Despite not making our top-20 rankings, there are some really good players in the honorable mentions.
(last year: HM) G Nolan Lalonde 6'2", 195 pounds. Signed as an undrafted free agent, October 2022. Projection: depth goaltender. Stats: .888% save percentage, 3.30 GAA in 36gp for Kingston and Sault Ste marie (OHL). Turning pro this fall, will play for the Cleveland Monsters or possibly head to the ECHL.
(HM) RW James Fisher 6'2", 295 pounds. 7th round (#203 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom six grinder. Stats: 1g, 1a, 2pts in 24gp for Northeastern University (NCAA). Will return to Northeastern this fall.
(HM) D Nikolai Makarov 6'1", 194 pounds. 5th round (#132 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom four shutdown defenseman. Stats: 4g, 8a, 12pts in 41gp for CSKA Moscow (KHL). Will return to CSKA Moscow this fall.
(HM) G Melvin Strahl 6'3", 170 pounds. 5th round (#156 overall), 2023 NHL Draft. Projection: depth goaltender. Stats: .903% save percentage, 2.42GAA in 48gp for Youngstown (USHL). Will play for Michigan State University (NCAA) this fall.
(HM) LW Kirill Dolzhenkov 6'6", 223 pounds. 4th round (#109 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: middle six scoring forward. Stats: 7g, 3a, 10pts in 40gp for CSKA Moscow (KHL). Will return to CSKA Moscow this fall.
(ranked #18 last year) D Andrew Strathmann 5'11", 187 pounds. 4th round (#98 overall), 2023 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom four puck-moving defenseman. Stats: 2g, 2a, 4pts in 30gp for the University North Dakota (NCAA). Will return to North Dakota this fall.
(14) D Corson Ceulemans 6'2", 198 pounds. 1st round (#25 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom four two-way defenseman. Stats: 2g, 5a, 7pts in 33gp for Cleveland (AHL). Will return to the Monsters this fall.
(NR) D Caleb MacDonald 6'4", 229 pounds. Signed as an undrafted free agent, March 2025. Projection: bottom pairing physical defenseman. Stats: 3g, 7a, 10pts in 35gp with the University of North Dakota (NCAA). Will play for the Cleveland Monsters this fall. *Received one 20th place vote from us (Matt).
(NR) D Daemon Hunt 6'1", 201 pounds. Acquired via trade, November 2024. *Originally picked 3rd round (#165 overall) by Minnesota, 2020 NHL Draft. Projection: bottom pairing two-way defenseman. Stats: 2g, 12a, 14pts in 48gp for Cleveland (AHL). Outside chance of making the CBJ roster, but probably heading to Cleveland for another year. *Received two 18th place votes (Matt, Mike) and one 20th place vote (Curtis) from us.
This article featuring 14 honorable mentions showcases just how deep the CBJ organization's prospect pool is at this time. Especially when it includes near NHL-ready players like Daemon Hunt as an honorable mention. Tomorrow, we'll start our countdown of the top-20 prospects for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stay tuned!