While the Blue Jackets have most certainly taken a step forward on the offensive end this season, their struggles on the blue line have been notable. They will almost definitely look to improve it through trades and or free agency this summer, as well as the high likelihood that one or more of their first several draft picks will be used on a defenseman.
The Jackets will also be counting on the development of their younger defenders that are already on the team such as Boqvist, Bean, etc. However, one other avenue for improvement that doesn't seem to be looked at as often, is the cache of blue liners in the prospect pool, that have yet to ever play for Columbus, outside of possible preseason appearances.
We have already discussed the club's newest defensive prospect, Aidan Hreschuk, at length, so we will move on to some of the more notable players in the pool.
Perhaps the biggest name, among D-men in the prospect pipeline, is Regina, Saskatchewan native and current University of Wisconsin blue liner Corson Ceulemans. The Blue Jackets used the 25th overall pick in the 2021 draft, that they picked up in the Nick Foligno trade, to select Ceulemans.
At 6'2" and nearly 200 lbs. He has the frame to grow into a physically imposing force on the defensive end. Going into and throughout the draft process, according to Elite Prospects, the defenseman out of Regina was known to show flashes of brilliance with the ability to move opposing players off the puck and to defend well in front of the net. He had talent on the offensive side as well, but both defensively and offensively, he was considered way too inconsistent with holes in his game.
At still only 18 years-old, Ceulemans has a ways to go to reach the height of his potential, but his first year playing for Wisconsin has seemed to help propel him along that journey. By all accounts he has played very well this year, being named the Hockey Commissioner Association's national rookie of the month in December. He has played more consistently on the defensive end as well as posting a scoring line of 7-15-22 in 34 games. It remains to be seen when Columbus will sign him and try out his talents in the NHL, but at this point, even with the progress he has made, he would most likely benefit from another season at the collegiate level.
Next up is the Blue Jacket's third round pick in the 2021 draft, Stanislav Svozil. What he may lack in certain skills such as speed and stickhandling, he more than makes up for in tenacity and cerebral play. Going into the draft his reputation was that of an incredibly hard worker who has impeccable timing when it comes to putting someone in the boards or taking away the puck; his footwork was also highly praised.
Interesting enough, Svozil now plays for the team from Ceuleman's hometown - The Regina Pats of the WHL. He has played well thus far, providing quite a bit of offense for a defender, with a line of 10-30-40 in 54 games, causing some to speculate that Columbus may have come away with a third-round steal. While it will likely be a couple years before he gets a chance to crack the Jackets line-up, he may very well make an impact when he does, and at only 19, he has certainly has time.
Also at 19 years-old and a third-round pick of the Blue Jackets (2020), we have the left handed D-man out of Slovakia - Samuel Knazko. Some of the things that stood out for him during the draft process was his passing and skating ability. He doesn't appear to be as physical of a player as Ceulemans and Svozil, but with proper coaching and training, along with his ability to add offense from the blue line, he could one day be an asset on the ice for Columbus.
Again, the Blue Jackets will likely address the weak blue line play through player development, the upcoming draft and free agency, as well as possibly trades. Also these prospects as well as others in the pipeline may not be in Columbus until sometime after next season, but as the Jackets build for the future, look out for some of these names to become key pieces, down the road, for this franchise.
