Columbus Blue Jackets top prospects, summer of 2024: players #10-1

9. (7) LW James Malatesta 5’9″, 190 pounds. 5th round (#133 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: middle six sniper/pest. Stats: 12g-10a-22pts, 56gp for Cleveland (AHL). Will return to the Monsters next season (or, dare we say the Blue Jackets?). How we ranked him: Curtis (8) Matt (9) Mike (7)

Why we ranked him here: Malatesta made the transition from junior hockey to the AHL look pretty seamless this year. After taking home QMJHL playoff and Memorial Cup MVP honors in 2023; he joined the Monsters full-time this year and was a key part of their lineup all season.

Better yet, in a late-season trial with the Blue Jackets, James never looked out of place. In fact, the team opted to keep him on the NHL roster and send more tenured players back to the AHL ahead of him. Had he been with the team all season, he would have be amongst the leaders in hits across the entire league, with the pace he was on. Malatesta is one of my favorite prospects in the system, and I would not be surprised if he stole a 4th line job with the Blue Jackets this season.

With that said, a year of dominating in the AHL certainly wouldn't hurt either. Might raise his upside a little bit.

8. (5) C Luca del bel Belluz 6’0″, 180 pounds. 2nd round (#44 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: middle six scoring center. Stats: 9g-22a-31pts, 58gp for Cleveland (AHL). Will return to the Monsters next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (9) Matt (8) Mike (6)

Why we ranked him here: Luca is another player who had a pretty solid transition from junior hockey to the AHL. He's a natural center, which is desperately needed in this organization; and he put up pretty solid numbers for a rookie this season. He also added his first NHL goal in his lone game with the Jackets this season.

Though he's still somewhat sleight, he has a projectable frame and a knack for generating offense. He's more of a passer than a shooter, which makes him an obvious fit alongside someone like Malatesta. I don't think he has the kind of skill to be a top-two line center, but if he can develop into a third or fourth line depth scoring option, I think that's good enough. And I do believe he can get there.

7. (NR) G Evan Gardner 6'1", 175 pounds. 2nd round (#60 overall), 2024 NHL Draft. Projection: starting goaltender. Stats: .927% save percentage, 1.91GAA, 21-5-0 record in 30gp for Saskatoon (WHL). Will return to the Blades next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (7) Matt (5) Mike (8)

Why we ranked him here: I had my fingers crossed that the Jackets would look to build up their goaltending pipeline at this year's draft. They did so by drafting my most preferred goaltender in the entire draft. Evan Gardner was underrated, in my opinion.

He's not a huge body, but he's got good enough pro size and he just keeps stopping pucks. All he did this season was go from relative unknown; to stealing the starting job for one of the top teams in the Western Hockey League. He helped the Blades to the best record in the WHL, then maintained solid numbers in their long playoff run - eventually ended by Denton Mateychuk and the Moose Jaw Warriors.

6. (4) D Stanislav Svozil 6’0″, 180 pounds. 3rd round (#69 overall), 2021 NHL Draft. Projection: second pairing two-way defenseman. Stats: 5g-18a-23pts, 57gp for Cleveland (AHL). Will return to the Monsters next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (6) Matt (7) Mike (5)

Why we ranked him here: Svozil also had a strong transition year after turning pro, playing big minutes for the Monsters and not looking out of place. He's an active defenseman; who likes to jump into the rush, throw big hits, and make plays with his hands.

Stanislav also has a history and chemistry with David Jiricek; and I could see the two forming a solid defense pair for the Blue Jackets in a few years' time. Svozil still has some edges to round out in his game, but all of the tools are there for him to become a very good second pairing defenseman. Even at his low end, I think he's still a third pairing guy in the NHL.

5. (NR) D Charlie Elick 6'4", 205 pounds. 2nd round (#36 overall), 2024 NHL Draft. Projection: top-four shutdown defenseman. Stats: 4g-23a-27pts, 65gp for Brandon (WHL). Will return to the Wheat Kings next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (5), Matt (6), Mike (4)

Why we ranked him here: Charlie Elick has a really rare mix of attributes, that makes him an intriguing future shutdown defenseman. At 6'4" and over 200 pounds, he can certainly drop the hammer with a big hit. He's hard to beat along the boards, while also being very hard to beat off the rush because of his high end skating and long reach.

He hasn't shown a big penchant for producing offense yet, but he put up respectable numbers in the WHL this season. The advanced stats guys didn't like this pick for the Blue Jackets, but I loved it. Elick will probably not generate big numbers, but he fills the biggest gaping need in this organization. He's a true shutdown defense prospect. I think he'll show up in the NHL in 2-3 years and step seamlessly into that role.

4. (2) RW Jordan Dumais 5’9″, 175 pounds. 3rd round (#96 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: top-six scoring winger. Stats: 16g-21a-47pts, 21gp for Halifax (QMJHL). Will head to the Cleveland Monsters next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (4) Matt (4) Mike (5)

Why we ranked him here: Dumais drops on this list for a couple of reasons. First, he spent a lot of this season on the IR - and also missed time due to legal troubles. Secondly, the play of another prospect, combined with another high draft pick entering the system; has him falling two spots on our list.

