There's not just one route to take to make the NHL. The most logical way is going into the USHL. The talent in the USHL continues to improve each year, with a growing number of players getting selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Before, NHL scouts used to only pay attention to the Canadian major junior leagues, but the USHL has made giant leaps and is starting to generate more noise.
The USHL is the only Tier 1 hockey league in the U.S., making it the highest level of junior competition available in the country. It is also NCAA protected, which preserves the player’s NCAA eligibility.