Nelson's Isaac MacLeod stuck in a time warp — forced to play NHL waiting game
By Bruce Fuhr
Like many college or university graduates Isaac Macleod has been busy scanning the employment pages looking for a place to hang his hat.
Having recently graduated from Boston College with business degree from the Carroll School of Management with a concentration in Economics, the Nelson native is hungry to gain meaningful employment.
However, Macleod has been pigeonholed into a strange category when it comes to finding a new job and can’t even speak to prospective employers until mid-August when the Nelson native becomes a free agent.
Oh, I guess we forgot to explain that along with his Carroll School of Managementbusiness degree, MacLeod is a graduate of the Boston College Eagles Men’s Hockey team and should be a lock to be playing hockey somewhere next season.
“It’s definitely been a process moving forward,” Macleod, the 136th overall selection — fifth round — of the San Jose Sharks in the 2010 NHL draft.
“I have to be patient and basically just do what I can to prepare for next season wherever that may be.”
MacLeod’s wait is all because of a rule in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement that states an NHL club retains the rights of the player for exclusive negotiation through August 15 following the graduation of his college class provided he remains a college student through at least the start of his senior season.
Meaning while Boston College teammate Thatcher Demko was attending the Canucks prospects camp in Vancouver earlier this summer after being drafted in the second-round of the 2014 NHL draft at No. 36, MacLeod is on the outside looking in as he trains vigorously in Edmonton with his cousins.
“It’s extremely hard not knowing where I’ll be playing or what league or anything but I’ve just been training and working and trying to prepare for wherever I do end up next year,” the 6’5”, 212 pound mobile rearguard explained from Edmonton.
“Hopefully someone will give me an opportunity so I can keep playing the game.”
“I was very happy for Demmer to get drafted, especially to an organization like the Canucks,” added MacLeod, finishing his college career with two goals for 27 points in 142 games and a NCAA Championship in 2012.
“(I have to admit) I was a bit bummed out about not going to any development camps but that’s the way she goes. It’s a great experience going to camps like that because there are so many coaches and players that can help teach you things to improve your game.”
MacLeod played minor hockey in Nelson before joining the Nelson Leafs of the KIJHL.
He then played two seasons in Penticton in the BC Hockey League before getting a scholarship with Boston College.
During his senior season at Boston College, MacLeod served as an assistant captain while playing all 40 games for the Eagles.
He tallied 11 assists with four of the points coming 20 Hockey East contests, finished with a plus-8 rating and set Patrick Brown up with the game-winning goal to help Boston College clinch its fifth-consecutive Beanpot title.
Off the ice, MacLeod won the William J. Flynn Coaches Award captured the Academic Excellence Award as the senior with the highest grade point average.
“My four years at BC (Boston College) was an amazing experience for me,” MacLeod explained.
“I grew and learned so much in many different aspects of life from hockey to academics and everything in between. BC and the people I met there have had a tremendous impact on me and have helped shape who I will become moving forward.”
“It’s weird to think that I’ve graduated and won’t be back there in the fall wearing the Maroon and Gold again,” he added.
“It was an experience I’ll always treasure and am very proud to call myself an Eagle.”
After spending some time in Nelson, the youngest of Deborah and Allan MacLeod’s three children trekked to the Alberta Capitol to work on a golf-course, train, try to gain some weight, and, for the most part, work on the golf game.
MacLeod has been also able to train with the Correale cousins, Nic, Dan and (former Nelson Leaf) Gus, the latter two relations who attend NCAA schools.
And, of course, wait after seeing the depth the Sharks have on defence for the upcoming future.
“I’ve talked to my agent a couple times and he basically just tells me it’s a process,” said MacLeod, part of the Nelson Leafs KIJHL title winning squad in 2009.
“He’s in contact with teams at different levels trying to find a spot where I’m wanted and will be able to succeed. I just have to be focused on working out hard and gaining weight.”
Despite the wait, MacLeod is confident his credentials will have the former Nelson Leaf rearguard manning the blueline somewhere in 2014-15.
“I’m confident I’ll have somewhere to play next year, I’m not sure where it’ll be or what league but I’ll be playing (somewhere) even if it’s on Tuesday nights in Nelson,” MacLeod says jokingly.
“Best case scenario would be attending an NHL camp but I just want to be in a situation that I have a chance to improve and am given an opportunity to perform and play.”
