Columbus Blue Jackets draft candidate, Beckett Sennecke is a big riser

Beckett Sennecke is likely to be selected somewhere between 10-20 in the draft later this month. Could the Jackets pick up another pick and nab him?

If you believe in foreshadowing, the Blue Jackets taking Cayden Lindstrom out to dinner is very telling. If he's on the board when they make their selection, this would point towards a higher interest than some of the other prospects in this range. It is possible that they used this dinner to mark him off of their list, as well.

Either way, if Lindstrom isn't their guy, I have a hard time seeing them use the #4 overall pick on Sennecke. But, that doesn't mean they won't try to find a way to get him.

This team has quite a few assets that they could look to move. Be it a package of draft picks, prospects, an NHL player, or all of the above; they could find a way to pick up another first round pick.

Another thought: they could trade their fourth overall pick and move back in the draft to get him, if a team offers them something else they like.

One more thing to keep an eye on: the Patrik Laine situation. If a team feels they're close to contending, but need to add some scoring, they could pony up a first round pick to get Laine. Especially if the Jackets retain some salary.

Teams with picks in the mid-late first round, may very well feel that they are just one player away from contending. That could put some picks in play for a team like the Jackets to strike, if they feel strongly enough about Beckett Sennecke and his NHL potential.

Speaking of his NHL potential; I don't think this is a guy that will drive the play heavily. In that regard, I don't think he's a premier scoring winger in the NHL. But, I do think he can produce big numbers if you put him alongside other skill guys. That's exactly what he's doing in the OHL.

Sennecke is hard to knock off the puck, and he's got really good hands on top of his newly formed long frame. He can score goals by shooting or deking, and he's one of the best passers in the entire draft.

To me, he looks like an ideal fit alongside Adam Fantilli. Imagine having two guys that size, with that much energy and skill, working together on a future top line. I have to think that's what the Blue Jackets scouts are seeing here as well.