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Columbus Blue Jackets Have Won the Rychel-Harrington Trade

By Preston Byers

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 9: Kerby Rychel #21 of the Columbus Blue Jackets warms up before a game against the New York Islanders on February 9, 2016 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 9: Kerby Rychel #21 of the Columbus Blue Jackets warms up before a game against the New York Islanders on February 9, 2016 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs reduced its roster down to 26 men on Monday. One of the players not listed on the official roster was Kerby Rychel, a 22-year-old winger that the Leafs acquired last June from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kerby Rychel was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 19th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The year after being drafted, the Torrance, California native played his best season in the Ontario Hockey League, posting 90 points (34 goals and 56 assists) and a +41 plus-minus rating in just 58 games.

After dominating the OHL, Rychel played in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Falcons in 2014-2015. He didn’t have as much success, but still managed 33 points (12 goals and 21 assists) in 51 games. He also got his first chance on the Columbus Blue Jackets roster in 2014-2015 as he suited up for five games. He recorded three assists and one minor penalty.

Prediction: 13 Opening Night Forwards

The next year, Rychel gained a larger role for the Jackets. He played in 32 games, putting up two goals and seven assists in the process. In January 2016, reports leaked that Rychel had actually requested a trade from the Blue Jackets organization. Although his request was not met during the season, it was fulfilled in the offseason.

Just after the conclusion of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Blue Jackets finalized a trade to send Kerby Rychel to the Maple Leafs for defensemen Scott Harrington and a conditional fifth-round pick.

Post-Trade

Following the trade, Rychel did not see ice time for the Maple Leafs in the regular season or playoffs. Instead, the forward played 73 games for the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate. He posted 19 goals and 33 assists for the club.

Meanwhile, Scott Harrington, a physical Kingston-native defensemen, played 22 games for the Blue Jackets during the regular season. In his NHL ice time, he was able to score one goal and assist on two more. He also got three playoff games under his belt as he played in the CBJ’s postseason series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rychel & Harrington’s Statuses

Kerby Rychel was waived by the Maple Leafs on Monday for reassignment. Obviously, Toronto would love to have no one pick up Rychel and keep him with the Marlies until he’s shown he’s ready for the NHL. That’s not likely though as teams will be interested in the young forward.

Meanwhile, Harrington is projected to make the Blue Jackets’ opening night roster and may even push his way into the starting lineup depending on some of the younger blue liners’ play.

Conclusion

The Columbus Blue Jackets definitely won this trade. Rychel wasn’t horrible. In fact, Rychel would probably still be in Toronto if the Maple Leafs didn’t have such a good forward corps. Harrington hasn’t been great either. But one has a roster spot, and one does not. It’s as simple as that. Leafs lost out on this trade, even if it means very little to them.

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