Though not as high-profile as the case of Jonathan Drouin, plenty of teams have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Blue Jackets prospect Kerby Rychel since the forward requested a trade out of Columbus.
According to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, the 21-year-old winger asked to be moved prior to the beginning of the 2015-16 season.
Rychel’s father, his agent and “possibly others” all met with management at the team’s development camp, demanding to know why the California native was buried on the Jackets’ depth chart.
A rugged 213-pounder who saw a five-game look with the Blue Jackets last season, Rychel has squeaked into just 11 games at the NHL level this year, recording three assists.
Formerly an OHL star for the Windsor Spitfires and Guelph Storm, he is thriving in American Hockey League this year, putting up 18 points in 20 games — and averaging a penalty per game.
The 2013 first-rounder has little leverage in this situation, however. Rychel’s entry-level deal won’t expire until the summer of 2018.
Portzline reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings have all kicked tires on a trade for Rychel.
