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The 2004 draft may prove to have been a great surge of talent into the Columbus organization. Five players from the draft class are in the midseason Top 20 Prospects for the Blue Jackets, including second-round steal Adam Pineault, who was the only one in the top ten to jump forward this time (largely due to the return of Nik Zherdev to the list). The Blue Jackets have a number of late round picks who are developing well, and several high risk, high reward types of prospects who could be major contributors to the team down the road.

 

 

Top 20 at a glance

 

1. Nikolai Zherdev (Returning to list)

2. Pascal Leclaire (No change)

3. Dan Fritsche (-2)

4. Alexandre Picard (-1)

5. Adam Pineault (+1)

6. Aaron Johnson (-2)

7. Sergei Mozyakin (-2)

8. Ole Kristian Tollefsen (-1)

9. Joakim Lindstrom (-1)

10. Arsi Piispanen (+1)

11. Kyle Wharton (-2)

12. Tim Konsorada (+4)

13. Tim Jackman (-3)

14. Peter Pohl (+3)

15. Greg Mauldin (-1)

16. Phillippe Dupuis (+3)

17. Trevor Hendrikx (N/A)

18. Dan Lacosta (-6)

19. Lennart Petrell (N/A)

20. Andrei Plekhanov (-5)

 

Falling off the list: Dmitri Kosmachev (13), Steven Goertzen (18), and Rob Page (20)

 

 

1. Nikolai Zherdev – RW – 4^th overall, 2003

 

Zherdev is among a handful of players who find themselves being placed back onto a Top 20 list with Hockey’s Future’s recent prospect criteria change. Zherdev is one of the premier prospects in all of hockey, ranking third in HF’s Top 50 prospects, making him the obvious choice as the Blue Jackets best. Zherdev is an elite skilled played with great puck handling and shooting, and has great speed to complement his talent. He prefers to play with the puck on his stick and has good playmaking abilities in addition to his sniper qualities.

 

At the start of the season Columbus agreed to allow him to go back home to Russia to play during the lockout instead of playing for the Blue Jackets’ farm team in Syracuse. This year he has been playing with CSKA Moscow of the Russian SuperLeague (RSL), where he currently second in scoring behind only Alexander Frolov. In 29 games, Zherdev has 12 goals and 25 points. Zherdev will certainly be in the NHL when it resumes play, and is expected to be playing a substantial role with the Blue Jackets at that time. He is expected to make the transition from prospect to bona fide star quickly.

 

2. Pascal Leclaire – G – 8^th overall, 2001

 

Leclaire has been sharing duties with veteran AHL goaltender Karl Goehring, each having played in 14 games thus far. Despite having a losing record (5 wins, 6 losses, and 3 shootout losses), Leclaire is posting solid individual numbers with a save percentage of .926 and a 2.34 GAA. Both put him roughly in the middle of the young AHL goaltending pack.

 

Leclaire’s strongest assets are his lateral movement and his ability to perform under pressure. A butterfly goaltender who is aggressive and loves to challenge shooters, Leclaire possesses an outstanding glove hand that makes him very difficult to beat to his left. Currently playing in his third AHL season, Leclaire will battle Arturs Irbe (who turns 38 in February) for the backup job behind Marc Denis in Columbus. Leclaire certainly has the upside of a No. 1 goaltender, but is going to have to supplant Denis to get a chance to shine in the NHL.

 

3. Dan Fritsche - C – 46^th overall, 2003

 

The speedy American pivot has dropped from first to third in the Top 20 as a result of Zherdev’s return to eligibility and his injury problems which have continued this season. Fritsche has played in only two games thus far with the Sarnia Sting (OHL) as a result of a shoulder injury. Fortunately for Fritsche and the organization, the injury occurred opposite to his previously more damaged shoulder. He is currently healthy and participating in the 2005 World Junior Championships, where he will be a huge contributor to Team USA as they try to defend the gold medal.

