Luca Del Bel Belluz – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Columbus Blue Jackets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 22: Penn State Nittany Lions defensemen Jackson Smith (7) motions to the Minnesota student section after scoring the go-ahead goal on the power play during the third period of a college hockey game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Penn State Nittany Lions on November 22, 2025, at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Last Year - 19th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Rick Bowness Hired: January 2025

Despite missing the playoffs, the Columbus Blue Jackets are beginning to show signs of progress. A growing group of young NHL contributors has started to hit its stride, with players such as Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko emerging as key offensive drivers. Meanwhile, Kent Johnson, Denton Mateychuk, Cole Sillinger, Luca Pinneli (188th) and Luca Del Bel Belluz (94th) continue to develop into important complementary pieces of the roster. Slowly but surely, Columbus is assembling a more competitive and well-rounded lineup. The organization also signalled its intent to accelerate that progress during the 2025–26 season, acquiring veteran forwards Mason Marchment and Conor Garland. Those additions suggest the Blue Jackets are ready to move beyond the rebuilding phase and begin pushing toward meaningful contention.

Behind the NHL roster, the prospect system continues to develop across multiple leagues. A significant portion of the organization’s high-end talent is currently playing in the NCAA, with several top prospects gaining valuable collegiate experience. Defenseman Jackson Smith, ranked 30th in McKeen’s prospect rankings, has enjoyed an impressive freshman season at Penn State and currently sits among the top-producing defenders in the NCAA. Forward Cayden Lindstrom (52nd), meanwhile, is healthy and progressing through his freshman campaign after injury concerns. William Whitelaw has emerged as a breakout performer at Western Michigan, producing at nearly a point-per-game pace. In Russia, the Blue Jackets also have promising depth in goal. Sergei Ivanov, 21, has spent most of his time at the KHL level, posting an impressive .928 save percentage with three shutouts. Meanwhile, 2025 first-round selection Pyotr Andreyanov (75th) has split his season between the VHL and MHL, with most of his success coming at the junior level.

Another encouraging sign for Columbus is its intact draft capital. The organization has managed to maintain selections in every round of the 2026 NHL Draft, providing additional opportunities to strengthen the system. Regardless of how the current season ultimately unfolds, the Blue Jackets appear to be trending in a positive direction both at the NHL level and throughout their prospect pipeline.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
CBJ	1	Jackson Smith	D	19	6-4/200	Penn State (NCAA)	35	11	15	26	40
CBJ	2	Cayden Lindstrom	C	20	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	31	3	7	10	94
CBJ	3	Pyotr Andreyanov	G	19	6-0/205	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	26	13	8	2.59	0.919
CBJ	4	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	22	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	55	22	36	58	2
CBJ	4	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	22	6-1/185	Columbus (NHL)	14	0	1	1	4
CBJ	5	Luca Marrelli	D	20	6-2/185	Cleveland (AHL)	32	4	12	16	10
CBJ	6	Luca Pinelli	C	21	5-9/165	Cleveland (AHL)	68	14	32	46	66
CBJ	6	Luca Pinelli	C	21	5-9/165	Columbus (NHL)	3	0	0	0	0
CBJ	7	Jordan Dumais	RW	22	5-8/165	Cleveland (AHL)	46	7	11	18	8
CBJ	8	William Whitelaw	RW	21	5-9/173	Western Michigan (NCAA)	39	19	15	34	51
CBJ	9	Sergei Ivanov	G	22	5-11/165	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	29	13	11	2.50	0.928
CBJ	10	Evan Gardner	G	20	6-0/175	Saskatoon (WHL)	52	25	16	2.96	0.902
CBJ	11	Charlie Elick	D	20	6-4/200	Tri-City (WHL)	63	6	14	20	46
CBJ	11	Charlie Elick	D	20	6-4/200	Cleveland (AHL)	2	0	1	1	0
CBJ	12	Guillaume Richard	D	23	6-2/180	Cleveland (AHL)	70	7	11	18	20
CBJ	13	Oiva Keskinen	C	22	6-0/180	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	49	20	17	37	14
CBJ	14	Jack Williams	RW	24	5-11/185	Cleveland (AHL)	72	15	23	38	14
CBJ	14	Jack Williams	RW	24	5-11/185	Notre Dame (NCAA)	2	0	0	0	0
CBJ	15	Corson Ceulemans	D	23	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	64	8	16	24	43

Jackson Smith, D, Penn State University (NCAA)

The standout Penn State defenseman joined the team this year after being selected fourteenth overall by the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2025. Smith brings not only a decent size to the blue line, standing at 6’4”, but also some high end skating combined with great stickhandling skills and creativity. It showed in his point production, where he finished the NCAA season with 26 points in 35 games, tops among defenseman on the team. The freshman did not look out of place playing collegiate hockey and transitioned easily into his role as an offensive threat for the Nittany Lions. The one aspect of Smith’s game that stands out right away is his elite skating for his size. From his separation speed, to his four-way mobility and easy transitions, it is no wonder he was highly sought after during the NHL draft. You combine that with his puck control skills and high end shot, Smith will always be a high-end offensive threat every time he steps on the ice. And the defensive part of his game has also been evolving, making him a dual threat from the backend. The Blue Jackets will be very happy once Smith joins the club full time down the road.
Cayden Lindstrom, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

After missing a good amount of time during the past two seasons owing to injury, Lindstrom finally made his hockey debut for the Spartans this year and took a little time to get the cobwebs loose and adjust to the speed of college hockey. He responded with a decent freshman outing, putting up 10 points in 31 games. Now the numbers don’t tell the full story, as Lindstrom plays a power forward style game and he is best suited for those battles along the boards and in front of the net. He seemed to embrace his role for Michigan State and helped them become one of the best, if not the best, team in the NCAA. Lindstrom provides some added toughness and grit to the Blue Jackets pipeline and will most likely wreak havoc to opposing teams once he makes the jump to the big club. There may still be some time spent in the NCAA for him to develop and return to top form, but the reward will be worth the wait. The big power forward will also need to get his offensive mojo back if he wants to make an impact at the NHL level. His struggles on the scoresheet this season are hopefully just a one-off and expect him to increase on those totals next year. Columbus is surely hoping Lindstrom can develop into a reliable NHL power forward for their team at some point.
Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Zvezda Moscow (VHL)

Andreyanov has taken a slight step back this season after his outstanding campaign last year. He started the year in the VHL, but his subpar play got him demoted back to the MHL, where his GAA has taken a significant hit. He is still the uber athletic, explosive and dexterous goalie that Columbus picked at 20 last draft, making difficult plays look easy and producing highlight reel saves when necessary. His ability to anticipate play and track pucks through traffic is excellent as well, adding to his impressive toolkit. The weaknesses in his game come from poor angles when he is forced to move laterally across his crease. He leaves the short side open and has had issues with stopping low glove shots in those situations. He is also slightly on the heavier side. If he can shed some weight while adding muscle, the athleticism could be otherworldly as he is already very gifted. Some slight tweaks to his positioning and techniques could turn him into a star, and he has plenty of time in an excellent goalie developmental system with Krasnaya to get him there.
Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

For Del Bel Belluz, it’s all about finding a way to breakthrough offensively at the NHL level. He has proven that he can be an impact offensive player at the AHL level with Cleveland. However, that same consistency has not yet carried over to the NHL level. He had a strong cup of coffee last year with the Jackets, but this year’s run was significantly less effective. As he inches closer to the end of his waiver exemption, he will need to prove to Columbus that he can be a top nine player for them. The skill and touch are there. Del Bel Belluz is a skilled play creator who protects the puck well and operates with a quick strike mentality. However, he needs to find a way to discover more success playing through the middle and in higher traffic areas at the NHL level to take that next step. The Jackets have three key top nine forwards entering this offseason as UFA’s and that could create room for LDBB to finally breakthrough next year. He still has terrific upside to be an offensive contributor, even if some tweener concerns are creeping in.
Luca Marrelli, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Offseason shoulder surgery delayed Marelli’s pro debut until only recently, but the former Oshawa General standout has been quick to make an impact with the Cleveland Monsters.
Marrelli’s best asset is unquestionably his brain; he’s an extremely intelligent defender. Marrelli rarely turns the puck over and is calm under pressure, making him a high-end facilitator and powerplay quarterback. He’s not a physical player, but he is effective in the defensive end too, because of his good four-way mobility and defensive instincts. While the Jackets will likely take his development slow the rest of the season given his injury recovery, he has the potential to move quickly through the organization and into a main club role. It’s not inconceivable to see him up with the Jackets full time next year in a third pairing role. He projects as a serviceable two-way second pairing type who can operate as a Swiss Army knife, plying his trade on both special team’s units.
Luca Pinelli, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Given his lack of size and elite physical tools, there was some concern over the translatability of Pinelli’s skill set to the pro game. He had improved over four years with the Ottawa 67’s, but concerns lingered. However, his first pro season has been solid so far, with Pinelli even earning a cup of coffee with the Jackets as an injury fill in. He’s such a competitive player; he never stops moving his feet and he’s always in attack mode. That gives him an advantage and allows him to overcome a lack of size/speed. Pinelli is also a skilled playmaker who protects the puck well through traffic despite his smaller stature. Not likely to become a premier offensive player at the NHL level, Pinelli should be able to carve out a long career playing through the middle of a lineup. Given the aforementioned Jackets’ forwards who are UFA’s, Pinelli might have the opportunity to secure a bottom six spot next season with a good offseason and training camp. Danton Heinen’s replacement perhaps?
Jordan Dumais, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Injuries have not been kind to Dumais the last few seasons. The former QMJHL scoring star had struggled to stay on the ice for the last few years, missing time due to hernia surgery, upper body injuries, and hip issues. However, he’s been healthy this year and that’s the main positive as he tries to find his footing at the pro level. The Blue Jackets are going to have to be patient with his development given all the time missed. So, while his production this year with the Monsters has been somewhat disappointing, it’s important to remember the context. An extremely skilled and intelligent offensive player, Dumais’ ceiling is extremely high. However, his lack of size and dynamic skating ability has always brought forward questions regarding the probability of his NHL success. It’s still too early to come to any concrete conclusions; Dumais remains a high upside player. Next season will be the big one for him as he will need to prove that he can be an offensive leader at the AHL level first.
William Whitelaw, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

The 33rd overall selection of the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL draft, joined Western Michigan after two seasons in the NCAA on different teams, and his involvement with the reigning collegiate champs has been nothing but remarkable. Whitelaw popped off offensively this year, posting an impressive 34 points in 39 games, good enough for third on the team in scoring. His ability to help out on the scoresheet is a testament to his development and WMU’s trust in his overall game. The third-year player has elite speed and can easily navigate through the toughest tight areas, owing to his high level four-way mobility and balance. Whitelaw also possesses some great scoring skills and racked up 19 goals for the Broncos, which was second best on the team. He is a gritty player for his size, listed at 5-foot-9 and not afraid to battle down low or along the wall. The question is, will all of these attributes translate into an NHL career? Only time will tell, but Whitelaw’s development curve so far has been positive, and he could one day push for a Blue Jackets roster spot.
Sergei Ivanov, G, St. Petersburg (KHL)

Ivanov has had an up and down career in the Russian pro leagues. After loans to Sochi and Vladivostok, he has returned to St.Petersburg and is playing well. He is on pace to have his best record and the GAA and SV% has come back to par. He makes up for his smaller size with high-end athleticism and quick lateral mobility. Strong going post to post and covers the bottom of his net well by utilizing the butterfly and his ability to adjust in tight. He is still struggling to fight through screens and has a tendency to lose pucks in scrums, scrambling to follow the play. His ability to read the game is inconsistent but his aggressive nature and strong pushoffs help make up for his poor positioning. There is a tendency to overcommit though, skating himself out of his crease and leaving backdoor passes or rebounds wide open. There is a strong base here and a move to North America to work on his technical play and tightening up his positioning could see him making the NHL one day.
Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

