Report: Blue Jackets' Rychel asked for trade before season started

Columbus Blue Jackets 2013 first-round pick Kerby Rychel asked for a trade before the season began, The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline reports.

Selected 19th overall, Rychel's played 16 games over the past two seasons for the Blue Jackets, and is still searching for his first NHL goal. He had three assists in five games last season, and has three assists in 11 games in 2015-16.

According to Portzline, Rychel's agent and his father met with the Blue Jackets at development camp this fall to ask why Rychel was so low on Columbus' depth chart. It's assumed that's when the trade request was made. However, the Blue Jackets aren't interested in trading the 21-year-old, Portzline adds.

Rychel's spent most of this season with the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters, where he has five goals and 12 assists in 19 games, along with 43 penalty minutes

Portzline lists a number of teams reportedly interested in acquiring the son of former NHLer Warren Rychel:

• Anaheim Ducks
• Boston Bruins
• Calgary Flames
• Detroit Red Wings
• Montreal Canadiens
• New York Rangers
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Rychel has 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 70 career AHL games.