Checking in on the defensemen and goalies for the Cleveland Monsters

A few days ago we started off our coverage of Blue Jackets prospects with an overview of the Cleveland Monsters and their forward group, going over the performance of the veterans as well as the young guns.

Now it's time to go over the rest of the team: the defenders and the goalies. Just as we did before, we'll list the defenders in order of points, and then we'll cover the only two goalies that have played games in Cleveland this year.

Defensemen of all ages have contributed so far

In the first section of this analysis, we have a wide range of experience at the blueline, beginning with a player who had high expectations but has had a difficult time meeting them.

Corson Ceulemans

I wouldn't blame you if you had forgotten about the Blue Jackets' third pick in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, none other than defenseman Corson Ceulemans. He was an interesting selection at the time, as he was a rare AJHL draft pick who only played 11 games that year.

Since then, he has played two seasons in college hockey with the University of Wisconsin before making the jump to the AHL in 2023. Corson is in his third "full" season with the Monsters, although both of the first two were cut short due to injuries.

It hasn't been an easy path for Ceulemans, as even when he was healthy, his ice time was heavily restricted and limited him to just 19 points in 80 games, and he didn't play in the playoffs either year. This isn't exactly what anyone was looking for out of a player drafted primarily for his offensive upside.

The good news, however, is that he has already matched this point total in the 43 games he has played so far this season, with his 19 points leading the way for defenders. He has looked way more confident and is clearly building trust with the coaching staff.

The 22-year-old has been rewarded with solid ice time, and his eight goals rank him seventh on the team among all players, and once again first among defensemen. One of these goals came off of a nice toe drag where he created space and ripped a nearly perfect shot.

Ceulemans' entry-level contract expires after this season, making him a restricted free agent, but he seems like an obvious candidate to earn another contract, as this is really his first fully healthy year in pro hockey and he is already showing very positive signs of development.

Will Butcher

Making his return to American hockey after spending time with teams in Germany and Kazakhstan last season, Will Butcher has been a solid addition to a young Monsters defensive group, and is one of only two blueliners on the team older than 23, as he is 31 years old himself.

The vast majority of Butcher's production has been in the offensive zone, as he sees substantial time on the man-advantage, which has resulted in 16 points in 40 games this season.

He does leave a lot to be desired on the other end of the ice, however, as he is rarely seen on the penalty kill and can be seen leaving his defensive partner vulnerable against odd-man rushes.

Butcher isn't signed to an NHL contract, and I don't see a realistic way that we ever see him back in the majors, let alone in Columbus. The Monsters may look to retain him as a good leader in the locker room, or he may once again pursue options overseas.

Dysin Mayo

Proving to be a solid addition after signing a one-year deal with the Blue Jackets this past offseason, Dysin Mayo has been arguably the Monsters' best (or at least most reliable) defenseman while serving as an alternate captain for the team.

The other half of the team's two older defensemen, Mayo is 29 years old and has 13 points in 32 games this season. He frequently finds himself on the team's top pair and has been consistent on both ends of the ice while being instrumental in controlling the pace and intensity of Monsters games this year.

Dysin also saw his first NHL action since early 2023, as he played in three games with the Blue Jackets and didn't look out of place, even recording an assist and a +1 rating.

With the Jackets' defensive injuries all sorted out, I wouldn't expect to see him in Union Blue again this season, but he would be the first guy to be called up should they strike again. For this reason, I think it could be a good idea to keep him around for another season or two, although I wouldn't blame Columbus for letting him walk with solid defensive depth currently in the NHL.

Guillaume Richard

Rounding out this first chunk of defensemen is 23-year-old Guillaume Richard, who just celebrated his birthday on February 10th. Richard was selected 76 picks after Ceulemans and ended up being taken in the 4th round out of the USHL.

Richard spent four seasons with Providence College, playing in 134 games and scoring 54 points, playing a polished game mainly focused on defending and killing penalties.

He showed some offensive spark after joining Cleveland towards the end of last season, scoring three goals and six points in 14 games split between the regular season and playoffs. He has returned to his expected production this year, scoring nine points in 43 games with the Monsters.

Richard has been very impressive on the defensive end, enough to secure a rather consistent spot on the top pair, outshining both veterans and fellow youngsters. His fantastic gap control, solid physicality, and great awareness make him a solid option for Columbus down the road.

He is also a surprisingly good skater who isn't afraid to mobilize in the offensive zone, and he can hold his own with the puck. Just two games ago he pounded home a great one-timer off a great pass from Mikael Pyyhtia. I recommend turning the volume up for this one to hear the pronunciation of his name, nailed perfectly by commentator Tony Brown.

Richard is my personal favorite player on the Monsters this year, and I have little to no doubt that his well-rounded game with borderline NHL-level defense will force the Jackets to give him a look sooner rather than later. His contract runs through next season, so he has plenty of time to prove his worth before looking for an extension.

Now that we've taken a look at the more flashy defensemen in Cleveland this year, let's go over some guys with a solid defensive game, plus an emerging prospect with huge offensive upside.