By this point it's fair to say that things haven't quite gone as expected for Gardner or the Blue Jackets since the goaltender was selected by Columbus 60th overall in 2024. The Blades were a stalwart defensive club that season and that might have painted a misleading picture of their then-rookie netminder, particularly through his sky-high save percentage, which has been free-falling ever since. His performances in the playoffs have also lagged behind his regular season results, which is another bad sign. There aren't any specific or serious concerns about his game, necessarily. He's about as balanced and well-rounded as goalies his age come. But rather, the problem is that nothing about him truly stands out. His technique, reflexes, puck tracking, rebound control and mental acuity are all more good than they are great, and that's not an ideal makeup for a goalie who doesn't have an abundance of natural size to fall back on. Gardner has already signed his entry-level contract, so Columbus will try to develop him as much as possible in the coming years.
Charlie Elick, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

At this point, you have to operate under the assumption that the offensive game will never really be a strength. However, his size, mobility, and physicality do make him a potentially elite shutdown defender, which is why he was an early second round selection.
Guillaume Richard, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Richard is a lot like Elick, but perhaps with a little less upside because his physical tools are not as elite. He’s already proven to be a strong defensive presence in the AHL as a rookie and he is tracking towards being a quality third pairing type for the Jackets.
Oiva Keskinen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Keskinen is looking like a solid pick by the Jackets when they took him as an overager late in 2023. He’s improved every year in Liiga and has emerged as one of the top young forwards in Finland.
Jack Williams, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

The former Northeastern star was signed as a free agent by the Jackets last year and his first year in the AHL has been largely solid. He’s been one of the Monsters’ top offensive performers and has been solid away from the puck too.
Corson Ceulemans, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Columbus has been very patient with their 2021 first round pick out of the AJHL. Since leaving Wisconsin Ceulemans has struggled to be a fairly impactful defender at the pro level, but he’s having his best season to date at both ends, providing some hope that he can at least be a solid depth defender in the near future.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 19:01:34 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (May 2025 - 13th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Dean Evason Hired: July 2024

Another year, another missed postseason for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although, 2024-25 carried a spark of optimism. The team battled until the final day despite falling just short of a playoff spot, buoyed by breakout seasons from a few young stars.

Kirill Marchenko nearly doubled his career high with 74 points, Kent Johnson (22) closed in on 60, and 2023 third-overall pick Adam Fantilli hit the 50-point plateau in his sophomore campaign. Together, they form the core of a group aiming to shift the fortunes of a franchise that has reached the playoffs just six times in 24 years.

On the back end, Denton Mateychuk split time between the NHL and AHL, averaging 18 minutes per game in Columbus and cementing his reputation as a poised two-way defender and power-play distributor. In the AHL, forwards Luca Del Bel Belluz, Jordan Dumais, and Owen Sillinger each flashed offensive upside, while defensemen Stanislav Svozil and Corson Ceulemans continued to develop in Cleveland, positioning themselves as future contributors on the Blue Jackets’ blue line.

Top prospect Cayden Lindstrom missed the entire 2024-25 season due to injury but will return next year at Michigan State and will be looking to reassert himself as one of the most promising young power forwards in the game.

Columbus moved on from Gavin Brindley but bolstered its future at the draft. With two picks in the first round, they selected defenseman Jackson Smith 14th overall and later addressed their long-term goaltending depth with Pyotr Andreyanov—though the Russian netminder is signed overseas for the foreseeable future.

After years of frustration, Columbus now boasts a loaded depth chart at both the NHL and AHL levels. If their emerging core continues to progress and the next wave arrives as expected, the Blue Jackets could soon move from hopeful to dangerous in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1 - Cayden Lindstrom

Lindstrom’s entire 2024-25 season was limited to just seven games, and those appearances never would have happened at all if his Medicine Hat Tigers team wouldn’t have gotten all the way to the WHL finals, won the league championship, then played for the Memorial Cup. This is due to him receiving back surgery in November that was meant to address a nagging issue that had been lingering since the prior season. And yet, if you were to candidly ask the Blue Jackets if they would choose to go a different direction with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft if given the opportunity, they would likely still decline. That's because Lindstrom truly is that exciting of a hockey player and still maintains such an enticing long-term ceiling that he is well worth the wait and the slower development path. He's a huge center with menacing physicality, explosive skating ability, sublime puck skill and infectious determination, which is a blend of traits that is highly rare and highly valuable. If everything goes right for him then the sky's the limit.

2 - Jackson Smith

The young and rebuilding Blue Jackets went into the 2025 draft with a clear need for another blue-chip defender in their system, especially after their relationship with former sixth overall pick David Jiricek went south, and he was dealt to Minnesota. Knowing that, they must have been pretty thrilled when Smith was still available for them at 1fourth, because he has a realistic chance of becoming one of the true superstars to come out of this year's class. What makes him such a special prospect is his tremendous upside on both the offensive and defensive sides of the puck, thanks to his explosive skating ability, finely tuned athleticism, energetic demeanor, and his proficiency handling the puck at breakneck speeds. It still remains to be seen, though, just how much of that raw potential Smith will be able to convert into actual results, which has been the knock on him for a while now and surely would have been the reason why Columbus got him where they did.

3 - Luca Del Bel Belluz

Luca Del Bel Belluz has been a huge success story this past year and looks like he’ll compete for a lengthy stint in the NHL this year. In 2024-25, he tore up the AHL, building on his success from the previous season, and carried that production into his call-up with Columbus. After that trial run, Del Bel Belluz returned to the AHL, where his scoring pace dipped in February due to a team-wide slump. Del Bel Belluz generates dangerous chances thanks to his smart timing and off-puck positioning. He always seems to find open ice, readjusting in the zone and using his slick release to beat goalies. While he’s not going to be a play driver and still lacks high-end pace, he projects as a complementary scorer who can bring skill and finishing in a depth role. Del Bel Belluz looks well on his way to becoming a useful piece in Columbus’s bottom six should he continue on his current trajectory.

4 - Pyotr Andreyanov

Andreyanov is one of the most athletic, quickest, and best-skating goalies drafted in the past 5 years, akin to Shesterkin. He plays at a very high intensity, never giving up on a play, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make a save. His stance can be very compact, and his hands are weaker, which can be harmful for an NHL projection. However, his cognition sets him apart. Andreyanov reads the play well, showing a high level of anticipation and predicting play at high speeds and chaos. Combine that with his level of athleticism and skating, and there is a serious potential starting goalie in the making. The area he will have to work on, like most hyper athletic undersized goalies, is his poise. Shesterkin didn’t win a Vezina on raw talent alone. His control, precision, and calmness are what got him there. Andreyanov is a chaotic goalie; he will require refinement to reach his potential, but with Shesterkin as a comparison, it makes sense why he was the 20th overall pick.

5 - Luca Marrelli

Intelligence is the name of the game here. Marrelli is one of the OHL’s smartest defenders. He’s rarely out of position defensively. He rarely turns the puck over. He consistently makes smart plays and stabilizes the offensive attack when he’s on the ice. Best of all for Columbus, he does this from the right side. As a power play quarterback, he walks the line well and gets pucks on net, although a significant amount of his offensive production this year has come at even strength. Marrelli’s upside may not be significant; we’re not likely talking about a future first pairing defender. However, the consistency and efficiency of his game should play well at the pro level as long as he continues to improve his physical intensity. He’ll turn pro next year and should work his way up the lineup over a few years before being ready for a role with the Jackets.

6 - Jet Greaves

Jet Greaves is a technical goalie who has had early success at the NHL level. He is a great skater who uses short, efficient routes through the crease and positions himself perfectly. He manages his depth well, balancing aggression and reservation. He’s very controlled in his movement, keeping the same stance, never moving his upper body or throwing his hands around, he is all about stability and precision. This isn’t to say he lacks athleticism. Greaves is adept at exploding laterally and stretching out to make a big backdoor save when needed to. Where he falls short is his tracking. His hands often get beat anywhere above the pad, and he can be seen failing to track the shot into his hands, and sometimes just moving the hand to the wrong location. It’s especially seen when a high shot comes after Greaves moves laterally. One shouldn’t expect him to put up the same NHL numbers in a prolonged season, but he’s still capable of being an effective goalie with enough high-level tools that could propel him to a bigger role.

7 - Jordan Dumais

Once again, Jordan Dumais missed a significant portion of the season, returning from a lingering lower-body injury on January 31st. Dumais has now appeared in just 39 league games over the past two seasons, but he jumped back into action with four points in his first four games before falling victim to Cleveland’s offensive struggles in February. Throughout his junior career, Dumais has faced criticism for his lack of size, speed, and strength, but he’s consistently proven doubters wrong by producing points wherever he plays. The skills and hockey sense are clearly there. The million-dollar question now is: where does he fit in an NHL lineup? And if it’s not in the top six, can he adapt his game to meet the needs of the Blue Jackets? This season will no doubt be a “prove it” year where Dumais must remain in the lineup and produce. Columbus is in dire need of depth scoring, and Dumais must seize the opportunity.

8 - Luca Pinelli

The Ottawa 67’s did not make the playoffs this past year for the first time in over a decade, so as you might expect, many of their players had down years, including Pinelli. A workhorse in all three zones, Pinelli’s compete level can never be questioned. He may not be big, but he is consistently successful in his pursuit of the puck, and he executes well in the middle of the ice and near the crease by outthinking and outworking bigger defenders at the junior level. He certainly has a measure of skill too, in particular a quick and powerful wrister. The big question mark is whether he can continue to find success as an offensive player at the pro level, despite not being the quickest or the biggest. Additionally, if that’s not the case, does he fit the profile of the kind of player Columbus would want to play a fourth line, penalty killing kind of role? Pinelli will turn pro next year and there could be some growing pains in his first season, but his work rate should endear him to his coaches.

9 - Guillaume Richard

Guillaume Richard was a fourth-round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2021 and just finished a full four-season career in the NCAA with the Providence Friars. Richard was once a highly touted QMJHL prospect, a top 10 draft pick who ultimately decided to go the USHL - NCAA route instead of playing in the CHL. Richard is not going to be a difference maker offensively (his highest scoring NCAA season was three goals, 18 points) but could turn into a useful defensive defenceman. He uses plus skating and efficient stickwork to suffocate opponents in the defensive zone. He is decent on retrievals and can move the puck quickly but needs to clean up his decision making when he does decide to hold onto the puck. At times he can try to do too much with the puck on the rush, which ends up in turnovers with him out of position defensively. Richard will likely season his game in Cleveland with the Monsters for the next couple years.

10 - Charlie Elick

The past few seasons haven’t exactly been easy sledding for Elick, who started out in the WHL with an underachieving Brandon team before being traded to the similarly underachieving Tri-City Americans. And those sorts of situations can be extra difficult for prospects like him who are always asked to do a lot of heavy lifting, such as killing penalties, defending late leads, and matching up against the best opponents on other teams. The good news for Elick is that these trials and tribulations are presenting great opportunities for him to hone his craft, especially since he’s being used in ways that play to his strengths, and it’s not like the work ever gets any easier for players after they turn pro. Getting to spend time playing international hockey for Canada, and winning a couple of gold medals along the way, probably helps make things more palatable too. Elick has undeniable NHL upside as a stay-at-home shutdown defender, and there won’t be any deviation from that kind of role as he continues to develop.

11 - Stanislav Svozil

After a noticeable rookie season in the AHL, Svozil wasn’t really able to do anything but put in a repeat performance in 2024-25, even if it still saw him be the Monsters’ top overall defenceman aside from Denton Mateychuk. This said, there was progress in the areas of decision making with the puck, timing, and joining the attack. We also saw a considerable cutdown on turnovers over the latter half of the season. His NHL prospects are still uncertain.

12 - William Whitelaw

Will the third time be the charm for the undersized, yet sneaky talented Whitelaw? After almost identical freshman and sophomore seasons for Wisconsin and Michigan respectively, there’s no denying Whitelaw’s offensive upside and now Western Michigan looks to be the team ready to tickle the breakout out of him. Dynamic in transition, Whitelaw’s variable set of shot releases makes him a goal scoring threat that overshadows how well he can set up teammates.

