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 start with #25:
#25 Jack Williams
Voting
25th out of 40 eligible players
Total Points: 1811
Average Placement: 25.507
Biography
Birthdate: March 2, 2002
Birthplace: Biddleford, Massachusetts
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185 lbs
Position: RW/LW
Shoots: Right
Acquired: Signed with Columbus on March 25, 2025 as an undrafted free agent
2024-25 Season
Williams scored 16 goals and 25 assists in 37 games in his third and final season at Northeastern University, which earned him the interest of the Blue Jackets as a college free agent. Upon signing in late March, he joined the team as a practice body for the remainder of the season, and got to make his NHL debut in the season finale.
Williams went undrafted in part because he is an undersized winger, and also because he was a late bloomer. He didn’t really take off as a scorer until his age 20 season in the USHL, where he put up 59 points in 58 games as captain of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He then scored just 17 points in 35 games in his freshman season with the Huskies. He took a leap in his sophomore season with 17/19/36 in 34 games.
2025-26 Outlook
Williams will spend this season with the Cleveland Monsters, in the second season and final season of his entry level contract. It will be a hard road to get back to the NHL, as previous undrafted free agents like Hunter McKown have found. Eric Robinson spent a couple of years in the AHL before getting back to the Jackets, before having a surprisingly long run as an NHLer. But, of course, Robinson had the size where Williams does not. He’ll have to overcome that with skating and hockey IQ to stick in the NHL. Having been a captain in the USHL and NCAA may speak to a certain character and drive that could help get him there.