List of Columbus Blue Jackets draft picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, who compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they are yet to claim any kind of silverware in the league and have largely performed below expectations. Nonetheless, they play their home games at Nationwide Arena, in the Arena District of Columbus, Ohio while the ownership of the team is with John P. McConnell. Other activities are taken care by general manager Don Waddell, who has been associated with the Carolina Hurricanes and the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers. Remarkably, the Blue Jackets' name and logos are inspired by Ohio's Civil War history.

Columbus Blue Jackets Draft Picks Year by Year

The Columbus Blue Jackets have experienced a mix of success and disappointment with their draft selections over the years. Looking back, Rick Nash, the first overall pick in 2002, stands out as the franchise's best draft choice. Notably, Nash held numerous team records and was a key player for nearly a decade. His tally of 547 points in 674 games still stands as a record within the franchise. After retiring, his jersey was retired by the Jackets in 2022. Another player, Zach Werenski, was drafted 8th overall in 2015 and stood out with 169 points in 300 games. Other players who stand out as the best draft picks of the Columbus Blue Jackets are Pierre-Luc Dubois and Ryan Johansen.

On the other hand, some picks did not meet the expectations. Alexandre Picard, taken 8th overall in 2004, failed to make an impact. In 67 games, he did not score a single goal, making him one of the team's biggest draft busts. Another player, Gilbert Brule, the 6th overall pick in 2005, struggled to meet expectations as injuries limited his development and never became what was expected from him. Ryan Murray, selected 2nd overall in 2012, also faced significant challenges. Kerby Rychel and Marko Dano, both picked in the first round of the 2013 draft, did not stand out. Rychel struggled to make success in the NHL from junior success while Dano's also faded quickly.

The following table looks at Columbus Blue Jackets' draft picks over the years: