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

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Nov 22, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) battles for position with Columbus Blue Jackets center Artem Anisimov (42) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets have the #8 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. While it’s no #1 pick, the #8 pick has to have a history of solid players…right? It’s getting the 8th best player in the draft. There has to be some contributing NHL players if we go back the past 10 years right….RIGHT? OH GOD….RIGHT?

2005 Draft
San Jose Sharks RW Devin Setoguchi

The Sharks traded up to the 8th pick on a draft day trade with the Atlanta Thrashers (who would go on to become the 2nd Winnipeg Jets) for the 12th pick who would become Marc Staal, 49th pick- Chad Denny and 207th pick- Myles Stoesz. Whoops. Setoguchi was considered a great goal scorer who can shoot down the ice. Unfortunately that’s all he would become.

Setoguchi started his NHL career hot, scoring 2 goals in his first game but the rest of his career has not turned out as well. Call it peaking too early or call it a fluke, his 2nd season, 1st full season, showed lots of promise as he scored 31 goals with 34 assists for a total of 65 points. The rest of his career he would top 40 once (41 in 2010-2011) and now resides in the minors for the Calgary Flames. If you’re interested in more, this is a solid in-depth article on what happened to Setoguchi. Essentially he never evolved his game with poor work ethic and is now closer to talking about how he used to play professional hockey than he is actually playing it. That video pretty much sums it up.

#1 Pick Penguins-Sidney Crosby

CBJ Pick #6 C Gilbert Brule

Notables #2 Ducks-Bobby Ryan #3 Hurricanes-Jack Johnson
#5 Canadiens-Carey Price

2006 Draft
Phoenix Coyotes C Peter Mueller

(Who doesn’t put sound in a highlight video??) Mueller was considered a tough, quick playmaker who was constantly setting up his teammates for great opportunities but one of the cons was a concern over concussion injuries.

Mueller also jumped on the scene putting up 22 goals with 32 assists in his first season, with the following seasons occurring 36 and 37 points. A hard hit would wrap up his 09-10 season early, being sideline by another concussion. It would take a full year to return, but when he did, concussion issues popped back up and he was limited to 32 games. He never returned to form and was most recently not resigned from the Swiss National League A.

#1 Pick Blues- D Erik Johnson

CBJ Pick #6 C Derick Brassard

Notables #2 Penguins-Jordan Staal. #3 Blackhawks-Jonathan Toews.
#4 Capitals-Nicklas Backstrom. #5 Bruins-Phil Kessel. #22 Flyers- Claude Giroux
#23 Capitals-Semyon Varlamov. #28 Senators-Nick Foligno

Next: #8 Pick 2007-2009

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

2010 Draft
Atlanta Thrashers C Alexander Burmistrov

Burmistrov was considered a master playmaker due to his great awareness, vision, stick ability and love to pass. Almost every part of his game was opposite of Glennie, even down to his defensive game where he was considered a great two-way player. The biggest concern of Burmistrov was his Russian Red Scare.

Burmistrov played 74 NHL games in his first season, notching only 20 points, nonetheless, the promise was still enticing. Then came the NHL Lockout. During the lockout the Thrashers turned Jets (they moved in case you missed that) sent him down to the AHL instead of allowing him to gain more income overseas, which may have been the tipping point in Burmistrov’s NHL career. The fear over him wanting to stay in Russia was more than likely the reason they sent him down to the AHL and in the end, it was one of the reasons (also clashing with head coach Claude Noel) he would end up leaving the Jets for a KHL career. The Red Scare takes another. As does the #8 pick….

#1 Pick Oilers – Taylor Hall (Not that Hockey Hall, cake eater)

CBJ Pick #4 Ryan Johansen (Was 2010 when CBJ found their newest captain?)

Notables #2 Bruins-Tyler Seguin #7 Hurricanes-Jeff Skinner
#16 Blues-Vladimir Tarasenko #26 Capitals-Evgeny Kuznetsov

2011 Draft
Philadelphia Flyers C Sean Couturier

Couturier is finally the exception from what seems like a quick playmaking forward as the last few picks have seemed to be. He’s a big bruiser. Courturier was considered a great well-rounded overall player who could do it all. He had the strength, the passing and playmaking ability, could score and mostly he could play great D, eliminating the opposition’s best player and giving a great two-way option for a flexible lineup. If there was a knock on him it would be he didn’t excel in one thing and some were worried about his skills being high enough caliber to succeed in the NHL.

So far Couturier hasn’t broken out offensively the way the Flyers would have liked him, but judging from this list, they could have done a lot worse. His offensive game might not be on point but his defensive game has grown him a sizable fandom of critics who praise his shut down ability. Part of his offensive struggle could stem from the role former coach Craig Berube had him in. That might change this upcoming season as the Flyers move on from Berube. One thing seems certain. Couturier seems to be the best player on this list so far and still has time to grow into that full rounded two-way juggernaut many had him pegged for during the draft process, as he is still only 22.

