This is my third season writing about the draft for HockeyBuzz, which makes this my third edition of Three Things the Blue Jackets should avoid on draft day. You can check out the 2016 version herehere and the 2017 version here.

1. The line mate of your prospect

The Jackets would have spent a ton of time scouting Halifax this season. Between keeping tabs of Fillip Zadina to scouting and signing Maxime Fortier, they would have seen their fair share of Mooseheads games. Other than Zadina the Mooseheads have other forward expected to be drafted; Benoit Olivier Groulx.

Groulx as the son of Coach Benoit Groulx, he thinks the game at a very high level. He does all the little things coaches love. The issue is he doesn’t have much upside beyond that. He is a limited skater and doesn’t project as much more than a role player at the NHL level. He played a ton with Fortier which really boosted his offensive totals. When they were together they were great, when they were apart, Fortier continued to play at the same level whereas Groulx wasn’t the same.

He’s a “safe pick” which is never a pick you really want to make.

2. Drafting Barrett Hayton

In a weak draft for centres, Hayton looks to be one of the better ones available. He has got some top 10 hype, but has been ranked in the mid-late teens in a lot of places. He’s regarded as a strong smart two-way centre with a developing offensive game. Hayton passes well and has a good shot, but playing on a stacked Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds team limited his offensive totals. He scored 60 points in 63 games. When you watch him he plays a bit like a Boone Jenner or Josh Anderson; unafraid to take the puck to the net, and get to the dirty areas to score.

Canucks Army in in their profile of Hayton had Jenner as one of his closest statistical comps. Hayton had some strong 5 on 5 numbers as the article gets into but he lacks explosiveness in his skating, which may limit his offensive upside. The author J.D. Burke notes that Bo Horvat had a similar thing and he’s overcome it to be a great NHL player.

For me whenever I have seen Hayton, which granted have only been a few games, I haven’t seen that skill level people talk about. I’d be a little concerned about taking a player at #18 who potentially has a low offensive ceiling.

3. Overagers in lower leagues

This is a response to the Kale Howarth pick. Howarth is a 1997 born player who was passed over in the two prior drafts. Howarth has great size standing 6’5 but never showed much offensive ability in the BCHL. The BCHL is a good league but it is still a junior league and a step below the CHL. Most NHL prospects will spend their 16 and 17 year old seasons in the BCHL before heading off to the NCAA for tougher competition. Howarth spent his age 18, 19 and 20 season in the BCHL and only this past season as one of the oldest players in the league did he really take off offensively. This is a situation where he was much bigger and stronger than everyone else. He was playing at a level that was not age appropriate for him.

There is nothing wrong with taking overage players, it would just be best if they were playing professional or in a tougher league. If not they should be dominating their junior league.

You can follow me on Twitter @PaulBerthelot

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