COLUMBUS, Ohio — NHL general managers and scouts have been known to make grandiose comments when draft weekend is complete and a new batch of prospects has landed in their pool. That sixth-round draft pick? He was way higher on their board. That seventh-round pick? Yeah, he reminds them of (insert generational talent here) … yeah, Patrice Bergeron!
Advertisement
That’s why Don Waddell’s comments on Saturday afternoon demanded confirmation. Did the Blue Jackets GM just say that? Yes. Yes, he did.
The Blue Jackets drafted highly touted defenseman Jackson Smith with the No. 14 pick on Friday, surprising exactly nobody. They selected goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov at No. 20, surprising many, as Andreyanov was predicted to go late in the second round or early in the third.
On Saturday, the Blue Jackets traded back into the third round to select Swedish defenseman Malte Vass with the No. 76 overall pick. And then Waddell said …
“We drafted right, identically, as our list was laid out,” he said. “The first three guys (Smith, Andreyanov, and Vass) were all in the top 14 on our list.”
Come again?
“Correct. That is correct,” Waddell said. “I can say, probably, it’s never happened in my history (in hockey). It’s our board, so we’ll see in a few years if we’re right or not. Our guys put a lot of work into it. We had mid-season meetings, end-of-season meetings, and meetings this week, and the list was unanimous. When you’re sitting there at 76 and you’re able to get a guy who is still on your top 15 list, there’s only one decision to make and that’s what we did.”
We got exactly who we wanted!
Don Waddell says we were able to get 3 of our top 14 players. Hear more from him after selecting 6 new players in this year’s draft!
📺 https://t.co/DwAA0r1OX9@OhioHealth | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/J62zK3Rs5v
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 28, 2025
The Blue Jackets bolstered their forward corps with a trade with Colorado on Friday for Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood, but so far this offseason their defense and goaltending have not been improved.
On Friday, the Blue Jackets were deep in trade talks with the New York Islanders for defenseman Noah Dobson, but they backed out when the asking price, in Waddell’s opinion, got too steep. On Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks traded goaltender John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings for goaltender Peter Mrazek and two draft picks. The Blue Jackets, according to sources, were not involved in trade talks with Anaheim for Gibson.
Advertisement
The Blue Jackets did make two trades: a fourth-round pick this year (No. 109) and a fourth-round pick next year to the Red Wings to move up to No. 76 and draft Vass, and two seventh-round picks (Nos. 205, 218) to the Seattle Kraken to move up higher in the round (No. 198).
They had other trade offers, too, Waddell said, but they were only pick-for-pick trades, not offers involving players that could boost a roster immediately.
By now, you should probably realize Waddell is going to follow his scouts’ advice and his own eyes — he saw his share of these amateur players — without caring if that matches “conventional” wisdom or a wide array of mock drafts.
Vass, a highly physical defensive defenseman, was projected by most to be a third-round pick, which is exactly where the Blue Jackets drafted him. But Waddell confirmed he would have taken Vass with the 20th pick in the first round if all other players on the Jackets’ master list were taken.
“In Vass’ case, when he starts to fall, you say, ‘OK, let’s think about teams we could make a deal with,’” Waddell said. “We had already started down that road and made a deal (to get back into the third round).
“I read a lot of stuff — and heard a lot of stuff — about ‘Oh, we took a goalie early.’ But we wanted to take a goalie and we thought (Andreyanov) was the best goalie. We just felt that, instead of taking a chance — yeah, maybe I could have moved back a few spots — but the worst case scenario is somebody takes him in front of you and you’re saying, ‘What kind of strategy was that?’ I’m a huge believer that if you really like a guy and your number is up, just take the player.”
Malte Vass delar ut en tackling #HlinkaGretzkyCup #fbkse pic.twitter.com/4SCWqFWJkC
— SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) August 9, 2024
Vass (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) is headed to Boston University next season. He spent most of last season (40 games) playing for Färjestad in Sweden’s second league, but did draw in for five games with the top club.
