Union and Blue
Fansided

Columbus Blue Jackets Select Liam Foudy With the 18th Pick

By Lansing Murphy

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Liam Foudy poses onstage after being selected eighteenth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Liam Foudy poses onstage after being selected eighteenth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Columbus Blue Jackets 1st Round pick is Liam Foudy, a center playing for the London Knights.

The Columbus Blue Jackets made a bit of a surprise pick with their first round pick selecting Liam Foudy from the London Knights. The 18-year-old center rose quickly up draft boards in the final few months leading up to the draft.

Foudy was playing a third line role for most of the year with the London Knights, a perennial power in the Ontario Hockey League. He was behind several drafted players in the depth chart until the Knights decided to sell off assets at the deadline. The rare move to become sellers opened up a first line opportunity for Foudy that took advantage of in London.

In his final 18 games of the season Liam scored 28 points. He went on to represent Canada at the U-18 World Championships where he scored four points in five games. Then Foudy went on to dominate the draft combine, winning more events than any other player.

Foudy’s athleticism directly translates to speed on the ice. He is one of the top three fastest skaters in this year’s draft. He uses his speed to open up scoring opportunities and blow by opponents.

Foudy’s athleticism can be directly linked to his parents. His father played in the CFL and his mother won a silver medal for Canada at the Olympics as a sprinter.

Surprise Pick

Liam was a surprise pick as most draft experts had him in the late first but more likely a second round selection. He wasn’t on my radar at 18 as I slotted Foudy as an early second round pick.

The Jackets bypassed some bigger names that dropped to them at 18 including Joe Veleno and Dominikk Bokk. Foudy needs more time in the OHL and will spend next season with the Knights and have a chance to play the entire season on the top line.

The Jackets welcome a player with elite speed and solid scoring potential. The Jackets have selected a surprise player with their first round pick for the last two drafts now.

Related Story: PLD Surprise Pick Pays Off

Pierre-Luc Dubois shocked folks in 2016 and shocked people even more with his play last season. Let’s hope Jarmo found another surprisingly good player with this surprise pick in Liam Foudy.

Welcome to Columbus Liam!

Home/Blue Jackets News