The prospect for prospects: these days, the NHLers of the future have more to fear than getting picked by a perpetual loser. What if there is no draft?(NHL)(National Hockey League)

Over the past two weeks, some of the best young hockey prospects in the world gathered in Minnesota and North Dakota to play in the 2005 World Junior Championship.

These young players once had the world at their skates, but now they face questions about their futures. The ramifications of a lost season and the lack of a collective bargaining agreement in time for a June draft could be immense for many of these players. The majority of those playing in the Canadian Hockey League or with eligibility remaining at U.S. colleges would return to their teams next season. But those who otherwise would have jumped from juniors or college to the AHL or NHL would face tougher choices. They could return to their teams--or make a different decision.

Most speculation surrounds Canadian phenom Sidney Crosby, who caused a huge stir in the early days of the tournament by suggesting he might consider being a replacement player. The next day he "clarified" his statements, saying that an NHL of replacement players would not be the NHL of his dreams and therefore would not be an option he would consider.

So what would be his options? His agents at International Management Group certainly have looked into them, but they are waiting until the season--and possibly the draft--is canceled before getting into specifics. Agent Pat Brisson says Crosby could play in Europe or the AHL (although the tight connection between the AHL and NHL could scuttle that option). There even is the possibility--downplayed by Brisson--that IMG would attempt through legal action to get Crosby declared an unrestricted free agent and not subject to any subsequent NHL draft arrangements.

Crosby then would be in a great negotiating position, but what about lesser players? What about kids whose decisions could later end their only chance at playing in the NHL? What about the group of Canadian major junior players born in 1985 who were drafted two years ago and remain unsigned? Under the old CBA, if June 1 passed without their signing, they re-entered the draft. But if June 1, 2005, passes without a CBA, are they still property of the teams that drafted them? The NHL's Bill Daly says their fates will be spelled out in the new CBA. But if teams retain rights to these players, expect a legal challenge.

The best hope for young players if the season gets canceled is that a deal gets done before June. That would allow Crosby to be the first pick in the draft, but even he will have to wait for a big payday. In the entry-level contracts certain to be part of the new CBA, young players' base salaries won't be as large, and their ...