With the 14th Pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, The Columbus Blue Jackets Select...

Jackson Smith, welcome to the Columbus Blue Jackets! Tonight, in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets have selected a talented, fast, defenseman. He stands at 6'4, with a solid left shot. In his most recent, 2024-25 season with the WHL, he appeared in 68 games and finished with 11 goals and 43 assists for 54 points. Tri-City WHL is no easy league to play in, let alone to nearly achieve a point-per-game season as a defenseman. No doubt, this was an amazing pick for Columbus, and the fact he was still available at 14 overall was a gift.   

The game aside, his character was on full display in the moments after he was drafted. Johnny Gaudreau's window, Meredith, announced the pick for her husband's former team. After taking his photo for history with the National Hockey League's Commissioner, Gary Bettman, he hugged and shared a few words with Meredith before accepting his first NHL jersey. After being welcomed to the organization by the Blue Jackets General Manager, Don Waddell, he also stepped back and allowed the spotlight to shine on Meredith one more time as the NHL highlighted her mission to continue to husband, Johnny's, legacy. It was a beautiful moment all around, especially as the host city of L.A. rose to its feet and chatted 'Johnny' before Meredith could even begin speaking.     

Circling back to Jackson Smith, I'm impressed and thrilled with this pick. He's a defenseman who can score and is also fast on his skates. Again, I'm eager to see him work with Zach Werenski, Erik Gudbranson, Ivan Provorov (should he return), and the rest of the Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen upon playing for the University of Penn State. The talent is there and I can't wait for this organization to mold him into the NHL player he can certainly be. Further, his class and treatment of Meredith Gaudreau only build on a wonderful first impression. 

Welcome to Columbus, Jackson Smith! 







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rest in Peace, Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau- Part One

I've learned something over the roughly two and a half weeks since we lost Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Mathew; I will never be ready to write this blog. I've been avoiding this because my words seem hollow and empty to me; like anything I could say would be redundant and not enough. August 29th, 2024 will forever be burned into my brain alongside July 4th, 2021, the date we lost goaltender, Matiss Kivlenieks, in a firework accident when he used himself to shield others. To say this franchise and its fans have suffered too many tragedies since I started covering the team in May 2020 is an understatement. When we lost 'Kivi' I never imagined doing this again, but I am, and I won't lie to you because I never have; I hate that I have to do this again. My heart is shattered, especially for the Gaudreau family, and I don't think I'll ever find all the pieces. The hockey community will forever be changed by this tragedy. None of us want to accept that this nig...
Read more

Ottawa Senators @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2024-25 NHL Season Game 76

A few special moments before we begin the recap tonight. First, congratulations to Meredith Gaudreau, her children, and the extended Gaudreau family on the birth of Carter Michael Gaudreau. I sigh in relief, knowing that he is here and both mom and baby are doing well. I love seeing the photos of him with his big sister, Noa, and brother, Johnny Jr. In addition, the fact Carter was the same size and weight as his dad when born could move you to tears, it has me.  Another big moment tonight as the puck dropped; congratulations to Erik Gudbranson on game 800 of his NHL Career! He would have a point tonight, too, but I'm getting way ahead of myself!  Yes, the cannon still works at Nationwide Arena, and it got a workout tonight! After being shut out at home and on the road, back-to-back, you can only go up, and the Blue Jackets rose to the occasion out of necessity tonight. Dimitri Voronkov would add goal twenty-one to his season, giving the Blue Jackets their first goal in three ...
Read more

Zach Werenski Adds Another Achievement to His 2024-25 NHL Season

Normally, I have to share articles by the NHL because I'm usually working when this kind of news is announced, but today, I'm not! Zach Werenski is proving to doubters that this NHL Season will go down as one of the best in his career. Today, we learned of another achievement he's added to the long list of record-breaking moments, point streaks, and team-leading assists and total points. Zach Werenski, across the league, has added the Third Star of January to this list now, too. Aside from his spectacular goal last night to clench the win for his team in overtime at the Utah Hockey Club, the man has poured on the points in the first month of 2025. His total for just 31 days was six goals and eleven assists for a grand total of seventeen points. He accomplished this over the span of just fourteen games. Keep in mind he averages a little less than playing half the game in every game. The Columbus Blue Jackets have several great defensemen and young ones showing promise, but Z...
Read more