Top prospects for Columbus Blue Jackets
Del Bel Belluz could make impact this season; Smith, Lindstrom to continue development in NCAA
ByWes Crosby
August 08, 2026
NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the top five prospects for the Columbus Blue Jackets
1.Jackson Smith, D
How acquired: Selected with No. 14 pick in 2025 NHL Draft
2025-26 season: Penn State (NCAA): 35 GP, 11-15-26
Smith (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) transitioned well to college hockey last season, joining forward Gavin McKenna as another high-impact freshman at Penn State
The 19-year-old has a big frame and a heavy left-handed shot. His skating caught the eye of Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell before being drafted in 2025. Finishing fourth among NCAA defensemen with 11 goals last season, the offensive upside is obvious
But Smith can take too many chances by jumping up in plays and leaving himself vulnerable. His athleticism can erase those mistakes in college, but it’s something he plans to fix before touching the NHL
“I never want to take away from the offensive side of my game,” Smith said. “That’s what got me here. That’s what got me as far as it did. I’m never going to take away from that side of it. I think it’s just doing that 200-foot game and knowing where to take my chances.”
Projected NHL arrival: Next season
2.Pyotr Andreyanov, G
How acquired: Selected with No. 20 pick in 2025 NHL Draft
2025-26 season: Krasnaya Armiya (MHL): 26 GP, 13-8-3, 2.59 GAA, .919 SV%; Zvezda (VHL): 13 GP, 4-8-0, 2.13 GAA, .918 SV%
Andreyanov (6-0, 207) allowed more than three goals twice in 26 games last season with his junior team, Krasnaya Armiya. His numbers remained steady in the VHL, the second-tier of hockey in Russia
The 19-year-old expected more, however
“I did not have a good season,” Andreyanov said through an interpreter on July 27. “I had a lot to think about and (need to) change a few things.”
Andreyanov has time to figure it out; he’s signed to CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League through 2029-30
Projected NHL arrival: 2030-31
3.Cayden Lindstrom, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 4 pick in 2024 NHL Draft
2025-26 season: Michigan State (NCAA): 31 GP, 3-7-10
Lindstrom (6-3, 209) had a rough introduction to college last season, returning to full capacity from a herniated disc that required a microdiscectomy in November 2024 and forced him to miss the entire 2024-25 regular season before playing four games in the playoffs for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League
The 20-year-old is a power forward. He knows how to wear down opponents and get to the net front. That wasn’t showcased much in his first season at Michigan State
Distanced from the surgery, Lindstrom could be in line to rebound as a sophomore
“I know what type of player I am,” Lindstrom said. “It’s still going to take time to get back to it, but I think I’m on a good trajectory to get there. The biggest thing I take away from it is just to keep working at it and take it day by day. You can’t really rush things.”
Projected NHL arrival: Next season
4.Oscar Hemming, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 14 pick in 2026 NHL Draft
2025-26 season: Boston College (NCAA): 19 GP, 1-7-8
Hemming (6-4, 193) is another prospect with obvious size, something Columbus has valued in developing young players
The 17-year-old’s playing time was limited last season. A dispute over the termination of Hemming’s contract with Kiekko-Espoo, his junior team in Finland, kept him from playing for Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League
Hemming eventually joined Boston College to get a short taste of hockey in North America. He could stay there for another couple of seasons before making his potential NHL debut
Projected NHL arrival: 2028-29
5.Luca Del Bel Belluz, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 44 pick in 2022 NHL Draft
2025-26 season: Columbus (NHL): 14 GP, 0-1-1; Cleveland (AHL): 55 GP, 22-36-58
Del Bel Belluz (6-1, 185) is no stranger to the Blue Jackets with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 30 games across the past three seasons. He just hasn’t stuck in the NHL
The 22-year-old has nothing left to prove in the AHL with 111 points (49 goals, 62 assists) in 116 games the past two seasons. To move beyond that success in Cleveland and stay in the NHL, Del Bel Belluz has to do better than one assist in 14 games if he gets another shot in Columbus
Projected NHL arrival: This season
CBJ@PIT: Del Bel Belluz, Chinakhov team up to kick off scoring