 

Fritsche is a complete player who does not have a glaring weakness. With good skating skills and great vision, offensively he is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. His physical two-way play fits in very well with the type of team GM Doug MacLean is trying to put together, and down the road may be an excellent fit centering Zherdev and Nash, adding some defensive responsibility to an amazing offensive duo, while still being able to contribute on the score sheet. Fritsche’s upside is between a first line player or a good second liner. However, in the absolutely worst scenario, if his offensive skills don’t translate as well as projected to professional hockey, his grit, speed, and defensive play, will make him a good role player. Fritsche, barring injuries, is going to be an NHLer, but time will tell how big a role he will play.

 

4. Alexandre Picard – LW – 8^th overall, 2004

 

“Pic”, as his Lewiston teammates call him, started off slowly, giving Blue Jackets fans a scare before kicking it into high gear and tearing up the QMJHL with linemate and friend Alex Bourret (2005 eligible). Despite missing a few games due to a concussion this year, and being overlooked for Team Canada’s Selection Camp for the World Juniors, Picard has 50 points in 34 games, as well as 88 PIM. Despite playing the fewest games for a player ranked in the top ten in points, Picard is seventh in total points for the league and third in goals scored. His +17 rating also puts him in the top ten in the league.

 

Picard has been very fairly compared to Edmonton’s Ryan Smyth. Picard plays a physical, two-way game with an edge and is a major factor on the score sheet. He drives the net hard and refuses to back down from much larger players. Picard fights for every puck, winning battles along the boards and recklessly throwing his body at loose pucks in the open ice. He has good speed and a very good wrist shot that has a quick release and is very accurate. The biggest concern with this high draft pick may be that his style of play is conducive to injuries in the long term. According to GM MacLean, Picard will have every opportunity to make the Blue Jackets whenever the next NHL season begins.

 

5. Adam Pineault – C/RW – 46^th overall, 2004

 

Pineault’s season has been the opposite of fellow 2004-draftee Picard. While Picard started slowly before exploding, Pineault burst out of the gates early in the season before cooling off in late November and December. Pineault began the season playing center, playing on a line with Steve Bernier (SJ) and Stephane Goulet (EDM), one of the most dominant lines in QMJHL. Although the line occasionally plays a shift together, Pineault has moved to right wing for the majority of the second half of the season thus far. He has 18 goals and 32 points so far with the QMJHL-leading Moncton Wildcats, and will play for Team USA at the WJC.

 

Pineault plays a fairly physical game, mixing his booming shot with good size and speed down the wings. He is very adept at finding the open space and unleashing his wicked slapshot. His howitzer rarely misses the net and was responsible for the majority of his goals in his rookie QMJHL campaign. His play this year has proven to the hockey community that he was a steal in the second round, and the Blue Jackets organization is ecstatic about being able to get him at 46^th. He is a few years of development away, but Pineault may be a good second line player down the road.

 

6. Aaron Johnson - D – 85^th overall, 2001

 

The big Cape Bretoner is currently playing with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. After 27 games his two goals and nine points are roughly on par to match his 2003-04 stats in the AHL. However, last season he did not have a great opportunity to gel with his teammates as he was constantly bouncing between the minors and the NHL. Although Johnson’s numbers may seem a bit low for a player expected to have noteworthy offensive potential, the entire Crunch team has had difficulties scoring in the first half of the season.

 

The 6’2, 197 lbs defenseman appears to have grown more into his frame, which was a concern for scouts when he was drafted. Although he could still benefit from adding more strength to cope with the more physical forwards at the NHL level, Johnson showed in his final stints in the NHL in 2003-04 that he was ready for the big leagues. Without the NHL lockout it is a safe bet to assume he’d be suiting up for the Blue Jackets right now. He has good offensive skills and may develop into a point man for the power play in a few years.

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7. Sergei Mozyakin – LW – 263^rd overall, 2002

 

As a ninth round pick in 2002, Mozyakin fell because most felt he was very undersized at 5’10, and under 170 lbs. While this remains an obvious concern, his success in the RSL with CSKA Moscow cannot be ignored. Although he is not putting up the same numbers as last year (21 goals, 40 points in 45 games) with 6 goals and 16 points in 35 games, Mozyakin continues to showcase his tremendous skill. He continues to play on a top scoring line with Moscow despite the presence of several NHLers on the team, including forwards Alexander Frolov, fellow Columbus property Zherdev, Andrei Nikolishin, and Oleg Saprykin. The significant increase in the calibre of his teammates has played a major role in the change in his numbers.

