Zach Sanford Leaving College for Pros?

Drafted by Capitals in the second round, 61st overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft, Zach Sanford spent last season playing for the Boston College Eagles.

Sanford was interviewed by the Washington Post at the Capitals Development Camp held last week at Kettler, where it sounded like Sanford would be returning to Boston College in the fall.

As for Zach Sanford, from Boston College, he said he’s looking forward to being an upperclassman next season.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) June 28, 2016

But on Sunday, word started to leak that Zach’s plans may have changed:

Sources indicating that Zach Sanford has informed BC he is in fact turning pro. Not sure if officially signed yet but he is gone.

— BC Hockey Blog (@bchockeyblog1) July 10, 2016

The Washington Capitals are making a push to sign sophomore F Zach Sanford out of BC, I’m told. Eagles have already lost six players early.

— Brad E. Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) July 10, 2016

Sanford registered 39 points (13g, 26a) in 41 games played with Boston College (NCAA) in 2015-16. The 6’4”, 191-pound center led the team in assists, ranked third in points and fifth in goals. In addition, Sanford was second on the team in plus/minus (+27) and tallied 44 penalty minutes during the 2015-16 season.

Sanford caught the eye of General Manager Brian MacLellan at last years (2015) Development Camp. In an interview with the Washington Post, MacLellan stated “I guess the one guy, Sanford, I was impressed by Sanford during the drills,” MacLellan said. “I liked what he’s done.” Trotz added, “A guy like Zach Sanford, I’m impressed with him, his development from last year to this year.”

The Washington Post also notes that “Signing Sanford would be a good addition to Washington’s organizational center depth, especially as the Capitals have yet to sign Thomas DiPauli, a 2012 fourth-round pick whose college career at Notre Dame is over. In his senior season, DiPauli posted 14 goals and 18 assists for the Fighting Irish. Washington owns the negotiating rights to DiPauli until Aug. 15. If he’s still unsigned at that point he becomes an unrestricted free agent.”

BC Interruption reports, “this comes as a pretty big surprise. Early departures tend to happen much earlier in the offseason, and Sanford, who was set to be a rising junior, had given no indication he intended to leave. Clearly, something changed over the course of last week’s Washington development camp, which Sanford participated in.”

By Jon Sorensen