The Columbus Blue Jackets have removed two players on tryout from training camp. Former New York Rangers forward James Sheppard and former Predator Antti Pihlstrom have been cut by the Jackets.
Some had pegged Sheppard as having a decent camp, scoring a goal against the team the drafted him, the Minnesota Wild, on Thursday.
Yet, Sheppard, who was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Rangers last season, has been cut.
The 2006 1st round draft pick scored a career-high in goals last season, which simply wasn’t enough as he hasn’t developed into the top tier scoring forward that many expected when he was drafted 9th overall in 2006.
At just 27, it should be expected that Sheppard will find a job before too long.
Philstrom grabbed a season in the NHL in the 2008-09 seasons, playing for the Nashville Predators. That year he played 53 games, scoring two goals and five assists.
He has spent the last six seasons in Europe, with the last four seasons seeing Philstrom play for Ufa Salavat Yulayev in the KHL. Last season the 30-year-old forward scored 16 goals and 12 assists through 60 games in the KHL, his best point total since joining the league.
Lots of familiar names have taken PTOs this season. Keep up with all the tryout contracts with The Hockey Writers’ 2015 PTO Tracker.
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