When Columbus drafted John Moore, the Blue Jackets seemed like a neutral destination for the coveted defenseman, as far as CC was concerned. The Blue Jackets weren’t a team that pushed its draftees into major junior hockey. A few of Columbus’ recent picks landed in college.

And although Moore said Columbus never pressured him either way when he was deciding between major juniors and college, their contract offer to Moore sealed his choice. Moore signed Tuesday, forfeiting his college eligibility, and will play for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League in the fall.

Columbus apparently wants Moore in the NHL quickly, which is a reason they signed him to a contract right away. Had another team with a deeper defensive corps drafted Moore, perhaps he would have gone to college. On Tuesday, Moore expressed regret that the rules prevented him from playing college hockey after he signed a pro contract.

Once Columbus offered a contract, CC had little chance. Moore will get a $900,000 base salary once he gets to the NHL, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Aside from money, Kitchener offered the chance to play in about twice as many games in a NHL-style league, and he can go to college part time.

Still, without Columbus’ desire to get Moore to the NHL quickly and willingness to sign him to a contract, perhaps Moore’s decision would have been different.

Defenseman John Moore, the 21st pick of last month’s NHL draft and one of the biggest recruits in CC history, won’t be coming to the school. He said he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets and will go play for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League.

He said he appreciated the opportunity CC gave him but thought playing junior hockey would give him a better chance to make the NHL sooner.

Moore said he hadn’t made his decision until Tuesday morning, when Columbus officially made the contract offer.

“I wish the rules were different,” Moore said about not being able to enroll in college after signing a pro contract. “Unfortunately, I won’t be coming to CC in the fall.”

Defenseman John Moore, a CC recruit and the 21st overall pick in last month’s NHL draft, has not made up his mind about what he’ll do this fall. He could enroll at CC or play junior hockey.

Moore said he planned to call Mark Stuart, a defenseman with the Boston Bruins and a former CC standout, to get his input. Stuart was also the 21st overall pick of the NHL draft, in 2003. He is the only first-round pick in school history (Moore would be the second).

Stuart has spoken to the Gazette about Moore a couple times in the past few weeks and presumably will tell Moore the benefits of playing in college. Stuart spent three years at CC before going to the NHL, and has established himself as a solid defenseman for the Bruins.

Moore, who also said he spoke with CC coach Scott Owens today, added he isn’t leaning one way or the other yet.

“I’m still 50/50,” he said in a text message. “Just gathering the facts and trying to make an educated decision about my future.”

Just wanted to update those that follow the blog - I just got a text message from John Moore that said he hasn’t yet made his decision between playing in college or going to junior hockey this fall. He appears to still be on the fence about his choice, which he has said is a difficult one.
Moore was the 21st pick of the NHL draft last month, to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Defenseman John Moore slipped a little bit in the draft, going 21st to Columbus, which traded up to get him. Moore slipping isn’t the worst thing for CC - especially if the Blue Jackets push him to play college instead of junior hockey next season.
Moore ties Mark Stuart’s record. Stuart was the highest-drafted player in CC history, at 21st overall.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced it has voted to add Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha to the league, starting in the 2010-11 season.
Bemidji State applied months ago but in late April, league members decided they didn’t want to add only one team. WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod was instructed to actively pursue a second team to join the league.
Nebraska-Omaha’s location and facilities made it a natural fit. Alaska-Fairbanks was also discussed as a possibility.
The expansion is the first in the league since Minnesota State-Mankato joined as the 10th member for the 1999-2000 season.

Defenseman John Moore is a likely first-round pick in Friday’s NHL draft, and the CC recruit would become the highest Tigers player ever drafted if he is selected before the 21st pick.
Here’s a sampling of where some NHL mock drafts predict Moore will go in the draft, and comments from the predictors:

SI.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Moore’s name has gained a lot of heat in the past few weeks. Offensively, that’s easy to understand. He’s a smooth skater and savvy playmaker who makes great reads in the other team’s zone. But in his own zone, he remains something of an adventure.”

ESPN.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“In the long run, Moore fills the hole created by free agent Jay Bouwmeester’s predicted departure from South Florida.”

CBC.ca: 16th, Columbus Blue Jackets
“The Jackets like their forward depth but will look for the best defenseman available at No. 16.”

Canada.com: 19th, New York Rangers
“Rangers need big bodies up front, but it’s hard to pass up this talent who could drop into their lap.”

Ottawa Sun: 16th, Columbus Blue Jackets
“He has the size and skill to go along with great playmaking abilities. A tremendous skater, Moore started the 2008-09 season outside of the first round but with solid play from start to finish of season, ISS scouts feel he has moved ahead of most all the other highly rated blueline prospects.”

Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Some scouts believe he’s the best skater in the draft.”

Brad Holland, NHL.com: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Moore’s skating and passing ability make him a dynamic addition on defense.”

Shawn Roarke, NHL.com: 11th, Nashville Predators
“Rapidly rising defenseman can skate like the wind.”

Pierre McGuire, TSN.ca: 14th, Florida Panthers
“There is no better skater on defence and Moore brings mobility to the blueline.”

Craig Button, TSN.ca: 16th, Columbus Blue Jackets
“He’s a quick skater that loves to get into the attack.”

USA Today: 14th, Florida Panthers
“Has the type of range, skating speed, and puck rushing ability the Panthers will be losing in Jay Bouwmeester, and he will be the triggerman on their PP in a couple of years.”

NHLDraftsite.com: 9th, Ottawa Senators

MyNHLDraft.com: 13th, Buffalo Sabres

Defenseman John Moore, a CC recruit and probable first-round pick in the NHL draft this week, has stated a few times over the past couple of months his desire to come play for CC in the fall. Now, Moore says he’ll weigh all of his options with his family after the draft, which will be held Friday and Saturday.
Earlier this month, Moore said junior hockey teams had been calling his house, but he was “really happy” with CC. He called the decision to go play for the Tigers “kind of a no-brainer.”
Even if Moore is still a good bet to come to CC, he wouldn’t say this week it’s a sure thing.
“I guess I don’t really know,” Moore said. “It’s something I’ll have to think about when this whole thing is over. But I can’t stress enough what a great option CC is.”

Defenseman John Moore, CC’s prized recruit and projected by many to be a first-round pick in the NHL draft later this month, has fielded plenty of calls from junior teams wanting his services. Once again, however, Moore expressed that he is definitely coming to CC in the fall.
“They’re calling my house, but I’m really happy with CC,” said Moore, who has maintained all year that he plans to attend college in the fall.
Moore said when he was at the NHL combine last week, teams told him how he could grow as a hockey player and a person at Colorado College. He said he likes the fact that he can get a great education while playing Division I hockey.
“To me, it’s kind of a no-brainer,” Moore said. “It’s the best of both worlds and I can’t wait to get out there.”

On the NCAA’s academic progress rate report (APR), the Tigers’ men’s hockey team had a score of 983, which ranks in the 70th to 80th percentile among men’s ice hockey teams and all NCAA sports. The women’s soccer team recently was honored for its perfect score in the report for a fifth straight year. The APR is calculated based on eligibility, retention and graduation of a school’s scholarship student-athletes.