After not finding a trade for the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets hung onto it to select Oscar Hemming of Boston College.
It’s the second straight year the Blue Jackets picked 14th after selecting defenseman Jackson Smith (Penn State) last year with the first of two picks in the first round. The Jackets also took Russian goalie Pyotr Andreyanov in 2025 with the 20th overall pick.
Hemming, meanwhile, is a 17-year old Finnish power forward who’s 6 feet 4, 204 pounds and has an enticing combination of size, skill and skating speed.
“I think I’m a physical and skilled forward,” Hemming said. “I like to play physical and still see the ice well, and I have a good shot.”
The Blue Jackets met with Hemming at the NHL Scouting Combine and talked to him once more prior to the draft. Being picked by Columbus was mostly a surprise, but Hemming also had a hunch he’d hear his name called when the Jackets picked.
Unfortunately for him, the announcement of the pick on ESPN was immediately preceded by NHL studio analyst and former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes stating that he’d just learned that Blue Jackets star forward Kirill Marchenko isn’t likely to sign a long-term contract extension in Columbus.
Weekes posted that news on Twitter/X and read his post aloud on the air right before Hemming’s name was called as the Blue Jackets’ pick. That certainly deflated excitement about Hemming among fans online, but there’s a lot to like in the Jackets’ newest prospect.
A scoring winger, Hemming split last season between Kiekko-Espoo’s U20 and U18 teams in Finland’s SM-Sarja before heading to the U.S. to play 19 games as a freshman at Boston College. Hemming finished his first NCAA season scoring just one goal but added seven assists for eight points after finishing with 35 goals, 28 assists and 63 points in 31 games for his Finnish U20 team.
“I enjoyed playing college hockey,” Hemming said. “It’s an experience and I really liked it. For next season, I’m just going to be a bigger player, try to create more chances myself and be on the puck more.”
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets select power forward Oscar Hemming 14th overall
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
