DRAFT PROFILE: Meet the Top 6

Heading into the 2018 NHL Draft this week, the Blue Jackets aren't picking in the Top 10 or even Top 15.
They hold the No. 18 pick in the draft, which will be held in Dallas on Friday and Saturday at American Airlines Center, but that doesn't mean you can rule out a higher selection. Jarmo Kekalainen, the Blue Jackets' general manager, isn't afraid to swing big in trades and has already said Columbus will have options to explore.
One of them might include picking higher, which could put an elite caliber of prospect in play for the Blue Jackets. The Columbus scouting staff feels this draft runs deep with talent, including some true impact players at the top.
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With that in mind, here's a quick look at the projected top six prospects in the draft, as chosen by the NHL at the league's official scouting combine last month in Buffalo:

RASMUS DAHLIN
Position: Defenseman
Shoots:Left
Height/weight:6-foot-2, 181 pounds
Birthdate:April 13, 2000, Trolhattan, Sweden
2017-18 team:Frolunda, Swedish Hockey League
2017-18 stats:7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points, 41 games.
Fast facts:Expected to be drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres, which would make Dahlin just the second Swedish-born player to be taken with the first pick. Mats Sundin was selected first overall in 1989 by the Quebec Nordiques. … Dahlin played for Sweden in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics at age 17 and had one assist in two games. He also helped Sweden win a silver medal in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, being named 'Best Defenseman" of the tournament.
The skinny:Dahlin is a unanimous choice among the scouting community for best player in the draft, seen as a rare generational talent from the back end of the attack. His skating, vision anticipation are all elite, drawing comparisons to retired former Detroit Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom, and those assets only enhance his other skills. Dahlin will almost certainly go No.1 to the Sabres, who've been seeking a talent like him for a number of years. Buffalo is also coached by Phil Housely, a hall-of-fame defenseman who had similar skills.
NHL Central Scouting rank:No. 1 among international skaters
NHL Central Scouting Says:"Dahlin has the skating, skills and elite hockey sense that can dictate the style of play and the pace of a game with or without the puck. He finds ways to contribute in all situations, is ultra-competitive and a high-character person who leads by example." - Dan Marr, director
He said it:"My season's been good. I learned so many new things. I think I'm ready right now to play in the NHL, so we'll see what the team who picks me [says]. I'm just waiting and very excited to see."

ANDREI SVECHNIKOV
Position: Right wing
Shoots:Left
Height/weight:6-foot-2, 188 pounds
Birthdate:March 26, 2000, Kazan, Russia
2017-18 team:Barrie, Ontario Hockey League
2017-18 stats:40 goals, 32 assists, 72 points, 44 games.
Fast facts:Younger brother of Red Wings rookie forward Evgeny Svechnikov, who was the 19th pick in the 2015 draft and made his NHL debut this season with Detroit. … won rookie of the year honors in both the USHL in 2016-17 and led all OHL rookies in scoring this season, averaging 1.64 points per game. … His 72 points was fifth in the league in scoring overall. … Says his favorite player to watch growing up was Pavel Bure.
The skinny:Svechnikov left Russia two years ago to get an early start on playing in North America, which features smaller ice rinks and cultural differences. He started in the USHL, playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, and then shifted to Barrie in the OHL this season. He's got good size, strong skating and a great shot, which helps Svechnikov score a lot of goals. Carolina is expected to take the Russian winger with the second pick and give him a chance to play in the NHL right away.
NHL Central Scouting rank:No. 1 among North American skaters
NHL Central Scouting Says:"Svechnikov has a consistent and competitive power game that gets the puck through checks and to the net with speed and skill. He's able to create and finish scoring chances in a timely manner and quickly established himself in the OHL as an offensive impact player." - Dan Marr, director
He said it:"I'm not going to guarantee it 100 percent, but I hope to be playing in [the NHL]. I'm pretty sure I can play, but you never know what's going to happen."

BRADY TKACHUK
Position: Left wing
Shoots:Left
Height/weight:6-foot-3, 196 pounds
Birthdate:Sept. 16, 1999, Scottsdale, Ariz.
2017-18 team:Boston University, Hockey East, NCAA
2017-18 stats:8 goals, 23 assists, 31 points, 40 games.
Fast facts:Tkachuk is the son of former NHL power forward Keith Tkachuk, who logged 1,065 points in 1,201 career games. He's also the brother of Calgary Flames power forward Matthew Tkachuk, who was taken sixth overall in the 2016 draft … Tkachuk helped Boston win the Hockey East title as a freshman and was named to the all-rookie team this season. … Captained the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2017 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and then helped the U.S. win bronze at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in January.
The skinny:Tkachuk's bloodlines are impressive, and there's no reason to think he can't be just as effective - if not more - than his older brother. He's got a big frame, can skate well enough to make his size matter and is fearless in virtually every situation on the ice. His goal total as a freshman in college wasn't eye-popping, but the raw skill set is there to score a lot more. The question is whether Tkachuk will return for his sophomore season at BU or enter the NHL with whichever team selects him.
NHL Central Scouting rank:No. 2 North American skater
NHL Central Scouting says:"He's a complete package that can be impactful in every situation, with and without the puck. If you need a goal, he'll go get a scoring chance. If you're protecting a lead, he'll be responsible defensively. If you need someone to go in there and throw their weight around a little bit, he's a guy that steps up. He seems to rise to those occasions." - Dan Marr, director
He said it:"The draft is going to be fun. I'll be a little bit nervous [about] where I'll end up. It's going to be so much fun, and I just want to enjoy the two days in Dallas, as it's going to be good. We'll see what's going to happen. I'll be happy any way, if I end up in Montreal, Ottawa … I just want to have a good time there with my family and the people there"

