NHL mock draft: How all-time greats fit 2018 needs

The Columbus Blue Jackets could use some help at right wing. However, they have a much more glaring need down the center. Getting another defenseman wouldn’t hurt, but with Zach Werenski and Seth Jones, the Blue Jackets have what many teams covet — two franchise defensemen.

Steve Yzerman would be a great pick by Columbus. Pierre-Luc Dubois will probably be a franchise center down the road. At the very least, it appears he has the potential to be in the lower-tier of first-line centers (which is still extremely good).

The Blue Jackets thought they had good center depth, as they were willing to get rid of William Karlsson. Turns out they were wrong. Alexander Wennberg wasn’t able to take the next step in his development, so the Blue Jackets are left with a bit of a hole down the middle. As a team that is looking to win next season, Yzerman would instantly give the Blue Jackets one of the best one-two combos in the NHL down the middle.

Most people know him as the Tampa Bay Lightning general manager. As great of a front office guy as Yzerman is, he was even better on the ice. Nobody has held the captain title longer than he did, as he held it for two decades. Yzerman ranks seventh all-time in points. Though he never won a Hart Trophy, it’s worth noting his prime was spent competing with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, among others. He was a remarkably consistent center.