Columbus Blue Jackets Prospects Slip in Latest ESPN Organization Rankings

By Dan Dukart on August 17, 2017 at 9:12 am
Dubois Draft
Timothy T. Ludwig - USA TODAY Sports
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A new ESPN Insider ranking of team and individual prospects saw the Columbus Blue Jackets drop from fourth in the NHL a year ago to 16th for the upcoming season. 

To be fair, the recent ranking excludes such players as Zach Werenski and Markus Nutivaara, all of whom can now be considered full-fledged NHL players. Due to that, 16th overall really isn't an indictment, but more so an acknowledgement that Columbus has graduated enough players to the NHL ranks that the current cupboard for top prospects is not where it was a year ago. 

Still, the Blue Jackets are well-represented with three players listed among the top 100 prospects in hockey, even without the aforementioned defensmen. In order, they are: 

Pierre-Luc Dubois

Unsurprisingly, ESPN's Corey Pronman ranks Pierre-Luc Dubois as the top Blue Jackets prospect and the 16th best prospect overall. As has been discussed at length, the departure of William Karlsson all but opened up a spot for Dubois to be the third line center. Assuming he makes the team this year (as is projected), Dubois could soon play himself off this list. 

Vitaly Abramov

Picked 65th overall in 2016, Abramov is now listed as the 38th best prospect in hockey. The Russian winger is an interesting case, to say the least, as it appears that the reigning Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) MVP won't be reporting to training camp for his club, the Gatineau Olympiques. A dark-horse to make the Jackets out of camp, his stock is certainly on the rise. 

Sonny Milano

The 71st best prospect in hockey, Milano has his best opportunity yet to make a lasting impression on the Blue Jackets. For Milano, now 21, the script is the same: the talent is there, but consistently putting all the elements of his game together is the issue. He led the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) in scoring last year and has a real shot to be an everyday NHLer for the first time in his career.

Honorable Mention: goaltender Daniil Tarasov

 

[H/T Corey Pronman, ESPN]

 

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