HFNHL: #2 overall draft pick on the move?

Ohio Jones

Game on...
Feb 28, 2002
8,257
201
Great White North
CD - Columbus

When the Columbus Blue Jackets’ number was drawn in last week’s 2019 HFNHL Entry Draft Lottery, they moved from picking 6th overall to 2nd, in a year where the overwhelming consensus has two elite prospects available at the top of the draft.

US playmaking center Jack Hughes has had a solid lock on the top spot with almost every scout and ranking service this year, but Finnish scoring winger Kaapo Kakko’s dominance in Liiga play since returning from his starring turn at the World Juniors has some believing Hughes’ grip on #1 may be softening. Either way, what seems clear is that by the time the third team steps up to select, both Hughes and Kakko’s names will be off the board.

This presents the Blue Jackets with a dilemma: do they draft whichever player is still there at #2, or do they shop the pick in the hopes of securing more assets?

It seems some teams are not content to wait for the Jackets to decide, and are throwing their hats in the ring to force the issue. The Jackets have already received what sources are calling a “very credible offer” for their first rounder, while at least two more offers are thought to be in discussion.

“We have to explore all our options and make the decision we feel is in the best long-term interests of our club,” Jackets GM Doug Emerson told reporters this morning. “These are both tremendous prospects, either one of whom would bring a lot to this organization, so it’s a rare no-lose situation. But there’s clearly a lot of interest out there, so we have to see whether a team is willing to put a package on the table that offers us even more.”

Emerson went on to stress that quality will be the deciding factor, not quantity. “We’re not looking for maybes.”

Teams interested in buying their way into the top two spots on draft day should reach out to the Jackets soon.

Milo Minderbinder
Columbus Discoverer
 

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