Blue Jackets free agent Milano arrested, faces assault charge

Sonny Milano now has more to worry about than his contract negotiations with the Blue Jackets.

According to an information officer with the New York Police Department, the 23-year-old forward — a restricted free agent — was arrested early Sunday along with Colorado Avalanche forward A.J. Greer, 22, following an altercation with a third man in Greenwich Village, New York.

The pair were each released after being charged with third-degree assault and have a scheduled court appearance Sept. 4, nine days before NHL training camps open.

“We are aware of the reports involving Sonny,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a prepared statement. “We are reviewing the situation and will not be commenting further at this time.”

A call to Rich Evans, Milano’s agent, was not immediately returned.

According to New York state law, third-degree assault is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, three years of probation and/or criminal fines up to $1,000 — though firsttime offenders in New York City usually avoid jail time.

The arrests were first reported Sunday by the New York Post, citing police sources. The NYPD declined a verbal request by The Dispatch to view the police report, but a public-information officer relayed facts from it over the phone.

Milano and Greer are accused of assaulting a 28-year-old man during an altercation that started over a bar tab all three contributed money to pay at the nightclub 1 Oak in Manhattan.

The fight broke out about 6:30 a.m. at an apartment owned by one of the players on West Houston Street in Greenwich Village, roughly an hour after the tab was paid. The victim sustained bruises on his face and the left side of his torso, police said. No injuries to Milano or Greer were documented.

The victim called police, which led to the arrests.

Milano was selected by the Blue Jackets with the 16th pick in the 2014 draft and has played in 70 NHL games. He played 55 games with Columbus in the 201718 season, adding 14 goals and eight assists, but lost his lineup spot last season. He played eight games before being reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.

Milano spent the remainder of the season with the Monsters, finishing with 11 goals and 24 points during an injury-shortened season (27 games). He had two goals, eight assists and 10 points in eight games during the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs, helping in Cleveland’s firstround upset of the Syracuse Crunch.

The Blue Jackets tendered Milano a qualifying offer last week to retain his signing rights, but have not reached agreement on a contract extension with him.

Greer, taken 39th overall (second round) by the Avalanche in 2015, had a goal and an assist in 15 games with Colorado last season. Greer is from Joliette, Quebec, and Milano is from Massapequa, New York.