Blue Jackets Prospects Update: Gavin Brindley, Aidan Hreschuk Face Off In Frozen Four, William Whitelaw Enters Transfer Portal

By Coby Maeir on April 6, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Wisconsin's William Whitelaw (8) steals the puck against Ohio State during the teams' Big Ten quarterfinal at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin on March 10, 2024.
© Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Blue Jackets are 25-39-12 as we grow closer to the end of the season.

Here's another update on their prospects.

Note: If a player's name is in italics, that means there has been no change to their stats since last week's update.


2023 Draft

Michigan (NCAA) forward Gavin Brindley (34th overall) has posted 25-28--53 in 39 games for the Wolverines. He scored a goal in Michigan's 5-2 win over Michigan State in the NCAA Regional Final last Sunday. On Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Michigan will play Boston College in the NCAA Frozen Four with a spot in the National Championship on the line. 

Wisconsin (NCAA) forward William Whitelaw (66th overall) finished his freshman season with 10-7--17 in 37 games, including two goals in his last seven games and three goals in his 11. According to Brad Elliott Sclossman of the Grand Forks HeraldWhitelaw entered the transfer portal this week

Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) defenseman Andrew Strathmann (98th overall) has recorded 7-30--37 in 46 games this season including 1-2--3 in his last four games. 

Ottawa 67's (OHL) forward Luca Pinelli (114th overall) finished third in the OHL with 48 goals. He's posted 48-33--82 in 68 regular season games. He has posted 4-1--5 in four playoff games as the 67's lead the Brantford Bulldogs 3-1 in the first round. 

In 30 games, Modo Jr.'s (Sweden Jr.) Melvin Strahl (156th overall) has posted a 13-15-0 record with a .903SV% and a 2.91 GAA.

Tappara Tampere (Finnish Liiga) forward Oiva Keskinen (194th overall) posted 7-20--27 in 54 games in the regular season including 0-4--4 in his last four games. In eight playoff games, he has 1-2--3 as Tappara leads KalPa 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs. On Saturday, he scored the game-winning goal in game two of the series.

Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) forward Tyler Peddle (224th overall) finished his season with 11-7--18 in 28 games after being acquired by Saint John after posting 6-8--14 in 37 games with Drummondville. Peddle posted 1-0--1 in two playoff games as the Sea Dogs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.  

2022 Draft

Cleveland Monsters (AHL) defenseman David Jiricek (6th overall) has posted 7-10--17 in 26 AHL games this season including 2-0--2 in his last seven contests. He is currently with the Blue Jackets as an emergency recall. 

Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) defenseman Denton Mateychuk (12th overall) finished his regular season with 17-58--75 in 75 games and led WHL defensemen with 1.44 points per game. He was named the WHL's East Division's defenseman of the year for the second time in three seasons and was named a finalist for the WHL defenseman of the year. Mateychuk has posted 2-5--7 in four playoff games as Moose Jaw swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors will face the Swift Current Broncos in the second round.

Cleveland Monsters (AHL) forward Luca Del Bel Belluz (34th overall) has recorded 8-18--26 in 52 games including 2-1--3 in his last four games.

Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) forward Jordan Dumais (96th overall) has posted 16-31--47 in 21 QMJHL games this season. His junior career is over as the Mooseheads lost in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs. 

Zvezda Moskva (VHL) forward Kirill Dolzhenkov (109th overall) posted 5-5--10 in 15 VHL games along with 4-5--9 in 39 KHL games for CSKA Moscow this season.

SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) goaltender Sergei Ivanov (138th overall) finished his KHL season with a 1-1-0 record with a .957SV% and 1.18 GAA in three games with SKA in addition to an 8-17-0 record with a .928SV% and a 2.63 GAA in 33 games on loan with Admiral Vladivostok (KHL).

Penticton Vees (BCHL) forward James Fisher (203rd overall) has posted 20-16--36 in 54 games including 0-5--5 in his last nine games. The Vees lead the Prince George Spruce Kings 1-0 in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.

2021 Draft

Cleveland Monsters (AHL) defenseman Corson Ceuelemans (25th overall) has posted 3-8--11 in 45 games this season.

Fellow Monsters blueliner Stanislav Svozil (69th overall) has posted 3-16--19 in 51 games.

Boston College (NCAA) defenseman Aidan Hreschuk (94th overall, acquired from Carolina via trade) has posted 2-14--16 in 39 games this season including 0-2--2 in his last four contests. On Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Boston College will play Michigan in the NCAA Frozen Four with a spot in the National Championship on the line. 

Providence College defenseman Guillaume Richard (101st overall) has recorded 3-14--17 in 34 games including 1-3--4 in his last eight. Providence's season is over and Richard may go pro and join the Monsters.

Zvezda Moscow (VHL) defenseman Nikolai Makarov (132nd overall) posted 0-7--7 in eight VHL games in addition to 0-2--2 in 28 KHL games for CSKA Moscow.

Monsters forward James Malatesta (133rd overall) has posted 12-9--21 in 53 AHL games including 2-1--3 in his last 12. Malatesta was added to the Blue Jackets' roster last week and has played in five NHL games.

London Knights forward Max McCue (156th overall by San Jose, signed as a free agent) finished his season with 27-34--61 in 62 games. McCue posted 1-4--5 in four playoff games as the Knights swept the Flint Firebirds 4-0 in the first round. 

Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) forward Martin Rysavy (197th overall) finished his season with 25-19--44 in 63 games. He posted 2-1--3 in four playoff games.  

2020 Draft

Monsters defenseman Samuel Knazko (78th overall) has posted 1-10--11 in 41 games.

Monsters forward Mikael Pyyhtia (114th overall), who is currently with the Blue Jackets where he's recorded 0-0--0 in 11 games, has posted 7-20-27 in 57 AHL games. 

Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) defenseman Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm (145th overall) has posted 5-27--32 in 53 games this season.

Undrafted

Monsters goalie Jet Greaves is 27-12-3 with a .907SV% and a 3.00 GAA. Greaves is currently with the Blue Jackets where he's posted a 1-3-0 record with a .917SV% and a 3.04 GAA in four games. 

Saginaw Spirit (OHL) goalie Nolan Lalonde is 0-2-1 with an .837SV% and a 4.59 GAA in four games in addition to an 21-6-1 record with an .874SV% and a 3.16 GAA in 32 games. The Spirit swept the Owen Sound Attack 4-0 in the first round of the OHL Playoffs and play the Soo Greyhounds in the second round

Monsters forward Hunter McKown has posted 9-15--24 in 50 games including 3-2--5 in his last six. 


All stats are as of the afternoon of April 6. 

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