Blades' star unable to find agreement with Leafs
"We're leaning toward going back into the draft, but we'll see what happens," Nicholls, 20, said Thursday afternoon from his parents' Tsawwassen, B.C., home.
As expected, the 2010 seventh-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs was not signed by the club by 10 p.m. local time.
As a result, Nicholls is eligible for the 2012 draft, which is scheduled for June 22 and 23 in Pittsburgh.
If not selected by an NHL team, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
...
After being picked by the Leafs in 2010, Nicholls registered 87 points in 71 games during the following season.
He was second in Blades scoring with 30 goals and 68 points in 2011-12, but was limited to 56 games because of a MCL strain.
Too bad. He was obviously better than his 7th round draft position might have suggested.
I do wonder how far apart they could have really been in contract because of the limits of entry level deals ... It's not like the Leafs can't afford him. So it's kind of strange to me. Maybe it was term or signing bonus. The term issue may kick in with their 50 contract limit concerns as their prospects graduate ...
I'm a little disappointed (not greatly) as he seemed to have some longer shot potential to becoming another found wallet.
"We're leaning toward going back into the draft, but we'll see what happens," Nicholls, 20, said Thursday afternoon from his parents' Tsawwassen, B.C., home.
As expected, the 2010 seventh-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs was not signed by the club by 10 p.m. local time.
As a result, Nicholls is eligible for the 2012 draft, which is scheduled for June 22 and 23 in Pittsburgh.
If not selected by an NHL team, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
...
After being picked by the Leafs in 2010, Nicholls registered 87 points in 71 games during the following season.
He was second in Blades scoring with 30 goals and 68 points in 2011-12, but was limited to 56 games because of a MCL strain.
Too bad. He was obviously better than his 7th round draft position might have suggested.
I do wonder how far apart they could have really been in contract because of the limits of entry level deals ... It's not like the Leafs can't afford him. So it's kind of strange to me. Maybe it was term or signing bonus. The term issue may kick in with their 50 contract limit concerns as their prospects graduate ...
I'm a little disappointed (not greatly) as he seemed to have some longer shot potential to becoming another found wallet.
