Columbus Blue Jackets Make Shocking First-Round Draft Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets were the talk of the first-round of the NHL Draft on Friday night, and it wasn't because they were making waves on the trade market, or landing some amazing players, it was because they completely went off the board and selected Russian goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov, with the 20th overall pick.

🚨 THE PICK IS IN 🚨

We're proud to select G Pyotr Andreyanov with the 20th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft!

Welcome to Columbus, Pyotr! pic.twitter.com/ElKVxQ4GJK
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 28, 2025

Andreyanov wasn't expected to be taken until around the third round, so you can imagine the level of shock that was felt throughout the draft when the Blue Jackets decided they were going to scoop him at 20. Andreyanov wasn't even at the NHL Draft in L.A, which made things even more awkward when nobody came up to get a jersey after the selection.

What to know about #CBJ draft pick Pyotr Andreyanov, a goalie selected from Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)
➡️ From Volsk, Russia
➡️ Ranked the No. 1 International goalie by Central Scouting
➡️ 23-6-6 record, 1.75 GAA and .942 SV% in Russia’s junior league last season
➡️ Favorite goalie is…
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) June 28, 2025

The 6-foot netminder posted a .942 save percentage in 37 games this season in the Russian junior league." Andreyanov has outstanding quickness in his lower half," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman in a scouting report. "He makes a ton of highlight reel-type saves due to his athleticism, plus his compete level."

Blue Jackets goaltending coach Niklas Backstrom said Andreyanov reminds him of a young Sergei Bobrovsky, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.