Paul Berthelot: Breaking Down the Draft Picks: Pierre-Luc Dubois Profiling the Blue Jackets first round pick Pierre-Luc Dubois

and this pick caused a reaction elsewhere Jim Benning lost his fave player and his head

By passing on Pulj and Tkachuk, it seems as though Columbus drafted by position, not by the best player.

It was a surprising pick, but in the end just have to trust the scouts and see how things pan out. Dubois did a good job rising up the rankings and can certainly understand why Columbus wanted to go there. The pure value at center and that being a pretty big hole for them.

Although it certainly could turn out that Puljujärvi turns out to be the better player. He'll certainly have good chances with the forward group he'll be joining.

Best of luck to Dubois. Should certainly have an impact and being versatile isn't a bad thing.

Paul Berthelot: Breaking Down the Draft Picks: Pierre-Luc Dubois
Profiling the Blue Jackets first round pick Pierre-Luc Dubois
- Paul Berthelot

I have been very critical about this pick , even calling and still calling him Dubust.

The reason being is simply that the cbj (and central scouting) put too much stock into a guy that was switched positions mid way through the season . What I fear is that he's a one hit wonder and that there is nothing consistent in his game.

While Puljarvi is nhl ready , Dubois will need another year in junior , hence why management doesn't trust him to the point of signing Gagne.

I have been very critical about this pick , even calling and still calling him Dubust.

The reason being is simply that the cbj (and central scouting) put too much stock into a guy that was switched positions mid way through the season . What I fear is that he's a one hit wonder and that there is nothing consistent in his game.

While Puljarvi is nhl ready , Dubois will need another year in junior , hence why management doesn't trust him to the point of signing Gagne.
- Alexzanki

Is the reason Columbus is so concerned about getting a potential #1 center because of the Johansen trade?

(This pick reminds of the 2010 johansen draft actually. Johansen was Central scouting's 7th or 8th best NA skater I think, and some people were surpised he went at #4.

Ditto Mark Schiefele in '11 (a mid teens ranked C who ended up going 7th overall

I think Columbus might have hit big on a nice pick down the road (Jim Benning certainly thought so)

Smart move by Columbus. This kid is a sleeper. Seth Jones can be a number one defenseman in the NHL. You needed to make that trade. RJ was a top six center. Not a number one. While Crosby outweighs a hedman, a hedman outweighs a turris.

Your organization has made questionable moves. The Seth Jones trade is not among them.

Nice player, but probably a reach at #3.

I have to believe they could have traded down to 4 or 5, and still been able to get him, as well as adding another asset or dumping a contract as part of the package.

I found this pick fascinating. Not just because I am an Oiler fan but just because of the way everything went down.

Mathews is the consensus #1 for good reason and was never "really" debated in my opinion. Being a center put him over the top. Leafs need a center and he is a great one. I personally think he is very similar to Eichel and should be a similar player plus or minus.

#2 Pick went back and forth a bit but after he kept building momentum with JP out due to injury Laine became the clear cut #2 IMO.

#3 Pick was interesting for a number of reasons. JP was injured so didn't get to participate in the combine or any further tourney's. Tkachuk tore the CHL playoffs a new one and moved way up in most peoples estimation. Dubios had a great stint at center and has NHL size speed... etc.

However. The way thing were talked about by pundits, fans, scouting services etc is that as interesting as things got JP was clearly and by a considerable margin the consensus #3.

Jarmo Kekalainen looked like he ate sour grapes picking Dubios (I know that's probably just the way he always looks). Chiarelli looked like he won the lottery... and in a way he did.

At this point it looks like I am just another Edmonton fan rubbing it in but I want to play devils advocate a bit.

JP is great and was the consensus and NOONE truly had CBJ taking Dubios over JP realistically BUT...

At #4 even after Tkachuk won the Menorial cup in impressive fashion many, including myself, thought Dubios to be the true #4 consensus player. Because of his package of size, skill, and position.

All the trades that were being reported about Chiarelli trading down were centered on teams wanting Dubious at #4. Montreal wanted Dubios badly. Vancouver wanted Dubios badly. Obviously CBJ wanted him. I heard even Colorado was heavy into him. As great a player as Tkachuk is and how much his stock rose, he fell to a surprising #5. Still not sure I follow that, and know the Van fans I know is happy about it but whatever.