Other Blue Jackets picks:
Fifth round, No. 160: C Owen Griffin — A smallish center (5-foot-10, 160 pounds), Griffin played his way into greater prominence in the second half of his season, especially in the playoffs. He had 22-29-51 in 62 games for Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League, but led the entire OHL in playoff goals (16) and was sixth in points (29). The Blue Jackets saw him play extensively this season, in part because they were checking in defenseman Luca Marrelli, a third-rounder from last year’s draft.
Advertisement
Sixth round, No. 173: LHD Victor Hedin Raftheim — He doesn’t turn 18 until August, so Raftheim (already 6-foot-3, 181 pounds) has some filling out to do. In 34 games with Brynäs in Sweden’s under-20 league, he had 1-3-4 and 22 penalty minutes.
Seventh round, No. 198: C Jeremy Loranger — The Blue Jackets like Loranger enough to trade two later seventh-round picks to move up the board and grab him. He’s a small center — 5-foot-9, 161 pounds — but he lit up the British Columbia Hockey League for Sherwood Park with 40-65-105 in only 54 games. He’s committed to play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha next season.
The Blue Jackets expect all six players drafted this weekend, among others including last year’s No. 4 overall pick Cayden Lindstrom, to attend their summer development camp, which runs July 2-5 in the practice rink attached to Nationwide Arena.
“We’re happy with the haul we had here,” Blue Jackets assistant director of amateur scouting Trevor Timmins said. “Now, these are prospects. I mean, we hand them over now to our development team, our development coaches, to help them develop.
“They’re young men. They’re prospects. Hopefully, they become NHL players for the Blue Jackets.”
(Photo of Malte Vass: Leila Devlin / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
F1 Austrian Grand Prix live updates: Follow latest from today’s race with Lando Norris on pole
Those who want to step back from the corporate labelling might like a little history lesson here. This former airfield was soon remodelled into a racing track, hosting its first action as the Osterreichring in 1969 and holding its first grand prix a year later.After a decade-long absence following numerous crashes and a Hermann Tilke redesign, the A1 ring was back on the calendar from 1997. Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz then bought the track in 2004 after another impending absence from the calendar — and the renamed Red Bull Ring has been an F1 mainstay since 2014.In that 11-race run, Red Bull (well, Max Verstappen) has won the Austrian Grand Prix four times. There were also two Styrian Grands Prix held at the circuit in 2020 and 2021 — named after the province in Austria — as F1 looked […]
Se Šmícou jsem si užíval každou vteřinu, říká legenda Liverpoolu. Hamann byl Prahou naprosto okouzlen
FotogalerieJednapadesátiletý záložník přijel na svou první návštěvu Prahy pouze na otočku kvůli exhibici v Dolních Chabrech, kterou pořádal jeho bývalý spoluhráč Vladimír Šmicer. „Bylo to skvělé odpoledne, zápas byl úžasný a myslím, že si ho všichni užili. Jsem rád, že se tady sešlo tolik lidí,“ říkal bezprostředně po závěrečném hvizdu Hamann, který byl jednou z hlavních hvězd světového týmu.Šmicer dal dohromady své bývalé spoluhráče nejen ze sezony, kdy s Liverpoolem ovládl Ligu mistrů. V Dolních Chabrech se představil třeba gólman Jerzey Dudek nebo útočník Robbie Fowler. „Jsem hrozně rád, že jsem opět viděl své bývalé spoluhráče a zahrál si s nimi. My se nevidíme moc často, takže to bylo super,“ těšilo Hamanna.Právě německý dlouhán byl členem týmu Liverpoolu v sezoně 2004/2005, kdy se Reds povedl triumfální obrat ve finále proti AC Milán. Poločasové manko 0:3 dokázali tehdy hráči smazat a v penaltovém rozstřelu rozhodnout. Z penalty se trefili Hamann a hlavně Šmicer, […]
Veslařky Flamíková se Šantrůčkovou byly druhé na SP v Lucernu
Flamíková se Šantrůčkovou se po startu držely na druhém místě. V polovině dvoukilometrové trati je sice předstihly Britky Eleanor Brinkhoffová s Megan Slabbertovou, ale české reprezentantky v závěrečné čtvrtině zvýšily tempo a posunuly se zpět na druhou pozici. Britskou posádku nakonec porazily o více než sekundu.Ve finále se dnes představí ještě párová čtyřka ve složení Terezie Janštová, Michala Pospíšilová, Alžběta Zavadilová, Alice Prokešová.Další tři české posádky startovaly ve finále B. Dvojka bez kormidelníka Jakub Podrazil a Dalibor Neděla i párová čtyřka Michal Zindulka, Martin Ježek, Jan Čížek, Filip Zima své závěrečné jízdy vyhrály a obsadily celkově sedmé místo.„V sobotu jsme měli problém s vlnami v první dráze, nedostali jsme se do svého standardního tempa a celkově to nebylo ono. Dnes jsme se na to připravili a bylo to mnohem lepší,“ řekl Neděla České televizi. „Až do 1750 metrů to bylo dobré, pak mi trošku došly síly, ale naštěstí jsme si vypracovali dostatečný náskok,“ […]
