Third round (#78 overall), D Samuel Knazko
Samuel Knazko was another player that the Blue Jackets reached just a little bit for. But, this pick was far less shocking. Usually by this point in the draft, every team's list will vary wildly. The Jackets probably saw a lot of him, as he was playing in Finland at the time.
Knazko is a talented Slovakian defender; an an active skater with very strong leadership qualities. He projected as a bottom-four puck mover, who could play in all situations on both sides of the puck.
After being selected, he stayed in Finland for one more season before heading to North America, joining the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. It was an easy adjustment, as he went from playing in Finland's top men's league; to playing amongst teenagers.
In 27 games, he scored 5 goals and 20 points-then was a key member of the T-birds as they marched through 25 playoff games, ultimately losing in the league's championship series. At that point, it was time for Samuel to turn pro.
He spent the next three years in the Blue Jackets system, tallying 149 games with the Cleveland Monsters, where he scored 7 goals and 49 points. He also got into two NHL games at the end of his rookie season (2022-23), though he did not register on the scoresheet.
He looked to be on a decent track, but was ultimately passed up by younger, higher upside options. His ELC ended last summer, and he spent the 2025-26 season playing in Czechia. Safe to say, we can write Knazko out of the Blue Jackets prospect list at this point.
Verdict: bust. Grade: C
Even though he did not make any real impact, Knazko gave the Jackets decent value here. He played in the system and was good for the Cleveland Monsters, before heading back overseas. Not a complete miss.
Fourth round (#114 overall), F Mikael Pyyhtia
Despite missing out on their last pick and trading their first, it's still possible that the Blue Jackets could have an NHL player from this draft. This season, Mikael Pyyhtia showed a lot of promise. But, it feels like it's now or never for the young Finn.
Pyyhtia spent two more full years in Finland after being picked by the Blue Jackets, eventually coming over near the end of the 2022-23 season. He has since spent the last three full years in the organization, totaling 154 AHL games, and 71 NHL games.
This year, he had his most productive season in North America. He finished second on the Monsters in scoring, with 21 goals and 49 points. As an already refined two-way player, he finally showed his skill consistently enough to give us hope that he can be an every day NHL player.
But, at 24 years old, he needs a new contract. So, he might never get that chance in Columbus. It all depends on whether the organization still views him as a future difference maker, or if it's time to give some other players a greater role. We'll see.
Verdict: prospect. Grade: A
You might not agree with this grade, but this is a strong pick in this range of the draft. To find any player who plays in the NHL in the fourth round is a win. Pyyhtia brings a lot of translatable traits to the organization, and I think he has an outside chance to play for the Jackets full-time next season.
Lets go over the last two picks from this draft on the final slide. We will also grade the whole class.
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