Miami’s Carson Meyer drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets

Sure, the last few weeks was reserved for the build up and subsequent breakdown of the NBA Draft. But there was another opportunity for underclassmen to hear their future destinations to celebrate, this time on ice, and this time with more MAC-related draftees then that NBA Draft we celebrated.

Carson Meyer, a sophomore on the RedHawks hockey squad, heard his name called in the 6th round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, 179th overall. Columbus made the playoffs last year and are within shouting distance of the top teams in the league. They’re also coached by John Tortorella, one of the few NHL coaches I know thanks to the Winter Classic 24/7 when he coached the Rangers.

From Miami’s press release:

After an impressive debut season on an extraordinarily young Miami hockey team, sophomore forward Carson Meyer heard his name called at the 2017 NHL Draft on Saturday.

Meyer was selected by his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round (179th overall).

On a team with 14 freshmen on the roster, Meyer finished fourth on the RedHawks with 26 points on 10 goals and 16 assists in the 32 games he suited up. Included in that production were five multi-point games and three separate point streaks of four games or longer.

A total of 28 Miami players have had their name called in the NHL draft since the 2001 season with the selection of Meyer. The RedHawks’ 2017-18 campaign begins on Oct. 6 when they host Providence.

Yes, it’s not technically the MAC, as Miami is a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, but we are still going to celebrate given Miami’s closeness with the MAC. Sure, hockey may not be at the top of the list of interest for the typical MAC fan, but 28 draftees since 2001 is pretty impressive no matter what the sport is.

The NHL Entry Draft is a little odd in its format. A player not signed by his NHL team within two years of being drafted can re-enter the draft, as long as he is 20 years old or younger at the time of the subsequent draft. If he’s older than 20, he becomes a free agent. As of 2004, 18-year-old players from NCAA Division I schools can be drafted and retain their college eligibility as long as they don't play for a pro team or hire an agent. In previous years, an 18-year-old who opted into the draft lost his NCAA eligibility.

So it’s still TBD whether Meyer will eventually end up a Blue Jacket, but for now, that’s where his rights are.