As we worked through our rankings of the top-20 prospects for the Columbus Blue Jackets, it became difficult to leave some names off of our list. One player who became a point of mild contention is Jack Williams, who lands at #20 on our list.
The top prospects list was compiled by a collective ranking from all of the writers at Union and Blue: Matthew Duffey, Mike Stump, Weston Motz, Struan McNevan, and Curtis Deem. We only include players 24 years and under, with fewer than 25 NHL games. Stats are from the previous season, in the league where each player spent the most time. Projections are based on top-end upside.
Top Prospect #20: C Jack Williams
How we ranked him: Matthew, Weston, Curtis (not ranked); Mike (18), Struan (19). Last year: honorable mention.
Williams debuts inside of the top-20 for the first time, after being listed as an honorable mention in our rankings last summer. It's tough to argue with his placement here, as he had a very strong season with the Cleveland Monsters.
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Blue Jackets last spring, he burned the first year of his ELC simply by appearing in one game with the team at the end of the season. This year, he spent the entire campaign with the Monsters, scoring 15 goals and 38 points while playing in all 72 games.
That was good enough for 4th on the team in scoring. He capped off his strong season with 5 points (1 goal) in 9 playoff games, effectively cementing himself as the second best center on the team. With such a strong first year at the pro level, it's easy to see why he lands inside of our top-20 ranking.
The 24 year old 5'11", 185 pound center is quietly proving that he may have NHL upside. While he doesn't have any one trait that sticks out, he's an effective player on both sides of the puck. He likes to use hard work to win puck battles and drive play in the other direction, and he has an underrated shot that should at least be dangerous at the highest level.
The only thing holding him back is a somewhat limited ceiling. At the absolute top end, I think he could be a checking line center. He might chip in a few goals and some secondary assists, but I don't see him ever playing on a scoring line at the next level.
Still, finding a potential NHL player in the college free agent pool is never a bad thing. As a right shot center, Williams is a rare commodity that plays the game the right way. He will quickly earn the trust of the coaching staff wherever he goes, because his game brings value. Even if he doesn't score.
Pros: high compete level, physicality, two-way game, underrated shot.
Cons: limited ceiling, slightly undersized
Projection: bottom line two-way center
Williams is one of the more NHL ready prospects in the organization, and with Trent Vogelhuber joining the coaching staff, I'm sure he will have a voice pining for him behind the bench. He recently earned a two-year contract extension from the Jackets, who clearly see some potential here. It will be interesting to see if he can make the cut at training camp this fall.
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