Columbus Blue Jackets: Summer 2023 Top Prospects

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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With a few graduations to the bottom of the list, as well as the influx of newcomers, we do have some movement in our rankings.

More honorable mentions, previous ranking in parenthesis:

(19) D Ole Bjorgvik-Holm 6’3″, 195 pounds. 5th round (#145 overall), 2020 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom pairing shutdown defenseman. Scored 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points for the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). Will return to Cleveland this fall.

Apr 4, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during warm up before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) makes a save during warm up before a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

(18) G Jet Greaves 6’0″, 179 pounds. Undrafted, signed as a free agent summer 2021. Projection: backup goaltender. Posted a .899 save percentage, 3.08 goals against average for Cleveland this season. Will return to the Monsters this fall.

(17) C Tyler Angle 5’10”, 170 pounds. 7th round (#212 overall), 2019 NHL Draft. Projection: secondary scoring center (third/fourth line). Scored 11 goals, 12 assists, 23 points for the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). Will return to Cleveland this fall.

(16) LW Kirill Dolzhenkov 6’6″, 235 pounds. 4th round (#109 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: middle six scoring winger. Scored 18 goals, 27 assists, 45 points for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL – Russian junior league. Slated to split time there and in the KHL for CSKA Moscow this fall.

(NR) G Nolan Lalonde 6’1″, 185 pounds. Undrafted, signed as a free agent summer 2023. Projection: backup goaltender. Posted a .868 save percentage, 3.62 goals against average for Erie (OHL). Will return to the Otters this fall.

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JANUARY 21: #15 Kirill Dolzhenkov of Russian Federation in action during Men’s 6-Team Tournament Semifinals Game between Russia and Finland of the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympics on January 20, 2021 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JANUARY 21: #15 Kirill Dolzhenkov of Russian Federation in action during Men’s 6-Team Tournament Semifinals Game between Russia and Finland of the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympics on January 20, 2021 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images) /

(NR) RW Cameron Butler 6’4″, 210 pounds. Undrafted, signed as a free agent summer 2023. Projection: bottom-six, physical winger. Scored 27 goals, 28 assists, 55 points for Oshawa (OHL). Will join the Cleveland Monsters this fall.

(NR) G Melvin Strahl 6’3″, 165 pounds. 5th round (#156 overall), 2023 NHL Draft. Projection: NHL goaltender. Posted a .883 save percentage, 3.35 goals against average with MoDo J20 (Juniors in Sweden). Will return to the MoDo program this fall.

(NR) C Oiva Keskinen 6’0″, 180 pounds. 7th round (#194 overall), 2023 NHL Draft. Projection: middle six two-way center. Scored 20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points for Tappara U20 (Juniors in Finland). Will return to Tappara this fall.

OSHAWA, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 30: Cameron Butler #42 of the Oshawa Generals looks on during the first period against the Ottawa 67’s at Tribute Communities Centre on September 30, 2022 in Oshawa, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
OSHAWA, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 30: Cameron Butler #42 of the Oshawa Generals looks on during the first period against the Ottawa 67’s at Tribute Communities Centre on September 30, 2022 in Oshawa, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /

(NR) LW Tyler Peddle 6’1″, 205 pounds. 7th round (#224 overall), 2023 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom six physical/scoring winger. Scored 24 goals, 17 assists, 41 points for Drummondville (QMJHL). Will return to Drummondville this fall.