Mike Reilly will go UFA. UPD: narrows list to 2 or 3 teams

[sureLoss]

possibility of another Justin Schultz situation happening this offseason:

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Tuesday afternoon.

On this being the time of year to hear about college free agents, and what we need to know about Mike Reilly:

“Mike Reilly is not yet a free agent, but there is a chance he could turn out to be this year’s Kevin Hayes. He was drafted in the fourth round a couple of years ago by the Columbus Blue Jackets and they have to sign him before the draft this year or he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

“He went through Columbus or the Ohio area on the weekend with the University of Minnesota. If you read his quotes, and Aaron Portzline did a big story on him today – he’s not – it didn’t sound good for Columbus.

“He’s a guy who was a small kid who’s gotten bigger and he’s a really talented puck-moving defenseman. And I think there are a number of NHL teams who are keeping their eyes on him. And if he doesn’t sign in Columbus – and right now the feeling is it’s not looking good for the Blue Jackets – I think you’re going to see a lot of teams jump into the race for this guy because he’s a really talented player.”

On if there's any chance he's a kid with Minnesota ties who is pre-destined to find his way to the Wild:

"His father is a minority owner of the Wild."

Okay then.

"Now I don't know if that means anything, but it can't mean nothing."

Portzline's article:
http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/...lly-03-10.html

Mike Reilly was a gangly, 155-pound defenseman when the Blue Jackets drafted him in the fourth round (98th overall) in 2011.

He is now 6 feet 1, 190 pounds, a likely two-time All-American, a Hobey Baker award finalist as the nation’s top player and the first defenseman in almost 20 years to lead powerhouse University of Minnesota in scoring.

“We do our ranking and our evaluating of our prospects all the time, and he’s right at the top of the list, for sure,” Kekalainen said. “We’ve talked about adding skill and speed and quickness on defense. … He fits all those things. He has all the tools.”

But nothing has come easily for Columbus this season, and Reilly’s situation is a growing worry.

When Minnesota’s season ends — that could be in less than two weeks if the Golden Gophers don’t qualify for the NCAA tournament — Reilly is expected to notify Minnesota, the NHL and the Blue Jackets that he’s forgoing his senior season to turn pro.

Then it will get very interesting. The Blue Jackets will have 30 days after Reilly informs Minnesota he’s leaving school, or until June 1 — whichever date is later — to sign him to a two-year, entry-level contract.
If he doesn’t sign with the Jackets, Reilly would become an unrestricted free agent.

“I haven’t looked too much into the overall situation, just kind of focusing on our season,” Reilly told The Dispatch before Friday’s game. “It’s been brought up a little bit, but I’m trying not to think about it too much.
“It’s something I’ll assess at the end of (Minnesota’s) season, when we’re done. You never know how it’s going to go.”

Ryan Kennedy, a senior writer for The Hockey News who follows prospects and the draft for the magazine, said Reilly would be a first-round pick if the 2011 draft were held again. He would be a midfirst-round pick in this year’s loaded draft, too, Kennedy said.

update:
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
U of Minn D Mike Reilly, playing for USA at #WHC, informed CBJ this week he is going to explore UFA market but CBJ still a consideration.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Reilly has insisted on multiple occasions he isn't ruling out CBJ but he does want to field offers/opportunities from rest of league.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Interesting, but it isn't really clear why he would eschew signing with the Blue Jackets? Same money and a decent path to play in the NHL. What else is he looking for?

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Interesting, but it isn't really clear why he would eschew signing with the Blue Jackets? Same money and a decent path to play in the NHL. What else is he looking for?

Probably a designation that he's a future Norris winner and a promise of a 6x6.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Man, kinda bull#### that these kids can completely bite the hand that fed them. You were a runt, a struggling team took a chance on you with a mid pick (4th isn't great I realize but it's not exactly just a throwaway either), and now that you've developed exactly as they'd hoped it's time to look for greener pastures? Hogwash!

[jeffman]

Claim!

[dammage79]

Well, Minnesota kids seem to love going to play at home in Minnesota so my guess is he signs with the Wild. But then again I think the Wild have a really decent prospect pool of D men, maybe that doesnt matter to him.

[Dion]

He could become the next Tim Erixon.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

For some reason I thought it said Morgan Reilly won't sign in Columbus... figured it was another TSN leafs article.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, so he's going to sign with the Wild then.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

Man, kinda bull#### that these kids can completely bite the hand that fed them. You were a runt, a struggling team took a chance on you with a mid pick (4th isn't great I realize but it's not exactly just a throwaway either), and now that you've developed exactly as they'd hoped it's time to look for greener pastures? Hogwash!

