Other
The players in this category don't really have a solidified place in the organization at this point in time. Whether it be from diminished value, limited opportunity, or other question marks, these players likely won't be major trade candidates unless a team sees something specific that they like.
Stanislav Svozil
It pains me to say this, but I think the hope for Stanislav Svozil is starting to fade. After at one point looking like a lock for a future NHL role with a solid two-way game, Svozil's impact and confidence have both been lacking this year.
While he still has some solid tools defensively, he has clearly lost confidence in at least his offensive game, as it's rare to see him jump down from the point, which was once a strength in his game. Additionally, his skating and overall positioning have looked below average in pro hockey so far.
A crowded defensive group on the Monsters doesn't make it any easier for him, but Svozil just doesn't seem impactful, and time is unfortunately running out for the 23-yearold as it pertains to NHL hopes. While it's possible a team tries to restore his confidence and focus on his development, I don't think he will fetch much after an unimpressive season that saw just seven points.
Nikolai Makarov
Perhaps the biggest of question marks in the Blue Jackets prospect pool is Nikolai Makarov. He has played well in Russia's top pro league over the past several seasons, but there hasn't been much talk about the 23-year-old defender potentially signing his entry-level deal.
Andrew Strathmann
Drafted from the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, Strathmann was projected to be a well-rounded defenseman with some good offensive upside. However, two seasons with limited playing time and unimpressive results has caused his value to drop.
Melvin Strahl
Melvin Strahl is perhaps the most intriguing player in this section as it relates to the Blue Jackets. After playing just three games in a backup role with Michigan State with a .922 save percentage, Strahl will play in his fourth organization in four years when he suits up with the University of Minnesota next season.
Strahl looked solid in the three games he played, and is pretty athletic with average size. It seems like he will play in some sort of a tandem next year, which should result in a lot more playing time for the goalie prospect. But with just three games to go off of, there probably won't be a ton of talk surrounding Strahl this offseason.
With that, we now have every prospect in the Blue Jackets organization tiered by their trade likelihood and value. So whether players like Luca Del Bel Belluz are a part of a blockbuster, or the Blue Jackets just want to move on from some depth pieces, we now have a good idea of what we're looking at trade-wise with the prospect pool.
I personally agree that the Blue Jackets should look to make a big splash this season, and pairing a couple of prospects listed here with a solid draft pick and/or roster player may just be enough to land a pretty big fish in a potential deal.
Add us as a preferred source on Google