Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

2010 NHL Entry Draft: Columbus Blue Jackets draft preview

Here’s an interesting team headed into the draft. The Blue Jackets’ biggest need is for a first-line center and scoring talent up forward, while also needing some new talent in net. It would be nice if the Blue Jackets can get instant help, picking this high in the draft, and there are certainly players in the first round who fit that bill. Yet Columbus is picking 4th, and many believe the best option at that spot is going to be on defense. The Blue Jackets are deep on the blue line, but could use a puck-moving defenseman; unless Cam Fowler slips to #4, there’s a good chance this pick is traded away.

2010 draft picks:

Round 1 - 4th
Round 2 - 34th
Round 2 - 55th
Round 4 - 94th
Round 4 - 102nd
Round 5 - 124th
Round 6 - 154th
Round 7 - 184th

Top prospects (per Hockey’s Future):

1. Nikita Filatov, LW
2. John Moore, D
3. Cody Goloubef, D
4. Maksim Mayorov, LW
5. Matt Calvert, LW
6. Kevin Lynch, C
7. Brent Regner, D
8. David Savard, D
9. Kevin Lalande, G
10. Dan LaCosta, G

PHT’s mock draft results:

4 - Eric Gudbranson - D - Kingston (OHL)

Thank you Tyler Myers. His emergence as a top defenseman in the NHL as a large, solid blueliner has considerably raised Gudbranson’s stock. The defenseman out of the OHL is said to be the very next Chris Pronger, although hopefully without the bad attitude. He’s already a large fellow (6-4, 195) but at 18 years old is likely not going to make the jump to the NHL right away.

What the blogs are saying:

The Cannon:

1st Round (4th Overall): D Cam Fowler- Windsor Spitfires OHL

We’ve discussed Fowler here at The Cannon many times. The lack of defense in Fowler’s game at this point isn’t a much of a concern, given his high level of offensive talent. I mean, Mike Green was a Norris nominee so obviously being a fourth forward on the ice isn’t all bad?

2nd Round (34th Overall): C Ryan Martindale- Ottawa 67’s OHL

Martindale is a guy who if he ever fills out his frame, has the potential to be a power center. There have been knocks on his work ethic, but coaching can remedy that very quickly. He’s a playmaker, a pass-first center who will pile up the assists.