The Columbus Blue Jackets owned seven draft picks going into the 2025 NHL Draft, including No. 14 and No. 20 in the first round.
One of Columbus’ selections, a fifth-round pick (No. 160 overall), was acquired June 26 in a deal that sent backup goaltender Daniil Tarasov to the Florida Panthers.
Advertisement
The club also completed a swap of organizational depth forwards on June 26, sending AHL Cleveland forward Cam Butler to the Minnesota Wild for Brendan Gaunce, who has one year remaining on a two-year contract. Gaunce is rejoining the Blue Jackets after playing for Columbus and Cleveland from 2021-24.
They parted with a third-round selection when they made a deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The Jackets acquired forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood, but parted with (among other assets) their third-round (No. 77 overall) selection, which they would have used June 28.
But Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell was done wheeling and dealing. When it came time to make their picks, the Blue Jackets took center Jackson Smith and goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov.
Here’s more on the Blue Jackets’ first round:
Ohio AAA Blue Jackets Sascha Boumedienne goes in first round
Sascha Boumedienne, whose father, Josef, worked 10 years for the Blue Jackets as a scout and assistant coach, was taken by the Winnipeg Jets with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Sascha Boumedienne played for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets and the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, where he honed his skills as a defenseman, before landing at Boston University. According to the New York Times, Sascha Boumedienne attended Olentangy Liberty High School.
28. Winnipeg Jets: Defenseman Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University
NHL first-round draft summary
Utah Mammoth: C Caleb Desnoyers – Moncton (QMJHL)
Seattle Kraken: C Jake O’Brien – Brantford (OHL)
Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils): C Cole Reschny – Victoria (WHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (from Philadelphia Flyers via Colorado Avalanche): RW Bill Zonnon – Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Ottawa Senators (from Nashville Predators via Tampa Bay Lightning): D Logan Hensler – Wisconsin
Washington Capitals: LW Lynden Lakovic – Moose Jaw (WHL)
San Jose Sharks (from Dallas Stars): G Joshua Ravensbergen – Prince George (WHL)
Los Angeles Kings (from Pittsburgh Penguins via Philadelphia Flyers via Edmonton Oilers): D Henry Brzustewicz – London (OHL)
Calgary Flames (from Florida Panthers): C Cullen Potter – Arizona State
Stats for Blue Jackets draft pick Pyotr Andreyanov
Andreyanov is the No. 1 ranked international goalie by NHL Central Scouting, but his selection still took many aback. That’s partly due to his 6-foot, 207-pound size. It certainly isn’t a reflection of his numbers. He posted a 23-6-6 record with a 1.75 goals-against average, .942 save percentage and three shutouts in 37 regular-season games in Russia’s junior league.
Blue Jackets take first goalie of 2025 NHL Draft
Here are the first 20 selections.
Advertisement
Utah Mammoth: C Caleb Desnoyers – Moncton (QMJHL)
Seattle Kraken: C Jake O’Brien – Brantford (OHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (from Pittsburgh Penguins via Vancouver Canucks via New York Rangers): C Jack Nesbitt – Windsor (OHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets: D Jackson Smith – Tri-City (WHL)
Vancouver Canucks: C Braeden Cootes – Seattle (WHL)
New York Islanders (from Montreal Canadiens): D Kashawn Aitcheson – Barrie (OHL)
St. Louis Blues: RW Justin Carbonneau – Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild): G Pyotr Andreyanov – CSKA Jr. (Russia)
Pyotr Andreyanov goes to Blue Jackets with pick No. 20
Surprise pick for Columbus. More about the goalie coming…
Stats for Blue Jackets draft pick Jackson Smith
Smith, who intends to play for Penn State, is a 6-4, 199-defenseman. Last season with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, he had 11 goals and 54 points in 68 games. He was ranked 13th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
LONDON, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 26: Defenceman Jackson Smith #7 of Team CHL skates against Team USA during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge at Canada Life Place on November 26, 2024 in London, Ontario. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
Blue Jackets have Meredith Gaudreau announce Jackson Smith’s selection
The NHL is in Los Angeles for the 2025 draft, and thus thought it appropriate to introduce some star power into the event by having celebrities announce the picks.
Advertisement
Actor Adam Sandler, musicians the Goo Goo Dolls, and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer have all made selections tonight.