13 - Evan Gardner

After a big 2023-24 season for Saskatoon of the WHL, including taking over between the pipes in the playoffs (10-1 record!), Gardner’s 2024-25 season for Saskatoon continued to display developmental positives although he couldn’t quite repeat his feats of the previous season. The starting job was his to lose and despite his team lacking the defensive wherewithal of the previous season, he ultimately finished top 10 in the WHL in wins, goals against average, and save percentage. He has signed his ELC.

14 - Corson Ceulemans

Getting long in the tooth as a prospect, Ceulemans is entering the final year of his ELC and we’re still waiting to see the promise he displayed in his heavily pandemic-shortened draft season. Last season began much like the previous growing-pain-filled season ended before upper body surgery in January ended his season prematurely. Even though Ceulemans has shown improvement in closing gaps and winning puck races, Columbus is busy narrowing down which blueline prospects it wants to plan with.

15 - Jack Williams

Columbus won the Williams sweepstakes, signing the college free agent to a two-year ELC last spring after the Massachusetts native completed his third straight season of offensive improvement. Despite his solid numbers and sometimes eyebrow-raising offensive flair, Williams has made himself noticeable as a feisty player who causes turnovers and wins puck battles before showing strong reads. The hard-working Williams will look to put his name on the pro map already this season.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #13 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:37:28 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 06: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk (5) passes the puck during first period National Hockey League action between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators on April 6, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

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Columbus 25 Prospects

2025 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects (Top 50 Free) – Biggest risers in 2024-25

Brock Otten — Tue, 13 May 2025 11:36:55 +0000

You will find at the bottom of this article a chart with the top 50 prospects in the NHL currently. Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have improved their stock the most this season. 25 Risers for 2025. Subscribers can access the top 200 prospects with links to the players page and full profiles here.

We are releasing our team rankings in descending order from the worst prospect pool to the best on our site over the next few weeks. Subscribers can read the full profiles and the team overview and learn about the future stars of your favourite team. If you would like to subscribe you can link here.

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 12: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Scott Morrow (56) looks to pass the puck during the NHL game between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes on April 12, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire)

Scott Morrow - Defense - Carolina Hurricanes

Previous Ranking: 65, New Ranking: 20

In his first full pro season after signing out of UMass, Morrow has been an immediate impact player. He was one of the top offensive defenders in the AHL and has since performed very well in a late season call up with the Hurricanes.

Tristan Luneau - Defense - Anaheim Ducks

Previous Ranking: 84, New Ranking: 32

The rich get richer. After missing most of last season due to injury, Luneau has returned with a vengeance this season. He’s been a two-way standout at the AHL level and should push for a full time roster spot in the very near future…even with Anaheim’s incredible U25 depth.

Liam Greentree - Wing - Los Angeles Kings

Previous Ranking: 87, New Ranking: 35

A late first round selection of the Kings last year, Greentree was one of the best players in the OHL this past season, helping the Windsor Spitfires go from worst to first. The power winger continues to improve his skating and looks the part of a future NHL standout.

Cole Hutson - Defense - Washington Capitals

Previous Ranking: 246, New Ranking: 44

Few affiliated prospects in the game improved their stock more than Cole Hutson this year. Look at the resume: One of the highest scoring defenders in the NCAA as a freshman, A WJC gold medal and a spot on the tournament all-star team, and a National Championship appearance with Boston University.

Owen Pickering - Defense - Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous Ranking: 131, New Ranking: 49

Sure, the Penguins prospect pool is hurting and that’s given Pickering a chance to perform at a high level with significant ice time as a rookie pro, but he’s handled it extremely well and looks the part of a longtime top four defender for Pittsburgh.

Sam Rinzel - Defense - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 125, New Ranking: 51

Rinzel has always been considered a long-term project, the Hawks knew this when they drafted him in the first round out of Minnesota High School hockey in 2022. But the pick is bearing fruit now. Rinzel was one of the top defenders in the NCAA this year and he looks near NHL ready.

Oliver Kapanen - Center - Montreal Canadiens

Previous Ranking: 142, New Ranking: 52

One of the biggest risers in our yearbook this past summer, thanks to a strong performance at the World Championships for Finland, Kapanen continues to rise. He nearly made the Canadiens full time this year and then was a near point per game player in the SHL. An intelligent two-way center, he looks like an NHL lock.

Luca Cagnoni - Defense - San Jose Sharks

Previous Ranking: 231, New Ranking: 60

We’re approaching the “sometimes you’re just wrong on a prospect” space with Cagnoni, a player that we’ve been skeptical about previously. But, he’s made the leap to the pro level just fine, with his offensive talent translating effortlessly.

Isaac Howard - Wing - Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous Ranking: 157, New Ranking: 61

The former first round selection exploded in his junior season with Michigan State and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker. Improvements to his strength and conditioning have done wonders for his play with the puck. The question is…will he sign with Tampa Bay?

Owen Beck - Center - Montreal Canadiens

Previous Ranking: 132, New Ranking: 65

You could probably make the argument that Beck has looked better as a first year pro in the AHL than he did over his three OHL seasons. His game just screams long time NHL standout thanks to his speed, tenacity, and IQ. But the skill has translated better than expected.

Dmitri Buchelnikov - Wing - Detroit Red Wings

Previous Ranking: 134, New Ranking: 66

Year to year improvement is the hallmark of a strong prospect and Buchelnikov has done just that. He was one of the top rookies in the KHL two years ago. This past year, he emerged as an offensive star. Next stop NHL? Detroit will have to wait because he still has contract time left with his KHL team.

Nick Lardis - Wing - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 152, New Ranking: 69

Putting a wrist injury behind him, Lardis exploded in his final junior season to be the first OHL player to score 70 goals since John Tavares. He was dominant in every fashion. Lardis is such a dangerous player because of the combination of his skating ability and shot. His progression this year has given him a more optimistic outlook as a top six contributor for the Hawks.

Igor Chernyshov - Wing - San Jose Sharks

Previous Ranking: 185, New Ranking: 72

Talk about meeting the hype of a long-awaited debut. When Chernyshov’s shoulder rehab finally finished and he suited up for the Saginaw Spirit (OHL), he immediately became one of the OHL’s elite players, leading the league in points per game this season.

Leevi Merilainen - Goaltender - Ottawa Senators

Previous Ranking: 196, New Ranking: 90

Merilainen has really turned things around after a couple disappointing post draft years. He’s improved every year as a pro and has been fantastic in limited starts for the Senators this season. Have the Senators finally found their netminder of the future?

Ilya Protas - Wing - Washington Capitals

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 91

One of two prospects to go from being unranked previously, to inside of our top 100. Protas was one of the best players in the OHL this season with Windsor. His skating does still need work, but everything else about his game is top notch. Protas is a highly intelligent player.

Colton Dach - Center - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 227, New Ranking: 96

Even if injuries continue to be an issue (a recent elbow injury has limited his NHL participation), he’s had a terrific season split between the AHL and the NHL. The big, power pivot is the ideal middle six pivot for the Hawks rebuild.

William Stromgren - Wing - Calgary Flames

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 99

The other prospect to climb from outside of the top 300 to inside the top 100, Stromgren is an elite skating winger whose offensive skill set has finally caught up to his feet. He’s been one of the best players in Calgary’s system this year and has put himself in contention for a roster spot next year.

Ilya Nabokov - Goaltender - Colorado Avalanche

Previous Ranking: 250, New Ranking: 102

Nabokov has proven this year that he’s no fluke, after coming out of nowhere to capture the KHL rookie of the year and KHL playoffs MVP awards last year. He’s been equally strong in Russia and Colorado may look to bring him into the fold sooner, rather than later.

Luca Del Bel Belluz - Center - Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous Ranking: 238, New Ranking: 103

A strong shooting and creative pivot with a center lane mentality, Del Bel Belluz had a terrific second pro season in the Jackets system. Not only was he a standout at the AHL level, but he’s produced offensively when called upon by the Blue Jackets.

Roman Kantserov - Wing - Chicago Blackhawks

Previous Ranking: 230, New Ranking: 104

An undersized, but highly skilled winger, Kantserov exploded offensively in the KHL this season, more than doubling his output from the previous year. He has another year on his KHL contract, but after that? He could be a big part of Chicago’s rebuild.

Elias Pettersson - Defense - Vancouver Canucks

Previous Ranking: 300, New Ranking: 106

Not every high-end defensive prospect needs to be a world beater offensively. Pettersson has climbed the prospect rankings thanks to his attention to detail at both ends and his outstanding upside as a defensive stalwart. He hasn’t looked out of place as an NHL player this season.

Mikhail Yegorov - Goaltender - New Jersey Devils

Previous Ranking: 253, New Ranking: 110

It’s no exaggeration to suggest that Yegorov may have saved Boston University’s season, after making the jump from the USHL at midseason. He shored up their shaky netminding, helping them reach the National Championship.

Alex Bump - Wing - Philadelphia Flyers

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 120

A breakout star in the NCAA with Western Michigan, Bump may just be one of the most underrated affiliated prospects in hockey. He’s a dynamic creator in transition and could be a real diamond in the rough for the Flyers.

Jesse Kiiskinen - Wing - Detroit Red Wings

Previous Ranking: Outside Top 300, New Ranking: 133

The Andrew Gibson for Kiiskinen swap between the Predators and Red Wings has worked out incredibly well in Detroit’s favor after Kiiskinen’s breakout season in Liiga, where he was a near point per game player as a U20.

