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.