After much speculation that the Blue Jackets might trade one or more of their first-round picks, they chose to select Jackson Smith from Tri-City of the WHL.
In a touching moment, Meredith Gaudreau was the guest pick announcer for Columbus. She was greeted by a standing ovation and a “Johnny” chant. She thanked the entire hockey community for their support over the last season before announcing the pick.
A lefty, Jackson Smith was widely considered the second or third-best defenseman in the draft. At 6’3″, he provides size along with his strong skating ability. He’ll play at Penn State next season and compete in the Big Ten against Cayden Lindstrom.
Welcome to Columbus, Jackson!