While we have been hoping for a roster altering trade involving the Blue Jackets and their #14 overall pick, it has not come to fruition just yet. Today, we'll take a look at who might be on the radar, in the event that they can't get a deal done.
When you're picking this far down in the order, it goes without saying that you usually end up selecting the best player that falls into your lap. That will be the case with this pick tomorrow night, whether it's used by the Don Waddell or someone else.
However, it also goes without saying that GMs have a preferred archetype. In Waddell's case, he prefers bigger bodies. In two drafts as the GM of the Blue Jackets, he's picked 12 players. All but two of them have been 6'1" or taller-and seven have been 6'3" or taller.
Two of those picks under 6'3" have been goaltenders, so I think the house money would go on the Jackets drafting a bigger bodied player at #14 overall. Here are the four names we are seeing the most in this range.
C Tynan Lawrence (6'1", 185 pounds), Boston University (NCAA)
Tynan Lawrence is touted as a competitive two-way center that can skate really well. All of that screams Don Waddell, who has clearly targeted guys like this at the NHL level over the last couple of seasons. Bonus points: he's an NCAA player, another trait the Jackets love lately.
He competes hard without the puck, and has the skill to generate offense when he has it on his stick. But, I don't see him as a play driving center that puts up a ton of points (he scored 2 goals and 7 points in 18 games as a freshman for BU). His upside is probably that of a middle six center, ultimately not unlike Charlie Coyle or Sean Monahan. Maybe with a touch less offense.
He may be the third best center in the entire draft. Centers are hard to come by, so it's likely that Lawrence will be picked well before the Blue Jackets come to the stage. But, if he falls into their laps here, I don't see them letting him fall any further.
LW Ethan Belchetz (6'5", 229 pounds), Windsor (OHL)
Ethan Belchetz is one of the largest players available in this draft class. He would fill a big hole in the CBJ system, likely immediately becoming the top prospect on the wing if he's selected here.
The Blue Jackets have some good center prospects, and a handful of defensemen coming through the ranks. Waddell has also addressed the team's dearth of goaltending prospects. In fact at this point, goaltending seems like the brightest position in the organization.
But, you need guys that can play on the wing as well. Belchetz is everything you would want. He's big, physical, plays a straight line game, and can score. He'll be headed to Michigan State in the fall, so he ticks that "NCAA" box also. This year, he scored 34 goals and 59 points in 57 OHL games.
The only drawbacks here: he is not the best skater in the world, and he suffered a season-ending broken clavicle in March. I'm not concerned about the injury long-term, but what we have learned from Waddell is, they only want guys who can skate. I'm not sure Belchetz is as high on their list as some people might assume him to be.
D Malte Gustafsson (6'4", 203 pounds), HV71 (SHL)
Of the players I have seen rumored to the Blue Jackets in this spot, Malte Gustafsson is, in my opinion, the one guy they would love to get their hands on. He has the requisite size and skating that the team has looked to add over the last couple of drafts.
On top of that, he's a refined defenseman that is very effective in his gap control, allowing him to play a stout defensive game. He's able to use that skating and gap control, combined with his long reach; to make things really difficult on the opposition whether that's off of the rush, or in his own end.
I also think people are sleeping on his offensive upside. His numbers in the SHL do not jump off the page at you, but that is a league where scoring is low, historically. Against his peers, he has more than held his own and put up good numbers.
By the time it's all said and done, I think we will look back and wonder how so many teams passed on this guy in this draft. I think he has sneaky good upside. Fingers crossed, if the Jackets do make this pick, this guy is still on the board.
LW Oscar Hemming (6'4", 198 pounds), Boston College (NCAA)
Like Belchetz above, Oscar Hemming would enter the Blue Jackets system as likely the top prospect on the wing. He's another big guy who plays a heavy, physical game. But, I think Hemming is a better shooter, and that might help him project as more of a goal scorer in the NHL at some point down the road.
There are similar knocks here, unfortunately. Hemming isn't a great skater at this point, with a sluggish first step that can often leave him behind the play. And, he was unable to play much this season due to a dispute surrounding who actually held his playing rights.
So, he lost a significant chunk of development time. He didn't join Boston College until just after Christmas. He did make a relatively smooth adjustment for such a young player however, scoring 1 goal and 8 points in 19 games. I don't think we would be disappointed if he fell to #14 in this draft. There is a lot of upside here.
Whatever happens for this franchise over the next 48 hours, is going to be fascinating. The heat is on to make a big splash, but if they cannot do so, at least we will have the draft to look forward to.
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