Columbus Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason, gm Don Waddell on philosophy
Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell introduces new head coach Dean Evason during a press conference at Nationwide Arena.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hold the 14th and 20th overall picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.The team is considering trading one or both of their first-round picks for NHL-ready talent.The Blue Jackets are also looking to address potential free-agent losses.If the Blue Jackets keep their picks, they may select a forward and a defenseman.
It’s another draft week for the Blue Jackets, who are making final preparations to select another crop of prospects June 27-28.
This will be the NHL’s first non-COVID draft conducted without its 32 teams represented in-person for the two-day event at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Don Waddell, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations/general manager, will preside over his team’s actions from Nationwide Arena while NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and select prospects attend the draft in L.A., similar to other professional leagues’ drafts.
As of June 23, the Blue Jackets have seven picks topped by the 14th and 20th overall selections in the first round. This is the first time since 2020 they haven’t had a top-10 pick. Here’s a draft preview, including how to watch all seven rounds:
How to watch the 2025 NHL Draft
Viewers in the U.S. can watch the first round on ESPN and ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET on June 27. The broadcast of the second through seventh rounds will be shown on NHL Network and ESPN+ starting at noon June 28.
Locally, the Blue Jackets are hosting a draft party June 27 at Nationwide Arena for fans who’d like to congregate to watch the first round. The Front Street entrance will be the lone access point for entry starting at 5:30 p.m.
The Blue Jackets have two picks in the first round (14th and 20th overall) plus picks in the third round (77th overall), fourth round (109th overall), sixth round (173rd overall) and seventh round (205th and 218th overall).
2025 NHL Draft: projected first overall pick
The New York Islanders overcame long odds to win the draft’s top pick via lottery draw, and they’re expected to take either Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer or Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa.
Schaefer, who was injured for much of the Ontario Hockey League’s 2024-25 season, is a gifted puck-mover who shoots from the left side and is listed at 6-feet-2, 186 pounds. Misa is a high-scoring center who finished with 62 goals, 72 assists and 134 points in 65 games for Saginaw.
2025 NHL Draft: Columbus Blue Jackets exploring trades
Waddell hasn’t kept it a secret that one or both of the Blue Jackets’ picks in the first round – plus any others it might take – are available for the right return.
However, Waddell said on June 13 that it seemed more likely the Blue Jackets would make both picks in the first round rather than trade one or both.
“I spent three days (at the combine), and … it was probably the best three days I’ve spent this summer, as far as talking with people,” Waddell said. “We’ve had plenty of conversations about the picks, but I don’t see anything imminent that may change that in the next few days … but every day is a new day.”
Should a deal or deals arise, look for Waddell to address the potential losses of pending free agents Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro. (They need re-signed by July 1 to assure their return.) The Blue Jackets could also use an impact scoring winger plus a veteran depth forward or two up front with potential losses including James van Riemsdyk, Sean Kuraly and Justin Danforth as free agents.
Trades involving one or both goalies, starter Elvis Merzlikins and backup Daniil Tarasov, could materialize.
Waddell also has attractive potential trade chips with young forwards such as Cole Sillinger and power forward Dmitri Voronkov – a pending restricted free agent who scored 23 goals while playing mostly on the first line.
2025 NHL Draft: prospects who might be available for Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round picks
Should Waddell and his executive staff make picks with both first-round slots, the Blue Jackets could look to split them between available forwards and defensemen.
The 14th pick is their own after missing the playoffs by two points and then dropping in the lottery thanks to highly improbable wins by the Islanders and Utah Mammoth to determine the first two picks. The 20th overall selection was acquired from the Minnesota Wild in a trade for David Jiricek, the Jackets’ former top defensive prospect.
An array of talented prospects could be available with either pick since the top five picks are less predictable than in the past two years.
The Athletic’s latest mock draft has the Blue Jackets selecting WHL forward Lynden Lakovic, a projected left wing from Moose Jaw, with the 14th pick and right-handed defenseman Logan Hensler from the University of Wisconsin with the 20th pick. Tankathon lists the Blue Jackets taking OHL defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie) 14th overall followed by forward Malcolm Spence, a University of Michigan recruit from OHL Erie, 20th overall.
The Blue Jackets could also be positioned to select Sasha Boumedienne, a puck-moving defenseman from Boston University who played for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets. Boumedienne’s father, Josef Boumedienne, is the general manager for Sweden’s national teams and worked for the Blue Jackets under former GM Jarmo Kekalainen as the head of North American professional scouting. He shifted into an assistant coaching role in 2023-24, prior to Waddell’s arrival as Kekalainen’s replacement.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
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