Blue Jackets Enjoy Christmas in April

The end to a disappointing season for the Columbus Blue Jackets came Friday night at Nationwide with a 1-0 shootout loss to the Red Wings.  By most accounts it wasn't a very exciting affair, unless you happened to be following the Blue Jackets' chances of landing a spot in the NHL draft lottery.  Despite the fact that they didn't score a goal, the Blue Jackets actually hurt those chances by earning a point in the final game.  So there's another reason to hate the asinine NHL Points System.  A team can't even tank properly.

While the Blue Jackets were not able to master that which was in their control, thankfully there was that which they did not control, specifically the outcome of other games involving other teams residing at the bottom of the NHL standings.  Despite trying to avoid it (or at least passing the laugh test), the Blue Jackets managed to secure a spot in the 2010 draft lottery over the final two days of the NHL season. Without playing a game. Accordingly, the CBJ have a 10.7% chance of nabbing the 1st pick in the draft, a 66.7 chance of having the 4th overall pick, and a 22.6% chance of picking 5th.  Take my word on this (or Aaron Portzline's word actually).  If you think the NHL Point System is convoluted, it doesn't hold a candle to the way the draft lottery is decided. Don't fret too much over it though because we'll know exactly where the Jackets pick in less than 48 hours.  The Draft Lottery will take place tomorrow (April 13th) at 8PM eastern time.

If Scott Howson were to have a Christmas tree up in his office right now, who could blame him? The consensus top two picks in this year's draft are Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall, two "can't miss" goal scorers who most experts believe will be NHL-ready in their first or second year.  If the first pick falls into Howson's lap tomorrow night, he almost certainly will do a cartwheel on his way to the podium to get his photo next to Gary Bettman (who will most likely be standing on some type of stool or chair).  And, given that Seguin is a center, he almost certainly will jump on him come draft day (figuratively, not literally).

On the other hand, some people might be hoping that the Blue Jackets don't win the draft lottery.  That's because after Seguin and Hall, the draft is stocked with three potential franchise defenders, and some (Steve Mason?) would argue that the Jackets greatest need is along the blue line. The consensus third best prospect is Cam Fowler (pictured above), a two way D-man noted for his elite skating and savvy puck-handling skills.  Not too far behind on most prospect lists are Brandon Gormley and Erik Gudbranson, both of whom reportedly closed the gap on Fowler as this draft's best defenders within the past year.

HockeyFutures.com has them rated like this on their International Scouting Services Top 10:

Current ISS Top Ten

1. Tyler Seguin, C
2. Taylor Hall, LW
3. Cam Fowler, D
4. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW
5. Brandon Gormley, D
6. Erik Gudbranson, D
7. Kirill Kabanov, RW
8. Austin Watson, RW
9. Nino Niederreiter, LW
10. Derek Forbort, D

Please note that the the Jackets are most likely to pick fourth, and the 4th best player on this list is a gifted Russian winger who played last year in the KHL. Oh, the irony.  (Don't even think about it.)

At any rate, tomorrow we will know where the Blue Jackets draft in the first round: first, fourth or fifth.  Then we will have until June 25th to wring hands over the pick.  In the meantime, we can stare at this 2010 NHL mock draft that has the CBJ picking 4th and selecting Cam Fowler.  Merry Christmas Blue Jackets fans!