The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Make sure to check out the Columbus Blue Jackets team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/columbus-blue-jackets/

To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

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Expected to be one of the worst teams in the NHL during the 2024-25 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets exceeded expectations with a 40-33-9 record and fell just two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. 

General manager Dom Waddell executed a steady plan in Columbus this off-season. He re-signed defenseman Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro to retain consistency on the blue line, while adding a pair of veteran forwards, Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood, to bring more NHL experience to a young lineup. Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves will be the goaltending duo in Columbus in 2025-26 after Daniil Tarasov was traded to the Florida Panthers (for a draft pick) in June. 

At the time of this writing (July 2025), the Blue Jackets have $16.3 million in cap space for the upcoming season. Waddell still needs to navigate the trade request from 24-year-old winger Yegor Chinakhov, but otherwise the Blue Jackets roster should look familiar to the one that nearly skated in the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2019-20. 

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, 14 overall: Jackson Smith, Defense  

A 6-4 defenseman with smooth skating and offensive creativity, Smith was ranked as the third-best defenseman in the 2025 NHL Draft. Due to a massive run on centers at the top of the opening round, Smith landed with the Blue Jackets at the 14^th overall pick following a 54-point season for the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2024-25. 

Smith will join a super talented team at Penn State, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) club, for the 2025-26 season.

Round 1, 20 overall: Pyotr Andreyanov, Goalie

Columbus took a swing on potential by choosing Andreyanov, a Russian netminder under contract in Russia with CSKA Moscow through 2029-30, as the first goalie selected at the draft. While he is not expected to see North American action until the end of the decade, Columbus was excited to add the top international goalie available according to NHL Central Scouting. 

Andreyanov dominated Russia’s second-best league, the Junior Hockey League (MHL), with a 23-6-6 record, a 1.75 goals against average (GAA), and a .942 save percentage (SV %) in 44 appearances as a teenager. He is expected to return to Krasnaya Armiya Moskva in the MHL to start the 2025-26 season as he works towards playing time in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). 

Round 3, 76 overall: Malte Vass, Defense (LHD)

Vass impressed playing against older competition in 2024-25. The 17-year-old routinely skated in the J20 Nationell where he contributed 11 points over 40 games. Vass skated in five Swedish Hockey League (SHL) games for Farjestad BK during the 2024-25 campaign, but he didn’t record any points in the box score. The left-handed blueliner totaled seven points in 23 games for Sweden’s U18 team during an eventful draft year. Vass is joining Boston University (NCAA) for the 2025-26 campaign. 

Round 5, 160 overall: Owen Griffin, Center

Griffin improved his draft stock after leading the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 16 playoff goals last season for the Oshawa Generals. Overall, the 5-10 center generated 29 points in 21 playoff games following a 51-point regular season performance. While not yet official, Griffin is eligible for two more seasons in the OHL seasons, so he could return to Oshawa for 2025-26.

Round 6, 173 overall: Victor Hedin Raftheim, Defense 

Columbus returned to the J20 Nationell level to select Hedin Raftheim in the sixth round following four points in 34 games against overage competition. The 6-4 defenseman adds size to the Blue Jackets prospect pool on the defensive end. Raftheim is expected to return to Sweden for the 2025-26 season. 

Round 7, 198 overall: Jeremy Loranger, Center

Loranger recorded 105 points in 54 games for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in the 2024-25 season. The 18-year-old center will compete for the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) for 2025-26.

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming

Charlie Coyle, RW/C – $5.25 million / 1 year remaining [UFA in 2026]

Miles Wood, W – $2.5 million / 4 years remaining [UFA in 2029]

Isac Lundestrom, C – $1.3 million / 2 years remaining [UFA in 2027]

Christian Jaros, D – $775K / 1 year remaining [UFA in 2026] 

Outgoing

Gavin Brindley, C – $950K / 1 year remaining [RFA in 2026]

Daniil Tarasov, G – $1.05 million / 1 year remaining [UFA in 2026]

Re-Signed

Ivan Provorov, D – $8.5 million / 7 years [UFA in 2032]

Dante Fabbro, D – $4.1 million / 4 years [UFA in 2029]

Dmitri Voronkov, D – $4.1 million / 2 years [RFA in 2027]

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In the System

Risers

Pyotr Andreyanov, G – As soon as he was selected with the 20^th overall pick, Andreyanov instantly became the Blue Jackets future in net, even if Columbus must wait several years for his arrival in North America. The Russian goalie looks poised to develop in the KHL over the next several years, and if a player is not available to play NHL minutes, that is probably the next best option for development.

