COLUMBUS, Oh – The Columbus Blue Jackets have been down this road before, far too many times they care to count. The Jackets head into this month with yet another high draft pick. In this case it’s the third overall pick. After finally getting back into the playoffs in 2014, the franchise thought their days of missing the playoffs might be over.
Still, hope might actually be on the way for a team that has only made the playoffs twice 
in their 16 year history. Columbus was 19th in offense, 29th in defense, 21st on the power play, 19th on the penalty kill, 24th in face-offs, 21st in shots for, and 27th in shots against. The Jackets had four players with at least 20 goals and three more with at least 10. Brandan Saad and Boone Jenner had 31 and 30 goals each. Most of their goal scoring production came from centers or left wingers.
The draft is full of quality forwards especially at the top half of the first 10 picks, and especially in the top three. With Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine expected to go first and second overall, the Jackets have a tougher choice then you’d think they might have considering fellow Finnish forward Jesse Puljujarvi is spoken of in the same conversation as Matthews and Laine are in terms of high end talent. A gifted right winger who would look good on either of the top two line is a very tempting pick, but adding a blueliner to go along with Zach Werenski might be too good to pass up.
Still, Columbus does have a high second round pick and quality players always fall in the draft. Passing on a kid like Puljujarvi could turn out to be an even bigger mistake of the Jackets decide to pass on him. Say what you want about them but they are a team on the rise and look like with some of the promising talent coming onto the roster next season. With that said look for Columbus to make the following announcement at the podium in Buffalo.
“With the third overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets select, from Karpt Finland, Jesse Puljujarvi.”
The Edmonton Oilers are now on the clock.
You must be logged in to post a comment.