The 2024 NHL Entry Draft will be here before we know it, so it’s time to start looking at who the Blue Jackets could pick with the fourth overall pick on Friday, June 28.
For the first time in this series, we know who will be in charge of making the Columbus Blue Jackets’ pick in the NHL draft. While Ville Siren and his scouts remain in place, newly minted President and General Manager Don Waddell will have oversight on this process. Will that change anything about the team’s approach?
With a top 5 pick, I doubt it. I still think “best player available” is the approach, and with a top 10 rich in elite blue line prospects, I would guess the Jackets lean that way with their pick. My top choice: Anton Silayev.
Unlike Artyom Levshunov, who we profiled a couple of weeks ago, Silayev is left-handed, and that is the side where the Jackets have less depth in their pipeline. The more important feature of Silayev is his size. He is a massive 6’7″ and turned 18 less than two months ago. He spent most of the last season playing against grown men in the KHL, at the age of 17.
I would expect him to play another season or two in Russia, but with his size and his pro experience, when he comes over to North America he should be able to make an immediate impact. Given that the Blue Jackets have Denton Mateychuk on the left side, but on the smaller size for his position, it’s nice to have a giant to complement him on another pair. Though it’s worth pointing out that Mateychuk is nevertheless a solid player in his own end, and Silayev isn’t just a stay-at-home, physical defenseman; he can skate and handle the puck as well.
Position: Defenseman
Team: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Date of Birth: April 11, 2006
Birthplace: Sarov, Russia
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 211 lbs
Shoots: Left
Rankings
Ranked #7 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #9 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #2 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #16 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #13 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #2 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #4 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #4 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #3 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #5 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #1 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
Ranked #8 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #4 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #4 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #7 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #12 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #9 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #16 by SMAHT SCOUTING
2023-24 Stats
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Games: 63
Goals: 3
Assists: 8
Points: 11
PIM: 10
+/-: -9
Scouting Reports
Silayev is a unicorn 6-foot-7 defenseman who surprised some people with a hot start offensively in the KHL and rose to the top of the class playing legitimate minutes for one of the KHL’s better teams for most of the year (including in the playoffs) — an extremely rare feat for a 17-year-old. His 11 points in 63 games broke the league’s under-18 scoring record (Vladimir Tarasenko had 10 points and Kirill Kaprizov and Evgeny Kuznetsov each had eight at the same age). He played on the power play, consistently registered multiple shots per game and even played both sides. – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
The good news is that his defensive play has continued to grow as well this year, with Silayev already looking like an imposing force on the backend due to his size, physicality, and remarkably smooth skating for someone of his size. He maintains good gaps during rush defense, and his sense of timing for when to close out with a hit or a quick jab to get knock the puck away from an opponent with his massive stick is impressive for a 17-year-old playing in a high-end pro league.
His poise and work ethic are really positive traits as well, as he goes on the ice to work hard and try to win games. Silayev isn’t the flashiest player, and doesn’t cheat for offense, instead trying to find the best possible play he can make without compromising any dangerous chances in the other direction. – Logan Horn, The Hockey Writers