The Columbus Blue Jackets used the No. 14 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select Finnish forward Oscar Hemming out of Boston College.
Hemming, a 17-year-old native of Vaasa, Finland, gives Columbus another young forward with size. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, Hemming played 19 games as a 17-year-old freshman at Boston College last season, finishing with one goal, seven assists, 18 penalty minutes and 34 shots on goal.
Before arriving at Boston College, Hemming played in Finland with Kiekko-Espoo’s junior programs, producing at a much higher clip against U20 and U18 competition. He also represented Finland at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he posted six points in five games.
The pick continues a busy week for Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell, who is contending with a stark Zach Werenski situation while adding to the roster in the form of a trade with Colorado for Valeri Nichushkin.
Hemming comes from a hockey family. His older brother, Emil Hemming, was selected in the first round by the Dallas Stars in 2024, while his father, Jonas, played professionally in Europe for 16 years.
What it Means
Hemming is more of a projection than an instant-impact pick, but the tools are obvious: size, skill, international experience and time to develop. For a Blue Jackets organization building out its depth up front, he gives Columbus another forward prospect with top-six traits if the development hits.
Notes
• No. 14 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft
• Forward, Boston College
• 6-foot-4, 198 pounds
• Native of Vaasa, Finland
• Had 1 goal and 7 assists in 19 games as a freshman
• Represented Finland at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
• Older brother Emil was a 2024 first-round pick by Dallas
