The Columbus Blue Jackets enjoyed one of their best years in team history in the lockout shortened 2013 Season. However they failed to reach the playoffs for the fourth straight year, and for the eleventh time in twelve seasons. This team gave us something that we haven’t had in quite a while though, and that is hope. With the plethora of first round picks we had at our disposal this year, a pipeline of talent that has been lacking in the past, and a great core of young players that are NHL ready, things are looking up in Blue Jacket land.
Today we will be taking a look at said pipeline, and rank the top five Blue Jacket prospects waiting in the wings. Drumroll please….
Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Alexander Wennberg poses for a photo with team officials after being introduced as the number fourteen overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Starting with number five on the list, Alexander Wennberg. Wennberg makes the list for two reasons, he was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, and David Savard looked absolutely awful in his brief stint with the Blue Jackets last season. Alexander can line up at all three forward positions, I see him slotting in at center in the NHL, given his fantastic passing skills. It’s nice to know he can fit into the lineup anywhere, that will give the Blue Jackets multiple options which is something that’s always a good advantage to have. With Djurgården, in the Swedish League Allsvenskan last year, he had 14 goals and 18 assists in 46 games, and he also participated on Sweden’s U20 International Team.