tryouts

Question
hello I had a question, Ive seen alot of questions on here for pro tryouts and what not like echl status.  Now my question is if uve flown under the rader for many reasons and you wanted to play high level hockey where would you go.  Now the problem i s all I see is open echl tryouts, I want to go higher.  Ive played against many echl players ahl players and a number of current pros and I know what it takes to play at each level.  Now im 20 and with the current job I have being very very good as far as pay goes I dont want to go play in the echl and make much less than I make now.  SO i will only play in the ahl and up, now I know for a fact I have the skill to play in the ahl, but they have no open tryouts so im not even sure how to go about that.  Im wondering if getting an agent would help? your thoughts

Answer
Hi Bobby

I hear what you are saying --  but unfortunately if you have been under the radar you still need to "pay your dues" to get on the radar!!  

You can get an agent, and if you get the right one, he may be able to get you a tryout in the AHL...  the thing is - they will still probably want you to "prove" your consistency by playing on their farm team - which is most likely a ECHL team ...  so you could still get to where you want to go by doing the ECHL tryouts RIGHT AWAY... And if you are as good as you say you are - YOU WILL GET PICKED UP AND BROUGHT UP within a few productive games...  and, with an agent, you can surely negotiate something out - i.e. base contract with perks/ bonuses / incentives for reaching certain goals/milestones.  Unfortunately, almost every team will need to see a track record developed...  so you may have NO CHOICE but to commit to a one year contract - with the incentives for performance and then after a stellar first year - get your big contract offer then!!  

Sometimes you have to give a little to get alot... and this is most likely where you find yourself at this time!

But don't delay --  start the process now --  if you look/wait for a PERFECT situation - you may miss out on several YEARS of bigger contracts down the road...  in this day and age, even at 20, your clock is ticking!!

Hope this helps!

Good Luck Bobby!

Cheers,

Martial