Dumais is a cerebral attacker, able to spot weak links in the opposition's defense long before they even appear. He sits in the weeds, then suddenly finds himself with the puck in a prime scoring area. Once he has it on his stick, he's an elite level passer and also has a knack for scoring goals in a variety of ways.

He was probably too good for junior hockey last season, but a mostly lost year of development will sting. I'm interested to see how he makes the adjustment to the pro level next season.

3. (3) C Gavin Brindley 5’9″, 170 pounds. 2nd round (#34 overall), 2023 NHL Draft. Projection: middle-six two-way forward. Stats: 25g-28a-53pts, 40gp for the University of Michigan (NCAA). Turned pro at the end of his sophomore year; will play in Cleveland or Columbus next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (3), Matt (3), Mike (3)

Why we ranked him here: Electrifying. That's the one adjective I would use to describe Gavin Brindley. He buzzes around the ice, going to the toughest areas in spite of his smaller stature. Surprisingly, he comes out of most battles with the puck on his stick.

He's creative with the puck, able to dish out passes; and he also has a terrific shot that he gets off in a hurry. His energy and all-around game makes him easily projectable as a second or third line forward in the NHL. He can play center, but I think he's more likely a winger that can fill in down the middle as needed.

Years ago, I saw 17 year old Tyler Johnson come into the WHL as an undersized center with a lot of these attributes. I see a lot of the same qualities in Gavin Brindley - if he can become that kind of player for the Blue Jackets, we'll be very happy to have him.

2. (1) D Denton Mateychuk 5’11”, 190 pounds. 1st round (#12 overall), 2022 NHL Draft. Projection: top-four puck-moving defenseman. Stats: 17g-58a-75pts, 52gp for Moose Jaw (WHL). Turned pro at the end of his CHL season; will play in Cleveland or Columbus next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (2), Matt (2), Mike (2)

Why we ranked him here: Mateychuk is one of the top defense prospects in hockey. As captain of the Warriors this season, he took home the Bill Hunter Trophy as WHL defenseman of the year. He finished third in the league in scoring by defensemen, in spite of playing 13 ang 14 fewer games than the two players ahead of him.

He starred for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships; then returned to lead his Warriors to a WHL Title, taking home MVP honors after finishing second in the enitre league in playoff scoring - just two points behind teammate Jagger Firkus. Denton was just too good for the WHL this season.

If that wasn't enough, after heading to Cleveland, he quickly established himself in a key role for the Monsters in their run through the AHL playoffs. Mateychuk is a one-man breakout, able to turn and pivot with the puck on his stick, finding his way out of pressure and up the ice. He skates and dishes out passes at an elite level; and has a knack for joining the rush in key moments. I think he's going to be a 15 year NHL player, who will put up a lot of points in this league.

1. (NR) C Cayden Lindstrom 6'3", 215 pounds. 1st round (#4 overall), 2024 NHL Draft. Projection: top line center. Stats: 27g-19a-46pts, 32gp for Medicine Hat (WHL). Will return to the Tigers next season. How we ranked him: Curtis (1) Matt (1) Mike (1)

Why we ranked him here: In a system loaded with talent, Cayden Lindstrom has the most upside of anyone not currently in the NHL. He was our unanimous #1 prospect. At 6'3" and already with an NHL frame, he averaged nearly a goal per game in the WHL as a draft eligible player this season; and he can do it all.

He's a high end skater with a high end shot. He can pass, he plays physical, will drop the gloves, and he already plays like a strong two-way center. If he were the centerpiece of our rebuild, I think we would be in great shape. It's almost absurd that we have both Lindstrom and Adam Fantilli. In very short time, the top two centers for the Blue Jackets will be the envy of nearly every other team in the league.

The only concern with him is the back injury he suffered this season. If there are any long-term effects, there is a non-zero chance that this was a wasted pick. But, if Lindstrom pans out, the Blue Jackets are going to be a matchup nightmare down the middle. This is a guy who has drawn comparisons to Eric Lindros at the same age, and I don't think that's hyperbolic. If he had been healthy all year, I think he would have challenged for the first overall selection at the draft.

Another dismal season on the ice has helped the Blue Jackets load up with several more high end prospects - including one of the best players they've had a chance to draft. I think every player inside the top-10 of this list has a bright NHL future in some capacity.

That's not something I can ever recall saying about this organization. We're all tired of the word patience, but in this case, our patience might eventually pay off. If even half of these guys develop into their top end, the Blue Jackets are going to be an elite team in a few years.

Jarmo Kekalainen did a tremendous job finding talent throughout the draft, something the scouting staff continued to do at this year's edition. Now, it's up to Don Waddell to lead the charge and round out the development side of things. Fingers crossed that it works in our favor this time.