Thank you to the 70 readers who voted in this year’s countdown of the 25 best players in the Columbus Blue Jackets system under the age of 25. Today we continue with #15:
#15 Charlie Elick
Voting
15th out of 40
Total Points: 1135
Average Placement: 15.986
Last Year: 17th (+2 difference)
Biography
Birthdate: January 17, 2006
Birthplace: Villach, Austria
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 205 lbs
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Acquired: Drafted in Round 2 (#36 overall) in 2024 by Columbus
2024-25 Season
As a condition of the Ivan Provorov trade, the Blue Jackets had the option of sending their second round pick in 2024, or deferring to the next year and sending their second round pick in the 2025 draft. Don Waddell and the scouting staff chose to keep their pick and selected Charlie Elick 36th overall.
He doesn’t stand out on the score sheet (just 10 goals in his WHL career, 27 points in his draft year, and 15 points this year), but he’s a big, mobile, defense-first right-shot defenseman. Elite Prospects described him as a “Physical, proactive defender. He’s an explosive backward and lateral skater, which he uses to instantly take the middle, then teleport across the ice and prevent the entry.” He provided a steady defensive presence for the Brandon Wheat Kings before being traded to the Tri-City Americans in January. He was invited to Hockey Canada’s Summer Selection Camp for the 2026 World Juniors over the summer.
2025-26 Season
Elick will return to the WHL’s Tri-City Americans for their 2025-26 campaign; he’ll likely join the Monsters upon the conclusion of their season. Once again, offense isn’t the expectation here; it’s about developing into a top shut-down defenseman on the right side. And he’s already essentially wearing a Blue Jackets jersey!