Prospect Report: 2022-23 season recap for Blue Jackets youngsters

Experts across the NHL landscape agree the Blue Jackets have one of the most talent-rich prospect pools in the league, which will only get better when Columbus adds the third overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft.

That means there will be some good players coming to Columbus in the years ahead, many of whom took the next big step forward in their development this season.

With that in mind, today's Prospect Report takes a look at every player in the CBJ system who didn't spend the majority of their time in Columbus. That's 29 players scattered throughout the world who are working to make it to the NHL and hope to contribute for the Blue Jackets one day.

The pool was limited to players age 24 or younger whose rights are owned by the Blue Jackets, and players were classified by where they spent the majority of the season. Rankings used are those produced by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic in his midseason breakdown of the CBJ prospect pool.

Cleveland Monsters

Tyler Angle | C | 22 | 2019 seventh-round draft pick

The season: Angle posted exactly 11 goals at the AHL level for the third season in a row, finishing with an 11-12-23 line in 66 games. He also made his NHL debut at the end of the season, scoring his first career goal in a two-game cameo to end the campaign.

What's next: Angle remains under contract for next season and has proved to be a tough, versatile center at the AHL level. He can do a little bit of everything, but there's not quite one skill that projects as the thing he can ride to the NHL, which might make it tough for him to stick.

Ole Bjorgvik-Holm | LHD | 20 | 2020 fifth-round draft pick

The season: The Norwegian's first full pro season included 25 games in Cleveland, where Bjorgvik-Holm posted a pair of assists. With a logjam of players available to the Monsters, Bjorgvik-Holm was sent down to Kalamazoo of the ECHL, where he had a 1-3-4 line in 19 games.

What's next: In the first year of a three-year entry-level deal, Bjorgvik-Holm is a big body with some skill and some sandpaper to his game. He'll likely return to Cleveland next year to keep gaining experience and refining his game.

Jake Christiansen | LHD | 23 | Signed as a free agent out of the WHL in 2020

The season: For the second straight season, Christiansen was one of the most productive blueliners in the AHL, posting an 11-23-34 line in 50 games to tie for eighth in the league in goals among defensemen. He played a career-best 24 games with Columbus as well, posting four assists.

What's next: Christiansen has always excelled on the offensive end, and it's clear those traits have translated to the AHL level. The next step for him to become a consistent NHLer, outside of experience, is to keep adding to his game on the defensive side of the ice.

Joshua Dunne | C | 24 | Signed as a free agent out of NCAA hockey in 2021

The season: Dunne's second full pro season was his best, as he reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time, placing second on the Monsters with his 20 tallies. He added 17 assists for 37 points in 65 games, and he played eight games with the Blue Jackets, finishing without a point.

What's next: Dunne's impressive season with Cleveland shows he's got what it takes to be a top AHL player; with excellent size and some skill around the net, he'll have to keep working to show he can do it at the NHL level next.

Trey Fix-Wolansky | RW | 23 | 2018 seventh-round draft pick

The season: Fix-Wolansky has always been a scorer, but he took his game to a new level this season in Cleveland, posting a 29-42-71 line that placed him tied for 11th in the league in goals and seventh in points. He also played nine games with the Blue Jackets, notching his second career goal.

What's next: Fix-Wolansky went from a productive AHLer to a breakout scorer this season, which might have been expected given his gaudy junior numbers. A bit of a tweener and not blessed with excellent size, he remains someone with NHL scoring ability, so he'll keep getting looks to see if he can translate things to the top level.

Jet Greaves | G | 22 | Signed as a free agent out of the OHL in 2021

The season: Greaves' year was highlighted by the memorable night he made his NHL debut in his hometown of Toronto, stopping 46 of 49 shots in a loss to the Maple Leafs. Outside of that, his second season in Cleveland had its ups and downs, as he became the Monsters' starter and finished 19-16-5 in 43 games with a 3.08 GAA and .899 save percentage.

What's next: Greaves has turned in a pair of solid seasons with Cleveland, and given his youth, there's still a lot of development that can be had for the netminder. He'll come back to Cleveland next year to continue working on his game, with a chance at NHL games again next season.

David Jiricek | RHD | 19 | 2022 first-round draft pick | No. 1 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Jiricek had a tremendous debut season in Cleveland, posting a 6-32-38 line in 55 games to lead rookie AHL defensemen in points per game. He also played four games at the NHL level and was dominant for Czechia at the World Juniors, helping lead the squad to a silver medal, its best finish since 2001.

