{"time":1782487650848,"blocks":[{"id":"mqv2t3tg","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/23833349-5b26-4a55-81bf-bd8facad31b6/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/23833349-5b26-4a55-81bf-bd8facad31b6/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"23833349-5b26-4a55-81bf-bd8facad31b6","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/23833349-5b26-4a55-81bf-bd8facad31b6/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/23833349-5b26-4a55-81bf-bd8facad31b6/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/23833349-5b26-4a55-81bf-bd8facad31b6/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"OQUpKBWJQ4","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Columbus Blue Jackets are scheduled to pick #14 in tonight's first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Don Waddell is seemingly trying to trade the pick for immediate help, just like last year. In the end, very few teams are willing to part with a good player for a pick that may be years away from playing in the NHL. "}},{"id":"7lWcoIkb2z","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Over the last two months, THN Columbus has previewed several possible players who could be at 14, should the CBJ keep the pick. "}},{"id":"lajqC6J2J1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Click on each card below to read up on each prospect. "}},{"id":"3K1ew-kkWG","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-ethan-belchetz","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Ethan Belchetz ","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-ethan-belchetz","description":"The Columbus holds the 14th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which will be held in Buffalo. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/56b72257-fcfe-4bbc-8c73-b54ea0605a15.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"kcvU3kNFaQ","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-ryan-lin","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Ryan Lin","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-ryan-lin","description":"One scout said of Lin, “There isn’t a more skilled defender in the first round this year.\" ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/80d1bb0c-3cbb-4eb0-a572-fdfb1eb3fff3.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"o8o2U_SyXe","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-oscar-hemming","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Oscar Hemming","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-oscar-hemming","description":"Hemming has been compared to Aleksander Barkov. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9ef490ba-7132-487d-847c-91d5b425170b.webp","type":"webp","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"Gpw_nnwr-8","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-adam-novotny","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Adam Novotný","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-adam-novotny","description":"Novotný comparables are Alex Tuch and Sidney Crosby. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ca29b007-ae97-4494-84bc-0540c9ba981a.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"iY1EcaGkS6","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-ilya-morozov","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Ilya Morozov","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-ilya-morozov","description":"This pick might be more of a reach for Columbus, but someone will take him higher than expected. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2c3916c7-3ff7-4d5a-8e3c-f8c9f8517263.webp","type":"webp","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"IdE2wEYpQX","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-nikita-klepov","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Nikita Klepov","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-nikita-klepov","description":"Klepov has been compared to Cole Perfetti, Nail Yakupov, and Evgeni Malkin. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e4257b2d-fe94-4800-9d95-06c74b8603fa.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"rf_66wzWS3","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-oliver-suvanto","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Oliver Suvanto","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-oliver-suvanto","description":"Evaluators profile Suvanto as a premium middle-six shutdown center who projects similarly to Anton Lundell of the Florida Panthers or Charlie Coyle.","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/dfd8f6b7-e61f-4a1a-b415-b4e3728a1445.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"s4HOVbKn62","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-marcus-nordmark","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Marcus Nordmark","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-marcus-nordmark","description":"Nordmark has been compared to Filip Forsberg and Rickard Rakell. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/71978d35-0e43-42af-b531-bf41f7c0defb.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"twwydnkfvI","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-keaton-verhoeff","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Keaton Verhoeff","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-keaton-verhoeff","description":"Verhoeff has been compared to Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson, and Noah Dobson. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a32e6cc4-646f-4df0-b190-4fd7e7635b9f.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"qIjp2mqS3K","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-elton-hermansson","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Elton Hermansson","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-elton-hermansson","description":"Hermansson has been compared to Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov.","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a2837f6c-a7d1-4d15-9f93-51260b65ad1a.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"mK6fyVglHG","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-j-p-hurlbert","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: J.P. Hurlbert","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-j-p-hurlbert","description":"Hurlbert has been compared to Brock Boeser. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fd6e0fff-6ad0-4cc1-955d-934855c1ac40.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"mbakPmLHlc","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-malte-gustafsson","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Malte Gustafsson","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-malte-gustafsson","description":"Malte Gustafsson is widely compared to NHL defensemen Kaiden Guhle and Braden Schneider. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0875cae7-0752-4646-9511-1e42758f2daa.png","type":"png","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"tUpE5foczF","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-tynan-lawrence","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Tynan Lawrence","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-tynan-lawrence","description":"Lawrence has been compared to Sebastian Aho, Nick Suzuki, and Dylan Larkin.","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/aaf66d83-3759-4239-8fb5-699f9e9569fc.webp","type":"webp","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"ZNVR-u2iXv","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-daxon-rudolph","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Daxon Rudolph","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-daxon-rudolph","description":"Rudolph has been compared to Aaron Ekblad and Brock Faber. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8f4d2af9-2a68-4568-8677-b481fd8bd044.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"pFbC433aVZ","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-juho-piiparinen","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Juho Piiparinen","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-juho-piiparinen","description":"Piiparinen has been compared to Brock Faber, Aaron Ekblad, and Chris Tanev. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0e43fb1a-c336-4ed3-ba2f-49018a7dddd9.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"JoxkLoPrjk","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-gleb-pugachyov","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Gleb Pugachyov","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-gleb-pugachyov","description":"Pugachyov has been compared to Lars Eller and Jack McBain.","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/38480ee3-02d4-40b5-85db-44d20cb15f82.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"ejMiuizpDb","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-caleb-malhotra","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Caleb Malhotra","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-caleb-malhotra","description":"Malhotra has been compared to Nick Suzuki and Anton Lundell.","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/33781988-bf67-443b-92d8-0c827034bc47.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"YN2_E2U_LS","type":"linkTool","data":{"link":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-simas-ignatavicius","meta":{"title":"CBJ Draft Day Targets: Simas Ignatavicius","site_name":"The Hockey News","url":"https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/cbj-draft-day-targets-simas-ignatavicius","description":"Simas Ignatavicius is mainly compared to Kevin Stenlund due to his big body and play style. ","image":{"url":"https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e2089a98-2201-41c8-bf2e-53ebf6b4c332.jpeg","type":"jpeg","width":"1150","height":"493"}}}},{"id":"ckyOqhi-mt","type":"delimiter","data":{}},{"id":"MRu1CMqd21","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14. "}},{"id":"KoDhHtWGgi","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!"}},{"id":"pO1RnDRnMZ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story."}},{"id":"6KhLkzvQsr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Let us know what you think below."}},{"id":"DPQQVF7Rac","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum."}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Blue Jackets Should Check In On Bruins' Pavel Zacha