Sabres post-draft thoughts: Conor Timmins trade, the latest on Bowen Byram and more
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The 2025 NHL Draft will likely end up as a footnote in this Buffalo Sabres offseason. This summer is one in which general manager Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff are feeling legitimate pressure entering the final season of their contracts. The playoff drought continues to weigh on this team, and the fan base is restless. So while the Sabres added some interesting prospects this weekend, this offseason is all about the NHL roster.AdvertisementThis week was highlighted by Adams trading JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Micahel Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. That was a massive trade that will end up defining Buffalo’s season and Adams’ tenure in some ways. Adams continued to tinker with the roster this weekend, trading Connor Clifton and a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman […]
Why acquiring Jordan Spence could be a window into how Senators will run their offseason
OTTAWA — Jordan Spence knew something had to give when his ice time dwindled from an average of nearly 17 minutes per game in the regular season to between six and 11 minutes during the playoffs. He wanted a bigger role on the Los Angeles Kings, a team he had adored since childhood. He became a Kings fan watching Drew Doughty turn into one of the league’s best defencemen, and he got his chance when he was drafted by them in 2019. But with Brandt Clarke, another young right-shot defenceman, in their system, a hurdle was in Spence’s way.Advertisement“When you’re playing at a high level, you want to be relied on and trusted in any situation,” Spence said in a conference call on Saturday after his trade to the Senators. “And, for me, I think I’m ready to take a […]
2026 NBA mock draft: Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer lead way
The 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone, which means it’s time to introduce you to the new crop of NBA Draft prospects who have a chance to be selected in 2026.The good news? This class is expected to be deeper than the 2025 class both at the top and throughout the middle and latter portion of the first round. Not only have name, image and likeness rights resulted in players returning to school for extra years, but the incoming freshman class is seen as quite strong, led by a trio at the top in Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer. While I would rank Cooper Flagg over this trio right now, they all profile as potential Tier One talents depending on how their collegiate seasons go.AdvertisementSo strap in and get excited for this upcoming group.A few notes: Many […]
Related
F1 Austrian Grand Prix live updates: Follow latest from today’s race with Lando Norris on pole
Those who want to step back from the corporate labelling might like a little history lesson here. This former airfield was soon remodelled into a racing track, hosting its first action as the Osterreichring in 1969 and holding its first grand prix a year later.After a decade-long absence following numerous crashes and a Hermann Tilke redesign, the A1 ring was back on the calendar from 1997. Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz then bought the track in 2004 after another impending absence from the calendar — and the renamed Red Bull Ring has been an F1 mainstay since 2014.In that 11-race run, Red Bull (well, Max Verstappen) has won the Austrian Grand Prix four times. There were also two Styrian Grands Prix held at the circuit in 2020 and 2021 — named after the province in Austria — as F1 looked […]
Se Šmícou jsem si užíval každou vteřinu, říká legenda Liverpoolu. Hamann byl Prahou naprosto okouzlen
