The Columbus Blue Jackets Will Pick THIRD In the 2023 NHL Draft!

If you were on the edge of your seat...I was too. The Blue Jackets will have Pick 3 in the 2023 NHL Draft. This means that Conner Bedard will not come to Columbus, and instead go to the Ducks of Anaheim or the Blackhawks of Chicago. Now, many of you like my thoughts on the Blue Jackets, so here are mine. 

The third overall pick is nothing to be disappointed with; there are many great players in this draft including what we need, and that is another Center. Keep in mind, Alexander Texier will be coming back to join the Blue Jackets for the upcoming 2023-24 NHL Season. He stepped back after the death(s) in his family made him decide to return to France toward the end of the 2022-23 NHL Season. Now he's able to step back into the NHL spotlight. So, this is already one Center we'll gain without a draft, trade, or lose cap space. My point here is that there are plenty of players in general, in addition to Centers to pick from in the June 2023 NHL Draft. 

Now, I'm going to get a bit of reality in here as well because I think it's needed. If you were a fan who believed we were entitled to or owed Conner Bedard, this is why you're so disappointed right now. Many were so confident he would be in Columbus that jerseys were bought with his name and 98 on the back. Some fans were even toasting alcohol to him before games toward the end of the season. At the same time, some fans were also offering up threats to our players for scoring or winning games. This is a bit laughable given that's what these players are brought here to do; they will not "tank" or lose on purpose. Believing that they would is just sad in my mind. I hope that with the Draft Lottery now decided those fans can focus back on the incredible players we have and appreciate them like they did nine months back. Again, this isn't all fans, just a fair few. In addition, trying to justify your cursing out and threatening our players or staff because "other teams are, too" doesn't make you right. This is especially true because I went and looks on those other teams' social media pages, and they may have booed their teams on the ice, but no fans were deliberately cursing out or threatening their teams' players or coaches. This is just something to keep in mind as we ease into the 2023 NHL Draft and prime trade season. I've also said it before, but I will again: Unrestricted Free Agents who could come here and better this team aren't out golfing or in the gym all offseason. They are deciding where they will go next, so, before you post something slamming a player, think first about who may see your words. I'd hate for us to lose someone we never had due to a comment. If you wouldn't say it to a player, coach, or someone in their family, it does not belong on social media. Period. 

The 2023 NHL Draft will be June 28th and 29th at the home of the Predators in Nashville, Tennessee! I can't wait to see who we draft because we will have two 1st Round Picks. Remember, we do get the 1st Round Pick of the L.A. Kings as part of the Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikhov trade. So, June 28th will be very exciting for the Columbus Blue Jackets, in addition to the rest of this 2023 NHL Offseason!

Go CBJ!       

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