Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysis

The Columbus Blue Jackets have eight picks in the 2025 NHL Draft: Nos.

14, 20, 77, 109, 160, 173, 205, 218.

Heres what to expect.

Pronmans team needs Columbus has had a lot of high picks in recent years and has acquired talent at all positions, so I dont see a clear pressing need.

After 2022 No.

6 pick David Jiricek didnt pan out for the Blue Jackets, though, there is more of a need to shore up the young depth on the blue line than there is up front.

The view from Columbus The Blue Jackets have two first-round draft picks (No.

14 and No.

21), but the way theyve framed the summer GM Don Waddell wants to make big moves it might feel like a disappointment to many in the fan base if they end up selecting players with one or both of those picks.

Waddell wants to solidify his mix-and-match defensive corps and wants to add a top-six winger.

Theres also a chance he tries to find a consistent, reliable veteran goaltender.

Thats a long punch list, probably more than he could conceivably get done during the draft.

Itll likely require a plunge into the free agent market.

Advertisement One cool story that could develop on Friday: defenseman Sascha Boumedienne, who played in the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets program in Columbus, will likely go in the first round.

His father, Josef, spent over a decade with the club as a scout, a director of pro scouting and a coach.

Aaron Portzline Names to watch In recent mock drafts, Corey Pronman has projected the following picks: 14.

Justin Carbonneau, RW 20.

Sascha Boumedienne, D 77.

Cooper Simpson, LW 109.

Viacheslav Vasilyev, C 173.

Melvin Novotny, LW 205.

Daniel Nieminen, D 218.

Trenten Bennett, G (Photo of Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images).

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