NHL Draft: 2014 Picks Still Without a Contract

NHL Draft: Prospects Taken in 2014 Still Without a Contract as we Approach June 1st Deadline

Teams have a little under two weeks to get their 2014 NHL Draft picks signed. Any prospect left unsigned can re-enter the 2016 NHL Draft.

According to section 8.6 of the CBA, teams have two years to sign their draft picks (North American/European Skaters). The exception is college players, in which teams own their rights for 30 days following their final day of college (deadline usually falls on August 15th).

Several other exceptions do exist, such as player’s who leave major junior to play in Europe, but generally speaking non-NCAA prospects need to be signed within the two-year time frame in which they are drafted.

via ProIceHockey,

A player not signed by his NHL team within two years of being drafted can re-enter the draft, as long as he is 20 years old or younger at the time of the subsequent draft. Players over 20 become unrestricted free agents.

European Players – Prior to 2005, NHL teams retained the rights to a European player until that player turned 31. Drafted Europeans must now be signed within two years, the same as North Americans, or the team loses the rights to the player.

With that in mind, we turned to GeneralFanager to determine which North American only 2014 NHL Draft picks still remain without a contract. The main focus is prospects who still meet the age requirements to re-enter the draft (assuming they don’t fall under the exception rule).

* It’s important to remember that several of the following players may sign over the course of the next two weeks as the deadline approaches

1 (23) Conner Bleackley (COL > ARZ)

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If a 1st round pick goes unsigned after two years, the team owning his rights receives a compensatory second round draft pick that correlates with the same selection of the original choice.

Since Bleackley was taken 23rd overall, he would fetch a 53rd overall selection (23rd pick of the 2nd round).

When Colorado traded his rights in the Mikkel Boedker deal, they also forfeited the compensation to Arizona.

2 (49) Vaclav Karabacek (BUF) (Signed 05/25)
3 (67) Warren Foegele (CAR)

Re-entry status unclear. Foegele left the NCAA after two years to play major junior in 2015-16.

3 (74) Brycen Martin (BUF) (Signed 05/21)
3 (75) Alex Peters (DAL)
3 (81) Dylan Sadowy (DET) (Traded from SJ to DET – Signed 05/28)

Following his trade from Sarnia to Barrie in 2015-16 Sadowy posted 36 points in 28 games for the Colts.

He’s also coming off a 74-point campaign in 2014-15.

Both Sadowy and Bleackley could range anywhere from a 2nd to 4th round selection a second time around.

3 (85) Keegan Iverson (NYR)
4 (93) Nick Magyar (COL)
4 (96) Josh Wesley (CAR)

Son of former Hurricanes D Glen Wesley, Josh is a big 6’3 201lbs two-way defender. He was traded in 2015-16 from Flint to Niagara, and enjoyed a nice OHL Finals run posting four points in 17 games.

4 (101) Nelson Nogier (WPG)
4 (103) J.J. Piccinich (TOR) (Re-Entry Status Unclear, Left Boston University after 2014-15 season)

Piccinich had a monster year on the blueline for the OHL’s most dominating team, the London Knights. He posted 66 points during the regular season, with another 12 during the playoffs. Piccinich and the Knights head to Red Deer for the Memorial Cup that starts on Friday.

4 (104) Ryan Mantha (NYR)
4 (107) Julien Pelletier (CLB)
4 (114) Alexis Pepin (COL)
4 (115) Brent Moran (DAL)
5 (150) Alec Dillon (LA)
6 (154) Aaron Haydon (DAL)

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Playing for OHL Niagara the past four years, Haydon has shown tremendous development since being drafted.

Yes, it’s two very different IceDogs teams since 2013-14, but going from -39 plus/minus rating, to +3 in 2014-15, and then +22 in 2015-16 gives you an idea of the improvement he’s shown in his own end.

6 (162) Aaron Irving (NSH)
6 (167) Chase Lang (MIN) (Signed 05/24)
6 (169) Reid Duke (MIN) 

Reid had a solid year for the WHL powerhouse Brandon Wheat Kings in 2015-16 posting 62 points in 68 games. He also added 24 points in 21 games as Brandon captured the WHL title. Here’s another guy to keep an eye on at the Memorial Cup.

6 (170) Cristiano DiGiacinto (TB)
6 (172) Chandler Yakimowicz (STL)

It’s easy for good players to go unnoticed when they play in the shadows on a dominant CHL team (London Knights). Such is the case for Yakimowicz, who much like teammate Cliff Pu, is often forgotten because of a more limited role. At 6’2 211lbs, Chandler is a physical force who isn’t shy to mix it up. He only had 11 points during the regular season, but managed to score two goals, with four helpers (six points) in 18 playoff games.

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6 (173) Jaden Lindo (PIT)
7 (183) Keven Bouchard (EDM)
7 (187) Kyle Jenkins (CAR)
7 (195) Patrick Sanvido (DAL)
7 (197) Olivier Leblanc (CLB)
7 (210) Jacob Middleton (LA)