Blue Jackets select Oscar Hemming No. 14 overall in 2026 NHL Draft
A winger with size has heard his name called.
On Friday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected forward Oscar Hemming, 17, with the No. 14 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Hemming is a player who stands out in more ways than one. Standing at 6-foot-4, the Finnish left wing has a physical side to his game that led him to be near the top of many draft boards. Daily Faceoff analyst Steven Ellis has him 17th in his final rankings, while NHL Central Scouting had him listed as the No. 11 North American skater.
The brother of Dallas Stars prospect Emil Hemming spent the last half of the season with Boston College. His path to Chestnut Hill was a wild one. He initially signed with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers in August, but Kiekko-Espoo, Hemming’s Finnish club, protested the move, not allowing him to play in Canada. The legal issues continued when he tried to sign with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the BCHL, leading to Hemming finding a loophole in his contract to enroll at Boston College.
The long layoff, which included being left off the roster for the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, certainly hindered his development. In 19 games with the Eagles, Hemming scored just one goal on eight points on a team that struggled throughout the season. Yet, many believe there is still an upside to his game that he can reach with a full season in North America under his belt.
Ellis says Hemming’s size and skill can carve out a path to the NHL for him in the future.
“Hemming came out swinging with Boston College,” Ellis wrote. “He had a pair of assists in just his second game and even had a nice four-point run during a three-game stretch. But after finishing with just two points in his final 11 games, it was a difficult end for a guy many scouts still really like. At his best, the 6-foot-4 forward is an absolute menace who can beat you with size, speed and skill. The raw potential is there, but he was forced to play some heavy catch-up to make up for lost time. I think a full year of college will do him wonders, and I still see some top-six potential.”