What's next: Jiricek looks like a star in the making, as he has the ability to excel at both ends of the rink with his size and skill. After learning at the AHL level this year, Jiricek will get every chance to make the leap to NHL regular next season. There will still be growing to do as he learns when to be aggressive and when not, but he has all the tools to be a top-pair defenseman down the road.

Samuel Knazko | LHD | 20 | 2020 third-round draft pick | No. 13 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Knazko made the jump into the North American professional ranks and had a solid debut season with Cleveland, finishing with a goal and 20 assists in 50 games. He also played two games with the Blue Jackets at the end of the campaign.

What's next: Given Knazko's youth, it was a pretty good first season in Cleveland, and the Slovak defenseman profiles as someone with good two-way skills. He'll play for Slovakia at the World Championships this summer and then likely return to Cleveland next year to continue gaining experience.

Canadian junior/college ranks

Ben Boyd | C | 19 | 2021 sixth-round draft pick

The season: Boyd went from major junior to the university ranks this year to be closer to family, moving from Charlottetown of the QMJHL to St. Mary's University in Halifax. He ended up skating in only nine games, though, posting an assist.

What's next: A big winger who's not afraid to play physically, Boyd didn't get much chance to play this season, so we'll see where things go from here.

Cameron Butler | RW | 20 | Signed as a free agent out of the OHL in 2023

The season: Butler had his best offensive season at the OHL level, posting 27 goals and 55 points in 63 games with Oshawa and adding two goals in five playoff games. He then debuted in Cleveland, playing in three games without a point.

What's next: The Blue Jackets inked Butler to a contract at the end of the season because of his size and physicality, including 119 penalty minutes that placed second in the OHL. He'll likely report to Cleveland next year to start acclimating his game to the pro level, and he could be a fun player there given his profile.

Luca Del Bel Belluz | C | 19 | 2022 second-round draft pick | No. 7 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Del Bel Belluz had an excellent season with a Sarnia team that won a pair of OHL playoff rounds, as he was one of 14 40-goal scorers in the league with a 40-47-87 line during a season split between the Sting and Mississauga. He added an 8-7-15 playoff line in 16 games.

What's next: A two-way center, Del Bel Belluz is someone the Blue Jackets were quite excited to land in the second round of last year's draft. He'll be eligible to play in Cleveland next year or return to the OHL, but wherever he ends up he'll keep building on what is a well-rounded game.

Jordan Dumais | RW | 19 | 2022 third-round draft pick | No. 3 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Dumais had a memorable season with Halifax of the QMJHL, posting 140 points (54 goals, 86 assists) in 64 games and adding 4-12-16 in 11 postseason games for the Mooseheads, who have advanced to the Q final. That point total was a record for a drafted CBJ prospect, the second most in the Canadian junior ranks this year behind Connor Bedard, and the third most in the Q in the past 20 years behind Sidney Crosby and Alexander Radulov.

What's next: The bad news for Dumais is he might end up right back in the Q next season, as his late birthday means he's ineligible to play in the AHL next season. It'll be either Columbus or a return to the junior ranks, where you'd expect him to dominate yet again and perhaps post another historic season. Still, his excellent production portends good things for the Jackets, who got a steal in the third round.

Nolan Lalonde | G | 19 | Signed as a free agent out of the OHL

The season: Signed after an impressive training camp performance last fall, Lalonde struggled in his return to Erie of the OHL, going 11-20-6 in 41 games with a 4.10 GAA and .868 save percentage.

What's next: At the end of the day, though, raw numbers don't mean a ton for prospect netminders in the junior ranks, and the Blue Jackets knew Lalonde had lot of development left when he signed. He has some good tools and will hopefully have a better campaign next season in the OHL.

James Malatesta | LW | 19 | 2021 fifth-round draft pick | No. 11 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Overshadowed a bit by Dumais, Malatesta was also quite impressive in the QMJHL, and he's helped his Quebec squad make it to the final to oppose Halifax. Malatesta overcame injuries to have an excellent campaign, notching a 37-29-66 line in 55 games and adding nine goals in 12 playoff games thus far.

What's next: Malatesta is an interesting prospect, as he's not the biggest guy in the world, but he's quite strong, has excellent scoring touch and plays with some sandpaper to his game. He is eligible to hit the pro ranks next year.

