Report: Maple Leafs interested in Columbus prospect Rychel
So far, the 2016 calendar year is full of trade rumors involving players who have demanded trades from their respective organizations. The agent for Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin revealed Drouin asked for a trade out of Tampa in November, and according to the Columbus Dispatch, Blue Jackets prospect Kerby Rychel also asked to be traded from his team due to his lack of movement up through the depth chart.
Rychel, who was selected 19th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, had a brief stint up with the Blue Jackets from Nov. 14 through Dec. 4 and recorded three assists in 11 games this season for Columbus. He spent the rest of this season with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL and ranks second on the team in scoring with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 20 games.
According to the Dispatch, the Maple Leafs are one of multiple teams who have inquired about the 21-year-old forward. Via Puck-Rakers Blog:
The Dispatch has been told repeatedly that Rychel asked for a trade before the season started, but the Blue Jackets have shown no interest in trading him. The New York Rangers, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Anaheim, Boston and Detroit have all reportedly shown interest, and why not? Rychel is a point-a-game player in the AHL and has plenty of sand paper.
It is unknown what the Blue Jackets would want in exchange for Rychel, but the idea of a point-producing prospect with AHL success should be tantalizing for Toronto fans. The Rychel reports remain a rumor for now, as does speculation on Twitter among Maple Leafs fans that Drouin could possibly end up in Toronto, but both names will be high on the watch-list in the two months ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
