Columbus Blue Jackets draft William Whitelaw No. 66 overall in 2023 NHL Draft

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected William Whitelaw of the USHL Youngstown Phantoms with the No. 66 pick of the NHL Entry Draft on Thursday.

Whitelaw’s stock in the leadup to the draft was volatile to say the least, with different analysts struggling to come to a consensus on how the risk of his undersized frame (5-foot-9, 172 lbs) weighs against his obvious talent.

“Whitelaw hasn’t let his small frame stop him from putting a beating on goalies across the United States,” Daily Faceoff’s prospect analyst Steven Ellis said. “His 5-foot-9 frame”His size will be the thing that tears him down the most, but the skill is apparent.”

Though Whitelaw was in the mix for a late first-round pick for a reason, the Blue Jackets took a risk selecting him; at his size, there are legitimate questions about whether or not he can establish himself as a pro hockey player.

Whitelaw cannot control his build, but he can dictate what happens on the ice, and he has done that to excellent effect in the USHL.

For Youngstown, Whitelaw played both sides of special teams as a center, and his quick release and limitless motor made him a true do-it-all center at the USHL level, where he tucked away 36 goals and notched 61 points over 62 games.

Whitelaw has been praised for his nonstop work ethic and scrappiness, and his coach Ryan Ward has predicted he would pan out in the NHL thanks in no small part to that attitude.

While his backchecking potential as a pro may be capped to some extent, Whitelaw’s 110% commitment and offensive skill set should get his foot in the door with the Jackets.

He has never needed much more than that, and if he can score with the Wisconsin Badgers the way he did with the Phantoms, he may just kick that door down.