 

The tiny winger remains a question for management. GM MacLean recently called Mozyakin a “special” type of player because of the issues with his size. MacLean also indicated that the team does have him in their future plans, although he seems to fit in as a power play specialist primarily, rather than a player who takes a steady shift. Mozyakin will be 24 in March, and as a result is mature enough age-wise to make the move to another culture. If he is to play in the NHL, it most likely will be within two seasons of the NHL starting up once again or never.

 

8. Ole Kristian Tollefsen – D – 65^th overall, 2003

 

The rock-steady Norwegian has played most of the season with the Crunch except for a quick two-game stint with the Dayton Bombers (ECHL) in mid-December. Although he has not registered a point with Syracuse, Tollefsen does have 52 minutes in penalties and has made a success transition from the CHL, where he played for Brandon in the WHL last season, to professional hockey.

 

Tollefsen plays solid positionally and knows how to take the body. He’s willing to drop the gloves as well. He has a wealth of aggression and toughness to back it up with. Although his skills are a bit raw at this point, and will subsequently need some refinement over time, Tollefsen could begin to see NHL action mid-way into the next NHL season if the Blue Jackets continue their trend to give prospects a taste of the big show to allow them to gauge where their game is compared to where it needs to get. His defensive game appears to be fairly close to ready for top level talent, so he may get the call-up sometime soon, and allow his puck skills to evolve with time. Tollefsen has top-four potential.

 

9. Joakim Lindstrom – LW – 41^st overall, 2002

 

Blue Jackets GM MacLean acknowledged in an interview with HF that the organization had made efforts to sign Lindstrom but ultimately all parties agreed that spending another year in Sweden, where he is very comfortable, would be best for him. However, with the NHL lockout, a number of prominent NHL players (Peter Forsberg, Mattias Weinhandl, Henrik and Daniel Sedin) have appeared in MoDo’s lineup and have significantly cut back on Lindstrom’s ice time. He has, however, managed to play in almost every MoDo game, which is a good sign on its own. His two goals and one assist in 25 games are still disappointing for a talent like Lindstrom, even seeing such limited ice time.

 

Lindstrom is needs to bulk up at least another five pounds (currently around 194 lbs) to play professionally in North America with success. He has good all around offensive skills and above-average hockey sense. He is a very shifty player who changes his speed to catch opponents off guard. At times he tries to force things too much in the offensive zone and can, as a result, be prone to bad giveaways. When the NHL clears up the current uncertainly, Lindstrom will most likely be brought over to play in Syracuse.

 

10. Arsi Piispanen – C – 138^th overall, 2003

 

The lanky (6’3, 163 lbs) center is playing full time in the SM-Liiga with JYP this season, his first appearance in the SM-Liiga, Finland’s top league. Although his stats (one goal, four points in 32 games) appear poor, Piispanen is only 19 years old playing on the fourth line in a league of 20 and 30-year-olds. Currently Piispanen is taking some time away from JYP to lead, as captain, Team Finland at the World Junior Championships. This is Piispanen’s second year with the team.

 

He is a very good offensive player with good puck-handling and goal scoring abilities. Despite his thinness, he plays fairly physically, challenging for all loose pucks and trying to go through defenders if he can’t get around them. However, because of his very narrow frame, there is a great deal of concern about his ability to endure the rigors of a full NHL schedule, which is gruelling in both style of play and length. He remains a hit or miss prospect, just as he was on draft day.

 

11. Kyle Wharton – D – 59^th overall, 2004

 

Currently playing his third season with the Ottawa 67’s (OHL), Wharton was a part of the Blue Jackets excellent first day of the draft this past June. Having had issues playing significant stretches in a row (he played 39 and 43 games in the past two seasons respectively), the fact that Wharton has dressed in 29 of the team’s 33 games is a positive indicator. He has 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) and 23 PIM.

 

Wharton’s upside is in his offensive play. A remarkably good skater for a defender, he makes a good first pass and can rush the puck. Although he does not shy away from contact he is not going to intimidate opponents with his hitting, and sometimes seems to lack intensity. If his defensive aggression increases and his offensive skills continue to progress, Wharton has the ability to be a second pairing defender. However, he remains quite some time away.