Tarin Smith - Defense - Anaheim Ducks

Previous Ranking: 269, New Ranking: 144

Drafted in the third-round last year, Smith’s offensive upside was considered a major strength and he’s shown that this year, emerging as one of the WHL’s most dangerous scoring blueliners with Everett. As he continues to improve defensively, the sky is the limit.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	Acquired	TM - 2024-25 Stats	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Ivan Demidov	Mtl	RW	19	5-11/180	`24(5th)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	65	19	30	49	22
2	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	20	5-11/190	`23(8th)	Boston College (HE)	37	30	19	49	46
3	Sam Dickinson	SJ	D	18	6-3/205	`24(11th)	London (OHL)	55	29	62	91	39
4	Artyom Levshunov	Chi	D	19	6-2/205	`24(2nd)	Rockford (AHL)	52	5	17	22	59
5	Berkly Catton	Sea	C	19	5-10/175	`24(8th)	Spokane (WHL)	57	38	71	109	30
6	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	23	6-4/215	`20(69th)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	61	17	29	46	32
7	Yaroslav Askarov	SJ	G	22	6-3/175	T(Nsh-8/24)	San Jose (AHL)	22	11	9	2.45	0.923
8	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	20	5-11/170	`22(15th)	Abbotsford (AHL)	36	19	9	28	0
9	Beckett Sennecke	Ana	RW	19	6-2/175	`24(3rd)	Oshawa (OHL)	56	36	50	86	66
10	Zeev Buium	Min	D	19	6-0/185	`24(12th)	Denver (NCHC)	41	13	35	48	44
11	Zayne Parekh	Cgy	D	19	6-0/180	`24(9th)	Saginaw (OHL)	61	33	74	107	96
12	Anton Silayev	NJ	D	19	6-7/210	`24(10th)	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	63	2	10	12	37
13	Tij Iginla	Uta	C	18	6-0/190	`24(6th)	Kelowna (WHL)	21	14	18	32	13
14	Daniil But	Uta	LW	20	6-5/203	`23(12th)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	54	9	19	28	16
15	Axel Sandin-Pellikka	Det	D	20	5-11/180	`23(17th)	Skelleftea AIK (SHL)	46	12	17	29	22
16	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	21	6-1/175	`22(24th)	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	46	13	12	25	10
17	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	19	6-1/200	`23(10th)	Springfield (AHL)	61	21	24	45	22
18	Matthew Savoie	Edm	C	21	5-9/180	T(Buf-7/24)	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	19	35	54	28
19	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	21	6-0/180	`22(30th)	Manitoba (AHL)	61	7	28	35	28
20	Scott Morrow	Car	D	22	6-2/195	`21(40th)	Chicago (AHL)	52	13	26	39	47
21	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	19	5-10/165	`23(30th)	Chicago (AHL)	64	32	26	58	36
22	Dmitri Simashev	Uta	D	20	6-4/198	`23(6th)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	56	1	5	6	4
23	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	19	5-11/165	`23(23rd)	Boston College (HE)	37	16	32	48	25
24	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	`23(5th)	Laval (AHL)	10	2	3	5	10
25	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	21	6-1/200	`22(19th)	Iowa (AHL)	41	19	18	37	10
26	Carter Yakemchuk	Ott	D	19	6-3/200	`24(7th)	Calgary (WHL)	56	17	32	49	82
27	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	22	6-6/229	`21(15th)	Grand Rapids (AHL)	41	21	15	2.45	0.911
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	20	6-1/180	`23(11th)	Boston University (HE)	39	2	22	24	8
29	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	19	5-10/170	`23(28th)	London (OHL)	46	29	40	69	41
30	Calum Ritchie	NYI	C	20	6-2/185	T(Col-3/25)	Oshawa (OHL)	47	15	55	70	50
31	Cayden Lindstrom	CBJ	C	19	6-3/215	`24(4th)	Medicine Hat (WHL)	0	0	0	0	0
32	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	21	6-1/195	`22(53rd)	San Diego (AHL)	59	9	43	52	21
33	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	20	5-11/190	`22(12th)	Columbus (NHL)	45	4	9	13	20
34	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	20	6-1/215	`23(69th)	Boston College (HE)	35	25	7	1.63	0.940
35	Liam Greentree	LA	RW	19	6-3/215	`24(26th)	Windsor (OHL)	64	49	70	119	59
36	Michael Hage	Mtl	C	19	6-1/190	`24(21st)	Michigan (B1G)	33	13	21	34	23
37	Konsta Helenius	Buf	C	18	5-11/190	`24(14th)	Rochester (AHL)	65	14	21	35	28
38	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	20	6-2/185	`22(23rd)	Minnesota (B1G)	40	24	27	51	29
39	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	20	6-6/233	`22(18th)	Dallas (NHL)	38	4	5	9	41
40	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	19	6-2/200	`23(26th)	Sudbury (OHL)	33	30	29	59	14
41	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	21	6-0/190	`21(150th)	Laval (AHL)	47	20	15	35	10
42	Jett Luchanko	Phi	C	18	5-11/185	`24(13th)	Guelph (OHL)	46	21	35	56	46
43	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	21	5-9/165	`22(46th)	Utica (AHL)	30	3	15	18	8
44	Cole Hutson	Wsh	D	18	5-10/165	`24(43rd)	Boston University (HE)	39	14	34	48	64
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	22	6-3/215	`21(31st)	Laval (AHL)	63	12	21	33	74
46	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	22	6-3/215	`21(20th)	Iowa (AHL)	27	9	14	3.59	0.879
47	Cole Eiserman	NYI	LW	18	6-0/195	`24(20th)	Boston University (HE)	39	25	11	36	27
48	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	21	6-1/185	`22(20th)	Hershey (AHL)	53	23	19	42	28
49	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	21	6-4/180	`22(21st)	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	47	2	11	13	10
50	Nate Danielson	Det	C	20	6-2/185	`23(9th)	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	12	27	39	33

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – A look at the rookie race at mid-season – Favourable schedules and player to target

Ryan Dadoun — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:20:08 +0000

I haven’t spent any time talking about the rookie race this campaign. Macklin Celebrini did miss 12 games early on due to a lower-body injury, which mitigated the early attention he might have otherwise had, but he’s been healthy for a while and has looked fantastic, providing 13 goals and 28 points through 32 appearances.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

At this stage, though, the reason why I haven’t dipped into the Calder Trophy race is because there’s not a lot to chew on there. Celebrini does have direct competition with Matvei Michkov, but Michkov is just one point ahead of Celebrini despite having played in eight more outings, so barring a change in the second half of the campaign, Celebrini seems like the clear favorite between them. Beyond that, the main competitors are defenseman Lane Hutson, who has three goals and 31 points in 41 outings, and goaltender Dustin Wolf, who is 13-6-2 with a 2.60 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 21 starts.

Comparing Celebrini, Hutson and Wolf is mostly subjective because they bring completely different things, so while a judgment call can and will be made by the end of the season which of them -- or Michkov if he does surprise me -- should get the trophy, comparing them in an article setting feels like evaluating apples and oranges.

Still, we might be able to glean something by evaluating how each of them compares to previous rookies at this stage of their careers. For Celebrini, we’ll compare his start against other forwards, and Hutson will be evaluated against defensemen. I’ll simplify things a little by making the comparisons based on games played (in other words, Connor Bedard’s first 32 games played will be measured against the Sharks rookie) to factor out Celebrini’s injury.

In the case of Wolf, I’m not going to break it down because the odds of him winning the Calder Trophy seem slim. While I think he deserves to be in the conversation to become one of the finalists, the last goaltender to take the trophy was Steve Mason back in 2008-09, and he was unreal that campaign with a 33-20-7 record, 2.29 GAA and .916 save percentage along with 10 shutouts. To put that into the context of that campaign, Mason also finished second in Vezina Trophy voting and fourth in the Hart race. With all due respect to Wolf, he’s not doing anything that measures up to that -- at least, he hasn’t yet.

With that in mind, let’s look at Celebrini’s recent comparables:

Alex Ovechkin, 2005-06, 19-19-38

Connor McDavid, 2016-17, 13-21-34

Sidney Crosby, 2005-06, 13-19-32

Patrick Kane, 2007-08, 8-23-31

Connor Bedard, 2023-24, 12-17-29

Macklin Celebrini, 2024-25, 13-15-28

Auston Matthews, 2016-17, 16-9-25

Paul Stastny, 2006-07, 8-14-22

You can see that his pace is a step below that of Ovechkin, McDavid, Crosby and Kane (note that McDavid missed roughly half of his rookie season and consequently missed out on the Calder), but he’s doing about as well as Bedard did last year.

Matthews and Stastny are there to remind us that we need to take these numbers with a grain of salt. Matthews is an amazing goal scorer who began his career with a four-goal game, but he had an extended quiet period from Oct. 27-Nov. 22 (0-3-3 in 13 games) during his rookie campaign, which diminished his early returns. In the case of Stastny, he finished with 28 goals and 78 points in 82 appearances in his first campaign, but he got off to a slow start.

These are ultimately still small sample sizes, but it does at least show that Celebrini is off to a respectable start when measured against the biggest stars of the salary cap era.

Still, Hutson looks even better:

Cale Makar*, 2019-20, 11-26-37

Shayne Gostisbehere*, 2015-16, 12-22-34

Lane Hutson*, 2024-25, 3-28-31

Quinn Hughes*, 2019-20, 4-26-30

Moritz Seider, 2021-22, 3-23-26

Zach Werenski, 2016-17, 6-20-26

Luke Hughes*, 2023-24, 7-16-23

Tyler Myers, 2009-10, 3-19-22

Brock Faber*, 2023-24, 2-18-20

You’ll notice a number of defensemen on this list with asterisks, which indicates that I took the first 41 games of their Calder season, not their first 41 games overall. For example, I didn’t count Makar’s 10 playoff appearances before 2019-20 or Quinn Hughes’ five regular-season outings in 2018-19. Hutson’s two appearances in 2023-24 weren’t factored in either, not that it would have hurt him -- he finished last season with a pair of assists.

That aside, Hutson is off to a remarkable start compared to other defensemen of the salary cap era. Faber did well enough to finish second in Calder Trophy voting last campaign with 47 points, and Hutson is well ahead of him. Moritz Seider is the last blueliner to win the award, and Hutson is outpacing the Red Wings defenseman as well.

Hutson is behind Makar and Gostisbehere, but Makar logged just 57 games as a rookie, consequently finishing with 50 points, and Gostisbehere didn’t play a full campaign either, finishing with 46 points in 66 outings. Hutson is currently on a 62-point pace. That would surpass Nicklas Lidstrom’s 60 points in 1991-92 and be the most since Brian Leetch’s 71 points in 1988-89.

Again, it’s apples and oranges between Celebrini and Hutson, but if you’re just talking about who is on track to leave the bigger mark on history for a rookie in their position, then so far that’s clearly Hutson.

Columbus Blue Jackets (Tue vs PHI, Thu vs SJS, Sat @ NYR)

At this point, it seems very likely Buffalo’s playoff drought, which dates back to 2011, will continue, but another franchise’s bid to re-enter the postseason might be successful. The Blue Jackets are in the mix for a Wild Card spot with some favorable games ahead of them. They’ll play in home against Philadelphia and San Jose on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before visiting the Rangers on Saturday. At the time of writing, none of those three adversaries have a winning record.

The Blue Jackets are no strangers to injuries this campaign, but they are facing arguably their biggest challenge on that front with Sean Monahan on the injured reserve list due to a wrist issue. It’s not clear how long he’ll be out for, but he was placed on IR rather quickly after sustaining the injury Tuesday, which probably isn’t a great sign.

Before the injury, Monahan had 14 goals and 41 points through 41 appearances in 2024-25 while playing primarily on the Blue Jackets’ top line and first power-play unit. His loss will be felt, but if there is any silver lining at all, it’s that Columbus had a promising young forward waiting in the minors for his opportunity.

Luca Del Bel Belluz has excelled with AHL Cleveland in 2024-25, providing 17 goals and 37 points in 34 outings. The 21-year-old was summoned due to Monahan’s absence and was a standout performer in Thursday’s 6-2 victory over Seattle, collecting a goal and an assist in 11:16 of ice time. It’s reasonable to believe that his playing time will increase as he settles in, and he seems like a nice short-term grab to me -- short term because he might return to the minors once Monahan recovers.

Adam Fantilli is likely to be another player leaned on during Monahan’s absence. He logged 18:41, including 1:42 with the man advantage, Thursday and registered an assist to extend his scoring streak to four games. The 20-year-old’s nine goals and 20 points in 42 appearances in 2024-25 is nothing to write home about, but the 2023 No. 3 overall pick has tremendous upside that makes him worth keeping a very close eye on.

Dallas Stars (Tue @ TOR, Thu vs MTL, Sat @ COL, Sun vs DET)

Dallas has won its past six games, pushing its record to 26-13-1 in 2024-25. Although the Stars are having an incredible season, they’re still not in position to have the home-ice advantage in the first round because of the tough division they play in. Consequently, the Stars need every point they can get. They’ll try to stay strong in Toronto on Tuesday before hosting Montreal on Thursday. Dallas then has a back-to-back set over the weekend, playing in Colorado on Saturday and at home against Detroit on Sunday.

Jason Robertson’s resurgence has been a major part of the Stars’ winning streak. He was playing well below his potential early in the campaign, recording four goals and eight points across his opening 17 outings. Since then, he hasn’t been held off the scoresheet in consecutive games and has been especially effective recently, supplying three goals and 11 points over his past six outings. To put that into perspective, he leads all players in scoring from Dec. 29-Jan. 9 -- Zach Werenski and Mitch Marner are tied for second with nine points each.

Matt Duchene has also been on a roll. Although he’s having a strong campaign overall, Duchene had a slow stretch from Dec. 4-27 in which he was limited to a goal and an assist over 10 contests. He’s since rebounded with three goals and eight points across his past six outings.

The best part for Dallas is Duchene and Robertson typically play on separate lines, so this isn’t a case of one player’s hot streak simply feeding into the other’s, they’re both gelling at the same time independent of each other, which helps spread out the offense. That said, Duchene’s linemates Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn are looking good as well with eight and seven points, respectively, across Dallas’ past six games. Robertson’s linemates Evgenii Dadonov and Roope Hintz are also enjoying strong stretches with six and five points, respectively, over the same span.

