The Columbus Blue Jackets selected defenseman Jackson Smith with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Smith, an 18-year-old from the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL), was highly sought after in this year's draft.
About Jackson Smith
Jackson Smith is a two-way defenseman known for his skills on both ends of the ice. He stands tall at 6-foot-3 and weighs 190 pounds, providing him with a strong physical presence on the ice. Smith is also an exceptional skater. Craig Button, a TSN Director of Scouting, praised Smith's skating ability, noting his ability to move the puck up the ice quickly. Smith's coaches depend on him to advance the puck up the ice.
In the 2024-2025 season with the Tri-City Americans, Smith demonstrated his offensive capabilities by scoring 11 goals and assisting on 43 others, totaling 54 points in 68 games. He led the Americans with four game-winning goals. Smith also showcased his talents on the international stage, playing a crucial role in Canada's gold medal victories at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship.
Prior to being drafted, Smith announced his commitment to play for Penn State University next season.
Expert Opinions
Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff ranked Smith as the 12th overall prospect and the third-best defenseman in the draft. Ellis believes Smith has the potential to become a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL, citing his offensive abilities and raw talent. Chris Peters of FloHockey noted that Smith's decision-making needs improvement.
Several experts had Smith high on their draft boards, with Elite Prospects ranking him sixth overall, McKeen's Hockey ranking him seventh, and The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari ranking him eighth.
How Smith Fits with the Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets have focused on strengthening their blue line in recent drafts, and Smith is a valuable addition to their defensive pipeline. While he may still be a few years away from becoming a major contributor at the NHL level, his size, skating ability, and offensive potential make him a promising prospect for the team.
Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2025 NHL Draft
The Blue Jackets had two picks in the first round, 14th and 20th overall. With the 14th pick, the Blue Jackets landed Jackson Smith from the Tri-City Americans. Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of the late NHL All-Star Johnny Gaudreau, announced the Blue Jackets' selection.
In addition to drafting Jackson Smith, the Blue Jackets made a couple of trades. They traded goalie Daniil Tarasov to the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round pick and acquired Brendan Gaunce from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Cameron Butler.
