COLUMBUS – So, what do you give a franchise that has everything but a playoffs series win? Well, unfortunately here at PHN we can’t mandate the NHL to have the Columbus Blue Jackets avoid the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, but we can make some recommendations as to who we think Ohio’s favorite hockey team should take in 
the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Columbus had their best season ever in terms of points with 108. Head Coach John Tortorella worked his usual magic but for how long is the real question. Still, that’s another debate for another time. In the meantime the Blue Jackets have very few holes to fill in an otherwise solid franchise that look more and more like the kind of team that could have a long playoff run if they play their cards right.
At the upcoming draft, the best player available card will no doubt be played. For the most part that card has held a solid if not spectacular hand to Columbus over the years. It looks like despite drafting lower than normal some quality forwards should still be on the board.
Keep the following names in the back of your head when you’re watching the NHL Draft June 23rd: Jason Robertson, Isaac Ratcliffe, Shane Bowers, Robert Thomas, Kole Lind, and Grant Mismash. Those names are forwards that could very well be called by Columbus. If defense is the name of their game Urho Vaakanainen and Henri Jokiharju could get the call but too many quality forwards are still on the board.
Of the forwards, Robertson appears to be a logical choice but we get the feeling that Columbus will go down the middle of the ice and will make the following announcement in Chicago next Friday night.
“With the 24th overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets select, from St. Cloud State, Ryan Poehling.”
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