The Hockey News recently released players 21 to 40 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/top-nhl-prospects-in-future-watch-2026-21-to-40] for their latest Top 100 NHL-affiliated prospect rankings. Two Columbus Blue Jackets prospects made the cut this time around: Cayden Lindstrom and Jackson Smith. Lindstrom was given the No. 24 spot on THN's rankings. The 2024 fourth-overall pick appeared in 31 games during this season with Michigan State University, where he recorded three goals, seven assists, 10 points, and 94 penalty minutes. Injury trouble has slowed down his development early on, but the 20-year-old forward still has a ton of potential and time to grow his game. The potential for him to be a big part of the Blue Jackets' roster in the future is there. As for Smith, the 6-foot-4 defenseman was given the No. 35 rating. The 2025 first-round pick played in 35 games this season with Penn State University, where he recorded 11 goals, 15 assists, and 26 points. This is after he had 11 goals and 54 points in 68 games in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans in 2024-25. With this, the left-shot blueliner has shown good promise and should be a nice part of Columbus' roster in the future.