Denton Mateychuk | LHD | 18 | 2022 first-round draft pick | No. 2 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Chosen 12th overall in the 2022 draft thanks to a dynamic offensive game, Mateychuk served as captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL and posted an 8-57-65 line in 63 games. He added 3-5-8 in 10 postseason games.

What's next: With his young age, Mateychuk will have to head back to the WHL next season, but the Jackets remain excited by the prospect given his swift skating, scoring touch and leadership skills. He'll have a good chance to be on the Canadian World Junior squad next year.

Martin Rysavy | LW | 20 | 2021 seventh-round draft pick

The season: Rysavy skated with Mateychuk in Moose Jaw and had a productive season, posting 11-22-33 in 47 games and adding 5-5-10 in 10 postseason games. He was also on the Czechia World Junior squad that won a silver medal, playing strong bottom-six minutes.

What's next: Eligible to head to the pro ranks next season, it's not hard to see Rysavy as a fun AHL player given his size, penchant for mixing it up and solid scoring ability. He could be a fan favorite in Cleveland next season as a bottom-six player with some size and grit.

Stanislav Svozil | LHD | 20 | 2021 third-round draft pick | No. 6 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Svozil might have seen the biggest jump this year of any CBJ prospect, as he played with Bedard with Regina of the WHL and filled up the score sheet with a 11-67-78 line in 56 games, good enough for fourth in the league in assists. He also captained the Czech World Junior squad, posted 4-9-13 in seven playoff games with Regina, and had an assist in two games while making his CBJ debut at the end of the year.

What's next: Svozil is an exciting prospect from the blue line because of his offensive abilities and poise on the puck, and he seems likely to be an NHLer at some point. Next year, he'll head to Cleveland to try to keep fortifying his defensive game and add strength to make sure he can handle the 200-foot game required at the top level.

Overseas prospects

Kirill Dolzhenkov | RW | 19 | 2022 fourth-round draft pick

The season: There aren't many prospects like Dolzhenkov, who stands 6-6. But don't make any mistake, this Russian brings some skill to the table, as well, as he posted an 18-27-45 line in 50 games with Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, the junior team in the CSKA Moscow system. He also played five games without a point with title-winning CSKA.

What's next: Dolzhenkov will remain in the CSKA system, where he'll have the chance to play for the junior squad again, move up to the minor leagues or even get some more games with the big club. He remains an intriguing prospect whose size could portend big things to come.

Eric Hjorth | RHD | 22 | 2019 fourth-round draft pick

The season: Hjorth has bounced around the past few years, going from the Canadian junior ranks back to his home in Sweden, then to Finland and eventually back to Sweden. This year, he spent the entire year with HC Vita Hasten of the Allsvenskan, the Swedish second tier, and had a 3-6-9 line in 43 games.

What's next: The Blue Jackets have until June 1 to sign Hjorth or lose their exclusive rights to the prospect they drafted four years ago. He's big and athletic, but his offensive gifts just haven't translated to the pro level, and it seems unlikely he will be signed.

Sergei Ivanov | G | 19 | 2022 fifth-round draft pick | No. 12 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Ivanov had an excellent season in Russia, playing for the junior team, minor league team and top pro-level team in the SKA St. Petersburg system. He made five appearances and posted a .957 save percentage in his debut with SKA, but he played most with SKA-Neva, the minor league squad, going 5-9-2 with a 3.07 GAA and .900 save percentage. He returned to the junior ranks with SKA-1946 in the playoffs and was 7-2-1 with a 1.60 GAA and .949 save percentage.

What's next: Ivanov stands just 5-11, and not many goalies under six feet excel at the NHL level these days. That might be the only real area of concern at the moment for Ivanov, who seems to have plenty of technical ability given his excellent numbers at a young age. He should be a fun goalie to follow as he works his way up the SKA system.

Nikolai Makarov | RHD | 20 | 2021 fifth-round draft pick

The season: It was a big season for this defensive stalwart, as at age 20 Makarov earned a regular shift with Russian power CSKA Moscow, then took the ice in every game of the team's Gagarin Cup playoff run. Makarov spent most of the year in the junior ranks with Krasnaya Armiya but finished the regular season with 18 games with CSKA (1-1-2), then had three assists in 27 postseason games.

What's next: Sticking in the KHL is notoriously hard for young players, and that's especially true at the biggest clubs. Makarov did just that, though, and was rewarded with a championship. He has two more years left on his contract with CSKA and figures to keep building his game.

