Blue Jackets play waiting game with top college prospect Mike Reilly

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The are trying to end their rough season on a high note. Theyve won 10 of their last 12, theyre getting and staying healthy and a lot of the pieces are coming together, even if too late to save their playoff hopes.When a team mi ses  Josh Jackson Jersey out on the postseason like Columbus will, it doesnt sting as much knowing that there is optimism tied to the future. That optimism can be tied to the strong finish this season, but it is often paired with the coming draft and the prospects within the organization that are close to being able to help at the NHL level.One such prospect for the Blue Jackets is defenseman Mike Reilly, who just wrapped up his junior season with the University of Minnesota. The 21-year-old blueliner averaged over a point-per-game for the Gophers in 2014-15 and is among the top 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockeys top player.He could return to school, of course, but after improving his point total each of the last three seasons, many believe he will turn pro. What is le s clear is if he will be doing that with the Blue Jackets or not.  Reilly was drafted out of Shattuck-St. Marys, the Minnesota-based prep school that has churned out players like , , and po sible Blue Jackets teammate , in 2011. He spent the following year playing for the Penticton Vees in the British Columbia Hockey League before embarking on his collegiate career at Minnesota.Even though Reilly is only a junior, hes four years removed from his draft year. That makes him eligible to test unrestricted free agency if he does not sign with the Blue Jackets by  Sean McDermott Jersey June 1  or 30 days after he leaves school. Minnesotas season ended Friday in an NCAA tournament lo s, but Reilly has not signed his contract yet.The main reason that his not signing yet would prove alarming to the Blue Jackets is that they are the only team that can offer him immediate playing time this season and allow him to burn a year off of his entry-level contract. No team can offer him more money, as even if Reilly goes the UFA route this summer, hes still bound to the entry-level contract system. Burning a year gets him to his restricted free agent season earlier than he would be otherwise. After Tuesday night's game against the Devils, Columbus has six games remaining.  At his age, he can sign a two-year ELC, meaning Reilly would be able to become a restricted free agent as early as 2016 if he burned a year by playing this season. But he hasnt signed anything and Pat Bri son, the high-powered NHL agent working as Reillys family advisor, provided an update to Aaron Portzline of the that could prove sobering to Blue Jackets fans: agent Pat Bri son, serving as family advisor for Mike Reilly, says "nothing Killian Tillie Jersey  to report." This is most likely not good news for . Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) This could mean two things. The first is that Reilly is considering returning to Minnesota for his senior season, which is a distinct po sibility. Should he go back to school, the Blue Jackets will retain his rights before we start this proce s all over again next spring after Reilly completes that season.The second option is that Reilly refuses to sign and goes the way of other players like who spurned the to sign with the as a UFA, or more recently , who ditched the to sign a UFA deal with the . Should Reilly choose this option, he could be signed after Aug. 15 by any of the 30 NHL teams.After dealing ahead of the deadline, and given the unfortunate frequent injuries to former No. 2 pick , the Blue Jackets really could use a puck-moving blueliner like Reilly.  Smart, speedy and good with the puck on his stick, Reillys Mike Conley Jersey  offensive instincts have helped him turn into the kind of prospect any team would love to have in their system. Thats probably why hed be a coveted free agent if he ends up going that route, much like Schultz and Hayes were when they declined to sign with the teams that drafted them.A gold medalist with the U.S. at the 2013 World Junior Championship, an All-America selection and the reigning two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Reilly has the potential to make an impact at the NHL level, and soon.The major advantage any player has in exploiting the time limitations of draft rights ownership is that he can pick his own destination. That means the player can prioritize what he wants most out  Marc Gasol Jersey of his first NHL club. A lot of times that means immediate playing time. Other times its just a level of comfort , like playing close to home or going with an organization a player is more familiar with in whatever way.  As Portzline , Reillys father is a minority partner in the s ownership group and could be a potential landing spot. Maybe his father's position with the Wild makes a difference, maybe it doesnt, but it is absolutely worth noting and absolutely worth the Blue Jackets being concerned about.Reilly, who comes in at 6-foot-1, 182 pounds, notched 89 points in 117 career games at the University of Minnesota. The Blue Jackets selected him 98th overall in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
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