FILIP ZADINA
Position: Right wing
Shoots:Left
Height/weight:6-foot, 195 pounds
Birthdate:Nov. 27, 1999, Pardubice, Czech Republic
2017-18 team:Halifax, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
2017-18 stats:44 goals, 38 assists, 82 points, 57 games.
Fast facts:Zadina was a first team All-Star pick in the QMJHL and was also named to the all-rookie team. … Won the league's Mike Bossy Trophy as the "Q's" best professional prospect and led all rookies in scoring. … Zadina had 12 points on five goals and seven assists in nine playoff games for Halifax. Had seven goals one assist and eight points in the 2018 World Junior Championship, which earned him a spot on the tournament's all-star team. … Had seven points on five goals and two assists in four games to help Czech Republic win a gold medal in the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament.
The skinny:Zadina has the skills to be a playmaker and the shot to be a goal-scorer. He's great with the puck on his stick, sees the ice well and puts the puck wherever he wants it when he takes shots. Like Svechnikov, Zadina opted to play in North America rather than continuing his career in his home country. He handled it with ease and is now expected to be drafted within the top four or five picks.
NHL Central Scouting rank:No. 3 North American skater.
NHL Central Scouting says:"High-end skilled forward with excellent playmaking ability. He has very good vision, excellent anticipation and exceptional natural instincts. Possesses strong puck skills, a quick, accurate release and looks to shoot. He is committed to playing a two-way game."
He said it:"I saw the lottery. I just saw the teams and was like, 'We'll see what's going to happen.' I would like to play for either Montreal, Carolina or Ottawa would be great, but we'll see what's going to happen."

EVAN BOUCHARD
Position: Defenseman
Shoots:Right
Height/weight:6-foot-2, 193 pounds
Birthdate:Oct. 20, 1999, Oakville, Ont.
2017-18 team:London Knights, Ontario Hockey League
2017-18 stats:25 goals, 62 assists, 87 points, 67 games.
Fast facts:Bouchard finished first in the OHL for scoring by a defensemen and was eighth overall in the league. … Played his third season with London after helping the Knights win the OHL championship in his rookie season (2015-16). … Bouchard played with current NHL players that season, including Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Dvorak, Montreal Canadiens forward Victor Mete and the Flames' Tkachuk.
The skinny:After Dahlin, the rest of the draft becomes a lot harder to predict. Bouchard could certainly go higher than the fifth pick based on his merits, which include a big frame, great vision while running the power play from the point. He's an offensive defenseman, but has the size and speed to be a No. 1 blue-liner on defense, as well.
NHL Central Scouting rank:No. 4 North American skater.
NHL Central Scouting says:"A highly-intelligent defenseman with exceptional vision and offensive instincts. He reads the play very well and his passing ability allows him to be a constant threat in his team's transition game. He's one of the top offensive defensemen in the Canadian Hockey League and magician-like when quarterbacking the power play."
He said it:"I like watching [Los Angeles Kings defenseman] Drew Doughty play, just seeing as he's a London [alum]. I liked watching [Washington Capitals defenseman] John Carlson play in the [Stanley Cup Final], too, the way he plays."

NOAH DOBSON
Position: Defenseman
Shoots:Right
Height/weight:6-foot-3, 180 pounds
Birthdate:Jan. 7, 2000, Summerside, P.E.I.
2017-18 team:Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL
2017-18 stats:17 goals, 52 assists, 69 points, 67 games.
Fast facts:Helped Acadie-Bathurst win the QMJHL's President's Cup as league champion this season, scoring three goals and adding 10 assists for 13 points in 20 playoff games. … Tied for second among league defensemen in scoring during the regular season. … Named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team this season. … Won a gold medal with Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament, logging three assists in five games.
The skinny:Dobson has high-end offensive ability from the blue-line, but don't let that fool you into thinking he's a one-way player. He's tall and has room to add muscle to his frame, but even now has a good stick in the defensive zone. Positioning is one of his biggest strengths, allowing him to stay ahead of the puck in most cases. Another strong power-play quarterback type who has a big shot from the point. Defensemen like Dahlin, Bouchard and Dobson are highly-valued commodities in the NHL now, so look for all three to go quick - including Dobson.
NHL Central Scouting rank:No. 5 among North American skaters
NHL Central Scouting says:"A very effective two-way defenseman with good puck distribution and a strong shot from the point on the power play. He is a point producer with size that defends well and utilizes strong positioning and a good stick in the defensive zone."
He said it:"I think in my 16-year old year in the 'Q,' I was a little more defensive and wanted to improve my offensive game. That's part of the game now. I think all defensemen like to get up in the rush and create offense. That's a part of the game I like to take part in."