What player who isn't named Fantilli will make the biggest impact next season?

The secret is out, the Columbus Blue Jackets are widely considered to have the best prospects in all the NHL.

But that begs the question: can it translate to the ice? With sports, draft picks are always a crap shoot, just ask former Jackets GM Doug MacLean. But it just feels different this time around. Players like David Jiricek, Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko make fans beyond excited for the next five to ten years.

So, of the prospects that the CBJ currently have and are ready to play pro, which one not named Adam Fantilli will make the biggest impact for the Jackets this season?

Related: The CBJ prospect pool is deep!

Dmitry Voronkov, David Jiricek, James Malatesta and Luca Del Bel Belluz are all expected to start off in Cleveland, the Jackets AHL team. But as we know, anything can happen, all four of these kids could end up in Columbus fairly early in the season. As with Kirill Marchenko last season, if a guy plays in the AHL and starts lighting it up, there’s no reason to hold him back.

I eliminate David Jiricek, sadly. He plays defense and with Werenski coming back from injury, and with the acquisitions of Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, along with Adam Boqvist, Erik Gudbranson and Andrew Peeke, there is absolutely no reason to rush him up. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has said this time and time again since trading for the two new defensemen.

I had to eliminate Luca Del Bel Belluz as well. This one hurts me because he’s such a good, smart player. The reason he’s been eliminated is because he plays center. As of today, that position includes Boone Jenner, Adam Fantilli, Jack Roslovic and Sean Kuraly. We all know something must give, meaning a trade or two will probably happen to fit some guys in. Players like Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger also play center. Johnson played the wing most of last season but Sillinger is a pure center. Based on the position being overcrowded, I don’t see him making a huge impact in Columbus, Cleveland however, absolutely yes.

So that leaves Dmitry Voronkov and James Malatesta, but hard nose wingers who can pass, score and more importantly, protect their teammates.

Voronkov is a big man, standing at 6-foot-4 and 190lbs. He has been known to fight while in the KHL, plus he can score. He would be that 4^th line physical guy with a scoring touch. I urge you to go find his highlights, the kid can light it up. Last season in the KHL he had 18 goals and 31 points in 54 games.

James Malatesta has been on my radar, since before he was drafted in 2021 while playing for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. He only stands 5-foot-9 and 190 lbs., but he plays like he’s 6-foot-4. Last season for the Remparts, he scored 37 goals and had 66 points in the regular season. In 18 games of the playoffs, he scored 14 goals and had 20 points. He was also named MVP of the Q playoffs. Scouts have said that his motor is “stuck in high gear” because he never stops moving. And he loves playing that way, he trusts himself.

In the end I believe Dmitry Voronkov will have the biggest impact of all the young guys not named Adam Fantilli. Voronkov is a little older at 22 and has been playing in the tough KHL. After a bit of adjustment in the AHL in terms of ice size and play, I think he’ll take the Marchenko route. Once he comes up, there will be no going back to the AHL for him. I don’t feel he’ll score 20+ like Marchenko did but add in his toughness and willingness to stand up for teammates, plus his skill, and he could easily score 10-15 goals on that 3^rd or 4^th line.

This is going to be fun to watch in the next few years.