This is part two breaking down the players selected by the Blue Jackets at the 2017 draft. You can find the previous post in the link below:
Robbie Stucker
The Jackets went looking in their backyard in the sixth round and at pick 179 they came across Cason Meyer. Meyer is Ohio born and bred. He is from Powell, and has spent his entire hockey career with the exception of one season, playing in the Buckeye State.
Meyer is a 1997 born player, and this was his third draft eligible season. He could be described as a late bloomer, as he really wasn’t on the prospect radar until last year. Meyer got his start in hockey playing in the Ohio Blue Jackets program. He played AAA for the Blue Jackets, U16 with the Blue Jackets and really broke out playing for the U18 Blue Jackets in 2014-15. Meyer put up 51 points in 32 games to lead the team, and also the league. This is likely where Jarmo Kekalainen and the Blue Jackets scouts got their first good look at Meyer. The second leading scorer from that team was none other than Kole Sherwood, who the Jackets signed to an entry-level contract after that 14-15 season.
Meyer probably should have received a contract as well, but the Blue Jackets and other teams likely wanted to see how Meyer would develop against bigger stronger opponents. Meyer today is still undersized only listed at 5’11. He has the skills but his skating was/is an issue. Before investing in a player with these question marks you need to see how he does in a higher league.
So Meyer and Sherwood went their separate ways after that season, Meyer to Nebraska to play for Tri-City in the USHL and Sherwood to Ontario to play in the OHL for the London Knights. This is a perfect example of the different development paths players can take and how there is not one way that fits all. Each player had tremendous success with their new teams. Sherwood and the Knights won the OHL title and the Memorial Cup, while Meyer and the Storm took home the Clark Cup.
Whereas Sherwood was a depth player on the Knights, Meyer was the key player for the Strom. Meyer led his team with 32 goals and 51 points in 56 games. His 32 goals tied for fourth in the league and 51 points placed him 15th. Meyer had proven he could play and succeed against his peers but was not drafted yet again. He also saw for the second year in a row a player from his team get scooped up by an NHL organization, as Wade Allison the second leading scorer for the Strom was selected in the second round by the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Blue Jackets however took notice and invited Meyer to development camp following the 2016 draft. He played well at camp but was not signed to a contract. I imagine the Jackets wanted to see him take another step as he moved up to the NCAA level before investing in Meyer. This decision ended up being a win-win for both the player and the team. Meyer had a great freshman season at Miami University in Ohio, and ended up getting drafted. The Jackets by drafting Meyer over signing him now control his rights for four seasons and can let him develop at his own pace in the NCAA. Had they signed him, like they did with Sherwood, Meyer would be ineligible for the NCAA and would end up in no man’s land so to speak where he’s not quite ready for the AHL, but doesn’t have a junior team to go back too. This is what happened with Dante Salituro, he got jerked around to different leagues and was never given a chance at the pro level and it’s really stalled his development. The Jackets can avoid that situation with Meyer and only bring him to pro hockey when he’s 100% ready for it.
Meyer played well as a freshman putting up 26 points in 32 games, fourth on the team. He was very strong at full strength putting up 18 of his 26 points, a 0.56 point per game rate which was second on his team per
College Hockey Inc. When you expand that out past his team it ranks 72nd in the NCAA which is pretty good considering the size of the NCAA and Meyer’s inexperience with the level. It also puts him on par with other drafted players his age, like Colin White (0.54), Jordan Greenway (0.54), Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (0.54) and Tage Thompson (0.53). These four players were all top 60 picks and are all the same age as Meyer. They had better overall stats than Meyer because of their power play time. As Meyer progresses he should receive more power play time and should be putting up point per game numbers.
The Blue Jackets took a calculated risk in picking Carson Meyer. He’s a skilled player but has his flaws which he will have plenty of time to iron out while at college. He’s a 97 born freshman, putting him a step behind most prospects his age, but Meyer has shown he keep up with his peers and isn’t letting that inexperience hold him back. He should continue to grow and develop in the NCAA and should be one of the best players on his team for years to come. If he can fix his skating issue he will become a very valuable prospect in the Blue Jackets organization.
You can follow me on Twitter
@PaulBerthelot 
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»