Jackets Draft Ryan Murray 2nd Overall

Earlier this afternoon there were some whispers that the Oilers were going to draft Ryan Murray, leading many Columbus fans to get excited for the prospect of Nail Yakupov becoming a Jacket. The Oilers ended up going with the consensus number one pick in Yakupov, and the Jackets took the top-ranked blueliner second overall.

The Jackets have been steadily upgrading their defense over the past couple seasons, and Murray is the latest addition to what is becoming a great looking unit. He is known for his steady play and leadership abilities. Most impressively, he was only the second junior-aged player to play for Team Canada at the Men's World Hockey Championship. He is generally considered to be NHL-ready, and the consensus is that he is wise beyond his years.

With the impending trade of star player Rick Nash, it would have been great for the Jackets to draft a marketable star like Yakupov, but Murray will nonetheless be an important member of the Jackets going forward. He won't wow you with his play, but he plays a solid, safe game.

Here's video of Murray meeting with the media after being selected second overall