 

12. Tim Konsorada – RW – 168^th overall, 2002

 

After missing much of last season with a major injury, Konsorada is back with the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) as an over-ager this season. As a result, his number must be taken with a grain of salt. After 32 games Konsorada has amassed 40 points, third on the team, behind only Eric Fehr (WAS) and Ryan Stone (PIT), who are having extremely strong seasons. The bounce-back performance is a great sign for Konsorada, who brought out the year after being drafted by scoring at near a point per game pace.

 

Although Konsorada’s numbers are good, the 6’2, 215 lbs winger projects to be more of a checking line player in the NHL. He is defensively conscious and plays the body well. He plays significant time on the penalty kill as well. Konsorada will graduate from the WHL at the end of this season and make the move to the AHL. His recovery from the injury has put him back on track towards the NHL.

 

13. Tim Jackman – RW – 38^th overall, 2001

 

The former second round pick is back with the Crunch this year after splitting last season between the AHL and NHL. This is his third season in the AHL and he continues to struggle to replicate the offense he generated with Minnesota State in the NCAA. In 28 games this year, Jackman has just five goals and 11 points. The entire team is struggling to put points on the board. Even so, Jackman’s numbers are down further than they should be for a prospect that saw action in 19 NHL games last season.

 

At 6’3, 201 lbs, Jackman continues to bulk up to enable him to play a power forward style of game in the NHL. It is becoming increasingly obvious that he is unlikely to become a scoring player in the professional ranks, but Jackman’s size, strength, and determination make him a good fit for a third line player who will see minutes on the second power play unit to mix it up in front of the net and dig out loose pucks along the boards. He is, however, a good bet to make the NHL, although his upside is not as great as hoped when he was selected back in 2001.

 

14. Peter Pohl – RW – 133^rd overall, 2004

 

Pohl, a mid round pick in 2004, has been one of the more impressive players in the QMJHL this season with the Gatineau Olympiques. He was considered a bit of a strange pick last year in the top 150 because of the questions about his size, but with 38 points in 39 games, he’s shown that the offensive talent is certainly there. He is second on the Olympiques in points, and is among the top 25 in the league.

 

The issue, as with Mozyakin and Piispanen, is purely size. Pohl is very generously listed at 5’11, 185lbs, and plays very small, even in the QMJHL, often considered the least physical of the CHL leagues. He is very easily pushed around and seems to be intimidated by bigger players. Although he has worked on this aspect of his game, it remains an enormous concern. With that said, his offensive skills with the puck are tremendous. He has experienced winning (with the team winning the Memorial Cup last season) and is being given an enormous amount of ice time with the third-place Olympiques. He is a high risk, high reward type of player, who probably has a similar upside as Mozyakin (power play specialist) but without the incredible success in the Russian SuperLeague.

 

15. Greg Mauldin – C – 199^th overall, 2002

 

Last year the smallish 22-year-old left UMass (NCAA) after finishing an impressive junior season and saw action in both the AHL and NHL at the tail end of the hockey season. This year he has begun to play his first full season in the AHL and responded very well, totalling 11 points in 20 games, tied for fifth on the team in points. He has stepped into an important role on the team as a rookie and continues to show he is ready for professional hockey.

 

Mauldin does not have an enormous amount of NHL upside. He is built into the mold of a third line player who can occasionally chip in on the stats sheet. Under-sized at 5’10, 180-odd lbs, Mauldin is a workhorse. He finishes his checks and uses his speed to pounce on loose pucks and create chances for himself. His skating and work ethic will likely build an NHL career.

 

16. Phillippe Dupuis – C – 104^th overall, 2003

 

The 6’0, 193 lbs Quebecker has really enjoyed a break-out season this year in the QMJHL for the Rouyn Noranda Huskies, the second Q team he has played for in his career. He was dealt during the offseason from the Memorial Cup champion Gatineau Olympiques. After finishing with 55 points in all of last season, Dupuis currently has 43 points in just 32 games. He has matched his 18 goal total from 2003-04 already, and is poised to finish the season around 90 points at this pace. He is currently in the top 20 in league scoring and leads the Huskies in points.