FotogalerieJednapadesátiletý záložník přijel na svou první návštěvu Prahy pouze na otočku kvůli exhibici v Dolních Chabrech, kterou pořádal jeho bývalý spoluhráč Vladimír Šmicer. „Bylo to skvělé odpoledne, zápas byl úžasný a myslím, že si ho všichni užili. Jsem rád, že se tady sešlo tolik lidí,“ říkal bezprostředně po závěrečném hvizdu Hamann, který byl jednou z hlavních hvězd světového týmu.Šmicer dal dohromady své bývalé spoluhráče nejen ze sezony, kdy s Liverpoolem ovládl Ligu mistrů. V Dolních Chabrech se představil třeba gólman Jerzey Dudek nebo útočník Robbie Fowler. „Jsem hrozně rád, že jsem opět viděl své bývalé spoluhráče a zahrál si s nimi. My se nevidíme moc často, takže to bylo super,“ těšilo Hamanna.Právě německý dlouhán byl členem týmu Liverpoolu v sezoně 2004/2005, kdy se Reds povedl triumfální obrat ve finále proti AC Milán. Poločasové manko 0:3 dokázali tehdy hráči smazat a v penaltovém rozstřelu rozhodnout. Z penalty se trefili Hamann a hlavně Šmicer, […]
Veslařky Flamíková se Šantrůčkovou byly druhé na SP v Lucernu
Flamíková se Šantrůčkovou se po startu držely na druhém místě. V polovině dvoukilometrové trati je sice předstihly Britky Eleanor Brinkhoffová s Megan Slabbertovou, ale české reprezentantky v závěrečné čtvrtině zvýšily tempo a posunuly se zpět na druhou pozici. Britskou posádku nakonec porazily o více než sekundu.Ve finále se dnes představí ještě párová čtyřka ve složení Terezie Janštová, Michala Pospíšilová, Alžběta Zavadilová, Alice Prokešová.Další tři české posádky startovaly ve finále B. Dvojka bez kormidelníka Jakub Podrazil a Dalibor Neděla i párová čtyřka Michal Zindulka, Martin Ježek, Jan Čížek, Filip Zima své závěrečné jízdy vyhrály a obsadily celkově sedmé místo.„V sobotu jsme měli problém s vlnami v první dráze, nedostali jsme se do svého standardního tempa a celkově to nebylo ono. Dnes jsme se na to připravili a bylo to mnohem lepší,“ řekl Neděla České televizi. „Až do 1750 metrů to bylo dobré, pak mi trošku došly síly, ale naštěstí jsme si vypracovali dostatečný náskok,“ […]
Sabres post-draft thoughts: Conor Timmins trade, the latest on Bowen Byram and more
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The 2025 NHL Draft will likely end up as a footnote in this Buffalo Sabres offseason. This summer is one in which general manager Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff are feeling legitimate pressure entering the final season of their contracts. The playoff drought continues to weigh on this team, and the fan base is restless. So while the Sabres added some interesting prospects this weekend, this offseason is all about the NHL roster.AdvertisementThis week was highlighted by Adams trading JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Micahel Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. That was a massive trade that will end up defining Buffalo’s season and Adams’ tenure in some ways. Adams continued to tinker with the roster this weekend, trading Connor Clifton and a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman […]
Why acquiring Jordan Spence could be a window into how Senators will run their offseason
OTTAWA — Jordan Spence knew something had to give when his ice time dwindled from an average of nearly 17 minutes per game in the regular season to between six and 11 minutes during the playoffs. He wanted a bigger role on the Los Angeles Kings, a team he had adored since childhood. He became a Kings fan watching Drew Doughty turn into one of the league’s best defencemen, and he got his chance when he was drafted by them in 2019. But with Brandt Clarke, another young right-shot defenceman, in their system, a hurdle was in Spence’s way.Advertisement“When you’re playing at a high level, you want to be relied on and trusted in any situation,” Spence said in a conference call on Saturday after his trade to the Senators. “And, for me, I think I’m ready to take a […]
2026 NBA mock draft: Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer lead way
The 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone, which means it’s time to introduce you to the new crop of NBA Draft prospects who have a chance to be selected in 2026.The good news? This class is expected to be deeper than the 2025 class both at the top and throughout the middle and latter portion of the first round. Not only have name, image and likeness rights resulted in players returning to school for extra years, but the incoming freshman class is seen as quite strong, led by a trio at the top in Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer. While I would rank Cooper Flagg over this trio right now, they all profile as potential Tier One talents depending on how their collegiate seasons go.AdvertisementSo strap in and get excited for this upcoming group.A few notes: Many […]
Be the first to leave a comment