Blue Jackets Draft Hemming, Eyeing Defense

NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 27, 2026 · 2m

Columbus Blue Jackets shock the hockey world by selecting 6-foot-4 winger Oscar Hemming 14th overall — the youngest player in college hockey last season — to fill a glaring need for size and power-play firepower. With their next pick not until 94th, they traded down in the second round to acquire Valeri Nichushkin, leaving them to hunt for late-round gems. Their focus? Players with physical tools and upside — like 6’3” Slovak defenseman Adam Goljer, who’s already battled pros, or undersized playmaking wizard Matias Vanhanen, whose offensive spark could mirror Johnny Gaudreau’s impact. The…