Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has no regrets about tabbing another defense-heavy class in the 2025 NHL Draft: 5 takeaways

The Blue Jackets concluded the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday afternoon with six new players, including a trio of choices in the first 76 picks in the opening three rounds. But to the team’s decision makers, they left with three of the top 14 players in the draft.

After making an attempt to trade up, the Blue Jackets ultimately stayed put and drafted twice in the first round. With the 14th pick they took Tri-City Americans defenseman Jackson Smith, and with the 20th selection they drafted Krasnaya Armiya Moskva goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov,