Yesterday was June 1, the annual deadline for North American, non-college NHL Draft picks from two years ago to sign with their clubs or opt for other options. While the usual deluge of mid-to-late round picks from the 2014 NHL Draft will go back into the draft pool, a bigger splash was made in the form of the Arizona Coyotes deciding not to sign Red Deer Rebels forward Conner Bleackley.
Bleackley, 20, was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2014 Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. From that point, he had a few bumps in the road.