Sillinger Makes Blue Jackets Opening Night Roster?
The Blue Jackets made a bunch of roster moves in preparation for the season. The roster isn't "open night official" as of yet, but they are down to 23 players with the expectation that 1 of them will be put on the IR. It means 1 player on the roster won't make opening night.
Is He Coming Back
Scott Roblin posted on Twitter that Columbus confirmed Cole Sillinger is eligible to play in the AHL, since he played in the USHL last year.
USHL Loan
I might be wrong here since Columbus thinks Sillinger can play AHL, but I don't believe that is 100% legal. Sillinger was signed to a whl standard contract which is bound by the CHL transfer agreements. He was loaned to Sioux Falls..so the CHL transfer agreements are still valid.
When a player is drafted, the league the player is drafted from, determines his NHL eligibility. The USHL allows 18 year olds to play AHL. Since Sillinger played USHL last season he earns eligibility to play in the AHL at 19.
Is this a loophole? I think this is a unique situation that hasn't been encountered before.
Their are 2 different laws applying but from what i've read in the Columbus newspaper and scott Roblin's twitter it sounds like Sillinger is eligible for both the AHL and the CHL.
NHL Transfer Agreements
Their was a special Transfer Agreement document made just for the Covid season. The agreement has deviations for import players, or players who were in North America who went to play in Europe, but the CHL transfer agreements remain the same as per tradition.
I don't see how a loan constitutes an over-ride of the CHL Player Transfer Agreements which Sillinger is still signed and bound by.
If this was fought, I feel like the CHL would have a winning case.
He’s a big part of our team, he’s a big part of our future, and that’s part of the agreement – that he’ll be back here again next year,” said Desjardins. “Once their season is done, then he would come back. If we go later than they do, then he could come back at that time.”
Case For Juniors
One positive junior hockey has over the AHL, is that Sillinger would burn a year off his ELC by playing in the AHL. Their current GM has only ever had 1 player stick in the NHL who was 18. Their was also a recent article that said they would be a fan of sending him to the world juniors, if he wasn't playing Top 8 minutes.
Sillinger is marked on the 2nd line, and 2nd powerplay unit as the 4th forward.
I don't really know what to think here. I do think their is still a chance he returns because their GM does not have a history keeping 18 yr olds up. Plus it means they keep an extra year of his contract. However Columbus centre position is very weak. I feel that they are going to pencil him his 10 game NHL trial and go from there.
Here is his performance from his NHL Pre-Season games. Columbus opens the season thursday night against Arizona.
October 9th
1 assist, 3 shots, 3:23 PowerPlay Time || 14:09 IceTime
October 6th
-1 rating, 1 shot, 15:20 Ice Time || 0:28 PP Time.
October 4th
14:29 IceTime || 1:25 PP Time || 0:46 SH Time
September 29th
-1 rating, 2 shots, 17:31 IceTime || 2:00 PP Time
September 27th
1 Assist, 2 PM, 4 Shots, 16:26 Icetime || 2:56 PP Time || 1:49 SH
Juniors or NHL
I'm reducing the odds of him returning. I'm legit scared the Tigers may loose him. I'm thinking it's 25-75 that he won't return.
1 comment:
Sillinger was benched last night after taking his 3rd penalty in 3 games. He had a low of 9:46 of icetime the lowest on Columbus on the night.
Prior to last nights game He had been playing 3rd line minutes also seeing time on the 2nd pp unit so far. He's managed 1 assist in 3 games with a plus 1 rating.
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Next game is on thursday.
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