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Anton Silayev has tons of upside for the Columbus Blue Jackets as a shutdown defenseman and a 6-foot-7 frame that could only get bigger. He would automatically be one of the most massive players in the NHL if he came to North America after the NHL Draft.
The issue is that Silayev's debut in North America may not happen as soon as the Blue Jackets would like. Columbus' roster doesn't look like one that should have the fourth pick in the NHL Draft. They have spent money on players like Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, Zachary Werenski, and Damon Severson. The Blue Jackets could use a player like Anton Silayev, but they need him a year or two after the NHL Draft while their core is still in their prime, not when he's ready to leave the KHL.
Silayev is one of a few prospects in the draft who played professionally last season. Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod selected him for their roster after a successful season in the Russian Junior League, and he contributed three goals and eight assists in 63 games. Silayev's strength isn't in his offensive game. He projects more as a defensive threat due to his size and physicality. He will be a shut-down defenseman at the NHL level and resembles Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
Silayev won't blow anyone away with his offensive skills. He struggles at controlling the puck and doesn't make a great first pass. You may assume his skating isn't the greatest due to his size, but his speed and agility (for his size) are spectacular. The thing about Silayev is that every compliment or critique of Silayev's game can be followed by “for his size,” as he is truly one-of-a-kind in this draft because of it.
Do the Blue Jackets need a defenseman?
The Blue Jackets had plenty of issues during the 2023-24 season, and defense was one of them. However, their forwards didn't score enough to become a playoff team. Columbus needs some immediate scoring help, as their highest goal-getter this season was Kirill Marchenko with 23. Cayden Lindstrom's elite offensive talent could be the move here, or Ivan Demidov if he is available. There have also been talks of a player like Berkly Catton sneaking up into the top five as a 54-goal scorer.
The Blue Jackets have Zach Werenski and Damon Severson locked up, while Adam Boqvist and Jake Bean could also stick around for a while. They also have David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk, Stanislav Svozil, and Corson Ceulemans in the pipeline. Any team could use Silayev on their roster, but the question is whether they need him. The Blue Jackets would be better served to get these young defensemen another year to develop and hope that most of them work out. By then, a forward they choose in this draft will be ready to break out alongside Adam Fantilli, Johnny Gaudreau, and (maybe) Patrik Laine.
Patrik Laine questions
The Blue Jackets have plenty of things to build on with a young team and some above-average talent. Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley will continue to improve down the middle, and Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau are elite players on the wing. Laine's career had a bump in the road last season when he entered the player assistance program, but all signs point to him being back at some point this season. The issue now is reports that Laine may be seeking a fresh start.
The Blue Jackets need to figure out the validity of these reports. If they are accurate, Laine will move somewhere, and they could get that missing piece back on defense. Regardless, Laine being off the roster is a hole that the Blue Jackets need to fill, and there's no better place to do that than the No. 4 pick in the draft.
It's hard to see the Blue Jackets getting an elite offensive player back for Laine, so their best bet is to try to accrue some valuable pieces and replace that hole with this pick. Taking Anton Silayev in the NHL Draft doesn't do that.
The Blue Jackets are in win-now mode
New general manager Don Waddell had a press conference last week where he stressed that his debut draft pick has to be the right decision. “As the general manager, I have to listen to all options. So, you listen to all the dialogue. Teams have asked me already, ‘Is your (fourth) pick in play?’ And I’ve said, ‘For the right price, everything is in play.’”
Could the Blue Jackets look to trade down into the draft to accrue some draft capital and pick later in the first round? If they moved into the teens with his pick, he could still grab Catton or new USNTDP leading goalscorer Cole Eiserman, which would solve their goal-scoring need.
The Blue Jackets have a lot of decisions to make in this NHL Draft, but it's unlikely that any of them center around Anton Silayev as the selection.
