Odds and Ends: Kyle Pettit, Columbus pick and Arizona compensatory pick
7 years ago
With the NHL Entry Draft rapidly approaching, loose ends are being tied up. Two of which have affected the Canucks.
The first one is obvious – the Columbus Blue Jackets are required to provide a 2nd round pick in 2016, 2017 or 2018 for hiring former Canucks coach John Tortorella. It was confirmed by Sportsnet Elliotte Friedman that Columbus would not be providing the Canucks with their 2016 2nd round pick:
It’s not surprising – Columbus should expect to be better at some point in the next two years, thus no point in giving up a high second round pick when there is a chance it could be lower in the coming years.
The less obvious one that affects the Canucks was confirmed today, as Arizona decided to not sign 2014 first round pick Connor Bleackley, who they acquired from Colorado in the Boedker trade at the trading deadline.
Any unsigned first round pick who re-enters the draft, the team who holds their rights will receive a 2nd round pick in the following draft in the same slot as the first round pick. So since Bleackley was selected 23rd overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Coyotes receive the 53rd pick as a compensatory pick.
What this means is that every pick after that drops down one slot – so the Canucks now posses the 64th, 140th overall (acquired from Florida in Erik Gudbranson deal), 154th overall, 184th overall and 194th overall (acquired from Carolina in Eddie Lack trade).
Lastly, unless there is a last minute contract before 5pm ET, it appears the Canucks have not signed 2014 6th round pick Kyle Pettit. Pettit posted 21 points (10-11-21) in 58 games this past season. The Canucks selected the young pivot with hopes that his offensive game would develop to a level close to his defensive prowess in the OHL. Unfortunately it never happened, although he still was one of the best defensive forwards in the OHL, he was never able to round out his game. He will re-enter the draft and the Canucks will not receive a compensatory pick, as he was a 6th round selection.