I'm not sure the hand has actually fed him. He hasn't signed in the four years since he was drafted, so the Blue Jackets haven't given him anything. Sure, it would be nice if everyone signed where they were drafted, but if you were in his position, why wouldn't you want to ensure all of your options are open. I don't blame Kevin Hayes for signing with the Rangers, nor do I blame Justin Schultz signing with the Oilers.

There are so few times that a hockey player can hold all the cards, and I think they should take advantage of it when they can. If he thinks he can find a spot that is better for him for his career, then I say go for it.

I'm not saying I wouldn't be upset if Gaudreau played another year in college and refused to sign elsewhere. I am saying that under the rules if he has played the four years in college, without any compensation, he's free to sign elsewhere once the time period states it's appropriate. I'm glad Gaudreau chose to come to Calgary, but he also did it a year earlier than above situations.

[Jbo]

Really wish they would change some of the rules around college players.

[Hackey]

I definitely think they should change the rules but I don't fault a guy for taking advantage of the opportunity. You hope more people are loyal to the team that drafted them but at the end of the day it is your life and career and if you have the opportunity to choose any of the 30 NHL teams I don't blame a guy for wanting to take advantage of that. The NHL needs to change the rule though because it isn't really fair to the team who drafts the player.

[StrykerSteve]

This simply shouldn't be allowed, IMO.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

This simply shouldn't be allowed, IMO.

I agree. Whenever one of these pops up I can't help but hope that the player ends up as a bust.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

Man, kinda bull#### that these kids can completely bite the hand that fed them. You were a runt, a struggling team took a chance on you with a mid pick (4th isn't great I realize but it's not exactly just a throwaway either), and now that you've developed exactly as they'd hoped it's time to look for greener pastures? Hogwash!

That's one problem with the NCAA rules, there is really no hand that fed him for him to bite.

If he has attended any BJs' prospect camps, it would have come out of his own pocket (or his Wild minority owner father's pocket), and the NHL teams have a very limited ability to work on developing these kids.

If he had gone undrafted, he would be in the exact same position he is right now, able to sign as a UFA at the end of this season. Also, if he had gone undrafted, he likely would have been invited to other teams' prospect camps (still at his own expense), so the Jackets can't even point at that as a reason he owes them anything.

If he had not developed as he has, the fact that he was drafted is no guarantee that the Jackets would have offered him a contract, so it's a double-edged sword. The NHL can't force a player to sign with the team that drafted him any more than they can force a team to sign every player they drafted.


All that drafting a player does is give you a four-year exclusive negotiation window with the kid. You have to make the best of it. Unfortunately, the NCAA rules limit how much contact you can have with the player when he's in school.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

Man, kinda bull#### that these kids can completely bite the hand that fed them. You were a runt, a struggling team took a chance on you with a mid pick (4th isn't great I realize but it's not exactly just a throwaway either), and now that you've developed exactly as they'd hoped it's time to look for greener pastures? Hogwash!

I don't see it exactly the same way. Soon college players will be paid, olympians will be paid, the entire 'amateur' athlete designation will be thrown out. If someone does the work, they should be paid, and I predict the courts will agree.

With that said, the NHL draft is something else that may get some scrutiny. Players already hold out or deny their draft team, how can we blame them? It happens currently and exposes the fact that the draft is telling someone where they can play and courts may determine that it shouldn't work that way.

[Geeoff]

Honestly, if he wants to be an NHL player, Columbus seems like a better fit than Minnesota. They have a young team with a young defense.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jbo

Really wish they would change some of the rules around college players.

They should force all teams to sign all draft picks, that way this will not happen.

[DomeFoam]

You gotta wonder if you even want kids like this coming into your dressing room. Sounds to me like another entitled player like Baertschi. Players should feel blessed they are even drafted, getting the opportunity to be paid huge dollars and play at the top level of your profession should be more than enough.

Stay away, Flames.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by DomeFoam

You gotta wonder if you even want kids like this coming into your dressing room. Sounds to me like another entitled player like Baertschi. Players should feel blessed they are even drafted, getting the opportunity to be paid huge dollars and play at the top level of your profession should be more than enough.

Stay away, Flames.

? Yet they can get to a point where they can choose where they have the best chance to make it to the NHL?

It would be incredibly dumb boy to take advantage.