10 players for the Blue Jackets to consider with their fourth overall pick at the upcoming draft
We'll have to wait and see what is available, but one thing is for certain: the Blue Jackets will have some good options with the fourth overall pick at Friday's NHL Draft.
10. Konsta Helenius, C, Jokerit (Liiga, Finland)
While he should at least be on the radar for the Blue Jackets, I have a hard time seeing them take a serious look at Finnish center Konsta Helenius.
The two-way pivot had a really productive year in Finland's top league, but ultimately, I just don't think the upside is there for him to come off the board with such a high pick. He doesn't have any one elite trait, nor does he have the size you would want in a top-six center.
Unless his offensive game explodes into the league and surprises everyone in a few years, this is a really low ceiling player pick.
Why they should take him: Helenius is probably the second most polished all-around center in the entire draft.
Why they should avoid him: It's quite a drop-off from Celebrini to him. I think he's a third line center in the NHL.
9. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
We talked just last week about Parekh and his potential to be the best defenseman to come out of this year's draft. His upside is through the roof, and he could be the next great defenseman in that Cale Makar/Quinn Hughes role.
He just starred for an entire season in the OHL, and on a Memorial Cup winning team, no less.
So, why wouldn't the Blue Jackets draft him here? The main reason I have him so low on my list of desires: the Jackets just don't need more offense from the blue line.
Zach Werenski, Damon Severson, Denton Mateychuk, David Jiricek, Adam Boqvist, and Stanislav Svozil; are all puck movers in their own right. It's just a crowded back-end from the offensive perspective.
Why they should take him: Zayne Parekh has tremendous upside and could be an elite offensive defenseman.
Why they should avoid him: He doesn't fill any vacant needs for the team short or long-term.
8. Tij Iginla, F, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Tij Iginla comes with an elite NHL bloodline. Best of all, he's a chip off the old block, bringing goal scoring and some physicality not unlike his old man.
The issue here is, I don't think he's going to be a center in the NHL. The Blue Jackets should be looking to add down the middle - if not the back end - with this year's first round pick. They're loaded with talent on the wings, with plenty of youth already on the NHL roster.
So if you're going to add a winger, it had better be a guy who can come in and quickly make a difference. Tij is probably a couple of years away, and I just don't see much room on the wings for the Jackets even then.
Why they should take him: Iginla is a terrific goal scorer, with high end timing and shooting capabilities.
Why they should avoid him: There will be better players on the board, who fill positions of greater need.
7. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)
Big, heavy, talented two-way defensemen don't exactly grow on trees. That's what you get with Sam Dickinson, who scored 70 points in 68 OHL games this season - at 6'3", and over 200 pounds.
He's a jack of all trades, with high end skating, a big shot, and the ability to move the puck. The concern I have here is, was his production inflated by being on an incredibly strong London team?
There are times when I question his decision making, and wonder about his hockey IQ. If you believe those traits can be ironed out, Dickinson is an easy choice inside the top-10 of this draft. He could be elite some day.
Why they should take him: He has all of the tools to become a top-four defenseman in the NHL.
Why they should avoid him: Does he have the tool box to put it all together?
6. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
By the time we look back and reflect upon this draft in five or six years, Berkly Catton could be one of the most productive players to come out of the entire thing.
What he lacks in size, Catton makes up for with skill and a highly competitive motor. His edge work is very good, allowing him to buzz around the ice and create offense. He can shoot or deke and score; and his passing is on a near elite level.
Best of all: he's a natural center. Honestly, if Catton were 2-3 inches taller, he's easily the #2 prospect in this draft. I see him as a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins type player in the NHL, and I don't think 100 points is out of reach in the right situation. But, he'll need some work and a lot of patience to get there.
Why they should take him: Catton sure looks the part of an underrated offensive player, and could be one of the most productive centers in the entire draft.
Why they should avoid him: He's all offense, which isn't totally bad - but there will be better overall options on the board with the #4 pick.
5. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL, Russia)
The Blue Jackets have given up 300+ goals in each of the last three seasons. Anton Silayev would be a move towards changing that number eventually, if not right away.
At 6'7" and over 200 pounds, Silayev is one of the most unique prospects I've seen in my over 20 years following that side of the game. He's an elite skater in every sense - yes, I just used that "E" word to describe a 6'7" defenseman's footwork.
He's already a refined defender, able to break up plays in a variety of ways using his stick, skating, or size. I think he could step into the NHL and play in a limited shutdown role as early as next season, if he wanted to.
But he doesn't pack a big offensive punch, which is usually what you would expect from a defenseman taken inside the top-10, or, better yet, top-5. He's a high end defender though, which may be enough to entice someone to take a big swing here.
Why they should take him: He's likely going to become the best pure defender out of the draft, is one of the best skaters in the class, and he's 6'7".
Why they should avoid him: He's strictly a defensive defenseman, with very limited offensive upside. High floor, low ceiling player. It's easier to teach highly skilled guys to defend, than guys like this to have skill...
4. Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (NCAA)
If I were the GM of the Blue Jackets, Zeev Buium is right near the top of my list in this draft. Personally, I believe he's the best all-around defenseman in the entire class. I would take him as high as second overall, given the need.