 

Dupuis moves up the list from 19 as a result of his strong play this year. Although he has a number of defensive deficiencies, like most junior players, he is a viable prospect down the road for the team, likely in a third line type of capacity.

 

17. Trevor Hendrikx - D – 283^rd overall, 2003

 

The long-shot blueliner was taken at the tail end of the 2004 Entry Draft and is turning out to be a wise investment if this year is any indication of Hendrikx’s ability. Initially drafted primarily for his physicality and size, Hendrikx’s offensive game has come a long way over the course of the past two years. After scoring 32 points last season, Hendrikx already has 26 points in 36 games this year with the Peterborough Petes (OHL). Just halfway through the season Hendrikx has already set a new career high (currently 12) in goals.

 

Hendrikx appears in the Blue Jackets top 20 for the first time as a result of his outstanding play this year with the Petes. He has picked up his play a noticeable amount since being drafted. Although he needs to put on a bit more weight, Hendrikx looks fairly big on the ice and has fought a number of times this year, including a brief bout with imposing OHL power forward Anthony Stewart (FLA). For a shot in the dark, Hendrikx is paying off big time. He needs time still, but could develop into a No. 5 type of defender for the Blue Jackets.

 

18. Dan Lacosta – G – 93^rd overall, 2004

 

The recently selected goaltender started the 2004-05 season with the Owen Sound Attack but was dealt to the Barrie Colts after 25 games. He has a 2.87 GAA and a .901 save percentage. His 28 games played thus far this season put him in the top five for appearances, indicating he can handle a heavy workload. He boasts in impressive 17-8 record, but has not had a shutout yet this year after posting four in his draft season.

 

At 6’3, Lacosta is a tall goalie. Just 186 lbs, he has some filling out to do, which should only help him to cover the net. Lacosta relies on his positioning to make the save, and needs some work with rebound control and must give up fewer bad goals. Contrary to his win-loss record, Lacosta has not performed well this season and has not impressed Columbus staff.

 

19. Lennart Petrell – C – 190^th, 2003

 

The feisty Finn received notoriety when he was penalized with a two-game suspension for a hit from behind in last year’s WJC. Now 20 years old, Petrell is not eligible to participate in the same tournament this season. He has spent the year trying to catch ice time with HIFK (SM-Liiga), where he has managed to skate in 19 of 32 games, scoring twice and adding a helper.

 

The big competition Petrell faces with HIFK is Vancouver Canuck Jarkko Ruutu, who is playing for the SM-Liiga team during the lockout. Petrell is an agitator much like Ruutu, and as a result, most likely poses a risk in term of penalty minutes, as well as the fact that Ruutu fills his role. Petrell has 31 minutes in penalties, which places him seventh on the team, although every player with more PIM has played ten or more games than Petrell. He does have offensive abilities in addition to being a pest, but in North America, Petrell will be expected to play the role of an aggressive forechecker. Petrell is likely to play in North America sooner rather than later due to his style.

 

20. Andrei Plekhanov – D – 96^th overall, 2004

 

Plekhanov is an interesting case. He remains in Columbus’ top 20 based almost entirely on his fairly strong performance during the six-game Russia-Canada Challenge, when he represented the touring Russian squad. He was a surprise pick in the top 100 last draft, and most experts felt he was taken due to his strong play the previous season. He spent much of his draft year injured. This year has been a strange one for Plekhanov. After playing some games very early on with the Neftekhimik junior team, he was loaned to Molot Prikamye, but he did not play a single game for them, most likely due to the team’s severe financial crisis. Further complicating the matter is the fact that his rights were officially transferred to the Sarnia Sting (OHL) in November. It is unknown what he will be doing at this point. He has played two RSL games with Neftekhimik.

 

Plekhanov comes with extremely high praise from former Neftekhimik (and current Moscow Dynamo) coach Krikunov, who has reportedly referred to him as “the future NHL star.” Plekhanov does not possess great size at 6’1, 187 lbs, but has a blend of defensive smarts and offensive skills. He’s effective with his stick and is physical enough to stand up to opposing power forwards. Theoretically the skills are in Plekhanov to be a top four NHL defenseman, but his injury last season and disappearing act this year, make him nearly impossible to gauge.

 

Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.