Hemming has been compared to Aleksander Barkov.
The Columbus Blue Jackets found out on Tuesday where they would land in the upcoming NHL Draft, and to no one's surprise, they didn't win the lottery. For the second straight year, they will pick #14, and for the second straight year, they might actually get lucky.
Welcome to draft speculation season, where we will talk about all the potential draft targets for the CBJ. Could someone fall to them at #14, or will they reach for a player who is projected to be lower? Who know, but it's fun to speculate.
So, here we go.
Target: Oscar Hemming - Brother of 2024 Dallas Stars Draft Pick Emil Hemming
Height/Weight: 6'4'' - 200 lbs.
Current Team: Boston College - NCAA - Just completed his freshman season.
Position: Left Shot Forward
2025-26 Stats: 1g-7a-8pts in 19 games.
International Stats: 25-26 Hlinka Gretzky Cup - 6 points in 5 games. 25-26 World Junior Tournaments - 7 points in 6 games.
THN Ranking: 28th - Kennedy, 17th - Ferrari
NHL Central Scouting: 11th overall in North America - 7th overall forward in N.A.
What Scouts Have Seen
- Physicality & Power: Hemming is described as a "menace" on the ice, utilizing his massive frame to bulldoze through checks and protect the puck in the offensive zone. Scouts from McKeen's Hockey highlight his "heavy" game and ability to drive the net with force.
- Skating & Mobility: For his size, his mobility is excellent. He uses wide crossovers to generate speed through the neutral zone and possesses surprising east-west agility, making him difficult for defenders to gap up on.
- Offensive Tools: He possesses a "pro-level" shot with significant power and accuracy. While his production at BC started slow due to rust from a half-season layoff, his playmaking vision and ability to find teammates in tight windows are noted strengths.
- Evaluators from Draft Prospects Hockey rate his hockey sense as his strongest trait (9/10), noting his proactive positioning on both the power play and in defensive transition.
What Scouts Are Saying
Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - At his best, the 6-foot-4 forward is an absolute menace who can beat you with size, speed, and skill. The raw potential is there, but he was forced to play some heavy catch-up to make up for lost time. I think a full year of college will do him wonders, and I still see some top-six potential.
McKeens Hockey - Hemming isn’t the best skater. That’s not entirely surprising, considering his frame. To his credit, his skating is very smooth, and he can catch defenders by surprise at times. But he isn’t a burner and it takes him an extra step to reach his top speed. His edges need more work, as he can lose speed when turning or changing directions with the play. It also impacts his first few strides, as it takes him some time to build up speed.
The big question is whether or not GM Don Waddell will trade this pick or keep it. Being in the middle of the first round won't have many teams calling his phone, but he might be able to do something this year. Last year's draft was a bit weak after the first couple of picks, but this year might be different, as several players could fall that night, intrigue more teams to want to take a shot at that #14 pick.
The CBJ did seem to get lucky with defenseman Jackson Smith, who just finished his freshman season at Penn State in historical fashion. Can they get lucky again this year?
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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