As hockey seasons begin to come to a close, it's time to start paying more attention to the prospects. Especially the ones who are ready to turn pro. One name making the rounds for the Blue Jackets this week is a former 2nd round pick whose junior career likely just came to an end.
Of course, we're talking about defenseman Charlie Elick. Taken by the Jackets with pick #36 at the 2024 NHL Draft, he's expended his final year of junior eligibility and will reportedly head to the Cleveland Monsters for the balance of the season.
His Tri City Americans did not qualify for the playoffs in the Western Hockey League, so he gets to turn pro a little bit sooner than he might have expected. He is already signed to his three-year entry-level contract, which he inked almost a year ago to the day.
Elick played in 63 games for the Americans this season, scoring a career high 6 goals and adding 14 assists. He picked up 46 penalty minutes and carried a -15 rating. For his career, he leaves the WHL with 16 goals and 75 points in 259 career games split between the Ams and the Brandon Wheat Kings.
With the numbers aside, it's worth pointing out that he was not drafted to score points. Instead, he fills a pretty large vacancy within the system from both a physical and stylistic perspective. Let's break his game down a bit.
Elick is a throwback to NHL defensemen of yesteryear.
Stepping in at 6'3" and just over 200 pounds, Charlie fits the physical mold of defensemen that Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell seems to want to build his team around.
For a player his size, Elick is a very good skater. He's quick in straight lines, but surprisingly agile; able to pivot and move laterally to keep pace with smaller players. He's good with his reach, using his length to break up passes or deflect shot attempts.
Most noticable is his physicality. Charlie is not afraid to lay the hammer and body a player off of the puck, whether it's on the rush or along the boards. And, when need be, he will drop the mitts and is capable in those situations as well.
With all of that aside, there are glaring flaws to his game. Obviously, he will have to adapt to a quicker game at the pro level, where everyone is also bigger and stronger. It won't be as easy for him to throw his weight around, so look for him to gain some weight as he develops as well.
And, the elephant in the room: there is very little offense to his game. For a guy taken so highly in the draft, you would expect him to contribute at least a little bit more in that department. After all: this season, he was a 19 year old playing in a league dominated by 17 and 18 year olds.
I think that portion of his game can be developed, since the raw skills are there. But, all of this is to say that we should not expect this player to play in Columbus any time soon. It's going to take at least one or two full seasons in the American Hockey League before he's ready to compete for a job with the Blue Jackets. He will need to at least be able to make some plays with the puck for that to happen.
That's not a knock on him as a player. That's just the facts of where his development is, and how Waddell wants to manage this team. He won't allow any of these prospects to play in the NHL until they are fully ready to contribute on both sides of the puck.
If you want a recent example: look at Luca del bel Belluz. He sits just outside of the top-10 in scoring, but still cannot get more than a cup of coffee in Columbus.
For the remainder of this season, expect to see Charlie Elick only in spot duty in Cleveland. The Monsters are in really good shape, and should only lean upon him for depth as they contend for a Calder Cup.
Another prospect to follow Charlie to Cleveland?
Also reported this morning: 2025 5th round pick Owen Griffin may be heading to Cleveland to finish this season, as well. He still has one year of junior eligibility left, so expect this to just be a learning experience for the 18-year-old.
Griffin had 25 goals and 67 points in 66 games with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League this season. He's a guy we will be watching very closely as he continues to develop.