10 Players to Consider for the Blue Jackets at No. 4

Without the concerns about a back injury, it’s possible that Cayden Lindstrom could be the obvious No. 2 pick in this draft.

Lindstrom stands at 6’3″, already weighing over 210 pounds; is a creative offensive player and one of the best skating forwards in the entire draft. He’s a little raw, but all the tools are there to be a future top . -six center.

He’s the type of player who has the potential to put up a point per game in the NHL, while still being a nightmare due to his competitive level and all-around game. If the Jackets went this route, they would have a 1-2 punch of Adam Fantilli and Cayden Lindstrom in the middle, which would immediately be the envy of almost every team in the NHL.

This is the kind of central tandem that wins the Stanley Cup. The only concern here is Lindstrom’s health. But for me, seeing all the doctors approve of him gives me confidence that he will do just fine. In two years, you would have the two best young centers ever in this franchise. At the same time.

Why they should take it: See above. Imagine this team deploying Fantilli, Lindstrom, Cole Sillinger and Dmitri Voronkov in any order. I would hate to play against this team.

Why they should avoid it: Back injuries can be very tricky, and that’s the only thing that keeps it from being a breeze. Still, the benefits and potential here might be too great to pass up.

The good news for the Blue Jackets in the upcoming draft is that they are poised to add another player who will immediately become one of the most highly touted prospects they have ever had. It will be two years in a row that we will be able to say this.

While the player they choose here likely won’t make an immediate impact in the NHL, it’s going to be hard for them to go wrong with this pick. In fact, the only way to be disappointed with who they choose is if you prefer a particular player – or if he’s a huge departure from the board.

My personal preference is one of Zeev Buium or Cayden Lindstrom. I believe these two guys have the most value outside of Celebrini – with the exception of Demidov. You can’t pass up the talented Russian winger, even if you don’t really “need” him right now.

Either way, Friday night’s first round promises to be an exciting one. It will be exciting to see who falls into our laps with the fourth overall pick.