• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets Prospects

Blue Jackets Address Defense Needs on Day 2 of the Draft

By Brian Ginise October 9th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The 2020 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone, and the Columbus Blue Jackets had just a *few* more picks this year than 2019. You can read my Day 1 analysis here, and for a more in-depth look at first-round pick Yegor Chinakhov, check out this piece from THW’s Brandon Share-Cohen.

Yegor Chinakhov Team Russia
Yegor Chinakhov of Team Russia (Russia Hockey/FHR.RU)

But now let’s turn our attention to Day 2 and take a look at what general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and his scouting staff got in this class of new prospects.

78th Overall – Samuel Knazko

With their third-round selection they acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in the Max Domi – Josh Anderson trade, Columbus selected Slovakian defenseman Samuel Knazko at 78th overall. A smart, smooth-skating offensive defenseman who shoots left, Knazko could be a player who can quarterback a power play down the road. He has good offensive instincts, really nice hands, excellent vision for breakout passes and is comfortable making plays on his forehand or backhand.

The newest #CBJ prospect, D Samuel Knazko, says Zach Werenski is one of his favorite players.

— Alison (@AlisonL) October 7, 2020

Last season for TPS U20 in Finland’s Jr. A Liiga, Knazko had 7 goals and 21 assists for 28 points in 48 games. He was initially thought to be a star prospect when he made Slovakia’s U18 team as a 15-year-old, and while the hype didn’t sustain through the rest of his pre-draft years, he still has NHL potential. Ironically, he claims he models his game after Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, saying of No. 8, “He can shoot, he can pass, he can make a play, he can also defend and he’s very good as a physical player. He is going to have a very big future and I hope I am going to join him.”

114th Overall – Mikael Pyytha

At 114th overall, Jarmo and the Blue Jackets selected Knazko’s TPS U20 teammate Mikael Pyythä, a 5-foot-11 Finnish forward who can play both center and wing. Last year Pyyhtiä had 11 goals and 30 assists for 41 points in 42 games. In two games up with the big club in Liiga play, he had one assist, and he’ll look to add to his TPS account total this year.

Solid pick by the Jackets at 114 with Finnish scorer Mikael Pyyhtia pic.twitter.com/TW5mL7Fiug

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 7, 2020

Our Josh Bell had him projected to go in the seventh round in a May mock draft. A well-rounded forward who competes hard, is a good penalty killer and smart player, he’s not going to ‘wow’ you with any part of his game but has the potential to become a really useful two-way center in the NHL.

145th Overall – Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm

At No. 145, the Jackets selected defenseman Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, which is one of the better names in a draft full of them. The Norwegian is a big left-shot blueliner, standing 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds at age 18, so odds are he’ll continue to both grow and grow into himself as he physically matures. He has good gap control and can hold the blue line well, which you look for in defensemen of his stature. He also skates better than most his size, which is always the concern for bigger players.

176th Overall – Samuel Johannesson

With their last pick in the draft, No. 176, Columbus grabbed another defenseman, a second-year eligible right-shot Swedish prospect Samuel Johannesson. Last season he played against men for Rögle in the SHL as a 19-year old and tallied a goal and 11 points in 44 games. His hands are the strongest part of his game, and he makes a lot of smart, simple passes that drive play offensively. Here’s THW’s Matthew Zator’s prospect profile on him from June.

What This Means for the Jackets

Columbus needed to re-stock the cupboards on defense in their prospect pool, with Werenski, Andrew Peeke, Markus Nutivaara, Dean Kukan and others graduating up to the big club in recent years. The only standouts in their pool prior to this draft were forwards and goaltenders, so they addressed that need. Additionally, it was made all the more important when they traded Markus Nutivaara to the Florida Panthers and Ryan Murray to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

Columbus has scouted European defensemen relatively well over the last few years under head scout Ville Siren. Hopefully, that trend continues with this group of players, but regardless it seems Jarmo and the Jackets’ braintrust had a clear plan entering Day 2, and now we wait to see if any of 2020’s drafted prospects make their way to Ohio’s capital over the next couple of years.  


Sign up for our regular 'Blue Jackets Newsletter' for all the latest.

  • Tags
  • 2020 NHL Draft
  • Mikael Pyytha
  • Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm
  • Samuel Knazko
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Jan 23rd 1:40 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Canucks, & Truth Behind Jets and Blue Jackets Trade

Jan 23rd 1:30 PM
Vancouver Canucks

Green Says Canucks Have Looked ‘a Little Immature at Times’ [Video]

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information