The only downside is Logan Stankoven, who serves on the third line, hasn’t been doing much. He has the most offensive potential among the forwards outside of the top six, but the 21-year-old has been a mixed bag this campaign with four goals and 19 points in 38 outings, and that’s despite an amazing start of the season in which he had four goals and 14 points over his opening 15 games. He’s worth monitoring to see if he gets hot again, but he’s too streaky to be an everyday option in fantasy.

Florida Panthers (Mon @ PHI, Tue @NJD, Thu vs DET, Sat vs ANA)

The Panthers have a real shot of reaching the 100-point mark for the third time in four seasons -- and they played at a 100-point pace in the shortened 2021 campaign (37-14-5) -- but they’ve been going through something of a rough patch with a 3-4-0 record from Dec. 23-Jan. 8. Florida will attempt to correct course on the road against the Flyers on Monday and the Devils on Tuesday. The Panthers will then return home to host Detroit on Thursday and Anaheim on Saturday.

Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart typically drive Florida’s offense, but none of them have been especially noteworthy lately -- each of them has no more than one goal and three points across Florida’s past five outings. Instead, Jesper Boqvist has been the unlikely leader recently, collecting four goals and six points over that five-game span.

This won’t last -- the 26-year-old has never recorded more than 23 points in a single campaign -- but you can enjoy this while it lasts. If nothing else, the timing of it has taken a touch of pressure off the Panthers’ major forwards during one of their quieter stretches.

One forward who might be feeling the pressure regardless, though, is Sam Bennett. He was amazing at the start of the campaign, supplying 13 goals and 26 points across his opening 27 appearances, which made it look like he might earn a big payday in the final season of his four-year, $17.7 million contract. Some decline was likely inevitable, but rather than slow, he’s collapsed, recording just one assist over his past 13 outings.

If there is a silver lining, Bennett is still firing the puck at a decent rate, accounting for 25 shots in his past eight outings, and his role with the team alongside Tkachuk and Verhaeghe seems largely intact. It seems just a matter of time before he breaks out of his recent slump, but he probably won’t have another stretch like he did in the early portion of 2024-25.

Montreal Canadiens (Tue @ UTA, Thu @ DAL, Sat vs TOR, Sun vs NYR)

Montreal wasn’t terribly impressive early in the campaign, owning an 11-16-3 record through Dec. 14, but the Canadiens have gone on a 9-2-0 run since. That’s put them into the mix for a playoff spot going into next week’s action. Montreal will begin on the road with games in Utah on TuesdayJack Hughes, and Dallas on Thursday. The Canadiens will then host the Maple Leafs on Saturday and the Rangers on Sunday.

A key factor in Montreal’s recent success has been its offense. The Canadiens have averaged 3.82 goals per game across their past 11 contests, which is a huge spike from their 2.70 goals per game over their first 30 outings.

Interestingly, there’s very little overlap with Patrik Laine’s success after returning from a knee injury and Montreal’s run. He did have an incredible eight goals and nine points in nine outings, but that was from Dec. 3-21, so mostly before Montreal took off. He then had no goals and an assist in four appearances from Dec. 23-31 and has missed the Canadiens’ last four outings due to an illness. You could absolutely make an argument that his hot return helped get the ball rolling, but he’s not what’s sustained it.

Cole Caufield has been an offensive leader over that stretch with six goals and 13 points through 11 outings, but that’s nothing new for him -- he has 23 goals and 40 points in 41 games overall -- so while he’s an important part of the Canadiens’ offense, he’s not what changed. The same goes for Nick Suzuki, who has two goals and 12 points across his past 11 appearances, giving him 13 goals and 42 points in 2024-25.

If you want the secret sauce, it’s been depth players stepping up. Joel Armia, Juraj Slafkovsky, Emil Heineman and Jake Evans have each had 15 points or fewer over Montreal’s first 30 outings, but those four have each collected seven or more points over the past 11 games.

Meanwhile, we’ve seen some promise from Jakub Dobes. He’s made three starts so far and is 3-0-0 with a GAA and a save percentage of 0.97 and .959, respectively. Granted, that’s a small sample size, but those matches were against Florida, Colorado and Washington -- all on the road -- so the Canadiens have given him tough competition, and he’s risen to the occasion.

Sam Montembeault has been largely hit-and-miss this campaign, including from Dec. 17 onward. He does have a 6-2-0 record over that stretch, but he also has a 2.78 GAA and an .890 save percentage. With that in mind, there’s a chance Dobes could see his workload begin to increase.

New Jersey Devils (Tue vs FLA, Thu @ TOR, Sat vs PHI, Sun vs OTT)

The Devils recent mediocre play has been due to a cold spell offensively. New Jersey has been strong overall, ranking 11th in goals per game with 3.16 goals per game, but the Devils have averaged just 2 goals per game across their past seven outings.

Forwards Jack Hughes (two goals, six points), Jesper Bratt (one goal, five points) and Ondrej Palat (three goals, four points), as well as defenseman Dougie Hamilton (five assists), are the only players who have made notable contributions on offense during that seven-game stretch. Timo Meier (one goal, two points) and especially Nico Hischier (one goal, two points) stand out as having been unusually cold in that span.

It's just a matter of time before the Devils start scoring again, though, so I wouldn’t be overly worried. It’s also worth remembering that six of New Jersey’s past seven outings have been on the road, so perhaps that worked against the Devils.

For his part, Markstrom hasn’t been amazing recently, but he also hasn’t been the issue. He’s limited the competition to two or three goals in each of his past five starts, which would be good enough under normal circumstances. He’s also still putting up strong numbers overall with a 21-8-3 record, 2.19 GAA and .911 save percentage across his past 32 appearances.

So, if you have New Jersey players on your team, my recommendation would be to hold firm and anticipate better times ahead.

Ottawa Senators (Tue @ NYI, Thu vs WAS, Sat vs BOS, Sun @ NJD)

Ottawa is going through a four-game schedule in the week of Jan. 6-12, and it has another full slate ahead. The Senators will begin next week with a road matchup against the Islanders before hosting Washington and Boston on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Senators will then conclude the week in New Jersey on Sunday. With those final two games, the Senators will have played in five back-to-back sets, totaling 10 matches, in the span of 12 contests.

Ottawa has suffered four straight defeats to start January and is 1-5-1 across its past seven outings. With Montreal and Detroit both trending in the right direction, the Senators are in danger of slipping to seventh in the Atlantic Division and seeing their playoff chances fade further.

Brady Tkachuk, who is 25 and in his seventh NHL campaign without making his postseason debut, is doing his best to keep the Senators afloat, recording two goals, five points, 21 PIM and 20 hits over that seven-game span. He’s been Ottawa’s top offensive power during that stretch, but the other forwards the Senators typically rely on for offense -- Claude Giroux, Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson -- have each recorded two or fewer points over that stretch.

Though, perhaps it’s inaccurate to say that the Senators are relying on Giroux for offense, or at least they shouldn’t be at this point. Giroux was still a strong top-line scoring threat when he joined the Senators in 2022, but he seems to have declined substantially at the age of 36, supplying nine goals and 24 points through 40 appearances this campaign. Clearly, he still has something to offer, but those are numbers that would be more in line with a third line forward on a strong team.

Perhaps there’s a strong team out there that would want him in such a role. Giroux is in the final campaign of his three-year, $19.5 million contract, and if the Senators don’t rebuild soon, it would make sense for them to shop the veteran forward. He does have a no-movement clause, so Giroux has complete control over that situation, but his career is winding down, and he hasn’t won the Cup yet, so if presented with the opportunity to play for a serious contender, he’d likely take it.

He'd easily be the Senators’ biggest trade chip if it came to that. Travis Hamonic would also likely have appeal as a third-pairing blueliner, while Nick Cousins and Adam Gaudette might be grabbed to provide playoff-bound teams with forward depth, but if you’re a Senators fan and the team doesn’t turn things around soon, then Giroux rumors are the ones you’ll want to pay attention to.

Philadelphia Flyers (Mon vs FLA, Tue @ CBJ, Thu @ NYI, Sat @ NJD)

The Flyers endured a tough road stretch from Dec. 23-Jan. 5 in which they went 2-3-1. They’re back at home now, but rather than reverse the trend, they’ve dropped their past two games. Their home stint will conclude Monday against the Panthers. After that, they’ll go on a three-game trip involving games against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the Islanders on Thursday and the Devils on Saturday. Philadelphia will look to do better in that stretch while attempting to make up ground in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.

Like Ottawa, Philadelphia’s recent struggles has caused its playoff hopes to drastically diminish, but with half the season left, a comeback can’t be ruled out. It’s unfair to put this on the rookie, but a stronger showing out of Matvei Michkov would go a long way toward making that happen.

I noted Michkov’s overall success this season up top, but what I didn’t mention is how cold he’s been recently, recording a goal, an assist and a minus-17 rating across his past 13 appearances. Plus/minus is always a stat that needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but his minus-17 rating from Dec. 14-Jan. 9 is by far the worst in the NHL. The next worst in the NHL during that time period are Brandon Montour and Mikhail Sergachev, who are tied at minus-12. Jamie Drysdale is the next worst member of the Flyers at minus-11 while the next worst Flyers forward is Morgan Frost at minus-9.

Michkov was a healthy scratch for two games from Nov. 7-9 and followed that with an amazing stretch from Nov. 11-Dec. 10 in which he had seven goals, 17 points and a plus-13 rating across 14 outings. I do wonder if maybe another scratch is in Michkov’s future to give him a chance to regroup. Either way, he’s a talented rookie, and it’s not uncommon for rookies to grow through stretches like this -- for one of countless examples, you might recall the Auston Matthews rookie slump I highlighted earlier -- so there’s not much cause for concern about Michkov’s future. In the long run, he should grow from this.

In contrast to his cold spell, Tyson Foerster had an incredible run of six goals and nine points in nine outings from Dec. 18-Jan. 5, but he was held off the scoresheet in Philadelphia’s past two games, so the good times might be over. He’s more of a streaming option given his streaky nature and middle-of-the-road stats (12 goals and 19 points in 41 games). For that reason, it’s best to move on when he shows signs of cooling.

If you’re looking for a hot member of the team, that’s Travis Konecny. He’s having an amazing campaign overall too with 20 goals and 46 points in 42 outings, but he’s been especially productive on the goal front recently with four markers across his last five appearances. His shooting percentage of 19.0 is well above his career average of 13.0, which is a potential warning sign, but that’s been skewed upwards by his power-play goals (a career-high eight). His 5-on-5 shooting percentage of 9.8 is actually a bit low for him (he finished with a 5-on-5 shooting percentage in the double digits in five of his previous seven campaigns), so there might still be some upside in that regard.

Utah HC (Tue vs MTL, Thu vs NYR, Sat vs STL)

Utah is having a streaky season, and lately, the squad has been trending in the wrong direction, going 2-6-2 from Dec. 22-Jan. 10. Fortunately, next week, the team will be at home against adversaries that presently don’t occupy a playoff position. Utah HC will face the Canadiens on Tuesday, the Rangers on Thursday and the Blues on Saturday.

Utah got Connor Ingram back from an upper-body injury, but at the time of writing, he hasn’t drawn into a game since returning, and it’s likely he’ll be used sparing. He didn’t impress before the injury, posting a 6-4-3 record, 3.61 GAA and .871 save percentage in 13 outings. Perhaps the time off has given him a chance to reset, but given Karel Vejmelka’s success -- although he has a 10-11-3 record, he’s stellar in terms of GAA (2.38) and save percentage (.916) -- so there isn’t much motivation to use Ingram except when Vejmelka could use a breather. Then again, the winds with this duo have changed before, so nothing is certain. Vejmelka was the starter in 2022-23, but that role was taken by Ingram last season. Ingram also entered 2024-25 with the No. 1 gig that now belongs to Vejmelka.

