NHL Breaking Down the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 2026 NHL Draft Class

The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the 2026 NHL Draft looking to add talent throughout the organization, and general manager Don Waddell accomplished exactly that. Columbus selected seven players across six rounds, addressing every position while adding a combination of skill, size, speed, and long-term upside. Here’s a closer look at each selection.

Round 1, Pick No. 14: Oscar Hemming – Left Wing

Boston College (NCAA)

The Blue Jackets made Oscar Hemming the centerpiece of their draft class by selecting the Finnish-born winger with the 14th overall pick. At 6-foot-4, Hemming already possesses NHL size, but what separates him from many power forwards is his skating ability and offensive instincts.

After joining Boston College, Hemming impressed scouts with his puck protection, strong hockey IQ, and willingness to battle along the boards. He has an accurate release, creates scoring opportunities off the rush, and plays responsibly without the puck. Columbus believes he has the potential to develop into a top-six winger capable of contributing on both the power play and penalty kill. His combination of physical tools and offensive upside made him one of the organization’s highest-rated prospects immediately after the draft.

Projection: Top-six NHL power forward.

Round 3, Pick No. 94: Alessandro Di Iorio – Center

Sarnia Sting (OHL)

Columbus addressed the middle of the ice by selecting Alessandro Di Iorio in the third round. Di Iorio is known as a smart, dependable two-way center who competes hard in every situation.

His greatest strengths are his hockey sense, faceoff ability, and commitment to defensive responsibility. Offensively, he distributes the puck well and has shown the ability to finish scoring chances around the net. While he may not possess elite speed, his intelligence allows him to consistently be in the right position.

The Blue Jackets value centers who can play in all situations, and Di Iorio fits that mold perfectly.

Projection: Reliable middle-six center with penalty-killing potential.

Round 4, Pick No. 121: Evan Jardine – Left Wing

Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) / Ohio State

One of the more intriguing selections came in the fourth round with Evan Jardine, a player familiar to hockey fans in Ohio. After starring for the Youngstown Phantoms, Jardine is headed to Ohio State, allowing Blue Jackets fans to watch his development up close.

Jardine combines offensive skill with a physical edge. He scored 27 goals while also accumulating 70 penalty minutes during his USHL season, showing he isn’t afraid to play an aggressive style. His ability to get under opponents’ skin while still producing offensively gives him the potential to become an effective middle-six winger.

Projection: Hard-nosed scoring winger capable of becoming a fan favorite.

Round 5, Pick No. 142: Parker Snell – Goaltender

Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Every successful organization needs depth in goal, and Columbus added another developmental prospect by selecting Parker Snell.

Snell is an athletic goaltender with quick lateral movement and solid rebound control. He competes hard, tracks pucks well through traffic, and rarely quits on second-chance opportunities. Like most young goaltenders, he’ll require several years of development, but his athleticism provides a strong foundation.

The Blue Jackets have traditionally shown patience with goalie prospects, and Snell will likely continue developing in junior hockey before eventually turning professional.

Projection: Developmental goaltender with NHL backup or potential starter upside.

Round 6, Pick No. 182: Anttoni Uronen – Center

HIFK (Finland)

Columbus returned to Finland in the sixth round by selecting Anttoni Uronen.

Uronen is a skilled center who excels in transition. His skating allows him to create separation, and he consistently makes smart decisions with the puck. While he still needs to add strength, his offensive creativity and vision stand out.

Playing professionally in Finland provides an excellent environment for continued development, giving the Blue Jackets time to let Uronen mature physically before bringing him to North America.

Projection: Bottom-six NHL center with offensive upside.

Round 6, Pick No. 185: Jonas Woo – Defense

Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) / Arizona State

Only one defenseman was selected by Columbus in this draft, making Jonas Woo an important addition to the organization’s blue-line depth.

Woo is a smooth-skating defenseman who moves the puck efficiently and makes smart first passes out of his own zone. His mobility allows him to defend against speed, while his positional awareness makes him reliable in transition.

As he continues developing at Arizona State, the Blue Jackets will focus on helping him become stronger physically while refining his defensive consistency.

Projection: Reliable two-way defenseman with middle-pairing potential.

Round 7, Pick No. 206: Filip Novák – Forward

HC Sparta Praha (Czechia)

With their final pick, Columbus selected Czech forward Filip Novák.

Late-round selections often focus on upside, and Novák fits that description perfectly. He possesses strong puck skills, creativity, and offensive instincts that have made him productive in the Czech development system.

Although he’ll need time to adapt physically and continue improving his skating, Novák has the skill set to outperform his draft position if his development continues.

The Blue Jackets have had success developing European prospects, making Novák an intriguing long-term project.

Projection: Skilled depth forward with sleeper potential.

Final Thoughts

Rather than chasing one specific need, the Blue Jackets built a balanced draft class by selecting five forwards, one defenseman, and one goaltender. Oscar Hemming projects as the future star of the group, while Alessandro Di Iorio and Evan Jardine provide strong depth at forward. Parker Snell gives Columbus another promising goalie prospect, Anttoni Uronen and Filip Novák add European skill, and Jonas Woo strengthens the defensive pipeline.

Most of these players remain several years away from reaching the NHL, but together they represent another important step in the Blue Jackets’ long-term plan to build a younger, deeper, and more competitive roster.