Without playing his first NHL game, Mike Reilly is already in the elite company of Adam Foote and Jeff Carter as the most hated opposing players in Columbus Blue Jackets‘ history.

First a little background. Reilly was drafted by Columbus in 2011, but opted instead to play collegiately for his hometown University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Columbus maintained their interest in the kid while he put up 18 goals, 89 points in three years, 117 games at Minnesota.

His 42 points, 36 assists during his junior year led all NCAA defenseman, and he led his team in scoring — the first defenseman for the university to do that since 1996-97. Reilly’s accolades in college helped him earn consecutive Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards, was named First Team All-American and a First Team All-Big Ten honoree (2014-15).

Reilly chose to become an unrestricted free agent and Columbus lost their exclusive rights to Reilly June 15. He chose to stay in Minnesota and sign with the Minnesota Wild.

At the end of the day, it sounds like a young athlete with the decision — one he earned, mind you — to go where he saw fit. He chose his home roots. Is it really fair for the Blue Jackets and their fans to be bitter? Probably not, but it’s sports and that’s the harsh reality sometimes. It’s similar to Foote in 2008 who maintained his desire to workout a contract extension with Columbus, yet orchestrated his way out of town, and took a plane to Calgary the day of the trade deadline in order to suit up against the Calgary Flames while playing for his original franchise, the Colorado Avalanche.

Carter never was a fit in Columbus. Immediately after the blockbuster trade went down in 2011 between the Philadelphia Flyers and Blue Jackets, Carter was in hiding for weeks before those with the Blue Jackets’ had to pay a visit to Carter in order for him to accept what had transpired. Foote, now retired, was mercifully booed every time he touched the ice in Columbus following the trade to Colorado. The same can be said for Carter, now as a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

One can assume Reilly gets that same customary treatment, whether Jan. 5 when Minnesota visits Columbus or sometime in the future. He didn’t make the Thursday night visit to Columbus for Minnesota’s preseason game. Though his not making the trip to Columbus has more to do with Minnesota trimming their roster prior to the start of the season, it’s no secret of the animosity since created by Reilly’s decision to bolt and sign with Minnesota.

Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Johansen each voiced their displeasure over Twitter. While Dubinsky would later delete his tweet, Johansen’s, “We don’t want him anyway” leaves little room for misinterperting Joey’s stance.

https://twitter.com/RyanJohansen19/status/611259648583204864

Never mind Johansen had his own interests in mind last year, missing out on training camp while seeking larger money on his next contract. However, the fact he and the Jackets could agree on terms removes the negativity leading up to it.

All that matters to the fans is who’s scoring goals for their team now. Obviously, Columbus’ fans and players alike are displeased with Reilly’s decision, perhaps mainly due to the length of commitment Columbus put into trying to sign him, before the perceived snub by Reilly.

Reilly did nothing wrong. He exercised his right to not sign with one club in favor of fielding offers from others. He’s going to be playing for his hometown Wild. Admirable right? Sure. Columbus, on the other hand, could have really used a prospect such as Reilly. He was going to be their cornerstone on defense in the not-so-distant future. While Reilly will go down as that prospect that got away, it won’t be because Columbus didn’t do all they could to intrigue him enough to sign the dotted line.

Reilly took the time to figure out his future. It almost seems cruel to vilify the guy, but fans don’t care about the realities behind decisions. While Minnesota will embrace him, Columbus’ fans will put this right up there with Carter’s post-Philadelphia hideout tantrum, and a former captain saying all the right things while planning his exit strategy out.

William Chase is a New York Yankees and Columbus Blue Jackets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @William_Chase88 “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on LinkedIn and Google.