Neither has a track record of success long enough to be called a safe bet. The closest thing to that in Utah is Clayton Keller. The 26-year-old forward has been remarkably consistent this campaign, being held off the scoresheet in consecutive games just once in 2024-25 (Oct. 22-24). That steady stream of offense has resulted in him recording 14 goals and 41 points through 40 appearances, putting him well on his way toward reaching the 75-point mark for the third straight campaign.

It's just a shame that the forward corps around him is nothing special. Logan Cooley (11 goals, 35 points), Dylan Guenther (16 goals, 34 points) and Nick Schmaltz (seven goals, 30 points) have all been fine, but no other member of the squad has even reached the 20-point mark. In the long run, Utah does have Tij Iginla, Cole Beaudoin and Daniil But, who could make a significant impact in a couple of years, but none of those young forwards are in a position to help now.

Josh Doan is much closer, but after the 22-year-old turned heads by providing five goals and nine points in 11 games with Arizona in 2023-24, he was quiet during an NHL stint from Oct. 8-26 this campaign, supplying a goal and an assist across nine outings before being sent to AHL Tucson. He did seem to find his way in Tucson, though, contributing eight goals and 21 points over 25 contests, and was recalled Friday as a result. He had three shots in 14:18 of ice time during Utah’s 2-1 win over San Jose.

As already noted, Utah isn’t swimming in offensive depth, so with Keller, Cooley and Schmaltz sharing a line and Dylan Guenther (lower body) out indefinitely, Doan doesn’t have great linemates to play off. He’s at least worth keeping an eye on, but I wouldn’t jump to take him yet.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 18:00:39 +0000

_{ALLENTOWN, PA - MARCH 26: Michigan Wolverines Forward Gavin Brindley (4) skates with the puck during the first period of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Final between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on March 26, 2023, at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 22nd (Previous Rank - 11th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Dean Evason Hired: July 2024

The Columbus Blue Jackets have ushered in a new regime this summer, with former Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell and newly appointed Head Coach Dean Evason taking the helm. This marks the third head coach in as many years for the Blue Jackets, as Evason takes over with a mandate to set a ship that has floundered at times straight.

Luckily, he inherits a strong youth movement fueled by an influx of high-end prospects. Over the last four drafts, Columbus has selected seven players in the first round, six of whom were chosen 12th overall or higher. Anchored by an already established veteran group of Boone Jenner, Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov, the club managed to graduate a total of five (5!) youngsters last year. Those names include: David Jiricek, Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and Yegor Chinakhov. All five will push for major roles on the team this season after showing their readiness at various levels.

Looking to join this group in 2024-25 is standout defenceman Denton Mateychuk (49th), fresh off an incredible season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he earned WHL Defenceman of the Year, WHL Playoff MVP, and WHL (East) First All-Star Team honors. While Mateychuk may see some time in Cleveland, he feels ready to make the leap to the NHL. Gavin Brindley (85th), who signed his pro papers after being named NCAA (B1G) Player of the Year at Michigan as the Conference scoring champion, is another promising young forward expected to make his debut soon.

The farm system in Cleveland is also strong, with several key prospects developing steadily. Defencemen Stanislav Svozil (101st) and Corson Ceulemans (128th) have recently completed their AHL rookie seasons, while Samuel Knazko is now considered a two-year veteran presence in the AHL.

On the forward side, Jordan Dumais (136th), fresh off a spectacular junior career of 325 points in 193 QMJHL games, joins the ranks. He’ll be joined by already established AHL pros like Luca Del Bel Belluz (238th) and James Malatesta. In just a few years’ time, you can add 2024 first rounder, Cayden Lindstrom (14th) to this list of reinforcements.

In their 23-year history, the Blue Jackets have made the playoffs only six times and have won just two series. However, with a major influx of young talent and several high-pedigree prospects in the pipeline, Columbus’s window that has been left ajar could be broken open in short order.

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1. Cayden Lindstrom

Lindstrom missed half of his draft-eligible season due to injury, but he just looked so utterly tantalizing in the games he was able to play in that it became undeniable that he deserved to get picked as high as he did. He's an incredibly rare kind of player, who is able to blend great footwork, soft hands and imposing physicality, sometimes all within the same shift. When all the cylinders are firing for him at once he is an unstoppable force who leaves a significant impact in different ways. His Tigers team is poised to run roughshod over the WHL over the next two seasons and challenge for back-to-back league titles, and that kind of experience should help provide an additional boost to his development. Between him and Adam Fantilli the Blue Jackets could be downright scary down the middle for the next decade or more.

2. Denton Mateychuk

Moose Jaw really leaned into their high-flying, run-and-gun style this season, to impressive results, and Mateychuk had the best seat in the house as their number one defenceman. Therein lies the secret to his success: his ability to see and break down the ice in front of him. He’s not the biggest, fastest, or most purely talented blueliner out there, and he likely never will be, but only a tiny fraction of his peers can understand the sport and feel its flow as well as he can. It also helps that he’s as competitive as they come, with an intense drive to win that is worth its weight in gold at the NHL level but is far from universal. He’ll still need to put in more work with his strength and conditioning before he’s ready for full-time duty in Columbus, but once that happens, he’ll be primed to shine.

3. Gavin Brindley

It's impossible to not root for Brindley, who is usually both the smallest player out on the ice and, simultaneously, the hardest worker. He is an absolute menace who always loves to push the pace and be right in the middle of the action. He's far from brainless or reckless, though, and is very aware and methodical with his decisions, pinpointing his pressure in ways that force turnovers and win pucks. His game is all about controlling the chaos that he creates, and he is an expert at it. There's no shortage of skill on display either, as he can weave through traffic with his skating and puck skills, and he is precise with his shooting and passes. He seems inevitably destined for the NHL with how consistently effective his presence is, but some questions remain about how high his ceiling will go.

4. Stanislav Svozil

Svozil’s scoring totals from his final year in Regina were undeniably admirable, but the help of a little-known teammate of his — some kid named Connor Bedard — might have given Blue Jackets fans the wrong idea about what his game is really about. He’s far less of an offensive generator or powerplay specialist, and moreso an even-strength puck rusher and game manager, but that’s OK, because there is value in both kinds of defensemen. He has quick feet and a pesky attitude, and he uses them in tandem to help him dodge forecheck pressure on retrievals and zone exits, as well as close gaps and provide sticky man-to-man coverage when defending. It would be nice if he was bigger or flashier with the puck, but neither of those things should prevent him from eventually carving out a spot for himself in the NHL.

5. Corson Ceulemans

The Columbus organization is overflowing with young defensemen right now, and Ceulemans feels like a bit of a forgotten man, despite being a recent 1st-round pick of the team. He missed most of his draft year due to COVID, then found himself stuck in an unexpectedly bad situation at the University of Wisconsin for two seasons, and then the situation he found himself mired in next with AHL Cleveland wasn’t much better due to extreme roster turnover and drama with the parent club. Simply put, it hasn’t been a conducive few years for a prospect who was always a bit boom-or-bust, even going back to his AJHL days. Regardless, he’s a rangy right-shot defenseman who can play with both power and finesse, and at times he’s shown flashes of just how good he can be. The Blue Jackets would be wise to continue being patient with him.

6. Jordan Dumais

Dumais is one of the most interesting case studies in the prospect world right now. He is an exceptionally smart winger who is also a dazzling magician with the puck. Using those gifts he absolutely torched the QMJHL over the past two seasons, scoring at a torrid pace of two points per game. So then why wasn’t he selected until 96th overall in the 2022 draft? It’s because he’s small, lacks strength, and is not a particularly proficient skater, and players with that combination of deficiencies rarely find success in the NHL. His chances of making it aren’t zero, and he was fully deserving of getting picked at some point in the draft, but his gaudy point totals don’t truly reflect his NHL potential. Are his strengths elite enough to fully overcome his weaknesses? That’s the big question that we’ll see play out with him moving forward.

7. Charlie Elick

Elick was a frustrating and bewildering player to scout at times last year, but Columbus was nevertheless surely thrilled to draft him where they did, because he can still become a truly impactful NHL defenceman one day. There's more than enough raw material here to work with, it just needs to be heavily and carefully refined. He's a masterful skater for a defender of his stature, and there's an old-school flavour to his toughness and penchant for laying thunderous body checks. His game will probably always be one-dimensional, because there are major limitations to his puck-handling and decision-making that are still too deep-rooted to be sufficiently removed. However, if everything else clicks for him he could turn out to be one of the best shutdown specialists in the NHL, able to systematically get stops against both the rush and the cycle.

8. William Whitelaw

The University of Michigan seems like it's becoming an unofficial farm team of the Blue Jackets, with Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli, Gavin Brindley, and Nick Blankenburg all having played there recently. You can now add Whitelaw to the list too, after he recently used the NCAA transfer portal to leave the University of Wisconsin for new pastures that he believes will be greener for him. On paper it seems like a good fit for the two sides, as both the Wolverines and the dangerous winger prioritize mercilessly inflicting offensive damage. Whitelaw is an aggressive, menacing attacker who shoots the puck in bunches because he knows, correctly, that his shot is good enough to beat goalies from almost anywhere, but he also has the skill and the will to cut into prime shooting real estate to give himself better looks.

9. Luca Del Bel Belluz

Del Bel Belluz had an impressive freshman season as a professional hockey player, transitioning out of junior more cleanly and effectively than some might have expected. Not only were there big questions coming in about whether his skating ability would be good enough or not for him to keep up at the AHL level, he had to endure the ongoing turbulence afflicting the Blue Jackets organization, which has had a spillover effect to their farm team and has been quite disruptive for some of his young compatriots. So then, give him high marks on both fronts, for elevating his skating to another level and for successfully tuning out the noise around him. He’ll still always be more of a slow-things-down kind of forward, though, who uses his size and reach to drive possession and lug pucks to the net down in the cycle.

10. Luca Pinelli

Pinelli is an interesting case study for a prospect, because the limitations in size and skating ability are prominent and would be highly limiting at the NHL level, but he's just so solid in other areas that it's hard to doubt him. He's the primary conduit for OHL Ottawa's offense, using exceptional sense and feel to consistently be one step ahead of the opposition, and he's a deadly finisher around the net when the puck finds its way to him. He's also good at bearing down and being strong and enduring in puck protection, which is important, because that will probably be his most effective means of driving play at the professional levels, finding pucks along the boards and carrying them into more dangerous areas. The leadership role he's still growing into right now could provide a boost for his promotion chances, too.

11. James Malatesta

Malatesta is already becoming a new fan favourite in Columbus because of his infectious personality and extreme tenacity. He is a relentless buzzsaw of a player, with a motor that never seems to run out of gas. He was a big part of the Quebec Remparts team that won the 2023 QMJHL championship and then the Memorial Cup as well. A natural-born pest, opposing NHLers are going to get sick of him before he even plays a full season.

12. Guillaume Richard

Richard will be heading back to Providence College in the fall for his fourth season with the Friars, which could be considered a questionable decision. He hasn’t exactly proven that he’s ready for the professional levels, but at the same time, his development has seemingly plateaued in his current environment. As far as stay-at-home defenders go, he’s not among the biggest, fastest, or meanest, so he’ll need to find some other dimension that he can bring into his game.

13. Andrew Strathmann

Strathmann is as feisty as they come, as evidenced by three straight seasons with 100 penalty minutes or more. Unfortunately, he also has a bad habit of crossing the line with his physical play and he was suspended five separate times in 2023-24 alone. He’s not big or an especially talented skater or puck mover, so the edge that he plays with is what sets him apart, and he’ll need to walk a fine line with how he applies it.

14. Jet Greaves

Greaves is The Little Engine That Could of hockey goalies. He went undrafted and missed a full year in the OHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but turned pro anyway, immediately started succeeding, and hasn’t looked back since. He’s fast, focused, driven, and endlessly self-assured. Smaller goalies like him always have an uphill battle, but Columbus will be happy to keep him around so long as he continues finding ways to stop pucks and win games.

