The 2025 NHL Draft is over, just like that. There were a bunch of pick swaps and a few player trades, but nothing of substance for the CBJ. 

Don Waddell is very happy with his selections in this draft, stating that “We drafted right, identically, as our list was laid out," Waddell said. “The first three guys were all in the top 14 on our list.” 

That makes for a very successful draft if he's being honest. 

Let's recap the 2025 Draft for the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Draft Class 

Overall Grade - B-

Jackson Smith - LHD - Tri-City Americans (WHL) - After two seasons with Tri-City, Smith has committed to playing at Penn State University. 

THN Scouting Report - "Smith is an offensive defenseman who could be considered the second-best defenseman in the 2025 NHL Draft. When he has the puck on his stick, it allows his forwards to find open ice. They can rely on him to carry the puck into the neutral zone before snapping a pass to spring his teammates. All the plays with Tri-City tend to go through him when he is on the ice, he gets the most puck touches due to his high hockey IQ and awareness. His ability to read the game and anticipate pressure is one of the main reasons coaches trust him in all situations, even late in close games.

On the defensive side of the puck, Smith does very well. He gets into lanes, he is smart positionally and doesn't give up on puck battles. Thanks to his speed, he can still get involved with any play, whether it's on the rush or the backcheck, he can skate his way back into any play. Overall, Smith is going to be a very good offensive defenseman that will have a large impact on whichever NHL team decides to draft his name."

Pyotr Andreyanov - G - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) - Andreyanov has apparently signed a multi-year contract that will keep him in Russia for the next 4-5 years. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report - "Pyotr Andreyanov is one of the most impressive skaters and athletes at the position. He has strong footwork and explodes well to the top of the crease to take away time and space from shooters, while also not giving up too much where an easy pass will beat him. His play reading and tracking combined well with those mobility skills, as Andreyanov is often beating the play to its spot and makes difficult situations look easy."

Malte Vass - LHD - Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell) - Vass will attend Boston University after leaving Sweden. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report - "Malte Vass is a defensive defenceman who kills plays through his physicality and motor. He suffocates opponents by taking away their time and space. He is an aggressive play-killer who can leverage his strength and skating to stop rushes early or engage attackers along the wall to separate them from the puck."

Owen Griffin - C - Oshawa Generals (OHL) - Griffin still has to play another two years in the OHL before becoming AHL eligible. 

Chris Pronmon of The Athletic - "Griffin’s game got better as the year went along, ending his season with a huge OHL playoffs performance. Griffin is an excellent skater who can play at an NHL pace. He has solid puck skills and vision and creates offense on the move. Despite his huge playoff performance, I have mild questions on how dynamic he is, especially for a 5-10 forward. I think he will have success as a pro, but I don’t see a clear NHL role for him."

Victor Hedin Raftheim - LHD - Brynäs IF J20 (J20 Nationell) - Hedin Raftheim is only 17 and is presumed to stay in Sweden for the foreseeable future. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report - "Hedin Raftheim profiles as an all-around defender. His stride isn’t the most fluid just yet, but he makes up for it with natural athleticism. It’s not just the skating that makes him intriguing, though, but especially his active style of play. He jumps from the point down the weak side regularly to fish for opportunities, but also activates off the rush, providing support as a trailer or sometimes spearheading the attack himself."

Jérémy Loranger - C - Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL) - Loranger will attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha for the 25-26 season. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report -  "Loranger is constantly dangerous with possession — curl-and-stop attacks, backhand saucers, cross-body looks, and slick hands around the net. His off-puck orbit pulls attention, creating space for linemates. While not a true power shooter, he elevates his finishing profile through shot location and creativity."

Don Waddell sounds like he didn't want to make the two two first rounds picks he made, so why couldn't he trade them? More on that later.

Let us know what you think below.

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Columbus Blue Jackets Day 1 Draft RecapThe Columbus Blue Jackets came into night one of the 2025 NHL Draft armed with multiple first-round picks, and many thought that Don Waddell would trade both of those picks. But it wasn't because they thought he would, but because he told everyone that they were on the market. 

