With the 2025 NHL Draft just 22 days away, Jason Newland and I will start to look at Columbus Blue Jackets' 2025 draft targets that the team could consider with the 14th overall pick.
There are a ton of names that could be available when the Blue Jackets are on the clock at 14, but today we’re starting with Kashawn Aitcheson from the Barrie Colts of the OHL.
Scouting Report
DOB: Sept. 21, 2006
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 198 pounds
Aitcheson might be the most physical player in this year’s draft. No matter what point of the game it is, you can count on him to throw a thunderous hit. But he’s not just a hitter—he’s got real offensive upside too. He finished behind only Sam Dickinson and Zayne Parekh in goals by a defenceman. He’s aggressive with the puck, often rushing it up the ice himself or jumping into the play on Colts’ zone exits. He’s great at driving play and then slipping back into position to become a shooting threat. And yes, he’s got a really good shot.
On the power play, he was often the only defenceman on the Colts' top unit, playing either at the blue line or along the half wall, where he could shoot or distribute.
Defensively, he brings that same edge. If you're skating through the neutral zone with your head down, Aitcheson will make you pay. He’s come a long way in his own zone since entering the league. He uses his reach well, gets into passing lanes, and is solid when it comes to boxing out in front of his goalie. And if someone takes a few too many shots at his goalie after the whistle, he’s not afraid to fight.
If he's available at 14, Aitcheson might be the best player on the board—and he might also be the best fit. The only drawback is that he shoots left, so a long-term pairing with Zach Werenski would be tough. But he’d bring something Columbus doesn’t really have on the back end: a mix of skill and grit.
He could be the kind of player who puts up 45–50 points, gets in 10–12 fights, throws 180–200 hits, and racks up 100+ penalty minutes while being the heart and soul of the lineup. That’s the kind of guy he is. He can shift the momentum of a game with one play and get his teammates locked back in.
In 64 games with Barrie this past season, he had 26 goals, 33 assists and 59 points.
Some scouts are comparing him to Jacob Trouba. Since I’ve been watching him and gotten to know him from my time as a credentialed writer with the Colts. The comparison that comes to mind is P.K. Subban—who also happens to be one of his favorite players growing up.
Aitcheson is a guy I’d want on my team 10 out of 10 times. He’s got the charisma, the compete level, and the type of personality every team wants in their room. It’s not a matter of if he’ll go in the first round—it’s a matter of when. And if he falls to Columbus at 14, Waddell should absolutely take him.
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