15. Evan Gardner

Gardner led the WHL in save percentage last year and won the starting job for Saskatoon during their big playoff push. Those are both incredibly impressive feats for a draft-eligible goalie who was in his rookie season in the league. However, the Blades were rock solid defensively, so he didn’t get challenged as much as other netminders. Is his upside legitimately high, or was it a one-time mirage caused by his environment?

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #22 Columbus Blue Jackets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:55:22 +0000

ANN ARBOR, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Michigan Wolverines forward Gavin Brindley (4) looks to pass during a college hockey game between the Michigan Wolverines and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on February 23, 2024 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Change finally arrived after eleven years of management by Jarmo Kekalainen, and he was relieved of his duties while President of Hockey Operations, John Davidson, looks for a replacement in the offseason. Pascal Vincent was promoted from associate coach, after the short-lived Mike Keenan tempest that embarrassed the organization. Another futile season netted them yet another high draft pick for the 2024 NHL Draft at fourth overall. They have drafted six times in the first round in the last three drafts, five of those picks were 12th or higher. So, how does an organization fall from 11th to 22nd with that many opportunities? Columbus is one of the better teams in the league with five graduated prospects as David Jiricek (6th overall) and Adam Fantilli (3rd) joined Cole Sillinger (12th), Kent Johnson (5th) and Yegor Chinakhov (21st). The team has tended to push prospects into the NHL early, and you can debate whether that hurt development as none have had a breakout yet.

As of this writing, Davidson is looking at General Manager candidates. That choice will set the direction for the organization, but with the wealth of young players, all drafted high, in their roster they will want to bolster the depth around their potential young stars. The Johnny Gaudreau free agent signing is now an isolated incident, apart from a deal for Ivan Provorov last summer that cost a first and second round pick. Those moves signaled a willingness to accelerate the timeline, but since then management has been quiet. The team does have three prospects that ranked within our top 100 in Denton Mateychuk, Gavin Brindly (34th in 2023) and Stanislav Svozil. Another defenseman in Corson Ceulemans just missed the top 100 along with the high scoring Jordan Dumais. There are some solid pieces for the new GM to work with. A fresh start will be welcomed all around.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Denton Mateychuk	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	`22(12th)	52	17	58	75	31
2	Gavin Brindley	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	`23(34th)	40	25	28	53	28
3	Stanislav Svozil	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	`21(69th)	57	5	18	23	24
4	Corson Ceulemans	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	`21(25th)	47	3	9	12	12
5	Jordan Dumais	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	`22(96th)	21	16	31	47	6
6	Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`22(44th)	58	9	22	31	12
7	Luca Pinelli	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	`23(114th)	68	48	34	82	44
8	William Whitelaw	RW	19	5-9/173	Wisconsin (B1G)	`23(66th)	37	10	7	17	17
9	James Malatesta	LW	20	5-9/190	Cleveland (AHL)	`21(133rd)	56	12	10	22	79
					Columbus (NHL)	`21(133rd)	11	2	2	4	5
10	Hunter McKown	C	21	6-1/205	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(3/23)	53	9	15	24	26
11	Guillaume Richard	D	21	6-2/175	Providence (HE)	`21(101st)	35	3	15	18	27
12	Samuel Knazko	D	21	6-1/198	Cleveland (AHL)	`20(78th)	44	2	10	12	12
13	Andrew Strathmann	D	19	5-11/190	Youngstown (USHL)	`23(98th)	48	7	32	39	120
14	Jet Greaves	G	23	6-0/184	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(2/22)	46	29	12	2.93	0.910
15	Mikael Pyyhtia	C	22	6-0/175	Cleveland (AHL)	`20(114th)	60	7	21	28	6
					Columbus (NHL)	`20(114th)	17	0	2	2	0

1. Denton Mateychuk, D, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Moose Jaw really leaned into their high-flying, run-and-gun style this season, to impressive results, and Mateychuk had the best seat in the house as their number one defenseman. Therein lies the secret to his success: his ability to see and break down the ice in front of him. He’s not the biggest, fastest or most purely talented blueliner out there, and he likely never will be, but only a tiny fraction of his peers can understand the sport and feel its flow as well as he can. It also helps that he’s as competitive as they come, with an intense drive to win that is worth its weight in gold at the NHL level but is far from universal. He’ll still need to put in more work with his strength and conditioning before he’s ready for full-time duty in Columbus, but once that happens he’ll be primed to shine.

2. Gavin Brindley, C, University of Michigan (NCAA)

It's impossible to not root for Brindley, who is usually both the smallest player out on the ice and, simultaneously, the hardest worker. He is an absolute menace who always loves to push the pace and be right in the middle of all of the action. He's far from brainless or reckless, though, and is very aware and methodical with his decisions, pinpointing his pressure in ways that force turnovers and win pucks. His game is all about controlling the chaos that he creates, and he is an expert at it. There's no shortage of skill on display either, as he can weave through traffic with his skating and puck skills, and he is precise with his shooting and passes. He seems inevitably destined for the NHL with how consistently effective his presence is, but some questions remain about how high his ceiling will go.

3. Stanislav Svozil, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Svozil’s scoring totals from his final year in Regina were undeniably admirable, but the help of a little-known teammate of his — some kid named Connor Bedard — might have given Blue Jackets fans the wrong idea about what his game is really about. He’s far less of an offensive generator or powerplay specialist, and moreso an even-strength puck rusher and game manager, but that’s OK, because there is value in both kinds of defensemen. He has quick feet and a pesky attitude, and he uses them in tandem to help him dodge forecheck pressure on retrievals and zone exits, as well as close gaps and provide sticky man-to-man coverage when defending. It would be nice if he was bigger or more flashy with the puck, but neither of those things should prevent him from eventually carving out a spot for himself in the NHL.

4. Corson Ceulemans, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

The Columbus organization is overflowing with young defensemen right now, and Ceulemans feels like a bit of a forgotten man, despite being a recent 1st-round pick of the team. He missed most of his draft year due to COVID, then found himself stuck in an unexpectedly bad situation at the University of Wisconsin for two seasons, and then the one he went to next with Cleveland in the AHL wasn’t much better due to extreme roster turnover and drama with the parent club. Simply put, it hasn’t been a conducive few years for success for a prospect who was always a bit boom-or-bust, even going back to his AJHL days. Regardless, he’s a rangy right-shot defenseman who can play with both power and finesse, and at times he’s shown flashes of just how good he can be. The Blue Jackets would be wise to continue being patient with him.

5. Jordan Dumais, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

6. Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Del Bel Belluz had an impressive freshman season as a professional hockey player, transitioning out of junior more cleanly and effectively than some might have expected. Not only were there big questions coming in about whether or not his skating ability would be good enough for him to keep up at the AHL level, he had to endure the ongoing turbulence afflicting the Blue Jackets organization, which has had a spillover effect to their farm team and has been quite disruptive for some of his young compatriots. So then, give him high marks on both fronts, for elevating his skating to another level and successfully tuning out the noise around him. He’ll still always be more of a slow-things-down kind of forward, though, who uses his size and reach to drive possession and lug pucks to the net down in the cycle.

7. Luca Pinelli, C, Ottawa 67's (OHL)

Pinelli is an interesting prospect case study, because the limitations in size and skating ability are prominent and would be highly limiting at the NHL level, but he's just so solid in other areas that it's hard to doubt him. He's the primary conduit for OHL Ottawa's offense, using exceptional sense and feel to consistently be one step ahead of the opposition, and he's a deadly finisher around the net when the puck finds its way to him. He's also good at bearing down and being strong and enduring in puck protection, which is important, because that will probably be his most effective means of driving play at the professional levels, finding pucks along the boards and carrying them into more dangerous areas. The leadership role he's still growing into right now could provide a boost for his promotion chances, too.

8. William Whitelaw, RW, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

The University of Michigan seems like it's becoming an unofficial farm team of the Blue Jackets, with Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli, Gavin Brindley and Nick Blankenburg all having played there recently. You can now add Whitelaw to the list too, after he recently used the NCAA transfer portal to leave the University of Wisconsin for a new pasture that he believes will be greener for him. On paper it seems like a good fit for the two sides, as both the Wolverines and the dangerous winger prioritize mercilessly inflicting offensive damage. Whitelaw is an aggressive, menacing attacker who shoots the puck in bunches because he knows, correctly, that his shot is good enough to beat goalies from almost anywhere, but he also has the skill and the will to cut into prime shooting real estate to give himself better looks.

9. James Malatesta, LW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Malatesta is already becoming a new fan favourite in Columbus because of his infectious personality and extreme tenacity. He is a relentless buzzsaw of a player, with a motor that never seems to run out of gas. He’s also feisty as can be, rarely backing down from physical challenges against bigger opponents. It must be impossible to be a teammate of his who wants to take a night off, because he sets such a high standard that others have to try to match it. He was a big part of the Quebec Remparts team that won the 2023 QMJHL championship and then the Memorial Cup as well, as him getting to play under a fiercely competitive coach like Patrick Roy was a match made in heaven. A natural-born pest, opposing NHLers are going to get sick of him before he even plays a full season.

10. Hunter McKown, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

McKown played on a pretty bad, pretty thin Colorado College team all three years that he was in the NCAA, which meant that he had to work a little extra hard to get results. In a fortuitous twist, leaning further into that blue-collar identity is exactly what scouts wanted to see more of with him, and would have been a huge reason why Columbus offered him a contract as an undrafted free agent. Sure, he's pretty pigeonholed into being a meat-and-potatoes kind of forward, but there are always some jobs in the NHL for guys who are the cream of that particular crop. If he keeps working on his physical presence, penalty killing and ability to chip in greasy goals on a semi-regular basis he will give himself a realistic chance to stick around the league for a long time.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #14

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:19:31 +0000

Top 20 Columbus Blue Jacket Prospects

1. Adam Fantilli - C

You couldn’t ask for a better season from an NCAA freshman. Adam Fantilli stepped onto the Michigan Wolverines roster and absolutely dominated the league last season, taking home the Hobey Baker Award - a rarity for a draft-eligible player. His 1.81 points per game was the best pace for a draft-eligible since Paul Kariya in 1990. Fantilli is an all-around, franchise-altering prospect. He plays with a confidence that obviously grew over the course of his draft year, especially after the World Juniors, finishing his collegiate season with 38 points in the final 19 games. His passing is sharp and crisp, and his shot looks ready for the NHL. He plays hard, he plays fast, and he plays smart. He can play in any situation and rise to the call. You have to really nitpick to find a flaw in his game, particularly considering where he is in his development. For that reason Columbus has already signed him away from college and he will be turning pro immediately. Expectations are sky high as he looks to secure an immediate top six role in the Columbus lineup.

2. David Jiricek - D

If the 2022 NHL Draft were to be redone today, it’s hard to imagine Jiricek not hearing his name called in the top two. The Czech defender made the transition from his homeland to the AHL immediately following the draft. He was one of the best rookies and one of the most productive defenders in the entire league last season, even getting his first taste of NHL action, appearing in two games. He takes charge in transition, leading exits and entries for his team thanks to his strong crossovers and mobility. He has an absolute cannon of a shot, can play with a physical edge, and tends to dictate play every time he hits the ice. He can get caught taking risks, but not to an extreme level considering the level that he’s playing at his age. There’s lots of time for development in front of him. Jiricek is making it very easy to project him as a top pairing defender.

3. Denton Mateychuk - D

Not long after selecting Jiricek at sixth overall, the Blue Jackets were back up to the podium to call another defender’s name, in Denton Mateychuk. The defender has since completed his second full season in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, this time as the team’s captain. He is an excellent skater, not afraid to jump up into the rush as a fourth attacker for his team. You’ll rarely see him make a mistake or turn the puck over. He’s just so matter of fact and confident in his play. Even on the defensive side of the puck, he is incredibly difficult to beat thanks to his positioning and active stick. Like Jiricek, it’s not hard to picture Mateychuk in the NHL, considering his build and style are perfect for the modern defender. Projecting him as a top four, PP1 rearguard seems like a safe bet and the top two is very much within reach.

