Fansided · Jun 23, 2023
Columbus Blue Jackets: 2017 NHL Draft Review, How Did They Do?
The 2017 NHL Draft was somewhat overshadowed by an expansion draft, held less than a week prior. With the league expanding to 31 teams by adding the Vegas Golden Knights, several teams parleyed picks in this draft to protect additional players. The Blue Jackets were one of those teams.
The Jackets entered the draft without a first round pick, for just the second time in franchise history. They sent their first rounder to Vegas, as well as a second round pick in 2019, along with LTIR forward David Clarkson; with the agreement that the Knights would select William Karlsson at the expansion draft. This allowed the Jackets to protect coveted power forward Josh Anderson.