In Phoenix, Wheel(er) of Misfortune
Remember the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and the heads that turned -- swiveled fully a la Linda Blair in 'The Exorcist,' actually -- when Phoenix selected Minnesota high school junior Blake Wheeler with the 5th overall pick? Wheeler that spring was a riser of a prospect, but Phoenix -- to wide and loud ridicule from the TSN commentators at the time -- slotted the big wing about 20 places higher than on any other NHL team's draft board. At least. His development over the four hockey seasons since can be said to have been steady if unspectacular. Meaning: about 29 NHL clubs probably got a pretty good read on Wheeler while the 'Yotes, drafting at 5th overall . . . not so much.
First-rounders Phoenix passed on back in '04 include Rostislav Olesz; Drew Stafford; Alexander Radulov; Andrej Meszaros; and Mike Green.
Well what seemed a bizarre pick four summers back turned, this past weekend, into a superbly lousy one for the Desert Dogs.
In a first instance of exercising a provision brought about by the new CBA, Wheeler informed Phoenix of his intention to become a free agent this June 1, spurning Phoenix' recent contract offer. Wheeler was able to pull this off because rather than return to the Breck Academy for his senior year of high school (he led all Minnesota high schoolers in scoring his junior year), he bolted for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. The new CBA allows NHL clubs the rights to picks who go on to college a total of four years to sign them. Not four years of college, four years of rights. Blake left Minnesota this spring after his junior season to turn pro.
Wheeler's case represents something fundamentally different from say R.J. Umberger, drafted 16th overall by Vancouver in 2001. Umberger, beholden to the old CBA, completed all four years at Ohio State before coming to a negotiations impasse with the Canucks. He was first dealt by Vancouver to the Rangers, who fared no better in their negotations, and eventually he signed as a free agent with the Flyers.
Capitals' Director of Media Relations Nate Ewell informed me today that the Caps have a set of comparable challenges, potentially, with 2007 draft picks Brett Bruneteau and Andrew Glass. Bruneteau has two seasons in the USHL under his belt, and he'll join the North Dakota Fighting Sioux this fall. Glass, like his draft classmate, won't enter college as a freshman until this fall, joining the BU Terriers. For drafted players who go on to college, years spent in the USHL or simply as a year or two off to gain maturity and strength count in the four-year window of rights eligibility. Wheeler is the first player to exercise this out clause, if you will, within the new CBA.
As compensation for Wheeler Phoenix will receive the fifth pick in this year's second round. The Coyotes can only hope that Wheeler doesn't turn out to be anywhere near the player that Umberger is.
Leave a comment