While many are familiar with the nine game rule for junior-aged NHL players, there is a second threshold that some teams believe is even more critical, the 40 game mark. If a junior-aged player is on an active NHL roster for 40 games, they accrue one season towards unrestricted free agency. The key here is that games played does not matter here – if they’re on the roster, even as a healthy scratch, it still counts.
The New York Islanders find themselves in this situation with rookie winger Anthony Beauvillier. He has played just 26 games this year (being scratched the other 13) but their next game against the Panthers will mark number 40, thus giving him an accrued season of service time towards becoming an unrestricted free agent. (Basically, instead of being UFA-eligible at age 27, Beauvillier will be eligible at age 26.)
Considering the situation the Islanders find themselves in when it comes to the standings (dead last out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference) and some of the struggles from their veteran players, Brian Erni of Islanders Point Blank argues that they have completely misused Beauvillier. In a season that looks like it is going to be a losing one, he suggests that the rookie should be seeing a lot more ice time and in the lineup on a regular basis.
The situation draws some parallels to Nino Niederreiter back in 2011-12. He too was a junior aged player who struggled to find consistent playing time while struggling veteran players were in the lineup on a regular basis. Eventually the Swiss winger went public with his frustration and wound up being dealt to the Wild that offseason as part of the Cal Clutterbuck trade.
There’s no indication that Beauvillier, who has four goals and five assists this season, is headed down the same path as Niederreiter but his lack of recent usage has been a bit surprising and frustrating for many. With their second half of the season fast approaching, it certainly will be interesting to see if he gets a longer leash to work with.
Other Islander notes:
- With the Islanders likely to sell at the deadline, Newsday’s Arthur Staple takes a look at some of the potential rental players in a reader mailbag. He mentions that while goaltender Thomas Greiss may be the most attractive option to other teams, he believes that New York would like to keep him around beyond this season which could take him off the market. He adds that Dennis Seidenberg would be another candidate to move but that they wouldn’t likely get much in return.
- Still from Staple, he suggests that of the two Colorado forwards believed to be on the market (center Matt Duchene and winger Gabriel Landeskog), the team has more interest in Duchene despite having a greater positional need on the wing. However, he’s quick to add that the price (which would likely include their first round pick – which is shaping up to be an early one – plus a one or two top youngsters) remains far too high for GM Garth Snow to consider.