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman greets Meredith Gaudreau prior to her announcing the 14th overall pick for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
And when the Columbus Blue Jackets made their choice, they had the widow of Johnny Gaudreau share it. Meredith Gaudreau was greeted with a chant of her late husband’s name and responded by thanking them and all the NHL teams that have supported her in the time since Johnny and Johnny’s brother Matthew were killed last August by a suspected drunk driver.
Jackson Smith goes to the Blue Jackets with pick No. 14
More on this defenseman from the WHL’s Tri-City coming soon…
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Jackson Smith is selected as the 14th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Blue Jackets are on the clock…
Unless there’s a trade, Columbus will make the next selection at the 2025 NHL Draft.
NHL is through the first 10 picks of the 2025 draft
New York Islanders: D Matthew Schaefer – Erie (OHL)
Chicago Blackhawks: C Anton Frondell – Djurgården (Sweden)
Utah Mammoth: C Caleb Desnoyers – Moncton (QMJHL)
Seattle Kraken: C Jake O’Brien – Brantford (OHL)
Michael Misa and Anton Frondell round out the top three
The San Jose Sharks took Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa No. 2 overall, and the Chicago Blackhawks followed by selecting center Anton Frondell of Djurgårdens in Sweden.
Matthew Schaefer goes to the New York Islanders with the No. 1 pick
No surprise, as former Blue Jackets player, now New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche has selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League with the No. 1 pick.
1. New York Islanders: Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Erie
Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner, opens the 2025 draft
“I love the Southern California vibe,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said as a loud chorus of boos rained down on him at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theatre.
Advertisement
After some introductory words, he ended his remarks with, “Islanders, you are on the clock.”
Columbus Blue Jackets confirm Coyle trade
The Blue Jackets have announced that they have acquired forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood.
Columbus sends forward prospect Gavin Brindley, selected in the second round of the 2023 draft (34th overall), plus their 2025 third-round pick (77th overall) and a conditional 2027 second-round pick to the Avalanche for the two veterans. Columbus has two second-round picks in 2027, so they’ll get their pick of which one the Avalanche can use to satisfy the trade condition.
Advertisement
— Brian Hedger
Blue Jackets draft party
With the new format for this year’s draft, with teams making their selections from their home arenas rather than a centralized draft headquarters, Blue Jackets fans can watch the draft from the same building where GM Don Waddell and Columbus’ front office will be going to work.
The Blue Jackets watch party is a free event, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The only place for fans to enter is at the Front Street entrance.
Blue Jackets trade for Colorado Avalanche’s Charlie Coyle
After missing out on New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, reports from multiple NHL insiders say the Blue Jackets have acquired center Charlie Coyle in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado’s return from Columbus has not been reported.
Advertisement
— Brian Hedger
Montreal Canadiens land defenseman Noah Dobson
The Blue Jackets are in need of a right-shot defenseman, and according to multiple reports, they were in on New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson.
However, multiple media outlets say that the Montreal Canadiens ended up landing the blueliner. They also agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract extension with him.
The New York Islanders reportedly traded defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens.
Per those reports, the Islanders will receive forward Emil Heineman and both of Montreal’s first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 17) in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Dobson, 25, was a pending restricted free agent after wrapping up a three-year, $12 million contract last season, when he recorded 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) and averaged 23:16 of ice time in 71 games.
Advertisement
Dobson has totaled 230 points (50 goals, 180 assists) in 388 career games since being selected by the Islanders with the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft.
— Field Level Media
What time does the NHL draft start?
The 2025 NHL Draft begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27th. The second through seventh rounds start at noon the next day.
Where is the NHL draft 2025?
The main staging ground for this year’s draft is L.A. Live’s Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. However, unlike previous years (outside the pandemic), the NHL’s 32 teams are dispersed throughout the country. The Blue Jackets’ war room is at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
Who will be the #1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft?
Numerous analysts say there are two most likely candidates to go No. 1 to the New York Islanders. They are defenseman Matthew Schaefer from Erie of the Ontario Hockey League and Saginaw (OHL) center Michael Misa.
How to watch 2025 NHL Draft?
Time: 7 p.m. ET on June 27; 12 p.m. ET on June 28
Location: Peacock Theatre (Los Angeles)
2025 NHL Draft: First-round order
Pittsburgh Penguins (from New York Rangers via Vancouver Canucks)
Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)
Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils)
Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild)
Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado Avalanche)
Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
Nashville Predators (from Golden Knights via Sharks)
San Jose Sharks (from Dallas Stars)
Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton Oilers)
Calgary Flames (from Florida Panthers)
Get more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets 2025 NHL Draft tracker: first-round updates, how to watch