Playing ‘like a rat’ helps Meyer earn NHL deal

The Ohio State and Ohio AAA Blue Jackets’ alum signed an NHL entry-level contract for next year after rebranding his game as an AHL rookie for the Cleveland Monsters.

Carson Meyer wanted an NHL contract and the Blue Jackets wanted to see his game change before offering one.

That, essentially, is how Meyer earned the NHL entry-level contract he signed with the Jackets on April 17, which highlighted an impressive professional debut with the Cleveland Monsters. Meyer, 23, is the Monsters’ second-leading scorer with seven goals, nine assists and 16 points in just 17 games during an American Hockey League season that’s been shortened and challenged by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“At this point, it’s worked out better than I could have hoped,” said Meyer, 23, a talented forward who is from Powell and is another professional alum of the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets program. “(The Blue Jackets) felt like I wasn’t in a position where I had shown enough NHL potential at the end of my college career, and I think they were right.”

Prior to the onset of the pandemic, Meyer had a strong senior year with Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes with 17 goals and added 14 assists for 31 points, including a five-point effort with four goals and an assist in a 9-1 quarterfinal victory against Wisconsin during the Big Ten tournament.

It just wasn’t enough to earn an NHL deal from the Blue Jackets, who selected Meyer in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. The missing ingredient, according to Blue Jackets director of player personnel Chris Clark, had nothing to do with goals and assists. It was more about grit and annoying opposing players with relentless physical play, which Clark, who’s also the Monsters’ general manager, relayed during Meyer’s collegiate development.

“Clarky would always say to me, ‘You’ve got a great shot and a knack for scoring, but how do I notice you when you’re not scoring goals?’” Meyer said. “He always emphasized, ‘Play kind of like a rat.’ Get under guys’ skin, finish every check, go hard to the net … stuff like that. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that this year.”

Often, he can hear the proof.

“I’m trying to finish every check and get guys chasing me around the ice, yelling at me,” Meyer said, chuckling. “I got away from it for a couple years when I was in college. I just feel way more engaged when I’m running around trying to hit guys as hard as I can and, you know … guys are chasing me around the ice screaming things at me. It’s more fun for me.”

It’s reminiscent of his days with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.

Meyer played four years with the Tier 1 developmental program in Columbus, starting at age 14, and became a force for coach Ed Gingher on the program’s 18-and-under squad in 2014-15. His scoring line of 21-30-51 in 32 games was impressive, and it was a memorable year skating on a forward line with long-time friends Jack Roslovic and Kole Sherwood, who are now with the Blue Jackets.

“It really is a crazy story, isn’t it?” Meyer said. “It’s not only that we’re all Columbus-born and played AAA Blue Jackets growing up, but we were all the same birth year, as well. It’s pretty wild. Hopefully I can make that next step, too, with them.”

Roslovic, who the Blue Jackets acquired along with Patrik Laine in a Jan. 23 trade with Winnipeg, is the furthest along. His 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) are third on the team in scoring and he’s one of the Jackets’ top options at center.

Sherwood, meanwhile, is getting an opportunity to show he’s ready for a larger NHL role during a frustrating end to the Blue Jackets’ season, and Meyer is making strides with the Monsters. His two-way NHL contract will start next season.

After a challenging collegiate career that included a sophomore season at Miami University ravaged by a tapeworm, he remains driven to become the sixth AAA Ohio Blue Jackets alum to play in the NHL — preceded by Roslovic, Sherwood, Sean Kuraly (Boston Bruins), Connor Murphy (Chicago Blackhawks) and Keifer Sherwood (Colorado Avalanche).

It will be quite a photo op if it happens in Columbus with Roslovic and Sherwood.

“I can’t even imagine that,” Meyer said. “Ed Gingher would have to have glass seats that night.”

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger