Welcome to our 2025 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Draft Guide. This will help get you ready for everything that may or may not happen over the two days at Peacock Theater.
You will see everything from changes to this year’s draft to the very latest on what’s going on with the Blue Jackets heading into this most-important stretch. We’ll then make sure you are prepared for all the different possibilities the team could encounter.
Make no mistake about it. The Blue Jackets have a massive desire to make moves and get better. Whether they are able to do that is another story given the state of the market.
Changes to the 2025 Draft
Let’s set the scene for you. The 2025 NHL Draft will have a much different look and feel to it. That’s because the league will be operating a decentralized draft.
Teams were polled asking if they had an interest in going to a decentralized draft given the cost of sending many staffers to the event. The majority indicated a desire to make it decentralized.
As a result, teams will be setting up their war rooms and making picks from their home market. For the Blue Jackets, they will be setup within Nationwide Arena.
Round 1 of the NHL Draft will be televised on ESPN from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M. eastern. In that time, picks will come in from the various markets. We will also see some celebrities make picks for teams. For example, WWE Superstar Bayley will be announcing the first-round picks for the San Jose Sharks. Meanwhile, the Ducks will have two members of the original Mighty Ducks movie make their first-round pick. Joshua Jackson (Charlie) and Marguerite Moreau (Connie) will appear together.
It will be interesting to see what the Blue Jackets do in this regard.
Then on Saturday in Rounds 2-7, expect to see a setup similar to how the draft was run during Covid. NHL Network will have coverage of Day 2 of the draft.
As for our coverage, we’ll be on site at Nationwide Arena on Friday night during the draft and while the team’s draft party is going on. Then on Saturday, we’ll follow along with the picks as they happen and perhaps we’ll have a chance to talk to some of the newest prospects. GM Don Waddell is scheduled to speak Friday night after Round 1 and then again after Day 2 ends.
Latest Blue Jackets News
Waddell held his predraft media availability on Thursday morning at Nationwide Arena. Here are some of the key takeaways and updates that came from that.
- Waddell believes a lot of teams are waiting to see who may or may not be available once the draft gets underway. Could setup some interesting behind the scenes talks if a player slips down.
- Waddell says he thinks the top-seven guys will go 1-7 in some order. Then he says draft list variances will come into play.
- Waddell admitted being in person, there’s a lot more deals potentially to be made than in this de-centralized format. “But we’re accomplishing the same thing to a certain extent because you talk to everybody.”
- Waddell admitted this lead into the draft has been different than usual. “There seems to be a shortage of players because everybody wants players for players.” With only one known true seller out there, the Penguins, teams are chasing the same thing.”
- Waddell said he’s been offered to move into the 8-13 range from 14. “But we don’t see a point in that right now. Now maybe that changes on draft day because we do have multiple picks in the first round. I will say very unique last few weeks for sure.”
- While he didn’t get into specifics, Waddell said talks with their UFAs remain ongoing with no one told they’re not being re-signed yet. But that’s “soon to come.”
- Waddell said talks will continue until July 1 and “maybe after.” That leaves the door open for Provorov and Fabbro to reach market if they fail to reach an agreement.
- Waddell said both picks 14 and 20 could have been traded by now but “I didn’t feel that it was value for us.”
- Waddell went to the Gold Star Camp in Fort Lauderdale that was ran by agent Dan Milstein. This gives teams a chance to get a good look at Russian prospects. They also do fitness testing there similar to what’s done at the NHL Combine. The one thing he did say that was interesting. “The thing that’s come out of Russia this year is probably some top goalies which you’re always interested in that.” He said that he interviewed prospects down there to see what they’re all about and learn about their contracts.
- Talks with Adam Fantilli on a new contract will pick up over the summer.
Setting Up the Blue Jackets’ Draft
The Blue Jackets will begin the draft holding seven picks including two in the first round. They hold picks 14 and 20 along with picks 77, 109, 173, 205 and 218. The extra first rounder came when the team traded defenseman David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild.
Now the big question. How many of those picks will the Blue Jackets actually make? It’s no secret the team has made both picks available. Ideally, they’d like to get players that will help the roster now with those picks. That may prove to be difficult though.
Teams above them in the order have also expressed a desire to make their picks available in the right deals. That added level of competition makes it a bigger challenge to stand out. A little creativity could be the difference in finding a good trade.
With that backdrop, the Blue Jackets could conceivably make none, one or both of their first rounders. We will prepare as though they make at least one of the picks.
If they make both picks, it’s reasonable to expect one of them being a defenseman. Now, the other possibility here is trying to trade up. Say a player in the top-10 starts falling. If a team above the Blue Jackets isn’t married to their pick and would be willing to get an extra asset, there’s an opportunity to land a player with a higher upside.
We will assume the team stays at 14 and 20 for this exercise. Here are the forwards and defensemen we expect to be available in that range. Click on the prospect’s name to see our profile on them.
Forwards
- Lynden Lakovic (was a teammate of Denton Mateychuk in Moose Jaw so the Blue Jackets will know this player well.)
- Cole Reschny
- Braeden Cootes
- Justin Carbonneau
- Carter Bear
- Cullen Potter
- Malcolm Spence
Defensemen
There obviously could be others in play based on what the Blue Jackets’ final list looks like. But this at least gives you an idea of the kind of players most of the industry believes could be available in the 14-20 range.
Goaltending is another area some believe the Blue Jackets could use a first-round pick on. Joshua Ravensbergen comes to mind. As we said at the Combine, he met multiple times this past season with goaltending coach Brad Thiessen. We’ll see if anything comes of that when it’s time to pick. Here’s a goaltending name to keep in mind as his stock seems to be rising. Semyon Frolov. Given what Waddell said about the desire to see these prospects, file this one away. Some first-round buzz seems to be following Frolov around.
How do I think this is going to go if the Blue Jackets make the picks? I am assuming Mrtka, Smith and Aitcheson are gone by 14. Should one of them slip, the team should run to the phone without hesitation to make that pick.
I think they really like Hensler a lot. He’s a right-handed mobile defenseman with size who’s seen a lot of improvement in his game. In my mind, he would be a strong option at 14.
I also think they like Lakovic. He has the size the Blue Jackets would like plus he started to show an ability to take over games when he started to use his physicality more. The CHL/USA Top Prospects Game did wonders for him.
My official prediction: One of Lakovic/Hensler and then if they make the second pick, could be any of the names mentioned above. I know they like Fiddler too. As I stated at the Combine, they had an in-season lunch. He fits what the Blue Jackets would value on the blue line. Don’t discount Ravensbergen at 20 either.
Other Resources
Here are some other resources to help get you ready for the rest of the draft. Our head of scouting Peter Baracchini has his final top-128 list out. You can see some potential names in play for Saturday.
Our full 2025 Draft Guide Listed above has other rankings and a lot more including over 150 prospect profiles and features. My colleague Matthew Buhrmann published his mock draft of picks 14 and 20.
You can see the final NHL Central Scouting List here.
Biggest Questions
Here are the five biggest questions I have coming into the NHL Draft for the Blue Jackets.
- 1. What specific trades have been discussed given they were offered to move up into the top-10?
- 2. How far apart are Provorov and Fabbro from completing a new deal?
- 3. How do the Blue Jackets view the rising salary cap as compared to the rest of the league and to the agents?
- 4. With no immediate clarity on the goaltending, what is the plan?
- 5. Could being patient actually help or hurt the Blue Jackets on Friday night?
Enjoy what is about to unfold. Next up after the draft is Development Camp which starts on July 2.
