Blue Jackets Prospects To Watch: Canadian Hockey League Edition

By Dan Dukart on August 14, 2023 at 10:15 am
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk skates in the 2022 preseason
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
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The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect pool has been well-established as one of the best in the NHL. But unlike other sports, like football, where it's easy to keep track of prospects (hint: they're all playing in the NCAA), that isn't the case in hockey.

The wide-ranging Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which comprises the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Western Hockey League (WHL), produces roughly half of all NHL players. Last week, our Coby Maier reviewed which players will play in the NCAA next season. Today, a look at which Blue Jackets prospects will be playing in the CHL.

DENTON MATEYCHUK, D, MOOSE JAW WARRIORS [WHL]

The defenseman, taken with the 12th overall pick in 2022, is an impressive prospect. If it weren't for David Jiricek, who was taken just six slots earlier in the same draft, Mateychuk would be the organization's crown jewel on the blue line. But that's no slight on the smooth-skating defenseman, who was the Warriors' captain last season. He'll likely be a fixture on Team Canada's World Junior roster, and he may be a late-season call-up. If not, he'll be in the mix to make the NHL roster in 2024-25.  

JORDAN DUMAIS, F, HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS [QMJHL]

Due to the NHL-CHL Transfer Agreement, which requires all draft picks under the age of 20 to be loaned back to their major junior club unless they are on the NHL roster, the reigning QMJHL MVP will return to the league for his overage year. It's really a shame, as the 5'9" right winger has nothing left to prove in a league that he torched for 109 and 140 points in the past two seasons. Instead, he has bigger fish to fry, like making the same World Junior team that Mateychuk is going for, winning a Gold Medal, and winning the QMJHL title and subsequent Memorial Cup. He will begin his pro career after this upcoming season, which is welcome news for the QMJHL and the Blue Jackets, alike. 

MARTIN RYSAVY, F, MOOSEJAW WARRIORS [WHL]

The forward, a teammate of Mateychuk, turned in a productive season with the Warriors in 2022-23. Rysavy's path to a successful professional hockey career is predicated on his ability to provide any offense at the higher levels of hockey. He has some pro traits, including prototypical size (6'3", 218 lbs) and a solid defensive game. Last year, his Team Czechia (starring Jiricek) nearly pulled off the upset of Team Canada in the World Junior Championship Gold Medal Game, and Rysavy showed well for himself at the tournament. He's an AHL player for me until further notice, but he's proven worth the late-round flier. 

LUCA PINELLI, F, OTTAWA 67's [OHL]

Pinelli, who was drafted 114th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, has been a productive player for the 67's. He'll play in the OHL this season and next, and it will be worth monitoring to see if he can make a jump to the NHL. In some ways, he reminds me of exactly where Tyler Angle was during his draft +1 season, and if that's the template, he'll likely be a useful AHL player. If his size works against him, his skating makes up for it.   

TYLER PEDDLE, F, DRUMMONDVILLE VOLTIGEURS [QMJHL]

Peddle was 'Mr. Irrelevent', taken with the last pick in this year's NHL Draft. Like Pinelli, he has some work to do in order to become an NHL player, but he's a reasonable organizational depth piece.   

NOLAN LALONDE, G, ERIE OTTERS [OHL]

The Blue Jackets have already signed Lalonde, 19, despite him being undrafted. He's put up just so-so numbers on a bad Erie Otters team, so it's hard to get a good read on his pro prospects. For now, he's another organizational piece, and he could be an AHL player in time. Nothing wrong with having some goaltenders in the pipeline.  

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