Columbus Blue Jackets and the 2015 Draft: A History of the #8 Pick

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2007 Draft
Boston Bruins C Zach Hamill

Hamill was considered a “playmaking forward with good stick-handling ability, very good on special teams, especially the power-play, and as someone who sees the ice well and sets up his line mates with his good passing abilities.” None of that is true.

Hamill’s career makes the previous #8 picks look like 1st ballot Hall of Famers. Hamill is the Miley Cyrus of Who Wore it Best Contest. It’s nasty awful. He only played a total… A TOTAL of 20 NHL games, not because of injury…because it wasn’t working. In those 20 games, he notched zero goals but picked up 4 assists.

#1 Pick Blackhawks-Patrick Kane

CBJ Pick # 7 Jakub Voracek

Notables #3 Coyotes-Kyle Turris. #9 Sharks-Logan Couture
#14 Avs-Kevin Shattenkirk. #43 Canadiens-P.K. Subban

2008 Draft
Phoenix Coyotes LW Mikkel Boedker

The scouting report on Boedker coming into the draft was a quick conservative two-way playmaker who passed at times when he should have shot, despite the fact that he could really send the puck flailing into the net.

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Finally! A guy still playing in the NHL. Boedker missed games this season due to the removal of a spleen but still managed 14 goals and 14 assists in 45 games. The season prior really gave Boedker his chance to shine as he finished with 19 goals and 32 assists for a career high of 51 points. Prior to that he was gradually improving and barring a major setback should rejoin the course next season. Easily the best pick of the bunch so far. A solid two-way playmaker who could be a top 6 forward for the Coyotes moving forward.

#1 Pick Lightning – Steven Stamkos

CBJ Pick #6 Nikita Filatov

Notables #2 Kings- Drew Doughty. #16 Senators-Erik Karlsson
#22 Oilers-Jordan Eberle. #27 Capitals- John Carlson

2009 Draft
Dallas Stars RW Scott Glennie

A fast forward with a specialty in goal scoring was the pros on Glennie coming into the draft with points of weakness in his defensive game and playmaking. Not a well-rounded player but if you can score goals, you’ll niche out your spot in the NHL.

Unfortunately he never did as his game never took the next step up. He’s appeared in just 1 NHL game, the lowest of the 8th pick hell holers. His offensive game and shot hasn’t been NHL level acceptable enough for him to make an impact on the organization as he stays down in the minor affiliate. He still has time, and believers, but it’s tough to see him breaking out after 4 straight AHL seasons. His future looks bleak, as he’s not believed to have the offensive game to compete on the top lines and his defensive game has never developed for him to make a difference on the bottom lines. He looks like he’ll end up being a minor leaguer for life. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, playing your favorite sport for a living and winning championships for your team (2014 Calder Cup Champion). We’ll see though, it’s tough to say he’ll never work out without seeing him try it at the next level. Maybe in the right system and situation he’ll succeed like he did at Brandon where his high output led him up draft boards flanked by Brayden Schenn and Matt Calvert.

#1 Pick Islanders – John Tavares

CBJ Pick #21 John Moore

Notables #2 Lightning-Victor Hedman #3 Avs-Matt Duchene
#4 Thrashers Evander Kane. #6 Coyotes-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Next: #8 Pick 2010-2012

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