Drafting teenage kids is more often than not a crapshoot.
It isn't often discussed how tough it is to project players at the next level. Those that are good at it stick around in the league for a long time. If you do it well enough for a period of time, they then give you an opportunity as a general manager.
Such is the life of current Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. Before joining the Blue Jackets, he worked for the St. Louis Blues as an assistant general manager and he was the director of amateur scouting before that.
He has a lifetime of experience scouting the game.
As the Blue Jackets entered into draft weekend without a first round pick, it was an unknown situation to most watching. The only other time that the team hadn't had a first round pick was in 2011.
They also didn't have a second round pick but it didn't last long when they traded prospect Keegan Kolesar to the Vegas Golden Knights for the 45th selection in the draft. The Blue Jackets selected Alexandre Texier, a French forward filled to the brim with skill.
He wasn't just good for a second round selection, the Blue Jackets had him ranked even higher.
"We drafted a guy who we would've drafted in the first round," said Kekalainen. "We felt we got a really good prospect in Alexandre Texier."
Taking risks is part of the process as well. The boom or bust potential of players can scare off general managers. Especially those with an injury that could last past one season.
The Blue Jackets weren't afraid of any lingering effects when they selected Daniil Tarasov in the 3rd round of the draft with the 86th pick. Tarasov did not play a game last season as he was sidelined with a leg injury.
The NHL Draft is about long-term investments and potential is too hard to pass up.
"He was the number one goalie on our list," noted Kekalainen. "We think he has a huge upside."
The Blue Jackets had seven picks in the NHL Draft but the prospect pool can never be too full. Ensuring that draft picks are developed properly is the next step.
Drafting well can allow teams to make moves outside the norm. With the expansion draft taking place it can help keep a core intact as well.
"You can never have too many (picks). But there are other things that go into that equation too. We felt that the Vegas deal was really important to us, that we get to keep our group together. Gave us the certainty we needed and we didn't have to scramble and sweat it out."
