I write a “you should stay in high school/don’t leave early” column pretty much every year because I believe that the benefits of leaving early (for 90-95 percent of the players considering it) are not substantial enough to warrant it. Also, the possible downside issues are numerous and highly likely.

Last year I went online and checked on the progress of all of the players that had left early in 2013-14 to see how they were doing. The results (that I included in my column) were not heartening. A good portion of the players had spent considerable time “in the bleachers” or had been traded, or had been demoted to a lesser league. Many had very few points, were third pair defensemen or fourth line forwards getting limited playing time – and none on power plays or penalty kills. A small percentage were flourishing. Most were not.

Now you will notice that I said 90-95 percent of the players, not 100 percent. There are always exceptions, but not very many will actually come out ahead in two or three years. Staying and playing 24-27 games in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, then a full four months of high school, then (for some) 5-10 junior games after the high school season is a great developmental situation for a 17-18 year old.