Why I think the CBJ should focus on Defense at the NHL Entry Draft

How do, all! As you know, I’ve been saying that the CBJ should focus on their defensive prospect depth in this year’s draft despite the fact that, from what I’ve gathered, the best player available in the first round will more than likely be a forward. As I pointed out in my preview, the CBJ have used 16 of their last 19 picks on forwards or goalies including six of last year’s seven picks (all six being forwards) with four of those picks being among the teams top prospects. But more importantly, I say this because of the organization’s overall lack of depth at the position.

This same kind of situation happened two years ago but instead at the goaltender position so let’s step into the CBJProspects wayback machine. Going into the 2012 NHL Draft the Jackets goaltending depth was Steve Mason and Allen York both under contract and Anton Forsberg and Martin Ouellette who were early in their careers, before their respective breakouts…and that’s it. The team had let Mathieu Corbeil walk having decided that it was playing on the juggernaut Saint John Sea Dogs that made him so good (and seeing as the high point of his career is a three game stint in Utica we chose correctly).

So, with not a lot to look at in the goalie stables, at the draft the CBJ traded for a goalie from the Flyers (wonder who that was) and drafted the top two goalies available (two of Europe‘s best).

Now I know the NHL draft is more about two to three years from now unlike the NFL and NBA drafts, but at the moment, the only defenseman under contract to play in Springfield next season (I think the CBJ’s D is pretty set) are Thomas Larkin and Austin Madaisky. The Jackets do have a few RFAs that should be back in Will Weber, Cody Goloubef and the player who I think will get the first crack at replacing Nikita Nikitin (I believe he’s KHL bound) Tim Erixon.

As for the team’s prospect depth it’s Mike Reilly and Dillon Heatherington and that’s it.

Now Reilly is an All-American and one of the top offensive defensemen in college hockey. And compare Reilly, who is a puck mover, to Heatherington who is a big steady stay at home type who has led his team in +/- the last two seasons. I see those two contributing in Springfield as soon as possibly next season when their seasons are over. As for Madiaksy and Larkin you never know what could happen – both are fifth round picks but they’ve spent most of their pro careers at this point in Evansville, Indiana.

As for what kind of defenseman we should look at in the draft…the ones that have a D in the column for position. The Jackets have already let the prospect with his best shot, Gianluca Curcuruto, re-enter the draft after a down year/injuries. My top defensive pick is Julius Honka. This is a familiarity pick as he is Dillon Heatherington’s defensive partner and is rated around the CBJ’s first pick in the draft. The smaller Fin is much like Mike Reilly with really the only knock on him is that he’s 5’11” 175 pounds. Another player that is rated at the CBJ’s pick range in the hockeyprospect.com blackbook (whose word I go by more often than not) is Travis Sanheim. Going off the Central Scouting rankings, Sanheim was the 167th ranked North American Skater and jumped up to 53rd in the final rankings. Of course this would be a huge reach so maybe he’ll be around in the second round; but, according to a quote in the blackbook an unnamed NHL scout thinks Sanheim will be a top 30 pick. Consider also a conversation Hockeyprospect.com founder Mark Edwards had with a Calgary (WHL) scout who believes Sanheim will become a better player long term than ninth ranked North American skater Haydn Fleury. He thinks Sanheim has more of a ceiling to reach.

Two other options for the Jackets in the later rounds are US Development Team and Minnesota recruit Jack Glover and Edmonton Oil Kings Dman Dysin Mayo (we had a guy named Heinze so why not?). Glover is a 6’3″ offensive defenseman rated 38th among North American skaters but does have a few negatives including his decision making. As for Mayo he’s another 6’3 defender playing on the Memorial Cup Champion Edmonton Oil Kings. According to The Hockey News Draft Preview, if Mayo played on a bad team “he’d probably have a much better draft consideration than he is now”, Mayo does many things well but doesn’t have one part of his game that stands out. The black book says that Mayo is improving on the physical side of his game and that’s making him more effective in his own end.

There you have it folks – just my ranting on what I think the CBJ should do at the draft. Next week I will be back with my annual mock draft in which I’m a fantastic one for 15 (thanks Jarmo and Dillon)