Kerby Rychel Jersey Card

It's been a rumour-filled three years for Kerby Rychel since being drafted 19th overall in 2013, whether it's his asking for a trade or the Columbus Blue Jackets shopping him around, we'll likely never know the exact truth or the extent thereof, apart from the fact that he was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs at this year's draft for relatively cheap: Scott Harrington - previously acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Phil Kessel trade - and a fifth-round pick.

Rychel started the 2015-16 season right, posting 20 points in his first 21 games with the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters, earning a call-up with the Jackets, who didn't give him a lot of ice time to show what he could do with the puck; instead, probably stemming from Rychel's attitude upon being sent to the minors by original coach Todd Richards mixed in with new coach John Tortorella's will to make him learn to play defensively, he got very few offensive zone starts and often played less than 12 minutes per game.

Upon returning to the Monsters, others (particularly T.J. Tynan and Sonny Milano) had taken his place as the offensive producers for head coach Jared Bednar, and his point production suffered: just 1 goal and 7 points in his last 16 regular-season games, and six points in 17 playoff games for the Calder Cup champions.

So here's to a new start for Rychel; unfortunately, it's with the Leafs, whom I only wish ill to. And here's what Rychel looked like in Columbus' blue (home) uniform, on card #FT-KR from Upper Deck's 2014-15 Ice set and Fresh Threads sub-set:

It contains a matching event-worn jersey swatch from a rookie photo shoot.