The Columbus Blue Jackets have a new GM in place and a new coach on the way. They also just added to a prospect pipeline that lacks a clear-cut weakness.
The NHL prospect pool overview series turns to the Columbus Blue Jackets for another in-depth look.
Tony Ferrari breaks down the strengths, weaknesses, top players, and depth by position in the Blue Jackets' group of prospects. He also analyzes the 2024 draft selections and whether anybody will graduate to the NHL next season.
A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for the purposes of these exercises, except in very specific cases.
First Thoughts
The Columbus Blue Jackets are entering a new era.
New GM Don Waddell comes in after an impressive run with the Carolina Hurricanes, and they'll have a new coach as well.
The Blue Jackets have already been building a solid prospect pipeline as they look toward handing the team over to Adam Fantilli and the youth movement.
Fantilli is coming off a solid rookie season, but it was also marred by injury. The third-overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft was their best player on many nights. His blend of speed and strength was a welcome sight in Columbus. Fantilli has true top-line center upside, and we could see him come into his own this season if fully healthy. He is the cornerstone for this franchise to build around.
It will be fun to watch Fantilli’s friend, Gavin Brindley, compete for a spot with the Jackets in training camp. Brindley was a menace with the Univeristy of Michigan last season, combining a relentless motor and a high skill level. Brindley is excellent in his own end, consistently pressuring his opponents and rushing their decision-making. He may be a bit undersized at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, but he certainly doesn’t play like it. Brindley could be a glue piece in the top six for Columbus for years to come.
One of the most intriguing prospects in hockey over the last couple of years has been winger Jordan Dumais. His scoring in the QMJHL has been unreal, putting up 140 points in the 2022-23 season. Last year, he suffered an injury while playing for Columbus in the pre-season, which caused him to miss some time. He then needed a hernia surgery later in the year after aggravating the injury with Canada at the world juniors. His season ended with a five-game suspension after a DUI charge in March. In total, he had 47 points in 21 games.
Dumais will likely join the AHL's Cleveland Monsters this year and hope the jump to the pro level will help get his development back on track. Dumais is an undersized, skilled playmaker who can make magic happen in the offensive zone. He plays with a high level of anticipation and timing. He has flaws, and his mobility may hold him back, but this season will go a long way toward finding out how legitimate of an NHL prospect he is.
James Malatesta and Luca Del Bel Belluz had some nice moments in the AHL last season, and both will look to build off solid rookie campaigns. Malatesta plays with a ton of energy and tries to push the pace at all times. Del Bel Belluz showed off his playmaking touch, but his shot is the weapon he is expected to use more, attacking downhill and firing lasers at the net.
Luca Pinelli showed off his lethal goal-scoring ability in the OHL last season as the team around him lacked the pop we are used to seeing from the Ottawa 67’s. Pinelli is still a slick playmaker, but he had to take on the lead role. With one more year in the OHL, Columbus fans should expect big things from Pinelli.
On the back end, the team has David Jiricek, who arguably should have been on the roster last year. His two-way game and penchant for being aggressive with and without the puck would add a nice element to Columbus’ roster. Jiricek was a stud in the playoffs for the Cleveland Monsters and will look to help the NHL club get back into playoff contention.
It will be Denton Mateychuk’s first full pro season, as he likely fits on the Monsters’ blueline to start the year. He joined them for the tail end of the playoffs, putting up three assists in four games. Mateychuk is a shifty, skilled offensive defenseman who helped lead the Moose Jaw Warriors to their first WHL championship. His first real foray into pro hockey may have some ups and downs, but Mateychuk is incredibly entertaining to watch because of his talent.
Stanislav Svozil and Corson Ceulemans were AHL rookies last season. They faced some adversity at times, but both showed flashes of the skill they were drafted for. Svozil particularly improved as the season wore on, showcasing his skating and puck-moving ability for the back end. Ceulemans was more of a raw talent, but he made strides as the year went on. Both could see NHL games this season, even in just a limited capacity.
Netminder Sergei Ivanov has posted great numbers in the KHL, including a .928 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average in 33 games on loan with Vladivostok. His contract situation is a bit up in the air as he is on a loan agreement with Sochi this upcoming season. Ivanov could be a starter in the KHL this year, which would be huge for the 20-year-old.
In the AHL, Jet Greaves looked steady in net as the starter. The 23-year-old played nine games last season in the NHL, and depending on how things go in Columbus, he could be in line to get some more action this year. Greaves is a smaller, athletic goaltender, but he’s proven capable in his short pro career thus far.
U-23 Players Likely to Be on the NHL Roster
Adam Fantilli (C), Cole Sillinger (C), David Jiricek (RD), Yegor Chinakhov (W)
2024 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 4th overall - Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Round 2, 36th overall - Charlie Elick, RD, Brandon (WHL)
Round 2, 60th overall - Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon (WHL)
Round 3, 86th overall - Luca Marrelli, RD, Oshawa (OHL)
Round 4, 101st overall - Tanner Henricks, RD, Lincoln (USHL)
Round 6, 165th overall - Luke Ashton, LD, Langley (BCHL)
Coming into the NHL draft, the Blue Jackets had to decide whether to bolster their blueline with a high-end defenseman or solidify their center depth by taking Cayden Lindstrom if he was available. They called Lindstrom’s name, which pairs him with Fantilli. The duo might terrorize the NHL over the next decade as both bring power, speed, skill and belligerence.
