The Blue Jackets used the 14th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Finnish power forward Oscar Hemming, and it looks like a selection aimed squarely at adding size, pace and a little edge to the organization.
Hemming’s draft stock had been much higher at one point, with some viewing him as a possible top-five or top-10 talent this summer. A contractual dispute with his youth club in Finland disrupted that path and kept him from starting his season on time, which changed the way his year unfolded.
He had originally been set to join the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, a move that might have given him a major boost. Kitchener went on to win the Memorial Cup, and a full season there would have put him in front of plenty of eyes. But when he couldn’t get clarity on that situation, he switched gears and took the NCAA route instead.
That decision sent him to Boston College, where he finished with 1 goal and 8 points in 19 games. The numbers don’t tell much of the story, though. Hemming was the youngest player in college hockey this season, and his debut didn’t come until mid-December.
The bigger takeaway is how he handled the opportunity once he finally got on the ice. He started to settle in, his role grew as the season went along, and he proved he could contribute against older competition - players as much as five or six years ahead of him in age.
What stands out first with Hemming is the frame. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 200 pounds, he plays like a winger who wants to make life miserable for the other team. He doesn’t shy away from contact, and he built a role at BC by leaning into physical play whenever the chance was there.
There’s also a lot to like in the rest of the toolkit. He’s a strong skater for his size, his hockey sense helps him stay involved on both sides of the puck, and his shot is already a real asset. The release is quick, the accuracy is there, and that part of his game looks ready to carry over.
The main issue is consistency, and that’s the sort of thing that can improve with more reps. The NCAA gives him that runway: regular games, plenty of practice time and a better chance to keep sharpening his game without the grind of the CHL schedule.
If things break right, Hemming could turn into one of the more productive goal scorers in college hockey over the next couple of seasons while continuing to wear down opponents physically. Columbus is expected to take a patient approach and let him develop before pushing him along.
That patience could pay off. The long-term ceiling here points toward a second-line role someday, even if he never becomes the kind of winger who drives play on his own. At minimum, he looks like a reliable energy player who can add some secondary offense.
For a mid-first-round pick, that’s a strong bet. And in the Blue Jackets’ system, Hemming may already sit near the top of the wing prospects.
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