4. Corson Ceulemans - D

The Blue Jackets have put a large focus into drafting defenders recently, looking especially at high upside. Ceulemans is just that, a defenseman with a very high ceiling. Selected 25th overall in 2021 out of the AJHL, he made the jump to the NCAA in 2021-22, where he stepped in very well as an offensive rearguard. He especially stood out as a top player last season on a struggling Wisconsin team. Two seasons were enough for Ceulemans, who signed with the Blue Jackets and joined the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters to end 2022-23. He’s an athletic, aggressive defender who loves to get involved in the play and take risks. He can get caught often though and relies on his long stride to catch up - which likely won’t bail him out as much as he moves up. If he can pick his opportunities better, he could be a strong, offensive top four D.

5. Stanislav Svozil - D

Yet another exciting defender in this farm system, Svozil has had an up-and-down development path, including a dip in his stock during his draft year. That worked out well for the Blue Jackets, selecting him 69th overall in 2021. Since then, he joined WHL’s Regina Pats and his stock has been rising substantially. He was a top defender at the 2023 World Juniors and a large part of why Team Czechia earned a silver medal. Even while playing with Connor Bedard, Svozil has shown ability to dictate play, leading the rush from his own end. His confidence has been increasingly growing, not afraid to join the transition or jump up into the play. His defensive game and decision-making look better and better with each game, putting him in position to be a future top four NHL defender.

6. Gavin Brindley

It’s hard to miss Brindley on the ice, as he brings a highly competitive game. He plays with fierce intensity, diving into puck battles, fighting hard on the forecheck, and working to force turnovers. He’s fearless in his work despite his diminutive frame. He never takes his foot off the gas, and he gets results due to that effort. On top of this competitiveness, he brings excellent hands, allowing him to navigate traffic with ease and get the puck into the high-danger areas himself. He also has top-notch speed and deception to his game, consistently changing direction when attacking. He’s a strong playmaker too, doing very well to create offense for his teammates. He’s almost equally effective defensively as he is offensively. The biggest knocks against him are his size and strength, as he does need to put on some muscle in order to see his style of play succeed at the next level. It would also be important to see him shoot a little more, as he’s very much a pass-first player. He has the foundation in place to become a reliable middle-six winger who moves up and down the lineup as needed.

7. Dmitri Voronkov - LW

Voronkov might be one of the most NHL-ready forwards out there. At 6- 4”, 190 pounds, the Russian forward knows how to utilize his size well after already having pushed men around in the KHL for four seasons. On top of that, he has already participated in the World Juniors, World Championship, and Olympics for Team Russia. He plays hard with and without the puck, making his presence felt whenever he’s on the ice. There’s nothing spectacular about his game, as he is just a well-rounded player. And to further that, nothing is glaring that will hold him back from making the NHL. His skating isn’t the prettiest, and his overall ceiling isn’t that high, but he still seems like a safe bet. He’s not going to be a highlight-reel or top-offensive player but likely fits into a consistent bottom six role.

8. Jordan Dumais - RW

The Blue Jackets might have hit a home run in the 2022 NHL Draft when they selected Dumais 96th overall. He was coming off a 109-point sophomore season with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. Still, there were concerns about his 5-foot-9, 174-pound frame and his skating mechanics, but Dumais continued to push forward, capping off a league-leading 140-point season last year, second behind only Connor Bedard in the entire CHL. There’s no question that the skill is there. There’s also no question that the work ethic is there, which more often than not can carry a skilled player to the NHL. He has an excellent shot, great hands, and solid vision to go with it. The skating issues in his stride can be improved with development - it’s not a deal breaker. He should be a middle-six contributor in the NHL if he doesn’t reach the top six.

9. William Whitelaw - RW

Whitelaw is a volume shooter with few peers. What's truly remarkable though, is how many of his shots are consistently high quality. He has a serpentine ability to navigate through traffic and get closer to the net, and it's almost unnatural how well he can unload dangerous shots from unfavourable angles and body positions. He can strike quickly and accurately even in the heaviest traffic. His release is truly a sight to behold, coming off his stick with lightning quickness and sending pucks to their targets at blazing speeds. Guys with smaller stature like Whitelaw’s need to work extra hard to succeed, and that's not something you'll ever have to worry about in his case. He is feisty as hell and plays with a massive chip on his shoulder. He usually doesn't go around the ice looking for trouble, but anyone bringing it to him does so at their own peril. There is a fire inside him that never stops burning, and you can tell how it also helps heat up those that he plays with. Players who can score goals with this kind of proficiency are rare, and his supporting intangibles and character strongly suggest that his net-filling talents will scale up to the NHL level.

10. Luca Del Bel Belluz - C

Del Bel Belluz has been a bit of a polarizing prospect ever since his draft year. Selected 44th overall in in the 2022 NHL Draft, there must be something that has stood out to the Blue Jackets because not only did they draft him, but they signed him to his entry-level deal not long after. Del Bel Belluz spent two and half seasons with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads (it would have been three and a half if not for the cancelled season), before being traded to the Sarnia Sting last season. He’s been a solid contributor and plays a fine game. There doesn’t seem to be that one, high-end quality to pin on him that most prospects need to excel at the higher levels. He has quick hands and shows off strong passing, but there’s a lack of flow in his game that is concerning. A ceiling of a middle-six contributor is there as a high-end might reasonable outcome.

11. James Malatesta - LW

A stocky scoring winger, Malatesta is coming off a tremendous year in the QMJHL that saw him win a Memorial Cup with Quebec. He was the MVP of both the QMJHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup. It will be interesting to see how his game translates to the pro level this year.

12. Samuel Knazko - D

Already an accomplished international player, Knazko has played for Slovakia at both the Olympics and the World Championships in recent years. Not bad for a young defender who only recently turned 21. A strong skating, two-way defender, Knazko should be close to earning a full-time spot on the Blue Jackets.

13. Guillaume Richard - D

Richard is far from a sexy prospect. He’s not the most skilled defender. However, his mature defensive approach will likely play well at the pro level, which puts him in high regard by Columbus. Richard will return to Providence for his junior season this year in hopes of improving his offensive play.

14. Andrew Strathmann - D

Strathmann, a recent fourth round pick, is expected to repeat the USHL level next year before heading to North Dakota. The talented powerplay quarterback has great mobility, but Columbus will be looking to see improvements made to his decision making at both ends.

15. Jake Christiansen - D

After signing out of the WHL as a free agent, Christiansen has put together back-to-back strong pro seasons. His offensive prowess has yet to translate to the NHL level, but he’ll likely be given another opportunity this year as he is out of options and is no longer exempt from waivers.

16. Marcus Bjork - D

A very pleasant surprise for Columbus after signing last season out of Sweden. Bjork came in and was a steady presence at both the AHL and NHL level. The crowded nature of the system may push him out, but he has shown an ability to quarterback the powerplay and provide solid depth.

17. Mikael Pyyhtia - C

Pyyhtia is a goal scoring winger who took a step backwards last season split between pro in North America and Finland. He will be playing full time in the AHL this coming season and that should give Columbus a better indication of his upside.

18. Trey Fix-Wolansky - RW

A fan favourite in the AHL and with the Columbus fan base, everyone seems to be cheering for Fix-Wolansky to earn a full-time role in the NHL. His breakout year in the AHL helped his cause and he plays a fearless game that could make him a valuable checking line player this year.

19. Kirill Dolzhenkov - RW

Dolzhenkov is a mammoth winger who loves to bring it physically, imposing his will to help create space and chances. Columbus will be hoping that he can see more time at the KHL or VHL level this season, playing against men, to help him improve his pace and skating.

20. Hunter McKown - C

After improving each of his three NCAA campaings at Colorado College, the former USNTDP member signed with Columbus late last seasons. McKown is a solid defensive center with good goal scoring potential. After getting some NHL time late last year, he likely plays out this year at the AHL level.

Luca Del Bel Belluz – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #19 Columbus Blue Jackets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Last Year - 19th) GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024 COACH: Rick Bowness Hired: January 2025

Jackson Smith, D, Penn State University (NCAA)

Cayden Lindstrom, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Zvezda Moscow (VHL)

Luca Del Bel Belluz, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Luca Marrelli, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Luca Pinelli, C, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Jordan Dumais, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

William Whitelaw, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Sergei Ivanov, G, St. Petersburg (KHL)

Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Charlie Elick, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Guillaume Richard, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Oiva Keskinen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Jack Williams, RW, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

Corson Ceulemans, D, Cleveland Monsters (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1 - Cayden Lindstrom

2 - Jackson Smith

3 - Luca Del Bel Belluz

4 - Pyotr Andreyanov

5 - Luca Marrelli

6 - Jet Greaves

7 - Jordan Dumais

8 - Luca Pinelli

9 - Guillaume Richard

10 - Charlie Elick

11 - Stanislav Svozil

12 - William Whitelaw

13 - Evan Gardner

14 - Corson Ceulemans

15 - Jack Williams

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #13 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

2025 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects (Top 50 Free) – Biggest risers in 2024-25

Scott Morrow - Defense - Carolina Hurricanes

Tristan Luneau - Defense - Anaheim Ducks

Liam Greentree - Wing - Los Angeles Kings

Cole Hutson - Defense - Washington Capitals

Owen Pickering - Defense - Pittsburgh Penguins

Sam Rinzel - Defense - Chicago Blackhawks

Oliver Kapanen - Center - Montreal Canadiens

Luca Cagnoni - Defense - San Jose Sharks

Isaac Howard - Wing - Tampa Bay Lightning

Owen Beck - Center - Montreal Canadiens

Dmitri Buchelnikov - Wing - Detroit Red Wings

Nick Lardis - Wing - Chicago Blackhawks

Igor Chernyshov - Wing - San Jose Sharks

Leevi Merilainen - Goaltender - Ottawa Senators

Ilya Protas - Wing - Washington Capitals

Colton Dach - Center - Chicago Blackhawks

William Stromgren - Wing - Calgary Flames

Ilya Nabokov - Goaltender - Colorado Avalanche

Luca Del Bel Belluz - Center - Columbus Blue Jackets

Roman Kantserov - Wing - Chicago Blackhawks

Elias Pettersson - Defense - Vancouver Canucks

Mikhail Yegorov - Goaltender - New Jersey Devils

Alex Bump - Wing - Philadelphia Flyers

Jesse Kiiskinen - Wing - Detroit Red Wings

Tarin Smith - Defense - Anaheim Ducks

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – A look at the rookie race at mid-season – Favourable schedules and player to target

Columbus Blue Jackets (Tue vs PHI, Thu vs SJS, Sat @ NYR)

Dallas Stars (Tue @ TOR, Thu vs MTL, Sat @ COL, Sun vs DET)

Florida Panthers (Mon @ PHI, Tue @NJD, Thu vs DET, Sat vs ANA)

Montreal Canadiens (Tue @ UTA, Thu @ DAL, Sat vs TOR, Sun vs NYR)

New Jersey Devils (Tue vs FLA, Thu @ TOR, Sat vs PHI, Sun vs OTT)

Ottawa Senators (Tue @ NYI, Thu vs WAS, Sat vs BOS, Sun @ NJD)

Philadelphia Flyers (Mon vs FLA, Tue @ CBJ, Thu @ NYI, Sat @ NJD)

Utah HC (Tue vs MTL, Thu vs NYR, Sat vs STL)

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

Columbus Blue Jackets Top-15 Prospects

1. Cayden Lindstrom

2. Denton Mateychuk

3. Gavin Brindley

4. Stanislav Svozil

5. Corson Ceulemans

6. Jordan Dumais

7. Charlie Elick

Prospect System Ranking – 19th (Last Year - 19th)
GM: Don Waddell Hired: May 2024
COACH: Rick Bowness Hired: January 2025