2022 Top Prospects: Christmas Edition

As hockey season nears its mid-point, we’re re-ranking the top prospects for the Columbus Blue Jackets. This ranking is done completely on our own, taking into account draft position as well as productivity and current performance. We factor the level of competition and overall play into this ranking as well.

The Rules:

• We are only listing prospects who are aged 23 or under, prior to the start of the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, this excludes Nick Blankenburg, who would have been on this list.
• To qualify for this list, players have to have fewer than 25 NHL games played. This has been revised from 10gp in our off-season lists.

We have two graduates from the summer list: Jake Christiansen and Kent Johnson. Both players have exceeded 25 games in the NHL and are on the CBJ roster full-time at this point, though Christiansen may be reassigned as other players return to health. This shakes the list up a little bit, but there are some players whose performances have them rising or falling on the list as well.

Honorable Mentions, in no particular order:

(previous ranking in parenthesis)

(HM) RW James Fisher, Northeastern University (NCAA), 7th round (#203 overall), 2022 NHL Draft

Currently skating with the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL); the Northeastern University commit has 2 goals and 5 points through 18 games this season. He’s a long-term prospect, whose upside may be years away.

(HM) D Samuel Johannesson, Brynas (SHL), 6th round (#176 overall), 2020 NHL Draft

Johannesson may be undersized – but he’s producing big numbers in a tough league. Currently through 27 games in the SHL, he has 5 goals and 18 points. He’s tied for 7th in scoring amongst defensemen in the league, and is the only player under 24 years old inside of the top-10.

(HM) RW Ben Boyd, St Mary’s University (Canada), 6th round (#165 overall), 2021 NHL Draft

It’s hard to see Ben Boyd remaining on this list for too much longer. After leaving the QMJHL, the big checking winger took his game to the Canadian collegiate level, where he has just 1 assist through 9 games. His upside was always going to be in the bottom-six, but he just isn’t producing enough to separate himself from the pack here.

(HM) G Jet Greaves, Cleveland Monsters (AHL), signed as a free agent February 2022

Signed by the club last summer to provide depth to the goaltending within the organization, Jet has done exactly that. With injuries at the NHL level, he’s bounced back and forth between Columbus and Cleveland. His numbers don’t jump off the page at you – but make no mistake, he’s done a nice job behind a young Monsters team this season. He could be an NHL backup someday.

(HM) D Nikolai Makarov, CSKA Moscow (KHL), 5th round (#132 overall), 2021 NHL Draft

Currently playing junior hockey in Russia’s MHL, Makarov has 1 goal and 5 assists through 19 games. Offense isn’t his game though – he’s a throwback to defensemen of old: big, physical, and mean. His 41 penalty minutes jump off the page a little bit, but he’s a developing defender who could have shutdown potential in a few years’ time.

(HM) LW Martin Rysavy, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), 7th round (#197 overall), 2021 NHL Draft

Rysavy has just 2 goals and 11 points in 21 WHL games, but he will represent team Czechia at the World Junior Championships beginning next week. He’s a big, physical winger who thrives when the games are tough. While he’s not a big number producer, he’s a solid power forward who plays a consistent bottom-six role.