The 2025 NHL Draft is officially over, with the Vancouver Canucks adding six new players into their organization’s portfolio. Their selection includes a surprising four centers, a goaltender, and a right-winger. Vancouver didn’t pick any defencemen this year, which isn’t surprising given the depth they have shown lately with both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks. They had a pick in every round of the draft except for the fourth, which they traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Evander Kane earlier on in the week. Let’s take a look at the six players who are now members of the Canucks organization. 

Braeden Cootes 

Round 1, 15th OVR

Centre

Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL 

With their first selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, Vancouver selected centre Braeden Cootes of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Cootes, who captained the Thunderbirds alongside fellow Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio in 2024–25, is a two-way centre who is known for his leadership on and off the ice as well as his positive impact in the locker room. Offensively, Cootes hit another level this year, scoring 26 goals and 37 assists in 63 games. In terms of his potential, some have even likened Cootes to former Canucks captain Bo Horvat. 

Aleksei Medvedev

Round 2, 47th OVR

Goaltender

London Knights, OHL 

Vancouver’s second pick in this year’s draft was Aleksei Medvedev, a goaltender who played in his first season with the London Knights of the OHL this season. He started 34 of the Knights’ games this season, putting up a 2.79 GAA and a .912 SV%. The left-handed catcher registered a record of 22–8–2 as well as three shutouts. Medvedev is one of the youngest goalies in this year’s draft, as he is still 17 until September 10, but is still 6’3 and has room to grow within the next few years. 

Kieren Dervin 

Round 3, 65th OVR

Center

Kingston Frontenacs, OHL 

Selected in the third round at 65th overall, Kieren Dervin spent 10 games with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL in 2024–25. In his time with the Frontenacs during the regular season, he scored a goal and two assists. In the playoffs, he had a goal and two assists in 11 games. Prior to his time with Kingston, he spent two seasons with St. Andrew’s College, a Canadian hockey prep school located in Aurora, Ontario. With St. Andrew’s in 2024–25, Dervin posted 33 goals and 46 assists in 50 games played. He has already committed to Penn State University of the NCAA and is expected to join the team in 2026.

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Wilson Björck 

Round 5, 143rd OVR

Center

Djurgårdens IF, J20 Nationell 

Wilson Björck was the third center the Canucks selected in this year’s draft. Picked 143rd overall in the fifth round, Björck is one year older than the eligibility age and has a brother who will be eligible in the 2026 Entry Draft. Björck has played with Djurgårdens IF since 2022–23, splitting time with their J18 and J20 teams. In 2024–25, he scored 28 goals and 39 assists in 43 regular season games played with the J20 team. He averaged a point per game in the postseason with a goal and eight assists in nine games. Earlier this week, it was announced that Björck would be committing to Colorado College for the 2025–26 season. 

Gabriel Chiarot 

Round 6, 175th OVR

Right wing 

Brampton Steelheads, OHL 

Vancouver’s fifth selection of the 2025 Draft was Gabriel Chiarot, a cousin of current Detroit Red Wings defenceman Ben Chiarot. Picked 175th overall in the sixth round of the draft, the 18 year old Chiarot spent the past two seasons with the Brampton Steelheads (formerly Mississaugua prior to relocation). He had 21 goals and 14 assists in 66 regular season games in 2024–25, and added a goal in six of the team’s postseason games. 

Matthew Lansing

Round 7, 207th OVR

Center 

Fargo Force, USHL 

The Canucks’ final pick of the 2025 NHL Draft was Matthew Lansing, who was also the fourth centerman that the team selected this year. Lansing split time with the Fargo Force and the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL in the 2024–25 season, and also played 11 games with Waterloo the season prior. In 40 games with the Blackhawks this year, he scored eight goals and nine assists. With Fargo, he scored four goals and six assists in the regular season. He and Team USA won a Bronze Medal in the 2025 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship. In 2025–26, Lansing will be playing for Quinnipiac University of the NCAA. 

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