Maybe this happens all the time and I just never noticed, but how is undrafted but draft eligible player allowed to be invited to a pro training camp? As you pointed out, it's not like they can sign him so why is this even allowed?
There is a window after draft you can sign undrafted players. Flyers got Philippe Myers that way. If not signed by certain date they go back into draft.
He had 2 games with 15 penalty minutes, one being a 5 minute major and the other facemasking, along with a game misconduct, like 4 coincidental minors with the other team, and a weird faceoff violation. I guess if you want to remove those extreme cases/coincidentals, he has 20 pim. He's probably playing with more confidence and has something to prove, so he might be a bit chippier. I wouldn't worry about those pims though, he's still raking in the points and is a plus player on a somewhat weak team offensively. They were rank 10 in their conference and just jumped to 6th, so that's good to see.
I just realized that he isn't even under contract yet. We have 46/50 contracts slots used this season (49/50 when you include the three players that are sliding this season - they won't be able to next season) so my guess is Army is waiting until after the TDL to sort this out, but the kid is earning a lot more cash for his ELC if he keeps this up.
There are some minor leaguers whose rights we can let go to sign him, Perunovich, and McCing.
Doesn't help that the Blues don't have a minor league affiliate either. Hopefully they can hurry up and get one not named Chicago. As far as players we could let go, I'm sure Lappin and LaLeggia are gone, so that's 44 contracts, I guess if you sign those 3, you're at 47, and I'm sure if we make a deadline deal, we end up moving a prospect or two and free up a few more spots. I think we'll be ok for next year given we have a team in the AHL.
You also have to account for the ELC slides for Alexandrov, Laferierre and Hofer that will not be available next season, which is why I suggested that the real starting point is actually 49. You are right, though, that moving on from Lappin and LaLeggia will free up two slots, bringing them back to 47.
How do those slides work? I'm guessing that's why we're sitting at 46 instead of 49, but is it because they're AHL eligible or no? Also, I have to imagine that the Blues will probably trade one of the goalies they have in the system considering how well Hofer has done and Fitz has been pretty bad. Unless they decide to trade Allen, I can't see Husso starting the year with the Blues next season. There are going to be some tough decisions next year, and I'm going to guess there will be some pretty sizable turnover on the defense in the A, and a few on the forward position. I just don't know who the Blues value on that team and whether or not they are going to keep as many players if they have to affiliate with Chicago.
