Columbus Blue Jackets prospect watch, Denton Mateychuk just keeps getting better

There's not much debating at this point. If you were to call Denton Mateychuk the top defense prospect for the Blue Jackets in any regard, there's not much argument to the contrary, even if that list includes David Jiricek. Finally playing professional hockey this year, Mateychuk just keeps getting better.

Denton finished his stellar junior career and got into 4 playoff games in the spring for the Cleveland Monsters, immediately stepping right into a top-4 role. After a much-needed off-season break, he stood out big time for the Blue Jackets at training camp. But, rather than burying him into a four-way battle for third pairing minutes, the team did the smart thing and sent him back to the AHL.

He has been arguably the best defenseman in the AHL this year...

With 3 goals and 11 points, Mateychuk is currently tied with Luca del bel Belluz and Trey Fix-Wolansky for second on the Cleveland Monsters in scoring, with only Owen Sillinger's 12 points ranking ahead. These totals are good enough to have him tied for second league-wide amongst rookie scorers - and good enough for a share of the league lead amongst all defensemen.

Mateychuk already has four multi-point efforts on the season, registering shots on goal in all but one game so far. Impressively, he's playing the game with a calm swagger on both sides of the puck, that is normally only seen in veteran professional players. In the clip below, he gets the puck and is immediately pressured, only to draw the defender out further and make a play back in:

He glides around the ice in an effortless way...

The most impressive trait in Mateychuk's all-around game is his skating. It's one thing to be a strong thinker of the game. It's another thing to have that ability, while also being an elite level skater. Denton pivots and turns better than almost any other player I've seen at his age. He has that rare knack for avoiding contact with the puck on his stick, buying himself an extra half second to make a play.

He's also good with his gap control on the other side of it, using his skating to position himself defensively. Often, you'll see him dropping back in rush coverage, come away with the steal and use a quick pivot to beat his check back up the ice. In this regard, he'll always be a dangerous transitional threat - regardless which zone he wins the puck in.

Have we mentioned that he can shoot the puck, too?

In the end, playing this year in the AHL is the absolute right way to develop Mateychuk. He's playing each and every night in Cleveland, gaining confidence and learning the ins and outs of playing against bigger, stronger, more experienced competition. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has done a nice job patching holes with the big club, to keep the top prospects in situations that benefit their development.

With all of that said, this guy will be NHL ready next season. He already looks too good for the AHL.