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#1 Pick Oilers-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

CBJ Pick – The Flyers got this pick from our Jackets in a deal for Jeff Carter (who would in turn be sent packing less than a year later to the Kings for Jack Johnson, we treat stars like 22 year Mikey treats his 2am Tinder meetup.)

Notables #2 Avs-Gabriel Landeskog. #4 Devils-Adam Larsson
#5 Islanders-Ryan Strome #10 Wild-Jonas Brodin

2012 Draft
Pittsburgh Penguins (from Carolina) D Derrick Pouliot

Our first defenseman! Where Couturier was a defensive offenseman, a lot of Pouliot’s strengths come as an offensive defenseman who needs to improve his back-end play to make the jump up to the NHL. He excels offensively with top-notch vision, sleek skating, eye-opening passing abilities and a piercing shot. While he’s not a physically imposing player, his hard-nosed work ethic and full go output allow him to have a presence on the defensive side.

Up till this year Pouliot has been scorching the WHL. He put 70 points in the 2013-2014 season and was named the CHL Defenseman of the Year. He played sparingly this season for the Penguins, 34 games accruing 7 points with a -11 plus/minus. While those aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers, he’s done enough for the Pittsburgh organization, and other scouts across the league, to be very high on him. Look for a breakout season coming up for 2015-2016.

#1 Pick (Where dreams come to die) Oilers-Nail Yakupov

CBJ Pick #2 Ryan Murray

Notables #9 Jets-Jacob Touba #11 Capitals-Filip Forsberg
#14 Sabres-Zemgus Girgensons

Next: #8 Pick 2013-2015

2013 Draft
Buffalo Sabres D Rasmus Ristolainen

Whoever does his highlight reels definitely knows how to party. It’s like an NSYNC music video in a Rocky film that’s based on hockey. I’ve watched the first 10 seconds, 40 times today. I’m making it my new ringtone. One of his “highlights” is skating pass the bench giving high fives. You KNOW this guy is a winner, what talent!

Swiss Army Knife is a term thrown out a lot in early scouting reports on Ristolaien. Many drool over the 6’4″ 219 lbs frame that Ristolaien uses wisely to power his way in the defensive zone. He doesn’t go for the big hit instead keeping his balance and moving his body around to clear the room he wants. Offensively he moves the puck up quickly and accurately while also taking a solid shot from the point. The main knock from some on him seemed to be that he does everything well, but nothing great.

Ristolaien played his first full NHL season this previous year playing in 78 games to the tune of 20 points with a -56 plus minus. It may look awful but this is a case where the stats don’t tell the full story. Well at least not till you investigate a touch more. Toward the end of the season Ristolainen Mario’d up to the #1 defenseman and responded back with a 9 game 9 point streak, including a 3 assist game against the Blackhawks. Ristolainen could be on the verge of a breakout season.

One More Adderall-Infused Sexy Highlight Video.

Seriously though?! What are these videos for? It’s like a 10-year-old just found IMovie on his parents’ computer. Sexy Dancing. Check. Foreign song with an English Hook. Check. Kids cheering. Check. Highlights? Eh no time.

#1 Pick Avs-Nathan MacKinnon

CBJ Pick #14 Alexander Wennberg #19 Kerby Rychel #27 Marko Dano

Notables #4 Predators-Seth Jones #6 Flames-Sean Monahan

2014 Draft
Toronto Maple Leafs C/LW William Nylander

Besides this skating highlight reel who plays against men..what were the scouting reports raving about Nylander? Great stick play that he uses to set up scoring, passing and just great control coming up the ice. Scouts all seem to love his IQ and accurate shot. Knocks are against his smaller size, lack of actual output so far, not a whole lot of defensive effort and a bit of holding onto the puck at times.

Just drafted last year so it’s impossible to get a great look at what he’s accomplished and what he pans out to be on an NHL level. Last season was encouraging as he scored 14 goals with 18 assists in the AHL over only 37 games.

#1 Pick Panthers-Aaron Ekblad

2015 Draft
Columbus Blue Jackets – ???

This is a pretty ugly list. While the #8 pick obviously changes teams each year with a different talent pool each go around, this is not an encouraging list. It’s clear talent is still available at and past the #8 pick so it’s not grasping at straws but for some reason the #8 pick doesn’t have a great history of talent. Hopefully the Blue Jackets help continue the recent trend of impressive #8 picks, especially at the defensive side (wink, wink Jarmo). Or maybe this will be the tipping point to trade up for Noah Hanifin (wink, wink Jarmo).

What I take away from this is if you like a player, go up and get him. There’s a reason you feel strongly for a certain player. Don’t get complacent because not all picks pan out, in fact most don’t. Don’t sit around and play status quo, get the player that will take your team to the next level. Especially for the Blue Jackets, where this might be their highest pick in the years to come.

Next: CBJ Alumni Playoff 3 Stars May 4th

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