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Who is Denton Mateychuk, the Blue Jackets' pick at 12th overall in the 2022 NHL draft?
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- Who is Denton Mateychuk, the Blue Jackets' pick at 12th overall in the 2022 NHL draft?
With their second pick in the 2022 NHL draft, the Blue Jackets selected defenseman Denton Mateychuk at No. 12 overall .
With the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League last season, Mateychuk scored 13 goals and added 51 assists for 64 points in 65 games, adding 10 more points in 10 playoff games. He ranks 14th on NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters.
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An offensive defenseman with a high motor, Mateychuk (pronounced Mah-TAY-chuck) has a unique skill set that gives him the potential to be an explosive, dynamic NHL player. He isn't overly tall, listed at 5-10, but he's solidly-built at 194 pounds and isn't afraid to play with a physical edge.
"You know, he didn't have a bad game," said Ville Siren, the Blue Jackets' director of amateur scouting. "For example, in the (CHL) prospects game, I would say he was a top two player in that game. He really wanted to show what he's capable of doing in that game. I was very impressed."
Here's everything we know about Mateychuk .
Denton Mateychuk scouting report
Mateychuk is a unique player with a relentless style. He skates miles every night, rushing up the ice to be involved in nearly every offensive sequence and recovering back in the defensive zone to cover himself at that end.
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It sometimes seems like position is a mere suggestion to him, as he activates all over the ice and makes plays as he sees fit. Mateychuk's skating enables him to do that, as his straight-line speed and mobility on his edges allow him to cover ground with ease. There's inherent risk with the way he plays, but his skating is strong enough that it's less risky than expected because he recovers so well.
Mateychuk's game is based on more of a give-and-go style than individual skill, and his passing makes that possible. Mateychuk has an ability to anticipate where his teammates will be and find them through passing lanes that other players don't see.
"He impacts the game every night," said Blue Jackets amateur scout Troy Dumville, who watched Mateychuk quite a bit. "He's just one of those kids who finds a way to impact it right from the start."
Defensively, there's room for improvement, but Mateychuk is an adequate defender at the WHL level and his intelligence suggests he'll be able to raise his defensive game to NHL standards. Players like Mateychuk, with unique offensive skill and instincts, can learn to defend. What's nearly impossible to teach are the things he does innately, such as skating, using his edges to create plays and seeing the ice in a way most other players don't.
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Mateychuk doesn't turn 18 until next week, so he's a bit younger than most of the players in this draft class. That often indicates a player will develop significantly after the draft.
"I don't know if he's unique, but he's a good defenseman for sure," Siren said "It's his all-around game. He's not that tall, but he's pretty strong and stocky and he doesn't lose many battles."
How will Denton Mateychuk help the Blue Jackets?
After the Jackets drafted defenseman David Jiricek with the sixth pick, it was a bit of a surprise to see them grab a second defenseman six picks later.
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But general manager Jarmo Kekalainen made it clear before the draft that their approach would be to select the best player available, and Mateychuk has some of the highest upside in the draft.
Without thinking too far ahead, it's not impossible that Mateychuk and Jiricek could end up playing alongside one another on the second defensive pair down the line. Jiricek is the more likely player of the two to develop into a top-pair defenseman, but both could get to that level.
At minimum, Mateychuk will be a top-four defenseman.
Mateychuk's unique style is what makes him special, so the Jackets must be willing to give him the freedom to do what he does best. Limiting his offensive opportunities would do a disservice to the kind of player he is, and Columbus is built to allow him that freedom.
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When will Denton Mateychuk be ready for the NHL?
The plan is for Mateychuk to spend another year developing with Moose Jaw, and he could spend as many as two years in junior before he's ready.
The NHL-CHL agreement requires the Jackets to either keep Mateychuk on their NHL roster or return him to Moose Jaw for further development. Once he's 20, Mateychuk can play in the American Hockey League if he's not in the NHL already
At the combine in May, Mateychuk offered a mature perspective on when he'll be in the NHL. Two years is a realistic estimate, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could be a serious contender in training camp next fall.
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"I just want to make sure that I'm ready when I get to the NHL level, so I can have the longest career possible," Mateychuk said. "Once I get there, I want to stay there and play my whole career there. I don't want to be up and down, really. Just making sure I'm ready when I get there is what I want to do."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets select Denton Mateychuk in 2022 NHL draft
