The NHL Draft Lottery was held last night and the Jackets had the lowest chance of picking first having only a 0.5% chance to win the lottery. Based on their finish, and the rules of the lottery itself, the Jackets could only pick 1st or 14th having only a 1 in 200 chance to pick 1st. With those odds, to the shock of no one, the CBJ stayed at 14 giving the team its second lowest pick ever.
Heres the lottery order
- Colorado
- Florida
- Tampa Bay
- Nashville
- Carolina
- Calgary
- Edmonton(justice)
- Buffalo
- New Jersey
- Dallas
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Winnipeg
- COLUMBUS
Now, I’ll admit, looking at a list of picks at 14 (since 1980) its not exactly murderer’s row: Brad May (90) and Sergei Gonchar (92) are probably the most well known but some of the better defensemen in the league have been picked 14th lately including ex-division rivals (how great is it to read that) Brent Seabrook (03) and Kevin Shattenkirk (07) along with Florida’s Dmitry Kulikov (09) and Islanders forward Michael Grabner (06).
As for draft targets, I’ve been saying it for awhile: the Blue Jackets franchise needs a skill boost badly and they also need a boost in size with the Jackets top offensive prospects all being under 6’0″. So now that we know where we fall currently, it’s time to consider what we might get.
FIVE POSSIBLES WITH PICK #14 FOR THE CBJ ( Presented in no particular order)
Anthony Mantha – #10 North American Skater Mantha was one of only three players in the entire CHL to score 50 goals. Mantha is a 6’4″ power forward described as “one shot dangerous” by a scout in the Hockey News draft preview.
Bo Horvat – #15 North American Skater Horvat is one of three London Knights I’d be happy with the Jackets selecting. In reports I’ve read it sounds like Horvat is a lot like Boone Jenner despite being smaller playing the same gritty style and being a leader.
Nikita Zadorov – #22 North American Skater If you saw the name and thought “oh great Filatov/Zherdev 2.0″ WRONG!!! Zadorov is a mammoth defenseman tipping the scales at 6’5” 230 lb. Zadorov is one of the few dmen I will accept the CBJ selecting. With the team’s strength already being the blueline we’d have some time to work with him as the Hockey News says Zadorov would be a bit of a project.
Curtis Lazar – #20 North American Skater Everything I’ve read about Lazar is that he’s one of the kids that does nothing spectacular but does all the little things. After getting off to a slow start because of personal pressure, Curtis rallied to score 23 points in his last 23 games. Before joining the Edmonton Oil Kings, Lazar captained Team B.C. in the Canada Winter Game and broke offensive records held by some guys named Crosby and Stamkos (but don’t expect that in the NHL).
Max Domi – #19 North American Skater Yes folks Domi as in Tie’s son. Max has Tie’s frame/stature listed at 5’10” but has 300% more skill. Domi plays like he’s 6’2″ and is an offensive dynamo who never gives up on a puck and knows how to wire it when it’s on his stick. He’s been dubbed “a fearless little guy with skill.”
It appears that unless the Kings or Rangers make the Conference Finals (Go Blues! Go Capitals!…I feel dirty) the Jackets will pick 14th, 19th and 24th. Going off the Hockeybuzz feature on Jarmo at the draft, Jarmo appears to be big on the best player available and will swing for the fences on a pick. One more thing, if you haven’t watched the St Louis Blues video from the 07 draft (when Jarmo and the Blues had, and used, all three first round picks) here it is, Jarmo is the star of this (please CBJ – a similar video would make our day).
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