Lindstrom, picked fourth overall by the Blue Jackets, has used resilience and patience to keep growing as an NHL prospect.

Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2025 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the project and its criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 32 to No. 1. The series, which includes in-depth evaluations and insight from sources on nearly 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7.

A day before the season started, not a single hockey fan expected the Columbus Blue Jackets to be one point out of a playoff spot in mid-February, but here we are. GM Don Waddell and new Head Coach Dean Evason came in and have this team playing with purpose and togetherness.