quicker by playing more games in major-junior or the minor leagues.
“Our priority is not to be a farm system for the National Hockey League,” Gwozdecky said. “That’s not our priority. It never has and never will be.”
DU’s ability to churn out pro-caliber players is partially a result of its recruiting success after national championships in 2004 and 2005. A major reason it is losing players sooner than ever is the 2005-instituted NHL collective bargaining agreement. The CBA lowered a player’s first unrestricted free agency period from age 31 to age 27, making NHL teams anxious to get results from drafted players out of fear of losing them after their first contract.
The Pioneers’ past two senior classes numbered four and three players, respectively.
Next spring, DU is expecting to lose center Joe Colborne and defenseman Patrick Wiercioch — the two highest draft picks in Gwozdecky’s tenure — after their sophomore seasons. Colborne was selected No. 16 (Boston Bruins) and Wiercioch No. 42 (Ottawa Senators) in the 2008 NHL draft.
“I want to be a Bruin as fast as I can,” Colborne told the Telegraph & Gazette in Worcester, Mass., “so whatever path they want me to take, I’m kind of at their whim. If I’m there (Denver) for four years, I won’t be too happy.”
Wiercioch said he would have signed with the Senators this summer if the team thought he was ready for the NHL this fall.Denver-based agent Kurt Overhardt represents Wiercioch as well as several former DU stars.
“George and (Miller) have done a really good job of cultivating blue-chip talent, and they are very realistic of the timing and development of players, and possess the willingness to work with NHL teams, to communicate and not have a firewall between them,” Overhardt said. “The reality is, if you have a firewall between the program and NHL teams, the program is going to end up getting burned.”
By choosing to sign the best of the best, Gwozdecky must create an atmosphere that caters to players looking for the quickest route to the NHL.
“I can have a great relationship with every (NHL) team out there, but if these young guys aren’t developing, it’s not a good situation,” Gwozdecky said.
Among the 30 NHL teams, Florida seems to have the greatest interest in Gwozdecky’s program. Three Pioneers — junior goalie Marc Cheverie, sophomore defenseman John Lee and freshman center Drew Shore — were drafted by the Panthers. Assistant general manager Randy Sexton will have a say in how long Cheverie, Lee and Shore remain at DU.
“We don’t tell our kids to go to school. They decided on their own,” Sexton said, “but people that go to Denver get better. It’s what every team wants to happen, expects to happen, but it doesn’t always happen.
“Our overall approach to college players is, all things being equal, we’d like to have them stay and play four years — if they’re developing — but some kids are ready to make the step to pro earlier.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
