COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a rough going since coming into the NHL. Seasons have come and gone and so far only one playoff appearance has come as a result of their efforts. General Manager Scott Howson has his work cut out for him once again to help turn around the team’s fortunes.
this time it’s playoffs or bust, not only for the team but for Howson as well. Columbus head into another NHL Entry Draft with yet another high draft pick (8th overall) but this time don’t go thinking the Jackets will stay put at this year’s draft. You can bet that their pick at number 8 will be in play this time around.
For the most part CBJ has built the team through the draft. Bold measures will be taken. The Jackets have many needs on both sides of the ice. Columbus was 24th in offense and 26th in defense, 29th on the PP and 22nd on the PK, and 8th in face-offs.
On offense the Jackets had only two players with more than 20 goals, Rick Nash (32) and RJ Umberger (25). Both players play on the wings. There is no one particular strength on offense with balance throughout the lineup but Columbus needs more offensive punch. You can bet with the 8th pick in play whoever they get will have to be a scoring center (Can you say Jeff Carter?).
Most of the team’s top prospects are forwards. The Jackets still don’t know what to do about Nikita Filitov. Grant it were thinking out loud here but if he can be talked into playing in the states the Flyers might be a destination for him since the Flyers have a long, bad history of taking other teams former first round picks in hopes of turning them around in their system. Filitov could be part of a package that could see him land in South Philly but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
For a team that did poorly in the standings most of their defensemen were a positive in the plus/minus category. Still, in the NHL, you can never have enough good defenseman. Adding a quality defenseman both in free agency and in the draft will be a priority. Columbus will also need to address their goaltending situation but they won’t be doing it with the 8th pick that much we know for sure.
Since PHN’s mock draft doesn’t consider trades unless they take place before the draft, the Jackets will be keeping their pick at number 8. The way PHN’s mock draft is falling, and since it is a draft full of centers and defensemen, Columbus will have the pick of the litter.
If the Jackets wish to go defense they would love to see Dougie Hamilton fall to them but in our mock we see Winnipeg/Atlanta taking Hamilton just before CBJ picks. That leaves some possibilities such as Nathan Beaulieu, Ryan Murphy, and Duncan Siemens.
If the Jackets wish to go on offense they will have some quality choices in Mika Zibanejad, Mark McNeill and Mark Scheifele.
Our gut feeling is the Jackets will go for defense. It’s is a tough call but in the end we believe Columbus will make the following announcement come draft day.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets proudly select, from the Kitchener Rangers, defenseman Ryan Murphy.”
To learn more about Ryan Murphy click here.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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