Charlie Elick’s calling card hasn’t changed: he can defend. The question is whether the rest of his game will catch up fast enough to keep him climbing.
That’s why the Blue Jackets prospect has slid to No. 13 on the Union and Blue summer 2026 list, down four spots from No. 9 a year ago. The collective ranking from Matthew Duffey, Mike Stump, Weston Motz, Struan McNevan and Curtis Deem still puts him firmly in the mix, but the lack of offensive growth has started to matter more as other prospects have put up bigger seasons.
Elick was drafted in 2024 out of the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he posted four goals and 27 points in 65 games. Even then, the offense was modest, but his defensive work stood out as arguably the best in the draft class.
Since then, the numbers have not moved much in the right direction. In the season after his draft year, he managed two goals and 15 points in 66 games split between Brandon and Tri-City after a midseason trade, a total that sat 12 points below his draft-year production. Last season, with Tri-City and an alternate captaincy, he reached a career-high six goals, but his 20 points still fell short of what he produced in 2023-24.
Tri-City’s struggles didn’t help, especially after fellow Blue Jackets prospect Jackson Smith left for Penn State. Still, 20 points in a fourth junior season is not the kind of offensive jump that changes the conversation.
What keeps Elick relevant is the part of his game that already looks pro-ready. He reads the defensive zone quickly, covers ground with long strides and an active stick, and does a strong job taking away time and space. Around the net, his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame lets him clear bodies and protect the crease, and he can stick-lift when the puck gets into dangerous areas.
He can also play more aggressively, using his puck skills to strip opponents and showing enough patience to move the puck cleanly on breakouts. Add in a heavy physical edge - big hits, board finishes, even the willingness to drop the gloves - and you get a defender who can make life miserable for junior opponents.
That complete package is why his side of the ice gets smothered so effectively. The offense generated against him drops because he shuts so much down before it can start.
The ranking comes with a clear split in the profile. On the plus side: size, physicality, defensive skill, d-zone intelligence, patience and a willingness to defend teammates. On the downside: the offensive game, agility and acceleration.
The projection is straightforward enough: a bottom-four defensive defenseman who can work on the top penalty kill pair.
Elick is set to play his first full season with the Cleveland Monsters after appearing in two games with them at the end of last year. That should give him an immediate role on the penalty kill, while he continues trying to build something more with the puck.
The Monsters already have a solid group on the back end, but a new head coach could give every player a fresh start, and Elick may be the kind of defender who can take advantage of that and push for a top-four look.
There’s little doubt he’ll get a shot with the Blue Jackets at some point. The real test is whether his offense can do enough to keep him there.
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