After selecting defenseman Jackson Smith and goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets went back to work Saturday in the league's second day of the draft.
The Blue Jackets entered day two without a second or third-round pick, having traded their second-rounder as part of the 2023 trade that brought Ivan Provorov to Columbus and moving the third-rounder Friday in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche that saw the Blue Jackets acquire veterans Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood.
That changed when the club swung a trade with Detroit early Saturday afternoon, acquiring the Red Wings' third-round selection (No. 76 overall) in exchange for Columbus' fourth-round selection (No. 109 overall) this year and a fourth-rounder in the 2026 draft.
The Blue Jackets moved up to draft defenseman Malte Vass. The 6'3", 195 lb Swede is described as a physically assertive, defensive-focused blueliner, which fits the profile of a team led by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell off the ice and by head coach Dean Evason on it.
The Columbus Blue Jackets trade up to select Malte Vass 76th overall! pic.twitter.com/DXiAeyYY9C
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) June 28, 2025
Vass has committed to play collegiate hockey at Boston University this fall. The left-shot blueliner played the 2024-25 season with Sweden's Färjestad BK’s J20 team, where he recorded two goals and nine assists in 40 games.
#6 // Malte Vass // 62 179
— Matt Mosewich (@EDMFutureWatch) September 21, 202424
Vass was a force on the Swedish blueline with his hard-nosed, physical play. He uses strong lateral mobility to close gaps, stepping up with an active stick or a thundering check. Theres chaos in his game, but the raw tools are exciting pic.twitter.com/xcAbCcSQsd
In the fifth round, the Blue Jackets drafted center Owen Griffin with the 160th overall pick. The Markham, Ontario native had 22 goals and 29 assists (51 points) in 62 regular season games with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League.
He dazzled in the postseason, with a league-leading 16 goals in addition to 13 assists (29 points) in just 21 games. Many scouting lists had Griffin ranked in the top 100, including as high as #49 by SportsNet.
The NHL Network analysts were just raving about #CBJ pick Owen Griffin, saying he should have been taken by now.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) June 28, 2025
When I chatted with NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr ahead of the draft, he loved Griffin. Said he's the next Anthony Cirelli.
EliteProspects, who had him ranked 81st overall, describes Griffin as an "intelligent, detailed 200-foot center", who "excels the most away from the puck (and) plays a much more hard-skill style compared to some of his 5'10" counterparts."
With their sixth-round selection (No. 173 overall), Columbus added Victor Raftheim. Like Vass, Raftheim is a big defenseman from Sweden — 6'4", 185 lbs, and hailing from Stockholm.
The 17-year-old had just one goal and three assists in 34 games with Brynäs IF J20 — but plays a quick, active game and has a lot of raw talent. EliteProspects described Raftheim as an "all-around defender", adding that his "stride isn’t the most fluid just yet, but he makes up for it with natural athleticism."
The Blue Jackets traded their two seventh-round picks (Nos. 205 and 218) to the Seattle Kraken to acquire the 198th pick.
With that pick, Columbus selected 5'9", 161 lb center Jeremy Loranger. Loranger won the BCHL scoring title and was named Rookie of the Year and MVP, scoring 105 points (40 goals, 65 assists) in 54 games for Sherwood Park Crusaders.
At 17 years old, @SPcrusaders F Jeremy Loranger won the BCHL scoring title, Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. Ahead of the NHL Draft this weekend, hear why playing in the BCHL put him in the best situation for his development. pic.twitter.com/YiCp6vaOB1
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) June 25, 2025
EliteProspects describes Loranger as dangerous with the puck. "His off-puck orbit pulls attention, creating space for linemates. While not a true power shooter, he elevates his finishing profile through shot location and creativity."
The 18-year-old from Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, Canada is committed to playing for the University of Nebraska-Omaha next season.
With the draft now in the rearview mirror, the Blue Jackets focus now shifts to signing their own pending free agents — which must be done by Monday — as well as to the beginning of free agency, which starts Tuesday.