Stanislav Svozil, D – A veteran of over 100 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), Svozil has produced consistent results over the last two seasons. He finished with 23 points in 57 games in 2023-24 and recorded 24 points in 63 games during the 2024-25 season. The 6-0 blueliner has showcased good defensive skills and could be an injury call-up for Columbus in 2025-26, if needed.

Luca Del Bel Belluz, C – Del Bel Belluz is a veteran of 119 AHL games at 21 years old. He has tallied 84 points in those minor league games, a 0.70 goals-per-game (GPG) over the last two seasons for the Cleveland Monsters. The 44^th pick in the 2022 NHL draft could play his way into an NHL roster spot with a strong camp. 

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Fallers

Cayden Lindstrom, C – This isn’t an entirely fair ranking as a “faller” as Lindstrom is still a very highly-regarded prospect in the Blue Jackets system. Still, he only skated in four postseason games for Medicine Hat (WHL) in the 2024-25 season due to a back injury. Lindstrom moves to a more challenging environment in the NCAA for the 2025-26 season, so it will be interesting to see how he looks returning to full-time action. The 19-year-old forward could easily find himself in the “Risers” section after a healthy 2025-26 season. 

Sergei Ivanov, G – The combination of a new Russian goalie prospect (Andreyanov) and a bad team at HK Sochi in the KHL last season leaves questions about the 21-year-old netminder. It looks like Ivanov will get some time in net for SKA St. Petersburg in 2025-26, so it is shaping up to be a very important developmental season for the 21-year-old goalie. 

Hunter McKown – C/RW – Despite appearing in 12 NHL games directly out of college during the 2022-23 NHL season, McKown has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. At 23-years-old and with younger talent consistently added to the prospect pipeline each season, McKown might be running out of time to push for the Blue Jackets roster. His skills in the defensive zone could earn the winger a chance in the bottom six of an NHL lineup. 

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Likely to see NHL action

Cayden Lindstrom, C – Lindstrom is scheduled to play for Michigan State (NCAA) in 2025-26 after only appearing in three games for Medicine Hat (WHL) in 2024-25. If healthy throughout the NCAA season, Lindstrom could sign his NHL contract following the college season. 

Luca Del Bel Belluz, C – The center scored eight points during 15 NHL games last season but appears destined to start the 2025-26 season in the minors once again. Del Bel Belluz could be one of the first injury call-ups available to GM Dom Waddell this season if the situation calls for it. 

Jack Williams, RW – Signed as an NCAA free agent last spring, Williams appeared in one game for Columbus in the 2024-25 season after scoring 41 points in 37 games for Northeastern University (NCAA) during the winter. The winger will get a good chance to see where he stacks up during 2025 training camp but could be headed to Cleveland (AHL) to start his professional hockey career. 

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Columbus Blue Jackets prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Cayden Lindstrom 
2. Pyotr Andreyanov
3. Jackson Smith
4. Luca Del Bel Belluz
5. Charlie Elick
6. Stanislav Svozil
7. Jordan Dumais
8. Mikael Pyyhtia
9. Sergei Ivanov
10. Luca Pinelli
11. Luca Marrelli
12. William Whitelaw
13. Owen Griffin
14. Jack Williams
15. Malte Vass
16. Hunter McKown
17. Evan Gardner
18. Oiva Keskinen
19. James Malatesta
20. Jeremy Loranger

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Final thoughts

It should be a fascinating 2025-26 season in Columbus for the Blue Jackets, who have cap space and some assets to be a major player at the NHL trade deadline. Columbus has a good mix of NHL veterans and young players expected to take the next step in their development, like 20-year-old Adam Fantilli, who could help end the multi-season playoff draught in Ohio and return to the NHL’s postseason tournament for the first time since 2019-20. 

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Make sure to check out the Columbus Blue Jackets team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/columbus-blue-jackets/

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Thanks for reading! I am looking forward to covering the NCAA this season for Dobber Prospects, so look out for information each month.  

My socials can be found on Twitter/X – @CBabosWrites 

Christopher Babos

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