There's only one problem here: do the Blue Jackets really need him? Buium is a terrific skater, who is equally effective defending or attacking. He just won a National Championship with Denver, and to me, he looks like a 15-year top-4 defenseman in the NHL.
I don't see him having the offensive upside of Parekh, or the size and defensive acumen of Silayev ... but he's only a slight notch below both of them on both sides of the puck. Buium will never be elite in any one area, but he's a Ryan McDonagh type of defenseman who will be heavily leaned upon in all situations. He'll be an unheralded, crucial part of a lot of winning teams.
Why they should take him: He could be a terrific top-four defenseman for a long time.
Why they should avoid him: It's close between him and the other top ranked defenseman in this class, but he's a left hand shot. The Jackets are in good shape on their future left side, so the other guy may make more sense for them.
3. Ivan Demidov, RW, SK St Petersburg (KHL, Russia)
If Ivan Demidov is available with the fourth overall pick, the Blue Jackets will have no choice but to take him. He probably has the highest offensive upside in the entire draft, and I'm not even sure anyone else is close as far as forwards are concerned. Macklin Celebrini may be the top prospect because of his overall game, but Demidov has game breaking skill.
Ivan's stock has risen rapidly in the last couple of weeks, as his official size has changed - and he's talked about coming to North America soon, rather than later. My gut tells me that if Chicago doesn't take him second overall, Anaheim will run to the stage to take him third before anyone can change their minds.
This is a player who could become an elite play driver from the wing, an elite offensive producer in the mold of recent Russian superstars like Nikita Kucherov or Kirill Kaprizov.
Teams will be kicking themselves if they pass on Demidov and he comes over in 1-2 years - much like they currently are with Philadelphia's Matvei Michkov. Demidov is the only player in this draft that I feel would be capable of challening Macklin Celebrini for first overall, if they went head-to-head. He's that good.
Why they should take him: If he's on the board, he's the best player available. You have to take him.
Why they should avoid him: No reason. He's a winger, which we talked about them not needing earlier. But, he's good enough that you take him anyway, and build a position of strength.
2. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA)
Artyom Levshunov would be an excellent pick for the Blue Jackets to make at fourth overall. He's one of the most well-rounded defensemen in the entire draft, and a future right side with both him and David Jiricek involved, is mighty appealing.
Levshunov is 6'2" and already has a pro build at 210 pounds. As a late birthday, he's one of the oldest players in the entire draft and I think he'll be an NHL player as soon as 2025.
He can produce offensively, but is also an active defender, able to use his size, strength, skating, and reach to break up plays. He's an all-around beast, who does everything assertive and at a high level.
By the time it's all said and done, he could develop into a 20-25 minute per night defenseman in the NHL, who contributes in all situations. He and Buium are neck and neck at the top of this draft for me, and it may just come down to style when teams decide which one they prefer.
Why they should take him: Levshunov fills a massive hole on the future right side for the Blue Jackets. He might even overtake Jiricek as the top defense prospect in this build.
Why they should avoid him: Really, there's no reason. Taking Levshunov fourth overall would be a nice little win for the Jackets at this draft.
1. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
If not for concerns about a back injury, it's possible that Cayden Lindstrom would be the obvious #2 pick in this draft.
Lindstrom is 6'3", already over 210 pounds; is a creative offensive player, and is one of the best skating forwards in the entire draft. He's a little bit raw, but all of the tools are there to put together a future top-six center.
This is the kind of player who has the potential to put up a point-per-game in the NHL, while being a matchup nightmare because of his compete level and all-around game. If the Jackets went this route, they would have a 1-2 punch of Adam Fantilli and Cayden Lindstrom down the middle, which would immediately be the envy of almost every team in the NHL.
That's the kind of center tandem that wins Stanley Cups. The only concern here is Lindstrom's health. But for me, seeing every doctor sign off on him makes me confident that he'll come out of it just fine. In two years, you would have the two best young centers to ever come into this franchise. At the same time.
Why they should take him: See above. Imagine this team rolling out Fantilli, Lindstrom, Cole Sillinger, and Dmitri Voronkov in any order. I would hate to play against that team.
Why they should avoid him: Back injuries can be really tricky, and that's the only thing that keeps this from being a slam dunk. Still, the upside and potential here could be too much to pass up.
The good news for the Blue Jackets at this coming draft is, they're about to add another player who will immediately become one of the most highly touted prospects they've ever had. This will be two years in a row where we can say that.
While the player they pick here won't likely make an immediate impact in the NHL; it will be hard for them to go wrong with this pick. In fact, the only way to be disappointed in whoever they take, is if you have one specific player you prefer - or, if they go wildly off the board.
My personal preference is for one of Zeev Buium or Cayden Lindstrom. I believe those two guys hold the most value outside of Celebrini - with the exception of Demidov. You can't pass up on the talented Russian winger, even if you don't really "need" him right now.
Whatever the case, the first round on Friday night should be captivating. It will be exciting to see who falls into our laps with the fourth overall pick.
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