DRAFT: CBJ have options to fill 'hole' with first-round pick

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Barring a trade, the Blue Jackets will not be vying for the limited number of instant-impact players who will be available in the 2018 NHL Draft.
That doesn't mean there won't be impact players available when the Jackets select 18th overall, nor does their pick hold any less significance, after Columbus sacrificed its first-round pick last season in a trade. In fact, this draft (June 22-23 in Dallas) is a chance for the Blue Jackets to begin filling that "hole in the system," which general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has cited multiple times this season.
Assuming Columbus stays at No. 18, there will still be some promising options left on the board. That means the Blue Jackets can add another significant piece to their system, which is already cranking out productive young NHL players on a regular basis.

The identity of the newest Columbus prospect won't be known until the pick is announced, but BlueJackets.com caught up with two draft experts this weekend at the NHL Scouting Combine - Mike Morreale of NHL.com and Scott Wheeler of The Athletic - to get an idea of what the talent pool might have left when Columbus is on the clock.
Here are a few names to keep in mind and thoughts on each:
Akil Thomas
Center, 5-foot-11, 171 pounds
Niagara, OHL
Thomas had an outstanding season with the Niagara IceDogs in his second OHL season. He finished with 81 points on 22 goals and 59 assists, tallying 32 more assists than he did as a rookie in 2016-17. Thomas, who's ranked in the middle of the first round by most draft analysts, plays a solid two-way game, is comfortable at center and could give the franchise's depth at the pivot another boost.
"When I look at the Blue Jackets, some of their best offensive players happen to play on the blue line, like Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, so I think they need guys who are going be strong up front and maybe down the middle of the ice," Morreale said. "Akil Thomas, I think, is a possibility at that position where they're [drafting]. He put up some real good points for Niagara this year and is a good two-way forward. I know in [the Jackets'] organization, they want to bring in two-way, reliable guys that are going to set the tone down the middle of the ice, and he's one of those guys."
Vitali Kravtsov
Left wing, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds
Chelyabinsk, KHL
Kravtsov had seven points in 35 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, scoring four goals and adding three assists, but his production skyrocketed in the playoffs. The skilled winger, who has good size and skates well, had 11 points on six goals and five assists in 16 postseason games and also had four playoff points (one goal, three assists) for the junior team in Chelyabinsk. Kravtsov, who doesn't speak English, is ranked third by NHL Central Scouting among European skaters.
"I just released my Top 100, so now I have a clear-cut top 15 or 16," Wheeler said. "For me, that Top 16 is probably going to differ from just about every team in the NHL, but there are a few players in that range who I think will probably fall and won't go in that range. One is Vitaly Kravtsov, a Russian winger. He played in the KHL this year and had an unreal playoffs. He's great. He's a big kid who can really finish."
Serron Noel
Right wing, 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
Oshawa, OHL
Noel, who's been mentioned as a possible Top-10 pick, definitely looks the part. He's long, lean and athletic. He's got high-end skating ability to go with his size. There's skill to his game, as well, but Noel's most effective tool is his body and strength. If that sounds familiar, that's because it's the same starter kit the Jackets got with Josh Anderson in the 2012 draft and again this season by signing college free agent Eric Robinson. Noel is ranked No. 10 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters and finished the season with 53 points on 23 goals and 25 assists in 62 games. He had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 63 games as a rookie.
"He's a winger, he's a big guy and he's a real good skater," Morreale said. "He actually learned how to skate from a figure skater. He took lessons when he was younger. Serron might be the rawest player in this draft, meaning that it's going to take some time for him to develop … but you could really be getting a diamond in the rough here."
Isac Lundestrom
Center, 6-foot, 185 pounds
Lulea, SHL
Lundestrom is ranked the 20th skater overall by a number of different services and is NHL Central Scouting has him rated No. 8 among international skaters. He's played in three seasons for Lulea in Sweden's top league and topped 40 games in each of the past two years. Lundestrom was only 15 when he made his SHL debut in 2015-16, playing four games, and he's developed nicely ever since. This year, he had 15 points on six goals and nine assists in 42 games and then played in the postseason for both the top team and juniors. Lundestrom is another center, who is no stranger to handling tough matchups as a forechecker.