Mikael Pyyhtia | LW | 21 | 2020 fourth-round draft pick

The season: After a breakout 21-goal campaign with TPS of the Finnish Liiga in 2021-22, Pyyhtia didn't quite have the same production this year, posting a 7-13-20 line in 47 games. He then made his North American debut, playing seven games with Cleveland (3-0-3) and two with the CBJ (0-1-1).

What's next: Pyyhtia has talent, as evidenced by his production two years ago as well as his pedigree with Finnish national teams. He projects more as a solid option than a breakout star, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him get a full introduction to North American hockey next year in Cleveland.

Dmitri Voronkov | LW/C | 22 | 2019 fourth-round draft pick | No. 8 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: It was another solid campaign for the big, physical forward with KHL runner-up Ak Bars Kazan, as he set career highs with 18 goals and 31 points while winning 55.5 percent of his faceoffs. Voronkov then posted an 8-4-12 line in 24 playoff contests.

What's next: Voronkov has signed with the Blue Jackets and looks ready to make his NHL debut this upcoming season. He played both center and wing with Ak Bars, but the Blue Jackets seem to see him as a middle of the lineup pivot who can bring both size (6-4, 192) and skill to the lineup. He should be fun to watch.

NCAA/U.S. junior players

Corson Ceulemans | RHD | 20 | 2021 first-round draft pick | No. 5 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: Ceulemans spent his second season at the University of Wisconsin, where he tied for third on the Badgers with 23 points thanks to eight goals and 15 assists in 33 games. He then signed with Columbus and played 13 games in Cleveland, posting a 1-1-2 line.

What's next: Now under contract, Ceulemans figures to spend next year with Cleveland learning the pro game. He's still a bit raw, but the first-rounder is an intriguing prospect thanks to a great shot, good offensive instincts and the athletic ability to play an aggressive game.

James Fisher | RW/C | 19 | 2022 seventh-round draft pick

The season: Fisher went from the high school ranks in his native Massachusetts to the USHL, playing in Ohio for Youngstown in the top American junior league. Fisher played in 42 regular season games for the Phantoms, posting a 3-7-10 line, but is yet to appear in the Clark Cup playoffs.

What's next: The Blue Jackets drafted Fisher because of his size (6-2, 194) and skating ability, but they knew all along he'd need some development in his game. He's headed to Northeastern University next year to continue that while playing top-level college hockey.

Aidan Hreschuk | LHD | 20 | 2021 third-round draft pick (acquired from Carolina)

The season: As a sophomore at Boston College, Hreschuk put together almost a carbon copy season to his freshman campaign, posting a 1-5-6 line in 35 games a year after a 1-7-8 mark in 37 contests. He was also in camp with the United States World Juniors squad but was one of the last cuts.

What's next: Hreschuk was acquired at the 2022 trade deadline for Max Domi, and his pedigree -- including two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development program -- shows there's some talent there. He'll be back for his third season with BC next year.

Hunter McKown | C/W | 20 | Signed as a free agent out of NCAA hockey in 2023

The season: McKown was inked to an entry-level contract in March at the conclusion of his season at Colorado College, where he posted a 21-7-28 line in 38 games and led the nation with 14 power-play goals. He reported straight to Columbus, earning two assists in 12 games.

What's next: McKown is an intriguing prospect, as he is a USNTDP alum who took a while to find his game in college but then became one of the top scorers in the nation. He boasts good size (6-1, 205), is solid on faceoffs and has a lot of room to grow. He'll likely be in Cleveland next year for a first full season of pro hockey.

Guillaume Richard | LHD | 20 | 2021 fourth-round draft pick | No. 15 in The Athletic's CBJ prospect rankings

The season: A year after being one of the most productive freshman defensemen in college hockey, Richard's numbers were down a bit with Providence. That might be more related to the whole roster picture with the Friars than anything else, as the team had a tough year, and Richard posted a 1-7-8 line in 31 games.

What's next: At 6-2, Richard was drafted more for his ability to command the game and play defensively than dazzling offensive numbers, and he continues to impress CBJ brass. He'll return for a third year at Providence, but he's someone to keep an eye on, as he has pro tools.

Robbie Stucker | RHD | 24 | 2017 seventh-round draft pick

The season: After starting his career at Minnesota, Stucker completed his fifth and final year of eligibility at the University of Vermont, posting a 3-12-15 line in 33 games. He then signed with South Carolina of the ECHL, playing in 10 games.

What's next: The Jackets' exclusive rights to sign Stucker come to a close Aug. 15, and it appears he will not be signed by the team.