With the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets have .
Here’s what you should know about the newest CBJ forward in the moments after his draft pick.
The Hemming file: Hemming profiles as a power forward (6-4, 204) who can score, though he had a tough road during the 2025-26 season. After dominating Finland’s U-18 league in 2024-25 (35-28-63 in 31 games) and acquitting himself well at the U-20 level (10 points in 18 games), the Vaasa, Finland, native tried to head to the OHL this past season but was blocked by his club team, Kiekko-Espoo. He eventually settled at Boston College in December, but as the youngest player in college hockey, he struggled to produce offensively, finishing with a 1-7-8 line in 19 games. Considering he was just 17, though, and jumped onto a moving train midway through the season, the lack of production can be forgiven; he still profiles as a big body who plays physical and complements it with an excellent shot, as evidenced by four goals in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with Finland.
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How he fits: The Blue Jackets took only three forwards out of 12 players in the last two drafts, so it seemed likely the organization would look for a forward here, and Hemming fits the bill as someone who brings size, skill and hockey IQ to the table. The Blue Jackets seem to have prioritized size in their top picks and acquisitions in the Don Waddell era, and Hemming immediately moves toward the top of the team’s prospects pool as someone who could be a physical presence in the lineup as he progresses in his development.
What do the analysts say? Hemming placed 16th in our annual consensus poll rankings, and Chris Peters of FloHockey writes, “He has power winger potential and likely provides a source of some secondary scoring. ... With the size profile and the aggressive nature with which he plays the game, teams are going to find a bet worth making.” Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff notes, “At his best, the 6-foot-4 forward is an absolute menace who can beat you with size, speed and skill. The raw potential is there, but he was forced to play some heavy catch-up to make up for lost time. I think a full year of college will do him wonders, and I still see some top-six potential.” SportsNet’s Sam Cosentino says, “With his size and bulldog mentality, he was more than able to display the physical element in his game, one which he fully embraces” at Boston College.
Get to know him: Hemming comes from a hockey family, as his father, Jonas, had a long career in Europe and his brother, Emil, was a first-round pick of Dallas two years ago who spent much of this past season in the OHL. Though he's still just 17 – he won't turn 18 until August – he told reporters at the NHL draft that it wasn’t too hard to get used to the college life, but he admitted not taking too much food at the cafeteria’s was the biggest adjustment. “Just kind of have to look forward to what you’re gonna eat and not just take anything from there,” he said. His hometown of Vaasa is on Finland’s west coast on the Gulf of Bothnia and dates back to 1606; it has more than 70,000 residents and features the Finnish version of the Statue of Liberty.
What’s next: The biggest key for Hemming will be to earn consistent playing time this upcoming season after losing half of last year because of the contract situation. As with most picks in the No. 14 range, Hemming likely isn’t NHL ready, especially considering the time he missed this past season, and this will be an important year in his development. As we said, it’s understandable that his production was down for a variety of reasons when he got to Boston College, but with that experience under his belt, he should be able to be an impact player this upcoming season.
