Blue Jackets 2022 Draft Review
2022-09-01The Blue Jackets front office walked away from the draft table ecstatic and high fiving as they headed for a well-earned beer at the pub across the street. Blue Jackets fans cheered as the team selected Shane Wright with the second overall pick in the 2022 EHE Entry Draft. It seemed an open secret in league circles that Juraj Slafkovsky would be the first choice of the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus GM Andrew Payeur made no secret that Shane Wright was the number one player on the team's Big Board. The shine has worn off Wright a little since he was granted Exceptional player status in the OHL as a 14 year-old, as he doesn’t “wow” scouts with any particular skill. However, the team feels he is so good at so many things that he’s easy to project into an NHL lineup.
The first round of the draft went fast and furious with most teams more than happy to sprint up to the podium to make their draft picks. The first trade of the draft did not occur until the Ottawa Senators traded up to the 18th pick with the Nashville Predators. Intrigue surrounded the Blue Jackets pick at 6th overall, with the team openly flirting with the idea of making a trade to help the NHL roster. Alas, nothing came of the rumours and Payeur admitted afterwards that nothing came particularly close to getting done. Rather, the team kept the pick and chose defenceman David Jiricek who was both the team's Best Player Available and filled the most glaring weakness in the team's prospect pool on defence. Jiricek is a prototypical coaches dream defenceman. He’s big, he moves around the ice well, he’s creative with the puck and well rounded without it.
The team did end up making a trade back out of the second round with the Colorado Avalanche. Moving the Canucks 43rd pick in exchange for a trio of picks in the 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds. Payeur had his eye on a handful of players at that pick, but all of them wound up getting gobbled up by other teams prior to 43 and so it made more sense to move back and accumulate more shots at the dart board in later rounds.
With back to back picks at the start of the 3rd round, the Blue Jackets were able to choose two players who were under consideration had the team kept the 43rd pick in Fraser Minten and Paul Ludwinski. Both players fit the "high floor, low ceiling" model with some impressive tools but lacking the full package and hockey IQ that could make them top picks in this draft class. Ludwinski is a blazing fast skater who needs to add some poise and patience into his offensive game, while Minten is a responsible 2-way center with good size who may not have the creativity in his offensive game to play in the top 6 at the next level. Wrapping up their 3rd round, and after some draft confusion the team chose Hunter Haight. A player with plenty of talent but who wasn't as productive in the OHL last season as he was expected to be. He has the tools to be an impact player but he’ll need to up his compete level if he wants to make it and look like the prospect who was taken 9th overall in the OHL draft..
With the team's sole 4th round pick, the team dipped back into the OHL pool, this time taking 20 year-old from the Soo Greyhounds Tanner Dickinson. Dickinson was enjoying a great season last year and was chosen to the original US World Junior team roster prior to its cancellation but chose not to participate this summer to focus on upcoming training camp as he recovers from a broken femur suffered in January.
The Blue Jackets wrapped up the draft with a pair of 5th round draft choices. The first, Defenceman Adam Engstrom has a strong toolkit and big frame but his hockey sense at both ends of the ice leaves something to be desired. He’s a worthwhile gamble in the late stages of the draft, but he will be a long term project for the Columbus development staff. The Blue Jackets draft wrapped up with the 156th pick and selected Jorian Donovan out of the OHL. Donovan is another long shot gamble from the Jackets front office, but that’s what the late staged of the draft are for. Donovan played limited minutes on a very good juniour team and flashed talent but needs to improve his consistency and continue to grow into his tools.
Those top 2 picks (hand clapping)
Blue Jackets 2022 Draft Review
Wright and Jiricek headline the class
A few studs is always good. Good draft Andrew.
Blue Jackets 2022 Draft Review
Wright and Jiricek headline the class