"The Chicago Blackhawks used one of their three first round picks last draft on Mason West, a high schooler from Minnesota that played in the USHL. West is a two sport athlete and plays as his high school's quarterback on the football team as well. In his football season opener he threw for four touchdowns. It's a cool story, but should the Blackhawks and their fans be worried? We're not talking about injuries as much as commitment."
"Any NFL fans know who Kyler Murray is. He's the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. Any NFL fans with more than a passing knowledge of his development know that before being a Cardinal he was drafted by the Oakland A's of Major League Baseball. Murray was a two sport athlete, much like West, and was selected by Oakland with a top ten pick in 2018 and signed a contract with a $2.88 million signing bonus."
"Murray's original plan was to join the A's for their 2019 spring training and begin a professional baseball career after finishing his last year of college football as the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback. After Murray won the 2018 Heisman Trophy (given to the best division one college football player, for our readers who only pay attention to what happens on the ice) there was speculation Murray might say "thanks, but no thanks" to the A's."
Hockey season is starting while football occupies the final hockey-less weeks. The Chicago Blackhawks used a first-round pick on Mason West, a Minnesota high schooler who played in the USHL and also serves as his high school's quarterback; he threw four touchdowns in his football season opener. Concerns center on commitment rather than injury risk, given precedents of two-sport athletes shifting priorities. Kyler Murray exemplifies that path: he was a top baseball draft pick who ultimately chose the NFL after winning the Heisman. West has said he is playing "one more year", but a breakout football trajectory could alter his hockey future.
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