Between now and the start of camp we will finish our Top 25 Under 25 countdown. Thanks to the 74 readers who submitted ballots in this year’s ranking of Columbus Blue Jackets players and prospects under the age of 25.
#13 Stanislav Svozil
Voting
13th out of 42 eligible players
Writer Rank: 13th
Reader Rank: 14th
Highest Placement: 8th (1 vote)
Most Common Placement: 12th (8 votes each)
2023 Rank: 14th (+1)
Biography
Birthdate: May 31, 2003
Birthplace: Prerov, Czech Republic
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 181 lbs
Position: D
Shoots: Left
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round (69th overall) in 2021
2023-24 Season
Svozil had a decent run in his first AHL season. He was 5-18-23 in 57 games for the Monsters, good for 3rd in team scoring among defensemen. He was quiet in 14 playoff games but managed 3 assists and a +4 rating.
2024-25 Outlook
The additions of Jordan Harris and Jack Johnson, as well as the arrival of Denton Mateychuk, may prevent Svozil from seeing any time in the NHL this season, but that’s not a bad thing. At 21 years old, he has plenty of time to mature and improve his game. Cleveland is a great place to do that.
I still like the player and think he has bottom-four upside as an NHL defenseman. While the Blue Jackets do have a plethora of defensemen on the left side, Svozil may still have a shot at carving out a full-time spot a year or two from now.