Future Jackets: Prospect Report October 2022

The big club may be off to a poor start at 1-3, but this franchise still eyes a brighter future with better days ahead. Loaded with quality NHL prospect playing all over the world, the only thing we have to do now is wait for them to marinate and become ready for the big league. Periodically we’ll take a look at the prospect pool and provide updates – both individual and in summary.

First up, we have four NCAA prospects, including 2022 7th round pick James Fisher. Committed to Northeastern University beginning next season, he’s currently skating with the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), where he’s been held scoreless through 4 games. He’ll be a longer term prospect, but he has a big frame and good scoring ability that could make him a poor man’s Josh Anderson.

Defenseman Aidan Hreschuk just began his sophomore season with Boston College, where he’ll look to improve upon his 8 point campaign as a freshman. Originally a third round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, Hreschuk was the player returned in the Max Domi trade. Though undersized, the California native is good on both sides of the puck and, quietly, could be a player to watch as he develops at the collegiate level.

The scouting staff for the Blue Jackets has to be ecstatic over the development of Guillaume Richard, who is under the radar, but is becoming a very good offensive defenseman. He put up 3 goals and 14 points, along with a +18 rating as a freshman at Providence College last season. Through three games this fall, he has just one assist, but seems to have picked up right where he left off.

The top prospect at the college level is not up for debate. Corson Ceulemans returns to Wisconsin for his sophomore season, having tied for the team lead in scoring … as a freshman defenseman. But he’s not all offense; Corson is a high end skater who uses his speed and size to out-maneuver players and win puck battles. It will be interesting to see how his season goes, as the expectation is that he’ll turn pro after this season. He looks like a really good one.

Ben Boyd makes the jump to St Mary’s and will skate at the college level in Canada this season. He has one assist through his first three games, after scoring 14 goals and 26 points through 75 career games in the QMJHL. He’s a big body who likes to play physical and mix it up. Whether or not he has NHL upside is the question here.

The guy everyone wants to keep track of in the KHL – Dmitri Voronkov – is off to a pedestrian start offensively, with just 1 assist through 9 games for Ak Bars Kazan. He’ll be an interesting player to watch this season because he’s in the final year of his KHL deal. Remembering what happened to Kirill Marchenko last season tells us that, unless he signs an extension, he’ll be dealing with a lot less ice time this season.

After his first NHL camp this fall, Mikael Pyythia was loaned back to TPS (FIN Liiga) and has started off slowly, scoring one goal through his first four games. This is a player who is expected to put up big numbers in Finland this season, just one year removed from a 21 goal, 35 point effort in 56 games. He was invisible at times playing on the NHL surface, but remains one of the more intriguing goal scorers in the system.

Hulking winger Kirill Dolzhenkov has been held scoreless through 5 KHL games this fall, but has produced well in the MHL, Russia’s equivalent to junior hockey. Through 11 games at the lower level, he has 5 goals and 14 points – along with 41 minutes in penalties. With his size and hands, he’s bound to turn some heads as an NHL prospect.

2019 4th-round pick Eric Hjorth is playing in Sweden’s Allsvenskan (tier 2), and sits with 1 goal and 1 assist through 8 games played. His development is a little bit concerning at this point – once heralded as an up and coming offensive defenseman, he’s struggling produce in a lower level league. This season seems crucial for him to re-establish himself as a legitimate NHL prospect, and that doesn’t appear to be happening just yet.

Another defenseman playing overseas, Nikolai Makarov looks like a promising two-way defender. He’s split time this fall between the VHL (Tier 2), and the MHL in Russia, scoring one assist in each league. His game isn’t built around offense, he’s a steady defender with good gap control and physicality. He could eventually develop into a third pairing, shutdown defender.

The lone goalie in the system playing overseas, Sergei Ivanov looks primed to spend the season at the junior level in Russia, where he currently boasts a 2-0-1 record with a 91.1% save percentage. He’s small, but he’s a good puck stopper with plenty of upside. We’ll be watching his development closely.

Not to be forgotten: 2020 6th round pick Samuel Johannesson, who is off to a red hot start with Brynas IF (SHL). He has 2 goals and 7 points through 10 games, in one of the toughest leagues in the world to score in. He’s small (5-11, 176 pounds), but he looks like he could be a rising asset here. We’ll keep a close eye on his progression this season.

Starting in the QMJHL, James Malatesta is off to a hot start with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 4 goals and 7 points through 7 games. The feisty winger brings plenty of grit and aggression to the lineup, along with a continually improving scoring touch. It’s hard not to see shades of Matt Calvert when you see him play, he’ll go into any battle against anyone at any time. He projects as a bottom-six winger in the NHL at his absolute best – but make no mistake about it, he’s a legitimate NHL prospect.

Just one other prospect skating in the ‘Q: 2022 third round pick Jordan Dumais. The dynamic winger may find himself as the highest scoring player anywhere in the system this season. He’s off to a great start with 3 goals and 14 points in just 6 games. Though undersized, at this point he looks like a mid-round steal for the Blue Jackets, bringing speed and high end skill – along with a “prove em wrong” attitude.

Luca del bel Belluz is the lone Blue Jacket prospect playing in the OHL, skating this season with the Mississauga Steelheads. He’s off to a strong start as well, with 3 goals and 7 points through 6 games. A strong season from LDBB would be productive offensively, while continuing to grow, stand out and improve as an all-around center. There aren’t many quality center prospects in the system, so his development is pretty important for the Blue Jackets.

Heading out to the WHL, we’ll start with Regina Pats defenseman Stanislav Svozil. He has 5 helpers through 8 games on one of the more exciting teams in the league, playing with super prospect Connor Bedard. He continues his flashy play, often making big plays at key moments – be it a big hit, or a slick pass to set up a wide open teammate. While he isn’t regarded on the same tier as players like Ceulemans, David Jiricek, or Denton Mateychuk; I do think there’s NHL potential here.

The Moose Jaw Warriors boast two Blue Jacket prospects: Mateychuk and forward Martin Rysavy. Rysavy plays as a middle-six forward for the Warriors and has two assists through six games played. He’s a big body who does most of his work in the difficult areas, along the boards and in front of the net. A bit of a project, he projects as a bottom six winger at the pro level.

Mateychuk is one of the top prospects in the entire system, and will look to expand upon his point per game 2021-22 WHL season. He’s off to a great start, wearing the “C” for the Warriors, he already has 6 points in 7 games. Improving his all-around game and continuing to dominate offensively, is the name of the game for Denton. Look for him to get a shot to make Team Canada for the World Junior Championships in December.