Breaking: NHL team sends young forward to the AHL after tough contract battle.

A very strange set of circumstances having many asking if a young National Hockey League forward is being punished for the way he dealt with his contract negotiations. 

According to an official report from the Columbus Blue Jackets, 23-year-old forward Josh Anderson has been sent down to the American Hockey League where he is expected to report to the Clevland Monsters. 

The Blue Jackets official position on this matter is that Anderson is being sent down for "conditioning" and considering that he missed training camp that certainly is a legitimate possibility, however there were rumors of bad blood between Anderson and the Jackets and you have to wonder if some of that may not also be a factor in this decision.

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It's unclear how long Anderson will be down in the AHL to start the season, but the longer he stays there the louder the questions surrounding this move will grow.