BC loses out on 1st round pick Sonny Milano.
Sonny Milano, the Blue Jackets' first-round draft pick in the June draft, has pulled out of a commitment to Boston College and will instead play this season for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.
Milano, the No. 16 overall pick, informed Boston College coach Jerry York of his decision today.
"Sonny has informed me he will sign a contract," York was quoted as saying in a tweet by @BCHockey, the Boston College sports informational department. "They will dictate his path as he embarks on his pro career."
That would seem to indicate the Blue Jackets were involved in making Milano's decision, which they have denied.
The Blue Jackets have said repeatedly that contract talks wouldn't begin until Milano made his decision -- Plymouth or Boston College? -- and that they wouldn't get involved in the decision-making process.
"That's a decision for Sonny Milano and his family," Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said earlier this summer. "He and his family have to make the decision, and we'll support them either way."
Milano was said to be leaning away from Boston College even before he was drafted, but he denied repeatedly that a decision had been made -- first at the NHL draft in Philadelphia, then at Blue Jackets' development camp, and again last week at the United States national junior development camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Plymouth is one of Canada's well-respected major-junior programs. He'll play nearly twice as many games in major-junior as he would at Boston College, and he can sign an entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets - along with a healthy signing bonus -- without having to worry about his NCAA eligibility.
http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/blogs/puck-rakers/2014/08/milano-headed-to-plymouth.htmlThe Whalers, meanwhile, have been trying to sweeten the pot for Milano and make his decision easier.
On Friday, they traded with Sudbury to acquire center Mathew Campagna, who had 59 assissts last season and is expected to play with Milano.
Milano was due to arrive at Boston College on Aug. 24. Now he's free to attend the annual prospect's camp in Traverse City, Mich., next month, as well as Blue Jackets training camp.
Milano, who had 14 goals, 25 assists and 21 penalty minutes in 25 games with the United States National Team Development program last season, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.