LAS VEGAS – The Blue Jackets got a little bigger, stronger and nastier with the fourth pick of the 2024 NHL draft on Friday.
Three picks after the San Jose Sharks chose Boston University center Macklin Celebrini first, Columbus took center Cayden Lindstrom, a power forward from Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Lindstrom missed much of last season with a back injury but displayed dominance when healthy.
Listed at 6 feet 3 and 213 pounds, Lindstrom finished third among NHL Central Scouting’s rankings of North American skaters with 27 goals, 19 assists and 46 points in 32 games. He plays center but could easily shift to a wing position as a power forward to create just as much havoc.
Should Lindstrom remain at center, the Blue Jackets could feature a formidable lineup down the middle in the not-too-distant future.
Adam Fantilli (third overall 2023) is expected to center the first line, while Lindstrom and Cole Sillinger (12th overall 2021) could battle it out for the second and third center roles in a couple of years. If so, captain Boone Jenner may shift into a forechecking wing position. The Jackets could also extend veteran Sean Kuraly’s contract to keep him in the middle of the fourth line.
That group of centers would have eye-opening size, strength, skill and snarl.
The Blue Jackets will now decide at the end of the first round whether to keep their second-round pick (No. 36 overall) or relinquish it to the Philadelphia Flyers to complete a three-way trade last offseason to acquire defenseman Ivan Provorov.
The draft concludes Saturday at Sphere with rounds 2-7 beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. The Blue Jackets’ other picks are in the third round (No. 69 and No. 86), fourth round (No. 101), fifth round (No. 133) and sixth round (No. 165).