"I watched him play in the [2018 IIHF World Junior Championship], when he played for Sweden," Morreale said. "He played kind of a second or third-line checking role for Sweden on that team and did an extraordinary job. Sweden reached the gold medal game, and Lundestrom was one of the guys who was playing against the [Brady Tkachuk] line for the U.S., when the Swedes won in the semifinal round. He played really well, and I know the coach there, Thomas Monten, said [Lundestrom] was one of the most under-rated forwards on that team."
Wheeler wasn't quite as impressed, but still sees the overall value.
"Isac Lundestrom is one of the only natural centers in the draft," Wheeler said. "He's a really good two-way player. He doesn't have the offensive upside of a lot of guys who are in that range, but he's a really impressive two-way player. He played OK [in world juniors], but he was one of the younger players on the team.
Rasmus Kupari
Center, 6-foot-1, 183 pounds
Karpat, Liiga
Kupari is ranked No. 11 among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting and has drawn rankings in the low 20s among multiple draft services. Another strong-skating center with solid size and skill, Kupari would fit right into the Blue Jackets' system, along with center Alexandre Texier, another teenage rookie who played against men in Finland's top league this season. Texier was the Jackets' first pick last season, taken in the second round (45th overall) and played against Kupari. Each of them had impressive seasons, including Kupari finishing with 14 points on six goals and eight assists in 39 games.
"If they're looking for a decent two-way center, Rasmus Kupari is another option with that [first] pick," Morreale said. "Great acceleration on this guy. He's a fantastic skater. I think his size is decent too. I remember from what scouts told me, he's like a [Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho] type of player or could be that type of player."
IF THEY GET DEFENSIVE …
Rasmus Sandin
Defenseman, 5-foot-11, 184 pounds
Sault Ste. Marie, OHL
The Swedish defenseman named "Rasmus" whom every team covets is Rasmus Dahlin, who will almost certainly pull a Buffalo Sabres jersey over his head to start the draft as the No. 1 overall pick. This Swedish defenseman named "Rasmus" also has potential to make some lucky coach and GM happy. Sandin, who's from Uppsala, Sweden, decided to bring his game to North America this season and showcase his talents in the smaller rinks here. It turned out to be a good decision. He finished the season ranked by NHL Central Scouting No. 11 among North American skaters and tore it up in the OHL with the Greyhounds. Sandin had 45 points on 12 goals and 33 assists in 51 regular-season games and then had 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 24 playoff games.
"If Columbus is looking for a best available type of situation, he may be a player that's there," Morreal said. "He led all OHL rookies with a plus/minus of plus-35 and led all OHL rookie defensemen in goals, assists and points this year. When he's on the blue line, he can quarterback a powerplay, but he knows where to go with the puck and where to pass to his teammates to put them in a good spot to do something with the puck. He's under 6-foot, but I don't think that matters anymore. The game is really changing into, 'Can you transition the puck?' He's a guy who certainly can."
Ryan Merkley
Defenseman, 5-foot-11, 170 pounds
Guelph, OHL
Here's the wildcard of the entire draft class. Merkley is a former No. 1 overall pick in the OHL draft, whose biggest issue is off the ice. Merkley's been up front about his short temper, which has led to some issues relating with teammates, but his raw skills are undeniably strong. Merkley is also on the slight side, physically, but his other assets give him loads of upside. After posting 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) as an OHL rookie in 2016-17, Merkley improved on those numbers this season. He finished with 67 points (13 goals, 54 assists) in 63 games and had six points (one goal, five assists) in six playoff games.
"He's played for Hockey Canada and has played really well at the top prospects game and at the World Junior Summer Showcase," Wheeler said. "He's just ridiculously talented and would probably go in the Top 10 if he didn't have those [temper] issues. But I know he's on a lot of teams' 'no-draft' lists.' He's definitely the kind of guy where you can swing big. There's certainly more risk there, but it could be a home run."