Lindstrom missed half of this season with wrist and back injuries, but teams seemed confident there wouldn't be any lingering effects. The 6-foot-3 center can lower his shoulder, drive the net and bury from in tight with slick hands. He can work off the wall after winning a puck battle and find a teammate streaking into the slot. Lindstrom also doesn't take abuse from others, either by returning a cross-check or blowing up an opponent along the wall. Lindstrom slotting in as the second-line center is an ideal spot for him.
Many thought Charlie Elick would go in the first round, but the Jackets were happy to see him fall to them at 36th overall. Elick is a defense-first blueliner who can be a bit of an adventure with the puck on his stick, but his reputation for playing a violent brand of hockey is what teams love. He is a mobile defender who lines up his opponents anywhere on the ice. If he can learn when and when not to go for the thunderous hit, learn to use his skating more effectively to defend in space, and play a safe game with the puck, he could work his way into top four minutes.
The Jackets added to their goalie stable with Evan Gardner in the third round. His .927 save percentage led the WHL, and had he played more than 30 games, he probably would have garnered some end-of-season awards. Calm in net and almost always square to the shooter, Gardner allows play to come to him and stays collected in his crease. Gardner very rarely gets out of position or has to scramble.
Luca Marrelli is a two-way defender who has a high motor, shows some nice offensive passing instincts and has good size at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. He has no definitive tool that stands out, and he can make some questionable decisions, but he always seems to be involved in the play. He closes gaps quickly and leads with his stick to break up plays. With his tools, he might be able to find a role at the bottom of the lineup.
Tanner Henricks is a 6-foot-4 defender who moves well and has shown some nice passing ability from time to time. He isn’t much of an offensive producer, but he does some solid work in his own end, closing off attackers with his physicality and mobility. He must figure out how to get a bit more effective with the puck, but he has a solid base for a player who was a rookie in the USHL last season.
NHL teams love a massive blueliner, and Luke Ashton fits that mold. He’s 6-foot-7 and 231 pounds. Committed to Minnesota State University (Mankato) after a few years in the BCHL, the behemoth defender will have plenty of time to refine his puck skill and find a role he’s comfortable playing at a higher level of play.
Strengths
The Blue Jackets have plenty of talent on both sides of the blueline in their prospect pool. Adding Elick to the top of the right-shot defenders group ensures that as well, even if Jiricek graduates.
Mateychuk is an offensive dynamo who may take some time to adjust to the pro game, but if he hits, he could be highly productive. Svozil looked solid at the AHL level, but he still has some growing to do. Samuel Knazko is facing a big year in the AHL where the team will likely determine whether he’s worth keeping around long-term. Any of those guys could see NHL time.
Andrew Strathmann and Aidan Hreschuk will be refining their skills in college, and we could see Hreschuk jump to the AHL at the end of his college season.
Weaknesses
The Blue Jackets don’t really have a major weakness.
Pinelli is often listed as a center, but he’s played left wing almost exclusively the last two years, so he is likely slotted for that role in the pros, which helps fill out the depth chart there.
The Jackets have some depth down the middle, with Fantilli, Lindstrom and Sillinger all being under 22 years old with some lower-end players coming behind them.
Their blueline is loaded with talent, all bringing diverse skill sets. They have a number of solid netminders in the system.
If they are missing anything, maybe it’s a game-breaking winger. They could be poised to add that player next year at the draft.
Next Man Up: David Jiricek, D
There were reported tensions last season between Jiricek and the front office because of him teetering between the AHL and NHL. Heading into this off-season, there is a new coaching staff, a new management group and a fresh start for Jiricek, who is coming off a monster playoff performance in the AHL. Jiricek has the potential to become the Jackets' best defenseman, with legitimate two-way prowess.
Jiricek can lay big hits, take powerful slapshots from the blueline and help in transition as a good skater. He can bring some much-needed pop to Columbus' blueline. Aside from injury or a poor camp performance, there should be no reason for Jiricek to be out of the NHL lineup on opening night.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: James Malatesta, Luca Pinelli, Oiva Keskinen
C: Cayden Lindstrom, Max McCue, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Tyler Peddle
RW: Gavin Brindley, Jordan Dumais, Martin Rysavy, Cameron Butler, Kirill Dolzhenkov
LD: Denton Mateychuk, Stanislav Svozil, Aidan Hreschuk, Samuel Knazko, Andrew Strathmann
RD: David Jiricek, Charlie Elick, Luca Marrelli, Corson Ceulemans
G: Sergei Ivanov, Nolan Lalonde, Melvin Strahl, Jet Greaves, Evan Gardner
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Future Watch and upcoming Yearbook print editions in The Hockey News.