Report: Reilly leaves college, headed for free agency - NBCSports.com
Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Mike Reilly has withdrawn from the University of Minnesota and is likely headed for free agency. According to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, Reilly, who was selected in the fourth round (98th overall) at the 2011 NHL Draft, has told the Blue Jackets that he will not sign with the club. With the defenseman leaving school, the Jackets have a 30-day window to negotiate with Reilly before he becomes a free agent. The 21-year-old has earned All-America honors the past two seasons and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award this season. In 39 games with the Golden Gophers this season Reilly had six goals and 42 points. Reilly is currently playing for the U. S. at the World Hockey Championship where he has one assist in nine games. Even in the 1995 CBA, compensation was only given for players who were taken in the first 3 rounds and went unsigned. That scenario still wouldn’t help Columbus out, since Reilly went in the 4th – and by making it “all draft picks” you’ll add a slew of picks to the draft. Say, maybe every time CBA negotiations come up and they sign off on making new players (especially the more skilled ones likely to have longer careers) enter the league via a draft. The NHLPA NEEDS jobs in Columbus, St. Louis, & Carolina. Source: prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com
