Columbus’ newest prospects all bring size to the table, but something more has Don Waddell excited

The 2024 draft class for the Blue Jackets follows a consistent theme, albeit not the one that might immediately come to mind.

At the conclusion of the two-day event at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Columbus made six selections – comprising of one forward, four defensemen, and a goalie. It’s apparent that all of these players share a common attribute of height, thereby bolstering the organization’s prospect pool with added size.

However, according to general manager Don Waddell, who presided over his inaugural draft with the team since assuming the role in May, the players’ height, while notable, wasn’t necessarily the primary factor he was prioritizing.

“Waddell remarked at the end of the draft, ‘Someone just texted me and said we drafted a basketball team.’ He noted the emphasis on size, expressing surprise at the extent of it once he became aware.

However, Waddell stressed that while size is important, skating ability reigns supreme. Regardless of a player’s height, their skating prowess is crucial for success in the league. When evaluating players, the first consideration is always their skating ability, and he was pleased to find that all the selected players demonstrated either good or exceptional skating skills.

Following the selection of 6-3 center Cayden Lindstrom as the fourth overall pick on Friday, the Blue Jackets continued to add four defensemen and a goalie during Saturday’s events. Admittedly, all of them might occasionally need to mind their heads when passing through door frames.

The second-round pick, Charlie Elick, stands at 6-3¼ and hails from Brandon (WHL). Despite his height, he considers himself a skilled puck mover, showcasing his ability with 4 goals and 23 assists in 65 games last season with the Wheat Kings.

Evan Gardner, selected in the second round at 60th overall, is comparatively shorter at 6-1½, setting franchise records as a goalie for Saskatoon (WHL) with a 1.91 GAA and .927 save percentage in his rookie season with the Blades.

Luca Marrelli, the third-round selection at 86th overall from Oshawa, also measured in at 6-1½. He is known as a puck-moving defenseman and recorded six goals and 51 assists in 67 games with the Generals last season.

The fourth-round pick, Trevor Henricks, is only 17 years old but stands at an impressive 6-3¾. As a defenseman for Lincoln (USHL), he contributed nine assists in 59 games in the top development league in the U.S.

Finally, the sixth-round pick, Luke Ashton, is the tallest among the group at 6-6. Playing for Langley (BCHL), he led defensemen in his league with 18 goals in 53 games last season.”

And unanimously, they expressed their excitement when their names were called at this unique event at Sphere.

Ashton conveyed, “I’m super stoked. I’m so excited.” Gardner described it as a surreal moment, stating, “Being able to be drafted by such a great organization is something that’s really special and a dream come true, really.” Elick also reflected on the significance, saying, “It’s a surreal moment for sure.” Marrelli, on the other hand, appeared relatively calm about the selection, noting, “Honestly, I wasn’t super stressed out. I knew I was going to be picked, I just didn’t know when or where.”

Notably, there are some familiar faces within the draft class. Lindstrom, Elick, and Gardner have crossed paths in the Western Hockey League. Additionally, Marrelli joins other players in the CBJ system whom he has encountered in the Ontario Hockey League.

Even Ashton has some connections to the CBJ, having met Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson in summer skates.

The players will now head to Columbus for the team’s annual development camp, further building their connections within the organization.

Waddell expressed satisfaction with the draft process, stating, “I thought the process that we went through to get to today, our list was pretty dead on.” He also commented on the trade made to secure Gardner, emphasizing the team’s desire to ensure they could pick him.

In total, six promising prospects have joined the Blue Jackets following the weekend, and Waddell was pleased with how the draft unfolded, affirming the team’s success in identifying the right players.