Draft could get crazy at No. 8 for Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets aren't getting Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel in this summer's draft. That became the unfortunate reality for Columbus when the draft lottery balls came up in favor of Edmonton, keeping the Blue Jackets at No. 8 in the draft order. And assuming they stay at No. 8 (rather than trading up), the Jackets aren't getting top-ranked defenseman Noah Hanifin, either.
But beyond that, there's little certainty about the eighth pick, as indicated by a summary of mock drafts put together this week by FanSided.
The popular pick of late had been skilled defenseman Ivan Provorov out of Brandon (WHL), widely regarded as the second-best blueliner available after Hanifin. It's a pick that would make a lot of sense for the Blue Jackets, who are overloaded up front but in definite need of help on defense going forward.
The tide seems to be shifting, though, as the most recent mocks have Columbus taking versatile center Pavel Zacha of Sarnia (OHL) and physical winger Lawson Crouse of Kingston (OHL), respectively. Most mocks have Crouse going before the Blue Jackets' selection, as he is considered a possible top-five pick, whereas Zacha brings a wide range of opinions that make his landing spot tough to judge.
It's worth mentioning that most projections that have the Blue Jackets taking a forward also have Provorov coming off the board before they select, specifically to the Flyers at No. 7. But even in that scenario, the Jackets wouldn't necessarily be forced to take a forward by default. Zach Werenski, the consensus third-ranked defenseman out of Michigan, is also considered a top-10-caliber player and would be more than acceptable as a developmental choice at No. 8.
With that in mind, defense still seems to make the most sense as an area for the Blue Jackets to target in the first round. But if Provorov is gone, the choice might be a bit more difficult, particularly if Crouse were to still be on the board.
Photo credit: Rick Osentoski-Associated Press
