In an age where many GMs put a premium on grit, intangibles and all that jazz, the Blue Jackets drafted based off pure talent and landed one of the most skilled players in the draft with the 16th overall pick.
Milano is a winger who can skate with the best of them and oozes offensive potential. He's very creative with the puck, sees the ice very well and puts up points in bunches.
Milano scored 14 goals and added 39 points in 25 games while playing for the U.S. National Under-18 Team.
UPDATE: The Anaheim Ducks will keep the 38th pick in this year's draft, so Columbus will have four picks in the top-77 of the draft.
The Blue Jackets may have another draft pick at their disposal in this year's draft, as the Ducks are expected to send the 38th pick to Columbus.
Kekalainen also said he's assuming #CBJ will have pick No. 38 (ANA's option) tomorrow, but hasn't yet heard from the Ducks.
— Rob Mixer (@RobMixer) June 27, 2014If Anaheim elects to give Columbus the 38th pick, they'll have five selections in the top-77 of the draft.
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I'll be updating this blog all day if Columbus makes news in any way, shape or form, and I'll also be posting thoughts throughout the draft and as the Blue Jackets make their pick.
Only the 1st round is tonight, but here are the Blue Jackets' picks in this year's draft. I'll update this list should they trade or acquire any more draft picks.
** Depends on Anaheim's decision
1st: 16th overall 2nd: 47th overall 3rd: 63rd overall 3rd: 77th overall 4th: 107th overall 5th: 137th overall 7th: 197th overall
Here are my top-30 draft eligible player rankings from the OHL as well as some in-depth scouting reports.
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If Jarmo Kekalainen was hoping to land one of the big name top-6 centres available on the trade market, he may need to change his plans.
About a week after Jason Spezza's no-trade list was released and the Blue Jackets were on it, we now know Ryan Kesler is not interested in returning to Ohio and playing for Columbus.
#CBJ not on Ryan Kesler's 'approved' list. If CBJ tried to change that, they aren't any longer. Only want players who want to be in Cbus.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 27, 2014There were reports from TSN's big three - Pierre LeBrun, Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie - that some teams were trying to get on the list of places Kesler is willing to accept a trade to in hopes of landing the highly coveted center. If Columbus was among that group, which is certainly possible, they swung and missed, and will now turn their attention elsewhere.
Bringing Kesler back to Ohio - he played college hockey at Ohio State - would have been a good story, but as Portzline mentioned, nobody wants a player on their team who doesn't want to be there.
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