The Blue Jackets used a forward-heavy draft to stock up on offense, but one of the quieter picks might end up turning plenty of heads. Columbus took defenseman Jonas Woo 185th overall in the sixth round, just three picks after fellow Blue Jackets selection Anttoni Uronen, and his numbers look a lot more like a winger’s than a blue-liner’s.
Woo was an overaged prospect who was eligible in 2025 and went undrafted, despite being viewed as a fifth- or sixth-round type. At 5'9, 175 pounds, he likely slipped because of size, but the production kept coming anyway.
His third WHL season, and his first with the Medicine Hat Tigers, was already a strong one. Woo put up 11 goals and 43 points in 57 games, then added 11 assists in 18 playoff games while finishing the postseason at a +19. Solid stuff for a defenseman, sure, but nothing that hinted at what was coming next.
Then came the breakout. Woo exploded for 29 goals and 86 points this past season, setting a Medicine Hat franchise record for points by a defender.
That total also led all WHL defensemen, and he finished fourth in points per game among all players. In the playoffs, he kept rolling with eight goals and nine assists in 17 games.
He did it on a loaded Medicine Hat team that outscored the next-closest club by 38 goals. The Ruck twins piled up 212 points combined, and fellow defenseman Bryce Pickford was right behind Woo with 83 points.
So yes, the cast around him was strong. Still, Woo clearly did his part.
What makes him interesting is that the offense isn’t just a power-play trick. He was on the top unit with the Tigers and also worked as part of the first penalty-kill pair. He isn’t the biggest or most physical defender, and his best work comes in a more aggressive, perimeter-based style, but his stick work stands out and helps him survive in tough spots.
He even scored four shorthanded goals, which tied for the league lead. That kind of number probably won’t be the expectation in the NHL, but it says plenty about how involved he was in every phase.
On the attack, Woo plays like a defenseman who wants to be in the middle of the action. He jumps into the rush, arrives around the crease, and scores on deflections and loose pucks. He can also beat teams from the point with a quick release and strong puck control that helps him open lanes and move the puck cleanly.
For Columbus, it’s the kind of swing worth taking: a defender with major offensive upside who could become a real problem if his game holds up against NHL competition. Woo turns 20 in November and is headed to Arizona State next season, where he’ll get a chance to test himself in an older, more physical environment.
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