Does Mikey Eyssimont become a decent bottom 6er? Still young at 23 and numbers are increasing. Not saying he's amazing, but maybe he's a good 4th line option.
He's improving as a pro, but I've always said I don't see the NHL in his future. I give him full credit for improving significantly this season, and I think he's likely earned a 2nd NHL contract this June. He needs 12 pts in his last 19 games to reach 40 pts (doubling last years numbers). I said at the start of the season he would need to do that to get a qualifying offer. He plays with a bit of an edge, but often takes it too far (I call him the slasher) as he takes a ton of slashing penalties, often ill-advised. His skating is pretty average. One area he has improved a lot in my eyes is dishing the puck. Previously, he would get the puck and basically just look at one option, trying to get a shot on the net without looking at other options (passing to a teammate with a better opportunity to the net, getting the puck deep etc). He's thinking the game a bit faster now and just reacting instead of trying to do too much, and it's paying off on the score sheet. He has a decent wrist shot. He's also battling Crohn's disease, which is another obstacle but seems to be handling things well. Now, if he gets another contract (he'll be 24 next season), and starts to hit the 50-60 pt range in the AHL, then he may get a look, but right now I'll stick to my guns and said he developing into a solid pro player, but it will be at the AHL level.
The one player I think that may not receive a qualifying offer in June that I thought at the start of the season was a shoe-in is Sheldon Rempal. He's had a very poor season, although to his credit the last month he's finally coming around (at the same time as the team in general). I'm gonna call it 50/50 at this point that he's qualified in June. He'll be 25 next season. Maybe he gets a one year deal, I would think Eyssimont might get two if re-signed. But my feeling overall is Blake is starting to clear house of these players taking up room on the 50 man roster. Likely Reddekopp, Kehler and Imama (who has also improved as a pro) will be cut.