The Blue Jackets have signed top prospect, defencemen Zach Werenski, to an Amateur Tryout Agreement. He will report to Lake Erie and play with the Monsters. Per Aaron Portzline the team is still working on an entry level contract with Werenski.
#CBJ Zach Werenski signs amateur tryout agreement with @monstershockey. Working on three-year, entry-level deal with #CBJ.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 29, 2016
So we have a few things with this, first, why an ATO rather than just a standard ELC? It was reported a few days ago that the Jackets have a max contract offer on the table.
Not much negotiating, really. #CBJ will put maximum entry-level contract offer on table. Only question is if Werenski is ready to turn pro.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 27, 2016
Thankfully the great Elliotte Friedman is here and explained the reasoning.
By signing AHL ATO, Werenski is protected from any expansion draft in 2018. Key for NHL teams. https://t.co/RsO45OCoTO
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 29, 2016
The talk right now is that an expansion draft will take place next summer (2017). If that is the case Werenski would be protected as he would have less than two years of pro under his belt. If however there is a delay and expansion takes place in two years (2018), Werenski if he signed an ELC, would have three pro years and thus need to be protected. This is a savvy move by the Jackets as it allows Werenski to play pro hockey but keeps him safe from an expansion draft.
Another confusing part of this was people were wondering if Werenski would be able to return to Michigan after this, because it is an “amateur… tryout. The answer to that is no. Once you sign any sort of agreement with an NHL team you lose your NCAA eligibility. So Werenski is done at Michigan and is committed to playing professional hockey.
The best part of this deal for the Jackets is that Werenski is able to play in the AHL playoffs. Had he signed and played in the NHL he would be ineligible for the playoffs. Portzline in his Dispatch Article lays it out nicely.
But the biggest issue, Kekalainen said, is that the Blue Jackets could not have sent Werenski to the AHL for the playoffs if he'd played in the NHL this season. His season would have ended, like the Blue Jackets' on April 9."They have a good team in Lake Erie, and he’s going to make them better," Kekalainen said. "They have a chance to make a deep run in the playoffs, and that’s a great experience for anybody, but especially an 18-year-old getting his first taste of the pro game."
This will do wonders for Werenski’s development. This will give everyone a chance to see how he stacks up with professionals, and give him an idea of what he needs to improve on this summer. I cannot wait to see Lake Erie in the playoffs. They will loaded with talent and hopefully can go on a deep playoff run.
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