2015 NHL Mock Draft: Columbus Blue Jackets #8 Pick

The FanSided Universe 2015 NHL Mock Draft continues with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the clock…

Center. Erie Otters. Connor McDavid. 1. player. 148. Wayne Gretzky said <a href=

12. The young forward has already achieved everything possible at the NCAA level, save for a National Tournament Championship. <a href=. Center. Boston University. Jack Eichel. 2. player

Erie Otters. Dylan Strome. 3. player. 121. We want someone like Strome to come in, and use his size to muscle his way to the front of the net. <a href=. Center

109. He’s a projected top pairing defender at the NHL level who skates as smooth as any blueliner in the draft and has the hockey smarts to back up the projections. <a href=. Defenceman. Boston College. Noah Hanifin. 5. player

Mathew Barzal. 6. player. 85. His best skills come from his vision and knowledge of the game. <a href=. Center. Seattle Thunderbirds

Kingston Frontenacs. Lawson Crous. 7. player. 68. A power forward that uses his size to his advantage, and has the ability to put up some points as well. <a href=. LW

We went into this draft looking to draft the best possible player available regardless of position. We were aware the Blue Jackets have spent 5 of their last 6 1st round choices on offense but we weren’t about to reach, even though the blue-line is sorely lacking and savior Ryan Murray spent most of last season injured.

This could be the last lottery draft choice for the Blue Jackets for a long time if their explosive finish to last season is any indication. They finished the season winning 15 of their last 17, 9 of those 15 wins came against playoff teams still fighting for seeding, outscoring opponents 70 goals to 43 in that stretch. So they can’t miss with this last golden opportunity.

With the 8th overall pick in the 1st-round of the 2015 NHL Mock Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets select…

Zach Werenski, Defenceman, Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)

Luckily need and talent coincided for us to grab a great prospect at a hurting spot. We definitely explored trading up to somewhere between 3-5 for a shot at Noah Hanifin but the commissioner turned down all trades in this mock draft. Ideally the Jackets leave this draft with one of the top 2-3 defenders in this draft but I’m not too sure how confident I’m feeling of this occurring. Hanifin is widely considered the 3rd best prospect (so he could be headed to Arizona) and the Hurricanes and Flyers could all make a move for a defender leaving the Jackets reaching for need or grabbing another offensive player for their 6th in their last 7 picks.

This pick really came down to D Ivan Provorov or Werenski. Provorov is an especially talented defender in his own regard. He has a nasty shot, can get very physical and skates efficiently with a high hockey IQ. But I feel he plays a little too conservative. Werenski is an explosive jolt to a position definitely in need of a boiling.

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I really like Werenski‘s aggressiveness, tenacity, and his IQ to make smart quick decisions to take advantage of guys out of position. He flashes great strength mainly in his sumo control in front of the net keeping opponents away from positioning for rebounds and picks. He has a big body, two inches taller and a bit bigger than Provorov, standing 6’2″ 214 lbs which he uses to keep his body in front of the puck and does a great job of tunneling the opposing rush and blocking lanes.

Imagine a Troy Polamalu on the ice. He’s definitely going to take some chances and while they may not always pan out, more likely than not his aggressiveness helps turn the tide on the position whether it stops a rush from the opposing team or keeps alive offensive control. He’s an exciting player that sometimes gets caught out of positioning a little but that is something he should gain more knowledge later, when to take the risk and when to play it safe.

Offensively his shot is powerfully accurate and has great quarterbacking skills on the PP which makes him extremely versatile for many pushes down the ice. He makes great tape to tape passes, mainly conservative but knows when to take a shot down the ice to take advantage when necessary.

Werenski is a fully complete player. He has a great want and love for the game, he sped up his schooling so he could enroll early in Michigan, which makes him extremely coachable on the things he needs to work on and even more encouraging… he’s still only 17!!