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Columbus Blue Jackets: Summer 2023 Top Prospects

By Curtis Deem

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 29: Gavin Brindley celebrates with Adam Fantilli after being selected 34th overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 29: Gavin Brindley celebrates with Adam Fantilli after being selected 34th overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Now that the 2023 NHL Draft is over, it’s time to take another look at the top prospects for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets boast one of the best prospect pools in the entire NHL, which made this an exciting article to put together.

This year’s Draft was wildly successful for the team, who came away with not only their future #1 center in Adam Fantilli – they landed another handful of players who could be contributors in the NHL by the time it’s all said and done. In fact, no fewer than five of the club’s eight picks this summer land on our top-20 list.

This is very impressive, more so when you consider that the Jackets already had a top-five prospect pool in the league, prior to this most recent draft. Adding Fantilli alone probably pushed them up to or near the top, depending on whose rankings you follow – but adding Gavin Brindley, William Whitelaw, and the other picks they made, could make this class one of the best in franchise history.

The Top Prospect List Rules:

  • Players must be under 24 years of age.
  • Fewer than 25 NHL games played.
  • Most previous rankings are in parenthesis. (HM = Honorable Mention. NR = Not ranked / new to the list).
  • Stats displayed are from where the player played most in the 2022-23 season.
  • Projections are based on high end upside. Obviously, not all of these guys will hit their peak potential.
  • We did our best to note where each player will play next season. Obviously, subject to change.

Honorable Mentions, in no particular order:

(HM) RW James Fisher 6’2″, 185 pounds. 7th round (#203 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: physical bottom-six winger. Scored 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points for the Clark Cup champion Youngstown Phantoms (USHL). Will play for the Penticton Vees (BCHL) this fall – Northeastern University commit.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 08: James Fisher, #203 pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, poses for a portrait during the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 08: James Fisher, #203 pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, poses for a portrait during the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

(HM) D Nikolai Makarov 6’1″, 195 pounds. 5th round (#132 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: physical bottom-three defenseman. Scored 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points for CSKA Moscow (KHL). Will return to CSKA this fall.

(HM) LW Martin Rysavy 6’3″, 220 pounds. 7th round (#197 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: physical bottom-six winger. Scored 11 goals, 22 assists, 33 points for Moose Jaw (WHL). Signed to an ELC, will likely play for the Cleveland Monsters this fall.

(HM) D Aidan Hreschuk 5’11”, 190 pounds. Acquired from Carolina for Max Domi – originally selected 3rd round (#94 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom pairing two-way defenseman. Scored 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points for Boston College (NCAA). Will return to BC this fall.

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