Replying to Hockey draft becomming like soccer in europe

i read an article just now about a player wanting to enter the nhl draft at the age of 16. obviously he wouldnt go right to contribute on any nhl team but the team would stick him on their developmental squad (farm team) and give him a few years to develop. this would be very similar to the way soccer talent is grown in europe. players have been signed as young as 10 years old i believe and then put through the clubs developmental programs... and soccer is bigger than ever.

do you think this is the kind of direction hockey should be going? i dont see this working for any other sport