Who the Columbus Blue Jackets want to pick with the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has given the team a big hint.
During a conversation on Ohio Sports Radio “97.1 The Fan” about the Blue Jackets’ preparations, Hockey Operations President John Davidson gave a big nod about their plans for the third overall pick.
When asked about the third pick, Davidson replied, “We’re going to get a position, I can tell you that right now.”
John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations, joined @tweet on @971thefan Today to discuss #cbj Offseason and upcoming NHL draft. pic.twitter.com/8TBY6SZHfH
– Columbus Blue Jackets (BlueJacketsNHL) May 12, 2023
Regina Pats C Connor Bedard is expected to be the Chicago Blackhawks’ first base, then Michigan C Adam Fantilli, Columbus still seems to have his eyes on a center, and in Pick 3 Columbus looks to continue running centers as well.
When asked about Pick 3, Davidson replied that he is considering alternatives. Leo Karlsson, the Swedish center and two-way forward who had one of the most productive seasons through draft-eligible in the Swedish Hockey League, was one of the names that was suggested. Plus, there’s center Will Smith, a naturally talented NTDP player who reached new heights after his dominant MVP display at the U-18 World Championships.
Both players are high-end prospects and are expected to rise in this year’s draft. However, this means that Russian superstar Matvey Michkov is out of the situation.
After being held scoreless in a limited-overs match with SKA Saint Petersburg before being loaned out by the team to Sochi, Meshkov, a winger, put in a dramatic performance for Sochi in the KHL. He returned to the lead with 9 goals and 20 points in 27 games for Sochi. Before Vladimir Tarasenko joined the Rangers and Artemy Panarin, Mechkov had the best PPG of any eligible KHL draft.
Michkov wasn’t taken at three leaving San Jose with a chance to take the Russian for fourth overall, and after trading Timo Meier and Brent Burns, they may be able to hold out on Michkov, who is contracted to SKA through 2026. So, too, might he be. Montreal has a Meshkov option in the fifth as well, and the need for an impact winger would be a perfect addition to the Habs’ young first-six squad.
Dalibor Dvorsky, a standout center from Slovakia who has also figured in the U18s and is one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL draft, is another person Columbus would undoubtedly consider. He plays a mature brand of hockey and impresses scouts with a set of mature defensive skills that are exceptional for a player his age.
We’ll see who Columbus goes with.