Blue Jackets Draft Hemming, Eyeing Defense

Columbus Blue Jackets shock the hockey world by selecting 6-foot-4 winger Oscar Hemming 14th overall — the youngest player in college hockey last season — to fill a glaring need for size and power-play firepower. With their next pick not until 94th, they traded down in the second round to acquire Valeri Nichushkin, leaving them to hunt for late-round gems. Their focus? Players with physical tools and upside — like 6’3” Slovak defenseman Adam Goljer, who’s already battled pros, or undersized playmaking wizard Matias Vanhanen, whose offensive spark could mirror Johnny Gaudreau’s impact. The Jackets are betting big on the future — and their draft strategy is already shaping up to be bold, smart, and surprisingly aggressive. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7a9fd2318a858956