The Columbus Blue Jackets have made their selections and are ready for their annual development camp, which takes place from Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29 at the Ice Haus. Although many of the prospects have been previously drafted by the club - some as recently as Saturday - many of the players attending the Jackets development camp are free agent invites.
These underdogs, overlooked in prior drafts, are hoping to garner the attention of management, while proving them wrong all the while. Let's examine the players the club invited to development camp this year.
Luke Boka
This past season, Boka won the Mastercard Memorial Cup as a member of the Windsor Spitfires. The 5'11 Plymouth, MI native finished the regular season with 13 goals and 28 in 68 games. He is expected to play a larger role on Windsor in the season to come.
HISTORY!!!! pic.twitter.com/nrlm12v318
— Luke Boka (@Lboka12) May 29, 2017
Lawton Courtnall
Courtnall, the son of former-NHLer Russ, just completed his freshman season at Western Michigan University after three seasons in the USHL. The 21-year old Californian posted 10 points in 33 games in his first stint in the NCHC.
Hayden Hodgson
The 21-year old Hodgson just completed his fifth season in the OHL. He was recently added to the AHL Cleveland Monsters on an ATO, but never appeared in a game with the club. Still, his 66 points in 67 games still garnered enough attention to get him an invite to development camp.
Juho Jokiharju
GM Jarmo Kekalainen has likely had his eye on Jokiharju, seeing as he plays at his Alma mater, Clarkson University, and used to play for team Kekalainen used to manage in Finland, Jokerit. Jokiharju is a left-handed shot Finn who posted 9 points in 28 games as a Sophomore at Clarkson.
Luke Kutkevicius
Kutkevicius recently finished his second season in the OHL, posting 22 points in 66 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs. The 19-year old is listed at 6'0-6'1 and 162-163 lbs, depending on the source, but in either case, it's evident that he'll need further seasoning before playing at the next level.
Nifty board pass by @Mstrome16 to @lukekutkevicius to put the @BulldogsOHL on the board pic.twitter.com/jgPAGpWSG6
— Kyle (@Kyle18211) April 3, 2017
Bobby MacIntyre
Another OHL over-ager, MacIntyre has played five years in the 'O'. Give him credit, he's managed to increase his point total from 11-20-24-48-80 points over his career.
You can expect Bobby MacIntyre to draw some interest as a free agent. Hes aggressive on the puck and get rewarded here. @OHLHoundPower pic.twitter.com/GTkhSiMssC
— Kathryn Jean (@msconduct) March 30, 2017
Bobby McMann
McMann, a 21-year old from Alberta, just wrapped up his freshman year at Colgate after four seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He finished third on the team in scoring and second in assists.
Mel Melconian
The best name among the invitee group, Melconian led his OJHL team in scoring as a rookie. A potential late-bloomer, the 18-year old could be a name to keep an eye on going forward.
It's NHL Draft day, check out highlights of RP & Top 100 CVS Player Mel Melconian @MelMelconian @cvs_analytics @SHUHockey @TigersJrA @NHL pic.twitter.com/nYRMwQLQRr
— Roster Point Hockey (@rosterpoint) June 23, 2017
Kevin O'Neil
The New York-born 19-year old played the past two seasons in the USHL for the Madison Capitals and Fargo Force after an illustrious career at Albany Academy. He is committed to Yale University for the upcoming season.
Stephen Desrocher
A 2015 sixth-round pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost his rights when the club chose to leave him unsigned. A high-scoring over-aged defenseman in the OHL, Desrocher finished second on his Kingston Frontenacs team in scoring.
Frank Hora
Hora, who spent three games with the Cleveland Monsters this year, is a 21-year old defenseman from Cheektowaga, NY. The former OHL'er is hoping to catch onto an AHL roster for the upcoming year.
Michael Joyaux
Joyaux is a four-year veteran of the USHL, most recently playing 113 games in two seasons for the Omaha Lancers. A Bloomingdale, IN, native, has tallied 56 points in USHL 179 games.
Ruslan Rakhmatov
Rakhmatov has taken a peculiar path, leaving Moscow for the EJHL in 2012-13. After 11 games with the Jersey Hitmen, he left to play in the USHL, before splitting time in 2014-15 between the NAHL and the USHL. The defenseman finished his freshman year at Sacred Heart this past year, posting 13 points and 106 PIMs in 35 games.
Scott Savage
Savage, a 22-year old defenseman from San Clemente, CA, played in three games for the Cleveland Monsters after an ATO. He wrapped up an excellent career with the Boston College Eagles, culminating with a 29-point senior season, an exceptional year for a defenseman.
Mike Underwood
Underwood, an 18-year old has played 102 games in the NAHL, including 100 for the Aston Rebels. The Michigan native could be a late-bloomer, given his invitation status and the fact that he's never played a game in the USHL.
Ivan Kulbakov
Kulbakov, a goaltender from Belarus, played his first season in North America this past year for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. He played impressive numbers, appearing in 52 of 64 games and posting a 1.93 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.
USHL goalies (GAA)
— Aaron Westendorf (@USHLAaron) February 1, 2017
1.80 - Matiss Kivlenieks (SC)
1.96 - Ivan Kulbakov (YNG)
2.04 - Nick MacNab (DM)
2.06 - Castor (DBQ) & Korenar (LIN)
