​Welcome to this edition of the 2026 WHL Prospect Pools. Throughout the 2026 off-season, we will focus on current or recently graduated WHLers who have been drafted or signed by NHL clubs. Today we highlight the Columbus Blue Jackets. At the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Columbus leaned on their mid-round assets from the WHL to bolster their pipeline, adding goaltender Parker Snell and defenseman Jonas Woo.
Snell, selected in the fifth round (142nd overall), stands out as an intriguing goaltending project for the Blue Jackets. The St. Albert, Alberta native is listed at 6’2″ and 176 pounds, catches left, and possesses exceptionally crisp lateral movement. He emerged as a prominent figure for the Edmonton Oil Kings last season, taking on a heavy workload while guiding a rebuilding team through competitive games they had no business contending in.
Woo is among the most electric and entertaining players in the WHL. The 5’10”, 175-pound right-shot defenseman was a standout for the Medicine Hat Tigers last season, shattering the franchise record for defenseman points with an eye-popping 86 points (29 goals, 57 assists) in just 56 games.
Together, Snell and Woo join a Columbus prospect pool already rich with WHL talent, including Cayden Lindstrom, Jackson Smith, and Evan Gardner. Be sure to bookmark The Hockey News’ WHL site and add us to your Google News favorites for the latest news, exclusive interviews, and in-depth breakdowns.
This article originally appeared on The Hockey News. 2026 WHL Prospect Pools: Colorado Avalanche 2026 WHL Prospect Pools: Chicago Blackhawks 2026 WHL Prospect Pools: Carolina Hurricanes 2026 WHL Prospect Pool: Calgary Flames 2026 WHL Prospect Pools: Buffalo Sabres 2026 WHL Prospect Pools: Anaheim Ducks For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. Share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.