Some might raise an eyebrow at ranking Dean Kukan this high on the prospect list, but experience suggests otherwise. While he is relatively new to the Blue Jackets' organization — having signed on June 1 last year — he has spent years honing his game in his native Switzerland and in the Swedish Hockey League.
While Kukan, 23, possesses the requisite size for an NHL blue liner - 6' 2", 209 lbs. — the first thing that most notice about his game is the smooth skating and puck handling. While not a huge offensive threat (3 goals, 13 assists in 33 games for Cleveland), his numbers translate to something in the 30 point range over the span of an NHL season, which is certainly competitive.