The NHL draft is nearly upon us.
Similar to last year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have the 14th overall pick in this year's draft, which will take place June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
At the 2025 draft, president and general manager Don Waddell selected defenseman Jackson Smith. On Wednesday, our Ed Frances identified the possible defenseman the Blue Jackets could take this year at No. 14.
Today, we shift focus to the forwards.
Oscar Hemming
Hemming is a player who figures to be around the No. 14 spot in the draft. Plenty of mocks, such as at NHL.com, have linked Hemming to Columbus. The 17-year-old center from Finland was involved in a bizarre dispute with his Finnish club before pivoting to play at Boston College. In 19 games for the Eagles, he scored eight points (one goal, seven assists).
Hemming, 6-foot-4, 204 lb, is a big, physical player fitting in with the likes of 6-foot-3 Charlie Coyle, 6-foot-2 Adam Fantilli, 6-foot-3 Kirill Marchenko, 6-foot-2 Sean Monahan, and 6-foot-5 Dmitri Voronkov
Per McKeen's Hockey:
Hemming is a heavy shooter who has sneaky good skill on the puck. But it’s his big 6-foot, 4-inch frame paired with his deceivingly good puck skill that makes him such an intriguing talent. He’s got a good motor on him, along with a physical streak. Getting paired with Dean Letourneau, who BC has helped massively in his development, is a formidable duo in college hockey. While the point-total hasn't been the most eye-opening, he has been impressive already, despite being 17 years old and missing half of his season. Which is important to remember, as that long break from hockey made an impact on parts of his game, and him being a part of that BC organization will surely be a great spot for him to work out those kinks in his game.
Ethan Belchetz
Belchetz, a 6-foot-5, 229 lb left wing from Canada, scored 59 points (34 goals, 25 assists) for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires last season. His season was prematurely cut short in March because of a broken clavicle. The 18-year-old is committed to Michigan State for 2026-27.
Per NHL Central Scouting:
Ethan is a combination of size, strength and skills who projects as a power forward. He’s made noticeable improvements to his footwork, agility, and overall quickness. He is a player that is tough to handle down low and is a beast in front of the net. He has really good offensive hockey sense and can think the game with smart players, has the ability to read and react with good anticipation and good hands and shot to generate chances. His two way game combined with his work ethic gives him a very high ceiling.
Oliver Suvanto
Suvanto, a 17-year-old from Finland, had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 48 games for Tappara in Liiga. Suvano, a 6-foot-3, 209 lb center, patterns his game after Panthers' captain Aleksander Barkov. The two skated together and played for Finland, which won the World Championship in May.
"Oliver Suvanto is the most complete and mature 17-year-old center seen in Liiga since Aleksander Barkov," NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. "He has already been trusted in key roles for powerhouse Tappara."
Per NHL.com:
As one of the more mature two-way forwards of this draft class, Suvanto (6-3, 207) has drawn comparisons to fellow Finland-born forward Anton Lundell of the Florida Panthers. He knows how to protect the puck, is good on face-offs, and plays a heavy game to match up physically against any opponent. He won't turn 18 until Sept. 3, making him one of the youngest players in this draft class.
Tynan Lawrence
Lawrence had 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 13 games played for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, whom he captained. The 17-year-old had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 games for Boston University. Lawrence is 6-foot-1, 185 lb.
Per Daily Faceoff:
Lawrence is one of the smartest forwards in the draft class. He reads open ice exceptionally well and consistently makes the right passes through traffic. Lawrence isn’t massive at six-foot and 185 pounds, but he plays with a ton of power. He plays a solid two-way game, and he boasts a boatload of energy, too. If you’re not moving quickly enough, Lawrence will swarm you instantly and make you pay. Nobody will mistake him for a burner, but Lawrence is a highly competent skater who should have no issue adjusting to the big leagues in that regard. All the missed time and the mid-season league change didn’t help Lawrence’s ranking. We’ll see if he can find his game again at BU next year.
Wyatt Cullen
Committed to the University of Minnesota for 2027-28, Cullen, 17 years old, scored 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) for the U.S. National U18 team. He had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) for the USNTDP Juniors. For the U.S. in the U18 World Juniors, Cullen had nine points (three goals, six assists).
Per Daily Faceoff:
Cullen continues to rise up the ranks thanks to his strong play with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Injuries prevented the son of long-time NHLer Matt Cullen from starting the year on time, but he has been a point-per-game player ever since. The speedy, two-way center has saved his best hockey for major showcase events, which obviously gets scouts excited. Cullen isn’t a future No. 1 center, but he can be a reliable, smart two-way guy with the potential to be a No. 2/3. I might like him more than others, but I think the floor is high enough to slot him here.
