Ohio Jones
Game on...
After several moves to secure roster talent in a push for the playoffs this coming season, the Columbus Blue Jackets went into the HFNHL 2021 Entry Draft with no picks in the first three rounds. (That 6th overall for Carter Hart feels a lot less gratifying when Hart does not even have useable ratings this year, but we tell ourselves it was a long term investment…).
But what we lacked in early draft position, we made up for in late volume. Columbus added a whopping total of 11 prospects in rounds 4-7. But these rounds are administered by list, and that has left us with a somewhat unfortunate imbalance in player positions (and player types, if I’m being honest). Anybody in need of some big, mobile two-way blueliners?
THE PICKS
4/114 LD Evgenii Kashnikov, Gatineau (6-4/196)
- drafted into the Q as a thin puck mover, has blossomed into a powerful blueliner with size, strength, mobility and very good hands
5/134 RW Jake Chiasson , Brandon (6-1/165)
- long and lean, should add strength as he fills out to improve his burst, but plays with hustle, hands and hockey sense
5/135 LW Alex Geci , Sarnia (6’2/180)
- big-bodied scorer one of the youngest in the draft, Slovak missed the 2020-21 season with the OHL shut down
5/141 RD Gannon Laroque , Victoria (6’2/196)
- another very young pick, right-shot D is solid, physical and mobile in all three zones, Victoria’s top defender (as a rookie) and a great hockey name!
6/166 LD Taige Harding , Ft McMurray (6’7/236)
- monster is no gentle giant, but a high-character kid who can move, defend and handle the puck as well as most 6’2” blueliners
6/170 W Marcus Almquist , Rødovre (5’7/167)
- if NHL teams believe there’s room in the game for small, talented finishers who can skate, think, shoot and move the puck faster than those around them, then there’s a chance for this guy who is the youngest in the draft
6/178 LD Gustavs Ozolins , Riga (5’10/180)
- smallest D in our group at only 5-10, but plays much bigger and commits to every inch of the ice, with and without the puck
6/183 RD Ethan Samson , Prince George (6’2/194)
- big, mobile blueliner plays a calm, efficient game at both ends, but may be overlooked in PG
7/193 RW Alexander Palchik , Minsk (6’1/178)
- big winger works hard at both ends of the ice, strong on his skates and strong on the puck; should star with the Colts next season
7/198 LD Tyson Galloway , Calgary (6’4/193)
- big and mobile, late bloomer starting to add toughness, puck skills to his game as his confidence grows
7/201 LD Nikolai Makarov , Krasnaya (6’4/233)
- big, mobile blueliner (sensing a theme here?) plays a calm, stifling defensive game with some decent puck management
But what we lacked in early draft position, we made up for in late volume. Columbus added a whopping total of 11 prospects in rounds 4-7. But these rounds are administered by list, and that has left us with a somewhat unfortunate imbalance in player positions (and player types, if I’m being honest). Anybody in need of some big, mobile two-way blueliners?
THE PICKS
4/114 LD Evgenii Kashnikov, Gatineau (6-4/196)
- drafted into the Q as a thin puck mover, has blossomed into a powerful blueliner with size, strength, mobility and very good hands
5/134 RW Jake Chiasson , Brandon (6-1/165)
- long and lean, should add strength as he fills out to improve his burst, but plays with hustle, hands and hockey sense
5/135 LW Alex Geci , Sarnia (6’2/180)
- big-bodied scorer one of the youngest in the draft, Slovak missed the 2020-21 season with the OHL shut down
5/141 RD Gannon Laroque , Victoria (6’2/196)
- another very young pick, right-shot D is solid, physical and mobile in all three zones, Victoria’s top defender (as a rookie) and a great hockey name!
6/166 LD Taige Harding , Ft McMurray (6’7/236)
- monster is no gentle giant, but a high-character kid who can move, defend and handle the puck as well as most 6’2” blueliners
6/170 W Marcus Almquist , Rødovre (5’7/167)
- if NHL teams believe there’s room in the game for small, talented finishers who can skate, think, shoot and move the puck faster than those around them, then there’s a chance for this guy who is the youngest in the draft
6/178 LD Gustavs Ozolins , Riga (5’10/180)
- smallest D in our group at only 5-10, but plays much bigger and commits to every inch of the ice, with and without the puck
6/183 RD Ethan Samson , Prince George (6’2/194)
- big, mobile blueliner plays a calm, efficient game at both ends, but may be overlooked in PG
7/193 RW Alexander Palchik , Minsk (6’1/178)
- big winger works hard at both ends of the ice, strong on his skates and strong on the puck; should star with the Colts next season
7/198 LD Tyson Galloway , Calgary (6’4/193)
- big and mobile, late bloomer starting to add toughness, puck skills to his game as his confidence grows
7/201 LD Nikolai Makarov , Krasnaya (6’4/233)
- big, mobile blueliner (sensing a theme here?) plays a calm, stifling defensive game with some decent puck management