The Columbus Blue Jackets aren't playing in the playoffs tonight, but several of their top prospects are still playing in their respective league playoffs.
Moose Jaw was eliminated last night, ending excellent seasons for #CBJ picks Denton Mateychuk and Martin Rysavy.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 25, 2023
So among CBJ draftees still playing, were down to Dumais and Malatesta in the QMJHL and Del Bel Belluz in the OHL, plus Voronkov and Makarov in the KHL.
Here's a breakdown of who is still left standing:
Jordan Dumais
Dumais and the Halifax Mooseheads are in the QMJHL semifinals where they'll take on the Sherbrooke Phoenix. The dynamic winger is tied for sixth in QMJHL playoff scoring with 4-12-16 in nine playoff games.
A nice little play to give us a 3-2 lead.
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) April 23, 2023
Dumais (3) 10:06 2nd period
Vidicek, Schultz | #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/zEq5sLCLsy
James Malatesta
Malatesta, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, is having a solid season with 37-29-66 in 55 regular season games and 5-4-9 in eight playoff games for the Quebec Remparts. They're on the other side of the QMJHL bracket, so theoretically could square off against Dumais in the championship series.
James Malatesta scores two goals for the Remparts! pic.twitter.com/ApdIpo0nY7
— CBJ Highlights (@ThreadsJackets) April 16, 2023
Luca Del Bel Belluz
Del Bel Belluz was traded midseason from the middling Mississauga Steelheads to the Sarnia Sting, and he didn't miss a beat. After tallying 20-21-41 in 34 games for the Steelheads, he had 20-26-46 in 32 regular season games for the Sting and has added 6-5-11 in 10 playoff games. The lanky centerman square off against the perennially strong London Knights in the OHL semifinals.
DEL BEL BELLUZ CALLS GAME@BlueJacketsNHL pick @lucadelbel_ buries the overtime winner for the @StingHockey and they take a 2-0 series lead! #OHLPlayoffs | #SARvsSAG pic.twitter.com/TP23vNNeey
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 16, 2023
Dmitri Voronkov
In Russia, the KHL's Gagarin Cup is heading for a Game 6 between Ak Bars Kazan and CSKA Moscow. Towering forward Dmitri Voronkov, 22, is following up an excellent regular season campaign with an equally impressive playoff. In 54 regular games with Ak Bars, Voronkov posted a career-best 18-13-31, and has 7-4-11 in 20 playoff games.
Voronkov gets on the board for Ak Bars to tie the game up at 1! pic.twitter.com/tNTmoDSdAW
— The CBJ Center (@CBJcenter) April 21, 2023
Nikolai Makarov
Squaring off against Voronkov is defenseman Nikolai Makarov, the 2021 fifth-round pick. His growth has been noticeable; the 20-year-old has essentially split time between Russia's top junior league and the KHL the past two seasons, playing just 18 regular-season KHL games this season vs. 25 in the MHL, but he's played in 23 playoff games this spring for CSKA Moscow.
