Columbus Blue Jackets Top 10 Prospects

1. Nikolai Zherdev, RW

2. Pascal Leclaire, G

3. Danny Fritsche, C
4. Aaron Johnson, D
5. Joakim Lindstrom, LW
6. Dimitri Kosmachev, D
7. Ole Kristian Tollefsen, D
8. Tim Jackman, RW
9. Andrej Nedorost, LW
10. Arsi Piispanen, C

Team Needs

The Blue Jackets are still very much a young organization, and putting a quality product out on the ice has been a challenge as much as it has been a concern for General Manager Doug MacLean. He has attempted to do this by adding a variety of free agents over the course of the last couple of seasons, with little success. Players such as Luke Richardson, Todd Marchant and Scott Lachance have been brought in to make the club more successful, but it has failed to happen thus far.

While Columbus has some quality players down the middle, the organization may have mixed up the roles of some players, and in turn, have asked individual players to do too much. Andrew Cassels, for example, makes an excellent second line center. On this team, however, he’s expected to carry the load offensively. The same can be said for Todd Marchant, another center added to provide an offensive punch in the wake of having a career year. Marchant, best known for the work he puts in at his own end, however, couldn’t duplicate the same season on an offensively inept club.

On the wings, Columbus sorely lacks pure offensive threats, aside from its youngsters. Aside from 2004 Maurice Richard Award co-winner Rick Nash, the only forward with extreme offensive flair is rookie Nikolai Zherdev, whose flashes have everyone salivating, including Doug MacLean, describing the talented Russian as “special, really special.”

Defensively, the organization was mediocre at best, with the likes of Lachance, Darryl Sydor and Luke Richardson unable to control the opposition in their own end. In fact, Columbus gave up a total of 238 goals, better then only six other organizations. Last offseason, Columbus was expected to install a system which relied strongly on defensive play, but it was evident early that the players weren’t too interested in using a trap-like system, and it was soon deemed useless.

Goaltending has been strong for the Columbus Blue Jackets, with former Chicoutimi Sagueneens goaltender Marc Denis carrying the load. Columbus may be in search of a back-up for Denis, however, with the struggles of Fred Brathwaite.

Organizational Strengths

General Manager Doug MacLean seems pleased with the work he’s done over the course of the last four NHL entry drafts. In fact, MacLean is so sure of his prospects, he expects Columbus to ice a line-up next season that will host at least eight Blue Jacket draftees. “If you can get eight players on your team from the draft, that’s pretty solid,” remarked MacLean in an interview with Hockey’s Future back in March. “My goal is to have eight draft picks on the team next year.”

While MacLean may be a bit overzealous in his attempts to ice a young line-up, eight youngsters on the opening day roster isn’t out of the question. The quality of depth the Blue Jackets have established is impressive, ranked eighth among National Hockey League clubs according to Hockey’s Future NHL Organizational Rankings, a position certain to increase given their great draft ranking.

It appears as though MacLean is attempting to build an exciting team on the ice, consisting mainly of youngsters. “We’ve always been a club that’s put the young kids on the team,” spoke MacLean, “we’re going to continue to do that until we become a good team.” Columbus fans shouldn’t hold their breath on becoming a contending team, though. MacLean’s intentions of building a young core are genuine, and building a strong team from youngsters will certainly take patience.

Organizational Weaknesses

Looking up and down the depth charts of the Blue Jackets, it is clearly made evident that Columbus is in need of some defensive aid. The Columbus Blue Jackets roster boasts one defenseman, 2000 first round selection Rostislav Klesla, under the age of 26. Looking over the roster of their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch, the future doesn’t get much brighter, with only Aaron Johnson, Columbus’ fourth ranked prospect, as a true standout. The Syracuse Crunch may get a boost next season with the addition of former Brandon Wheat King Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, but other than the Norwegian Tollefsen and Russian Dimitri Kosmachev, the Columbus Blue Jackets sorely lack quality defenders with NHL potential.

Futhermore, the Columbus Blue Jackets lack quality goaltending depth. While they have a unique talent in Syracuse Crunch goaltender Pascal Leclaire, the organization is dangerously thin on bodies, nevermind talent. Leclaire, widely regarded as the successor to goaltender Marc Denis, struggled greatly in his first professional season in 2002-03. Leclaire rebounded, however, posting strong numbers and re-affirming Blue Jackets brass of their eighth overall selection in the 2001 NHL entry draft. In fact, MacLean was so impressed with the progress made by Leclaire in his second professional season, he suggested Leclaire could find himself behind Denis come October. After Leclaire, the Columbus Blue Jackets have former Guelph Storm netminder Andrew Penner, whose NHL potential is shaky at best.

Up front, the future of the Columbus Blue Jackets is suspect at best. The acquisition of Alexander Svitov has bolstered the center position, but outside of him and Parma, Ohio native Danny Fritsche, the Columbus Blue Jackets have cause for concern. Fritsche, widely regarded as a steal when taken 46^th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, appears to have secured a potential second line center. Couple Fritsche’s potential with the likes of Svitov’s impressive third line upside, and Columbus has the makings of an excellent duo. The only thing missing, however, is a front line centerman. Finnish youngster Arsi Piispanen may challenge for the role in the future, but certainly has to be considered a long-term project with the potential of not panning out.

Draft Tendencies

With four NHL entry drafts under their belt, it is safe to say that General Manager Doug MacLean and Director of Amateur Scouting Don Boyd haven’t vocally agreed that the Blue Jackets organization has displayed any prominent patterns when it comes to selecting youngsters.

The 2000 NHL Entry Draft saw the selection of Rostislav Klesla of the Brampton Battalion of the Canadian Hockey League. It was Pascal Leclaire, again of the CHL selected with the Blue Jackets first round selection. Rick Nash, Columbus’ first round selection and the first overall selection of the 2002 was plucked from the London Knights of the CHL. It was only when Columbus selected Nikolai Zherdev from HC CSKA that the trend was broken.

In talking about draft tendencies, or potential strategies in the draft, MacLean insists there isn’t a method to the Blue Jackets technique. When asked about potential approaches, MacLean simply responded by saying, “Strictly best player. We’re not at the stage where we can hand-pick.”

Despite what General Manager Doug MacLean may tell you, the Columbus Blue Jackets have drafted a different position each year their first round selections, which looks very much to be need-based. In Klesla, you’ll find a defenseman. In Nash and Zherdev, you’ll find a winger to patrol both sides of the ice. In Leclaire, a potential franchise goaltender lies. Judging by this pattern, one could expect a center to be drafted.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be absent from round two this year, resulting from the trade that saw General Manager Doug MacLean acquire defenseman Darryl Sydor (who was later dealt to Tampa Bay, a deal which saw Columbus acquire Alexander Svitov). The Blue Jackets attempted to secure a second round selection (last year), but efforts were in vain. “You know, I tried to (trade for a second round pick), and it just, the market went sour there,” explained MacLean, “and so south with the player dumping and I just couldn’t get it.” Aside from Klesla, who was selected fourth overall in 2000, Columbus has never drafted a defenseman higher then Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, taken 65^th overall in 2002.

Player most likely to be taken with the first selection (Hockey’s Future staff mock draft result): Cameron Barker, D