The point is Dubios is a very very strong prospect. Who IMO literally has zero chance of busting, but will require more time to be NHL ready than any of the consensus top 3 prospects.

He is a great combination of skills/talent and if he, and its most likely, becomes a good two way center the drafting of him over JP will eventually be overlooked.

It made for a very entertaining draft and really the only team that looked like they didn't get a player they really needed or really wanted in the top 9 was Vancouver. And as much fun as it to poke them, who knows maybe Juolevi may well end up being the best of everyone. Defenseman are just so hard to predict.

Nice player, but probably a reach at #3.

I have to believe they could have traded down to 4 or 5, and still been able to get him, as well as adding another asset or dumping a contract as part of the package.
- Vanoxy

Actually he tried very hard to do exactly that is what is reported.

But Edmonton wasn't going to pay more to move up one spot and Dubios was likely to be gone via trade if he made it to Edmonton at #4... At least that's what is reported at the draft.

From the Oilers media it had looked/leaked that Edmonton was all but guaranteed to taking Tkachuk at #4. Which was apparently false but no one really knows for sure.

Smart move by Columbus. This kid is a sleeper. Seth Jones can be a number one defenseman in the NHL. You needed to make that trade. RJ was a top six center. Not a number one. While Crosby outweighs a hedman, a hedman outweighs a turris.

Your organization has made questionable moves. The Seth Jones trade is not among them.
- MarkStoned

Time will tell on that trade , but right now RJ is more of a number one for the Preds then Jones is a 1D for the cbj.

Nice blog.although it Seemed very one sided on offence and scoring ability being what makes a number one centre. Hope the pick turns out for you guys

Very nicely broken down, Paul. Great graphs and breakdowns that are easy to follow. Some nice posts, too.

I'll state the obvious and say time will tell but a kid with his size, skating, skill, IQ and seemingly off the charts work ethic I wouldn't argue if someone compared him to a young Jonathan Toews.

As a fan of the Jackets I'm excited about this pick and he'll be the kid I look most forward to seeing in this year's WJC.

Paul Berthelot: Breaking Down the Draft Picks: Pierre-Luc Dubois
Profiling the Blue Jackets first round pick Pierre-Luc Dubois
- Paul Berthelot

paul can you ask why cbj brass is letting torts coach the usa team when they have been preaching that this was going to be the hardest camp that the players have experienced seeing how torts was suppose to be there but want be. talk about personal agenda's. torts himself has said it would be very difficult to be in 2 places at once. so why in the hell should fans spend their hard earn money for tix if it isn't about our team or the city, if they want a winning club wouldn't you think their coach would be at their camp, and please don't give me a great opportunity for him which we all know that it is but this team has been bottom feeders since they came into the league. and to walk away from camp the 1st full season that he is going to be the coach is just the stupidest move from a club that has suffered from many slow starts.

paul can you ask why cbj brass is letting torts coach the usa team when they have been preaching that this was going to be the hardest camp that the players have experienced seeing how torts was suppose to be there but want be. talk about personal agenda's. torts himself has said it would be very difficult to be in 2 places at once. so why in the hell should fans spend their hard earn money for tix if it isn't about our team or the city, if they want a winning club wouldn't you think their coach would be at their camp, and please don't give me a great opportunity for him which we all know that it is but this team has been bottom feeders since they came into the league. and to walk away from camp the 1st full season that he is going to be the coach is just the stupidest move from a club that has suffered from many slow starts.
- redsfanhere

It's not ideal for Torts to be away but it wasn't like he could say no. He took the USA position before he was even the Blue Jackets coach. He will be away for the tournament but Team USA training camp and a pre-tournament game will be in Columbus so at least at the start he wont be too far away.

Even if Torts was around, many key players wont be. The Jackets have five players at the World Cup and all will play big roles for the team. Other teams have to deal with this as well. Torts will be there for half the pre-season games. Hopefully his assistants can carry out the message and run the camp Torts wants, until he gets back.