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

3 of 4

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.